Harley woes
- Thread starter jellyrug
- Start date
Bumblebee
Donating Member
I saw that video the other day and was going to post it as well...
I did see this a while ago though....
Will HD go through another AMF phase I wonder.......maybe Polaris will bail them out.....
newatlas.com
I did see this a while ago though....
Will HD go through another AMF phase I wonder.......maybe Polaris will bail them out.....
Harley-Davidson's revenue slumps by 60%, losses worse than expected
Harley-Davidson's annual report for 2024 is out. Sadly, its numbers do not look good. The company recorded a 60% drop in motorcycle revenue and sold 53% fewer motorcycles in its last quarter compared to the same period in 2023. Ouch.
newatlas.com
Zerks
Registered
The narrator mentioned "out dated business model". How about updating the engine design? Perhaps the out dated firing order of zero degrees and 90 degrees with a gap of 270 degrees before the next air cooled power pulse has run its course since 1945.
A big component of loyalty started years ago with "image" from the notorious biker gang era when Hells Angels became a thing.
Like one of my buddies says... Harleys? I don't get it...
A big component of loyalty started years ago with "image" from the notorious biker gang era when Hells Angels became a thing.
Like one of my buddies says... Harleys? I don't get it...
I think Harley's biggest failure is failing to attract new buyers to the brand and focusing on high end CVO models that only a small percentage of riders can afford to buy. You have to have affordable entry level bikes to attract new riders and then when those riders are ready to upgrade they can buyer another Harley that's a bit more expensive. I might own a Harely if they produced a bike with a style that appealed to me but they don't.
Bumblebee
Donating Member
People who own Harleys sure do love them
jellyrug
Donating Member
For me it is simply about value:
At an $14,300 I can buy this, comfortable, smooth and faster than any Harley.
Or I can buy this at $25,750, too heavy, slow and outdated technology.
Bumblebee
Donating Member
I hear you........I personally don't get the attraction to HD either......but those owners certainly are loyal and dedicated to the brand....
.......and we've all seen how much they get into the apparel side of HD as well.....
I knew a guy that when he rode his Honda VFR, he wore full gear all the time...he bought a Fat Boy and automatically started wearing one of those beanie helmets, a tee-shirt and vest and gloves with no fingers as this was the "style" he wanted to embrace.......I told him crashing on an HD won't keep him safer than crashing on his Honda but he scoffed at that saying he had to look the part....
jellyrug
Donating Member
LOL
I use to be one of those Harley owners.
Owned a Harley, and whenever I travelled on business or vacation, I would visit a local Harley dealer and buy a T-Shirt. Have them from many cities, states and countries. Even have one from Canada.
Then, I don’t know what happened, sold the Harley and never wear the T-Shirts.
What was good was their riding chapters, should one enjoy riding in a big group of friends. Wifey and I never really felt comfortable there though, but they remain a tight knit group of good friends.
Our local dealer use to sell Harley and Yamaha. Then bought out by a big dealer present in a few towns. The dumped the Yamaha dealership. Last time I visited for a DMV inspection, with the Busa, they made it clear I am not welcome, went somewhere else.
Bumblebee
Donating Member
I remember a group of us were out for a ride and we'd normally conclude at the local coffee/donut shop.....lots of Harley people hung out at this shop as most of them rode from their homes to this shop and back....never anywhere else.
One of our group had a beautiful Yamaha Road Star which was black, de-badged with white wall tires, elk horn handlebars and an HD tractor seat....this model even had belt drive.
He pulled in and drew the HD crowd who were really admiring his bike and when they asked which model it was, when he said it was a Yamaha Road Star, they all turned and walked away, I guess they thought it was an HD......but in my opinion, it was the best looking cruiser sitting in the parling lot......
michael parris heuberger
Registered
Hi. I bought my 1999 softail 9 yrs ago for $2,500.00 37000+ moles 1 repair $150.00 rebuilt my starter and a new battery.
CBXRider
Donating Member
Don’t fall backwards in it.
I'm not a Polaris fan(parent company)
but am hoping that Indian can make it, as they seem to care about quality, and make a nice bike if you're into cruisers.
That flat-track style bike they make is really cool too...but sadly discontinued as there just isn't a large enough market for it.
This video is spot on 100% how I feel.
About Harley. Why TF would I spend top dollar for an outdated bike. If it ain't liquid cooled I don't want it. And the HP numbers they put out are beyond pathetic. I couldn't even respect myself paying money for a heavy bike with double digit hp figures lol.
Sportsers are dumb when they have naked bikes that are MORE comfortable handle better ,go faster ,last longer and cost less.
I don't think the brand will fully die. I think someone will buy it and finally make changes like Buell is right now.
About Harley. Why TF would I spend top dollar for an outdated bike. If it ain't liquid cooled I don't want it. And the HP numbers they put out are beyond pathetic. I couldn't even respect myself paying money for a heavy bike with double digit hp figures lol.
Sportsers are dumb when they have naked bikes that are MORE comfortable handle better ,go faster ,last longer and cost less.
I don't think the brand will fully die. I think someone will buy it and finally make changes like Buell is right now.
Bumblebee
Donating Member
H-D owners are loyal to a fault..........more loyal than any other motorcycle owner.
I personally figure that once this generation stops riding, H-D and most other motorcycle companies will be hurting as the younger generations either isn't interested or can't afford motorcycles....
We Hayabusa riders are loyal as well...........and the Hayabusa will someday suffer the same fate..........the upcoming generation won't be buying them.
It's not always about HP for some riders while for others it is, Harley riders fall in the HP isn't a big concern group but Harley's do put out enough HP to get the bike moving along at a brisk pace although no where near as brisk as a Hayabusa. Personally I'd rather have torque, which is why I bought a Hayabusa and don't care that it doesn't produce 200 HP from the factory. Usable torque combined with HP low in the RPM range where I spend most of my time riding is what's important to me.
