If dealerships are closing, HD doesn't get any orders from dealers which probably struggle to sell bikes. As far as I know manufacturers make bikes by dealer's orders, so what is HD going to do? Lower prices?

 

no, drop production to meet demand. Thats why you saw the York deal.

 

Actually, I should modify that statement - they already dropped prices for some 2010 models ($1K for 2010 FLSTC for example), but I think production cuts and cost reductions (ie labor costs per York deal) will probably be it for now, my guess

 

Never mind,....

 

They Made Lotsa money on Da Shirts and Chrome and Labor...
Thats where I think they should Lower Prices ...
When my bike was under Warranty I hated Payin 70 Bucks an Hr. labor
and then have to go home and make sure they did everythin right...

 

I think they are heading back to the 80's and 90's when there were less dealers, and less deals to be had. Keep the supply down so that the value push's back up.

During those years you had to get on waitting list for some bikes and your bike was worth more after you took it off the showroom floor than it was on the showroom floor because people were wanting bikes that could not be bought at the dealers.

Things are scalling back and i feel that is the direction things are heading. With all the TV shows and bike show's etc alot of people went out and bought bikes that had disposable incomes that fad has pretty much ran its coarse and things are getting back to normal i would say.

 

There were even dealers around here during those times that wouldn't sell you a bike unless you had bought from them before or had a trade in.

 

This is my thinking as well!

 

I don't think HD will be cutting costs much on the new bikes - if any. I think we are seeing the bottom for prices on used bikes and expect the prices to start going back up since there will be fewer new bikes hitting the showroom floor and because the EPA mandates. I don't know how long HD can continue to make air cooled motors. They have already had to put those crazy hot CAT's in the head pipes. Can't put that much heat to metal and not have problems elsewhere. If the head pipes aren't changed out then they will likely get plugged up when the bikes are retuned to run right and much richer than stock. JMHO.

 

HD has already cut supply to match decreased demand. That doesn't equal lower prices.