Harley-Davidson's Revolution Max Lineup Set to Expand
#1
Harley-Davidson's Revolution Max Lineup Set to Expand
Harley-Davidson's Revolution Max Lineup Set to Expand
By Bruce Montcombroux
These new models are a bid to attract new and younger riders.
By Bruce Montcombroux
These new models are a bid to attract new and younger riders.
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GPHDXLC (06-10-2020)
#2
Not necessarily 'young' riders but maybe attract 'new' customers to the HD brand. I am not sure going after the BMW type crowd is actually 'young.' The last time I was shopping for an 'adventure style bike' the crowd at the BMW dealer was significantly older than the crowd at the Harley dealer. Something to think about and/or study with a tour of the local competition dealerships.
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GPHDXLC (06-10-2020)
#3
"Harley-Davidson's proposed flat tracker takes its styling cues from the XG750R Street Rod race bike. The seat and tank design, along with the two stacked exhaust pipes on the right-hand side, closely mimics the XG750R layout. It also pays homage to the XR750 flat track racer — a bike that dominated flat track racing and secured Harley-Davidson's racing legacy."
If they are taking their cues from a 750cc bike why didn't they do this with the Street series frame and Revolution/X engine?
If they are taking their cues from a 750cc bike why didn't they do this with the Street series frame and Revolution/X engine?
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MoGoofy (06-14-2020)
#4
"Harley-Davidson's proposed flat tracker takes its styling cues from the XG750R Street Rod race bike. The seat and tank design, along with the two stacked exhaust pipes on the right-hand side, closely mimics the XG750R layout. It also pays homage to the XR750 flat track racer — a bike that dominated flat track racing and secured Harley-Davidson's racing legacy."
If they are taking their cues from a 750cc bike why didn't they do this with the Street series frame and Revolution/X engine?
If they are taking their cues from a 750cc bike why didn't they do this with the Street series frame and Revolution/X engine?
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MoGoofy (06-14-2020)
#5
Harley-Davidson's Revolution Max Lineup Set to Expand
By Bruce Montcombroux
These new models are a bid to attract new and younger riders.
By Bruce Montcombroux
These new models are a bid to attract new and younger riders.
The following 3 users liked this post by MoGoofy:
#6
Welcome aboard! You have a interesting perspective and some sound recommendations. I liked the idea of taking a sporty in another direction also. Historically however, the moco loses every time they venture away from their traditional image re: the Aermachi imports, v rod,, etc...
Of course, I’m also an old man and entrenched with my opinions at this point. : )
Of course, I’m also an old man and entrenched with my opinions at this point. : )
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MoGoofy (06-14-2020)
#7
I keep hearing this that Harley is attempting to attract younger riders while releasing bikes for 20-30K.
You have to go to the "Touring" lineup to find $20k price tags, and I would argue that the touring bikes are most definitely not aimed at attracting new or younger riders.
As far as the Indian Scout or Interceptor 650, you're spot on. Harley's attempt at a lower-cost bike was the Street 500/Street 750, bikes that were overpriced, grossly overweight, underpowered, and had no style as compared to something like, say, the Indian Scout Bobber. I like to think of it as Harley building a "low cost Harley" rather than them actually building an appropriate product for that price class.
However, things that they've shown do look promising. They're selling $600 electric bikes for kids, they're bringing out an electric scooter and an electric mountain bike, and I believe that the "Sportster" as we know it is likely to be completely replaced by bikes like the Bronx. They've talked about the new engine being available in a range of displacements (500/750/975/1250 cc) and the most recent bike they've introduced (the LiveWire) is completely unlike any bike they've ever introduced ever -- it's better, more sophisticated, has better components, and better performance, than any other bike on the market. So -- while some will bemoan that they can't pack luggage and tour cross country on it, I see it the opposite way: they made a bike completely and entirely unrestricted by any shackles of design from any previous model, and they built the best bike in the world. That gives me optimism for what they might be able to do with the Bronx, the Pan America, the forthcoming middleweight electric, and other models. They're even going so far as to build a 338cc lightweight/low cost bike for Asian markets, partnering with a Chinese company to do the actual building of it. So clearly they're open to new ideas.
It seems to me that they've finally learned that a big air-cooled V-twin is appropriate for the big heavy touring bikes, but for the smaller/lighter bikes they can ditch it and instead build technology and performance on par with the best companies in the world. So I'm very interested to see the market reception for the Bronx and Pan America next Spring; those will tell the tale as to whether Harley will be relevant for generations to come, or whether they should just retreat to building the Road Glide/Street Glide and abandon all other aspirations.
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#8
It seems to me that they've finally learned that a big air-cooled V-twin is appropriate for the big heavy touring bikes, but for the smaller/lighter bikes they can ditch it and instead build technology and performance on par with the best companies in the world. So I'm very interested to see the market reception for the Bronx and Pan America next Spring; those will tell the tale as to whether Harley will be relevant for generations to come, or whether they should just retreat to building the Road Glide/Street Glide and abandon all other aspirations.
#9
Agreed entirely. I understand the LiveWire positioning, it's a whole new world and they wanted to set the standard and show off what they can do.
But that's not the case with the Revolution Max bikes. Both of those are competing in mature markets. They would be well served to introduce mid-level products instead of staking out only the ultra premium options.
Back on the Pan America, they are apparently going head to head with the top of the line bestselling 1250GS. Which, I guess it makes sense, but it won't likely attract young or new riders. I just bought a Moto Guzzi V85TT Adventure today, and it is astounding how good a bike you can get for not too much money ($12,500). If I thought Harley was due to announce a middleweight, mid-priced Pan America I might have waited, but seeing as they were aiming for the 1250GS (a bike I have zero interest in), I pulled the trigger on the Moto Guzzi.
I still have and love my 2018 Fat Bob, and I wish my ADV could have been a Harley too. So I definitely agree, the middleweight/mid-priced lineup is what they need to make it f they want new and young customers.
But that's not the case with the Revolution Max bikes. Both of those are competing in mature markets. They would be well served to introduce mid-level products instead of staking out only the ultra premium options.
Back on the Pan America, they are apparently going head to head with the top of the line bestselling 1250GS. Which, I guess it makes sense, but it won't likely attract young or new riders. I just bought a Moto Guzzi V85TT Adventure today, and it is astounding how good a bike you can get for not too much money ($12,500). If I thought Harley was due to announce a middleweight, mid-priced Pan America I might have waited, but seeing as they were aiming for the 1250GS (a bike I have zero interest in), I pulled the trigger on the Moto Guzzi.
I still have and love my 2018 Fat Bob, and I wish my ADV could have been a Harley too. So I definitely agree, the middleweight/mid-priced lineup is what they need to make it f they want new and young customers.
#10
If the Revolution Max line of bikes fails, H-D will have nothing to offer anybody other than the current Harlier Than Thou crowd. The new CEO cancelling the More Roads to H-D project is basically saying he isn't interested in selling bikes to the people he currently isn't selling bikes to. I don't see that as being supportive of a major product line revision.