Harley sales

Joined
May 20, 2015
Messages
80
Location
Michigan
Bike
2013 Harley Police bike
Why Harley Davidson Sales Are Down
Harley Davidson is closing many of its plants due to declining sales. Apparently, the Baby-Boomers all have motorcycles and Generation X is only buying a very few. The next generation, the Millennials, aren’t buying any at all. A recent study was conducted to find out why. Here are a few reasons why Millennials don't ride motorcycles and why sales are probably down:

1. Pants won't pull up far enough for them to straddle the seat.

2. Can't get their phone to their ear with a helmet on.

3. Can't use two hands to eat while driving.

4. Don't get a trophy and a recognition plaque just for buying one.

5. Don't have enough muscle to hold the bike up when stopped.

6. Might have a bug hit them in the face and then they would need emergency care.

7. Motorcycles don't have air conditioning.

8. Can't afford one because they spent 12 years in college trying to get a degree in Humanities, Social Studies or Gender Studies, for which no jobs are available.

9. Allergic to fresh air.

10. Pajamas get caught on the exhaust pipes.

11. Might get their hands dirty checking the oil.

12. Handle bars have buttons and levers and cannot be controlled by touch-screen.

13. Have to shift manually and use something called a clutch.

14. Too hard to take selfies while riding.

15. They don't come with training wheels like their bicycles did.

16. Motorcycles don't have power steering or power brakes.

17. Nose ring interferes with the face shield.

18. Would have to use leg muscle to backup.

19. When they stop, a light breeze might blow exhaust in their face.

20. It could rain on them and expose them to non-soft water.

21. It might scare their therapy dog and then the dog would need therapy.

22. Parents won't allow them to keep motorcycle in their "space" in the basement.
 
I just got a LinkedIn hit from a Harley recruiter a few days ago......

Dear Dean,
The next evolution of motorcycles at Harley-Davidson is going to incorporate some really exciting technology, and our Engineering team has some big challenges ahead! You may have seen our recent announcement regarding our upcoming bikes. If not, check out this link to see what we have coming!
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/about-us/more-roads.html#intcmp_HP-BB- MoreRoads
We have an open Direct Hire opportunity at our Product Development Center (Milwaukee, WI area) for a Senior Design Engineer (Bodywork). After reviewing your background here on LinkedIn - I thought I might share this with you and see if you'd be interested in exploring it further.

I'm not a Harley guy, but I could do the Pan American dual-sport.....
 
The biggest challenge for H-D in the immediate future will be finding new customers. :-(
 
The other challenge is that used Harley's with low miles and full of bling are going to flood the market to compete with higher priced new Harley's. Harley is going to become a victim of their own success as there are hundreds of thousands of those big cruisers sitting in garages all over this country. Probably another reason they are looking to foreign countries for salvation.
 
Prices have went nuts :nuts: on a lot of things... I just saw a 2019 Ford Expedition Limited that has a factory MSRP of $81,925.00....:eek1: That is before all the dealer "add on" games! :rolleyes1: That one one won't be in my driveway any time soon...:noway:
 
The biggest challenge for H-D in the immediate future will be finding new customers. :-(

10-4 on that. But I find this statement in the link interesting...
"Developing a more accessible, small-displacement (250cc to 500cc) motorcycle for Asia emerging markets through a planned strategic alliance with a manufacturer in Asia. This new product and broader distribution is intended to fuel Harley-Davidson’s customer access and growth in India, one of the largest, fastest growing markets in the world, and other Asia markets."

Royal Enfield is doing very well....I wonder if Harley is seeing new customers in India and points east by partnering with RE? Some of those bikes in the press release seem to be paths to the nether regions paved by good intentions. While on the road, I run into lots of Harley riders...everyone from Switzerland to Germany. It is clear that there is still demand for the standard Harley for awhile, but in a declining world wide motorcycle market, I have to wonder if a better path would be to introduce some retro-Harleys as well as introducing a "bigger than a Sportster" basic bones no frills but nice looking more affordable Harley to move them to a better spot on the supply/demand curve.
My problem is that I am not a Harley person and the ones I meet are so far removed from what I want out of motorcycling that I cant relate to them......and their wants. Now HERE is a Harley I would like to see retroed into a new model...look! The footpegs are actually below the seat!
qnla1j.jpg
 
Those $40,000 + CVO Harley’s are crazy overpriced IMO. Nice bikes but goodness that is a lot of cheese for a toy with two wheels and no roof.

