The news was full of stories about consumers overspending an credit being too easy to get. This slow economy is making people prioritize their spending an live within their means. The economy will recover eventually but harley may never reach 303K in sales. They may just be "right sizing" their company.

 

At my place of employment there are alot of Harleys in the parking lot,I would guess about half the owners are under 30 another 25% are between 30-40(I'm 34)and the other 25% are around 50-55....so 75% under 40 years old probably 50% under 30years old. Not sure where that author got his info????

 

Sounds like I should put my '09 in storage for a couple years. Maybe I can get all of my money back.

 

Does this mean I should sell my 10 limited, leathers and all my T-shirts?

 

I would bet that alot of HD's "profits" go to the unions...jmho

 

i bought one when i turned 60, and have spent prob 23000 on it sence, and i ride with a group of vets my age and when we get together there is prob 49 bikes meeting up and mine is the oldest being a 05

 

"Just more of the "liberal progressive bullcrap" we have to put up with everyday..."

Jeez I hate stupidity...

 

Probably not all doom and gloom. I'd bet a lot of Harley riders are like me who started out using various Japanese machines, but finally matured enough to love my Harley. So there is a market for what I call people that as they age will finally be able to move up as incomes rise. Most people's peak earning years is in their 40s or 50s.

That being said, I think Harley should have tried harder to make Buell competitive. There is definitely a market for an American built sport MC. My understanding is that Buell's quality was not quite there. And I guess Harley did not have the $$$ to keep supporting MV Augusta.

 

actually other brands are more of an oddity where I live
I see more Harleys than anything and it isn't older people riding them

making the prices a little lower stop making them bigger and bigger and bigger might entise others to buy one

 

As far as HD making a profit, the truth is they rip their customers off! $30 for a primary gasket? $17 for a pair of OEM exhaust gaskets? The best was $165 for a trap door on a 5sp trannie. And the "dealer net" was $92! $73 mark up on a $92 part? Please...HD has their customers by the ***** and they squeeze every chance they get!!!