well I don't know where you've been for the last decade or so, but they have been doing this same concept on every model for quite some time, the base color is changed with a common graphic which is specific for every year, those 4 bikes represent the 2015 CVO SG lineup oh and one 15 1/2 Carbon Crystal bastard child 
oH and by the way I'm from the 70's and I love my disco ball 
You actually answered a question of mine: I was wondering what age demographic was buying these bikes. Here is the reality of the 2015 CVO SG lineup:
In Southern California three local dealers had CVO Street Glides in stock (probably more, but these are the three I frequent): Pomona Valley had the UV Blue from August to May, they couldn’t sell it. They had two Carbon Crystals that corporate redesignated from Hard Candy, both Carbons sold before they hit the floor (one of those was mine). But they still couldn’t move that UV. Overwhelmed by customers who wanted the Carbon Crystal, the boys at Pomona Valley convinced the Sweetwater dealer in National City near the border to trade his Carbon Crystal for their UV. Of course, Pomona had the Carbon Crystal sold in advance so it never hit Pomona’s floor. I don’t know if Sweetwater sold the UV.
Quaid in Loma Linda had a UV bike in stock from August to May. I don’t know whether it sold. A Hard Candy scheduled for delivery in April was switched to a Carbon Crystal. Before I bought my Carbon, they were trying to convince me to buy this Hard Candy. Quaid happily sold that Carbon Crystal before arrival. I’m not sure whether that UV is still sitting on their floor.
Riverside has the UV and Hard Candy in stock neither of these colors is selling in this area. These are beautiful bikes, but finding buyers for them in beautiful sunny Southern California is tough. They did receive three Carbon Crystal bikes and all sold around their legitimate sibling bikes. Who knew being a “bastard child” was so profitable?
The Carbon Crystal seems to appeal to a broader demographic. In fact, there are at least two members on this site who purchased Hard Candy bikes who suffered from buyers’ remorse. One actually bought a Carbon Crystal after buying a Hard Candy that he found to be too much for his liking. Member 15CVOSG:
http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=99844.315.
For similar reasons, member ZVO is searching for a Carbon Crystal owner willing to swap tins with his Hard Candy:
http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=100043.msg1319411#msg1319411The Carbon Crystal replaced bikes on dealers’ delivery sheets at these three dealerships. There would be no logical business reason for this to have occurred if the four original 2015’s were selling. Corporate introduced this “bastard child” bike to sooth their dealers’ anger over the difficult to sell CVO SG’s. The dealers I personally talked with were mad as hell about their markets’ reaction to these original bikes.
I’ve read many speculative comments about the introduction of the Carbon Crystal as the solution to the paint and quality issues. I’m sure the majority of potential buyers didn’t know any of that existed, and I assure you those issues continued with the Carbon Crystal. The Carbon Crystal wasn’t intended to solve paint or quality issues, it was brought into this market to sell inventory. The production switch to the Carbon Crystal was a reaction to market conditions. It was the result of the 2012’s success and was a reaction that worked. The dealers in this region were able to move the Carbon Crystal inventory like they did in the good old days. Corporate adapted by painting the tins for existing inventory with a color scheme the market wanted. Times have changed and your age demographic (mine too) no longer drives market forces. We may have more disposable income, but the group behind us spends more and wants a different look, so to remain profitable business is going to give THEM what they want just the way they did for us at that age.
As for other’s comparisons to the 2015 having similar ghost flames as the 2012, that is an accurate comparison, the flames are very similar and the tank badges are exactly alike. The coveted HD logos on our clothes, helmets, motorcycles, etc. are also exactly alike. Does that make them dated? No, that’s brand recognition and it sells, similar to how the 2012 sold and the Carbon Crystal sells with real tank badges.
You may not like my analysis and I’m certain anyone else who owns one of these bikes will take offense to it. However, I’ve read and kept mostly silent over comments about the bike I own. Everyone has the right to express their opinion and this is mine. I don’t dislike the other four models, they’re just not right for me and obviously they didn’t sell to the degree corporate wanted. It’s not the first time HD introduced a mid-production alternative and it’s not because they just wanted to do something different, that’s too expensive. It was a necessity. Dealers were pleasantly caught by surprise when the bikes scheduled for delivery (the same bikes they couldn’t sell) were suddenly changed to Carbon Crystal. Yes, they did finish the delivery of several of the colors after a delay but I personally observed Hard Candy, UV and Starfire Black bikes changed on three dealers’ delivery sheets to Carbon Crystal. The dealer’s names and cities are listed above, call them if you doubt me.
I’m also from the ‘70’s and I don’t like disco, never did.
Author
Topic: Hard candy or carbon crystal? (Read 10860 times)