The problem with Harley riders is that you cant jam them all in one box....I pass by Sturgis in my travels every year around the time of the "rally" or what ever it is and you see very expensive pickups towing very expensive toy haulers containing very expensive Harleys. Its more of a cult or religion to many but of many sects. And alot of the faith have lots of bucks as well as time to spend on their faith....somehow Harleys seem to hit a certain mark for folks from all around the world...but I cant relate as it misses all my marks.....but I will tell you one thing....driving and riding from Spokane to Oshkosh and points in between, what you see most of is Harleys. And Warren is probably right....the mass of used Harleys will keep the price down for new ones.....the only caveat with that is that Warren and I dont understand the Harley religeon so it could work the other way around....new Harleys that are desirable for the faithful could just end up driving DOWN the price of OLD ones....I got nothin'
 
Harley has been doing very well for quite a while. It is like a cult, not like an NT700 cult but a cult.
It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out in the future years.

Brad
 
I was at a Rally on the weekend in my neighbouring State of South Australia (700km/435 miles from home) and a funny Harley story happened soon after I arrived.
I was just starting to set up camp and I could hear another bike coming in the distance but it sounded really bad.
Keep in mind that I am a mechanic with nearly 50 years experience.
From about 300 yards away the noise was enough to stop me from pitching the tent and look in the direction of the noise.
Initially I could not see the bike through the trees but as it appeared I could see that it was a Harley.
Coincidentally, he came right over almost next to me to camp next to two other Harleys.
As a Non-Harley person I am not familiar with the models but it was a 6 year old bike (I found out later) with an 883 engine. It has 44,ooo km (27,ooo miles) on the clock.
The knocking (banging) noise from the engine was unbelievably loud and from 6 feet away you could smell the heat coming off the engine.
It was about 12 degrees C (53F) at the time but the engine was HOT!
Without meaning to offend the owner I must say that he was none too bright as when I asked him how long it had been making the noise he said "for about the last 10 minutes of the trip. As I was nearly here I thought that I would keep going".
The oil light had been on for that same period!
When it had cooled, he checked the oil and it was still near full. Obviously something with the lube system, probably the pump or drive, has failed.
He asked me if I thought that he would be able to ride it back to Adelaide which is 160km (100 miles).
I told him that I thought that he would be lucky to get from the campsite back to the highway (1.5 miles).
He arranged for a friend to come from Adelaide the next morning with a trailer and take it home.
It will no doubt be an expensive rebuild.
I have a picture of the bike on the trailer if that would help anyone here to identify it. I have not yet downloaded it from the camera.

Macka
 
If it was an 883, it was some sort of Sportster. Here in the US, the big time Harley boyz consider it a "girl's bike".

Mike
 
[...Here in the US, the big time Harley boyz consider it (883) a "girl's bike"...Mike]


Yeah, there is nothing like the boyz riding a large H-D at 10-15 mph below the posted speed limit, while making as much bleeping noise as possible going through town!
 
If it was an 883, it was some sort of Sportster. Here in the US, the big time Harley boyz consider it a "girl's bike".

Mike

The owner is a physically small man and has a very gentle nature.
Perhaps they are a good pair?

I have once had a bit of a drag race from the traffic lights on my NT against a 1200 which I believe may have been a Sportster and was surprised that I was in front at 80 kph (50mph) at which time I backed-off and slowed down as I was already 20kph over the speed limit.
I don't know the ability of the Harley owner.
I was fully loaded with camping gear on my way home from a Rally and I was trying pretty hard to win but was surprised that I did.
I could hear the Harley just behind me and believe that the rider was trying pretty hard too!

Macka
 
That 1200CC Sportster is about the same HP as the NT and it weighs more. Unless performance kits are put on them most Harley engines are dogs compared to the amount of CC they have. Of course to be fair they are not designed to be performance machines.
 
