This has been an interesting thread discussion to read so far. Every one of you brings up good and valid points.
I'm still waiting for my '15 to leave me stranded or really disappointed (or both), but I only have 4,000 miles on it so far in 4 months. Now, as I write that and look at those words and the meaning behind them, isn't it sad that I put it that way? It's almost like I'm just waiting on a failure with the bike, and in a way...I am. Why? Notoriety. Harley doesn't need better or more ads or marketing schemes, they need to elminate the bad press and hard feelings. Forums like these are replete with guys who are having problems or letdowns with their new bikes. The word is out there for anyone to read, and I know folks believe that the MoCo reads these forums, but if they do...it makes you wonder what their thoughts are about our posts, and how much weight they actually put on them.
It would be different if all these posts on all these forums that describe bad things that are happening to relatively new bikes were being made by guys with their first or second Harley, but many if not most of us are on our number X Harley. We're brand loyal. We love our bikes and the heritage and legacy that goes with them. We want the MoCo to succeed.
But tell me something...if you were running your own business and you had a constant barrage from the "old faithful" customers talking to you about your product and what's weak about it and even how to fix it, what would you do? Advertise more? Run more glitzy ads or campaigns? I think not!
My '07 had 40,000 miles on it when it was totalled and it never let me down. It had me feeling like it was always going to be dependable and there for me. But when I read all the letters on this forum about the '15 RGU's it makes me wonder when it will be my time for a quality or premature wear problem to surface with my very expensive but prone to have problems bike.
The Rushmore idea looked good in the marketing realm, and many of us were initially hopeful about it, but now, many of us who have '14's or '15's are highly skeptical or dubious about the benefits Rushmore actually brought to the table. I am one of them. To me it was smoke and mirrors, with some "benefits" thrown in for good measure.
But guys, when you produce and sell as many bikes as Harley has in the last 15 years or so, why the heck weren't those "benefits" or improvements long developed and established in bikes long ago? Why wouldn't you be ensuring the longevity of the brand with a quality product, plus great service and loyalty from dealers instead of hype like Rushmore brought to the table, and dealers who truly deserve the name stealers?
It's not a joke with us, Harley. It never has been. We want you to be a profitable and successful company, and we want you to be there for another hundred years.
All we really want in return is a bike that was designed and built with love and care and concern and honor and the same heritage and legacy and dignity we've come to associate with your brand, and then we'll be just fine with that $40,000 we paid for the privilege.
And everyone's entitled to their opinion, but in my mind until that happens, the MoCo's lost the formula...or worse, they've consciously chosen a path that takes them away from that formula.