I was at a Rally on the weekend in my neighbouring State of South Australia (700km/435 miles from home) and a funny Harley story happened soon after I arrived.
I was just starting to set up camp and I could hear another bike coming in the distance but it sounded really bad.
Keep in mind that I am a mechanic with nearly 50 years experience.
From about 300 yards away the noise was enough to stop me from pitching the tent and look in the direction of the noise.
Initially I could not see the bike through the trees but as it appeared I could see that it was a Harley.
Coincidentally, he came right over almost next to me to camp next to two other Harleys.
As a Non-Harley person I am not familiar with the models but it was a 6 year old bike (I found out later) with an 883 engine. It has 44,ooo km (27,ooo miles) on the clock.
The knocking (banging) noise from the engine was unbelievably loud and from 6 feet away you could smell the heat coming off the engine.
It was about 12 degrees C (53F) at the time but the engine was HOT!
Without meaning to offend the owner I must say that he was none too bright as when I asked him how long it had been making the noise he said "for about the last 10 minutes of the trip. As I was nearly here I thought that I would keep going".
The oil light had been on for that same period!
When it had cooled, he checked the oil and it was still near full. Obviously something with the lube system, probably the pump or drive, has failed.
He asked me if I thought that he would be able to ride it back to Adelaide which is 160km (100 miles).
I told him that I thought that he would be lucky to get from the campsite back to the highway (1.5 miles).
He arranged for a friend to come from Adelaide the next morning with a trailer and take it home.
It will no doubt be an expensive rebuild.
I have a picture of the bike on the trailer if that would help anyone here to identify it. I have not yet downloaded it from the camera.

Macka

Good story! My idiot brother blew up a VW Van (with me in it) the same way. Maybe the High school ciriculam should be changed a bit to teach common car sense....
Chris getting to Australia some day
 
If you ride a Sportster, is it also mandatory to dress like The Village People, or is that only required on the "big" bikes?

LMAO! Yes, you have to dress like a pirate and blip the throttle without mufflers so everyone looks at you...and have a skull on you bike so people are afraid of you.
To heck with comfort and saftey. No helmet and make sure your face and arms are subject to getting hit with bugs.....sunscreen is for sissies.....and set up your bike so
you look like you are sitting in a gynecological chair.....
Village People...you crack me up! :rofl1:
 
The owner is a physically small man and has a very gentle nature.
Perhaps they are a good pair?

I have once had a bit of a drag race from the traffic lights on my NT against a 1200 which I believe may have been a Sportster and was surprised that I was in front at 80 kph (50mph) at which time I backed-off and slowed down as I was already 20kph over the speed limit.
I don't know the ability of the Harley owner.
I was fully loaded with camping gear on my way home from a Rally and I was trying pretty hard to win but was surprised that I did.
I could hear the Harley just behind me and believe that the rider was trying pretty hard too!

Macka

Village People! "YYYYYYYYMCA!" I love that song! Now I cant get it out of my head.....
 
[...Here in the US, the big time Harley boyz consider it (883) a "girl's bike"...Mike]


Yeah, there is nothing like the boyz riding a large H-D at 10-15 mph below the posted speed limit, while making as much bleeping noise as possible going through town!

"Like" button 12 times. Some Dude with a haughty arrogant look blipping his throttle without pipes and saying "Look at me! We Baddddddddd....." Maybe we should all carry a baby rattle and offer it to them?
 
Good one Chris!

I always thought that they had some form of mental illness.
How else do we explain their fixation about drawing attention to themselves like that?

I have a neighbor who had a harley.
I would see him in his driveway polishing it when I left for a ride on my NT.
I would return after two hours and he would still be polishing.
He would comment that his bike looked nice.
I would comment that mine just went through three counties.
 
I always like the 'loud pipes save lives!' argument. Apparently all the Honda and BMW riders don't consider safety, because they like quieter bikes....?

With the Harleys and the crotch-rocket donor-mobile sport bikes with loud pipes, it's all about attitude and ego. You can't fool us.

Not that the guys on this forum don't have an attitude......but it's more like Grandpa from the Simpsons..... :-D
 
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