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[muddypaws]

Good read for Harley problems
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/25/actually-young-people-really-could-kill-harley-davidson.html

[Ironhorse]

There will be those who buy the small scooters, then embrace it, then move up to larger bikes. Maybe not Harley, but at least larger bikes. When they hit 45-55, they may consider the Harley.

[Royalroadie]

At the end of the article, it summed up Harley pretty well,  in Harley's own words.  They say they understand this new rider better than anyone!  Really?  They sure don't act like it!   It just came off as pompous words to me.

[iski]

In my teenage years I bought bikes for a sport - motocross & cross country stuff - and cheap transportation.  Harley was not a consideration because they were expensive compared to the bikes I was riding or looking to buy.  In my 40s I looked at bikes as more of a hobby & a different way to travel.  Harley was my first choice.  Not because they were cheap - there were not & are not - it's because Harley was well suited to what my biking needs were at the time. Now in my 60s am still riding Harleys. 

As to my next bike I really don't know. 

[Twolanerider]

In my teenage years I bought bikes for a sport - motocross & cross country stuff - and cheap transportation.  Harley was not a consideration because they were expensive compared to the bikes I was riding or looking to buy.  In my 40s I looked at bikes as more of a hobby & a different way to travel.  Harley was my first choice.  Not because they were cheap - there were not & are not - it's because Harley was well suited to what my biking needs were at the time. Now in my 60s am still riding Harleys. 

As to my next bike I really don't know.

Screw the "next bike."  I like my old ones.  Don't like the newer ones; or more accurately don't like the baggage attendant to their ownership.  Will maintain the beasts I've got as long I'm liable to be riding them. 

[dayne66]

Screw the "next bike."  I like my old ones.  Don't like the newer ones; or more accurately don't like the baggage attendant to their ownership.  Will maintain the beasts I've got as long I'm liable to be riding them. 

I think that's where I am also!

[iski]

Screw the "next bike."  I like my old ones.  Don't like the newer ones; or more accurately don't like the baggage attendant to their ownership.  Will maintain the beasts I've got as long I'm liable to be riding them.

Understand your point.  I like the newer models - comfort, more power, better handling, ABS, newfangled doo-dads (up to a point). Best Harley I have ever owned is the one I am on now.  Don't get attached to vehicles - goes for cars & trucks also.  They have a purpose in a time & after that...it's what is needed after that.

[J.D.]

Stock taking another severe beating today on sales numbers and outlook report.

[charles05663]

Here is an article from today from Bloomberg concerning HD.
Harley-Davidson Profit Is Wiped Out by President Trump’s Tariffs

 

[ultrafxr]

The proverbial s*** has finally hit the fan and it ain't pretty.  I hope they can hang in there albeit as a much smaller organization.  The last thing us Harley owners need down the road is orphaned models, non-available parts and fewer dealers with even less capable techs.  JMHO

[J.D.]

Here is an article from today from Bloomberg concerning HD.
Harley-Davidson Profit Is Wiped Out by President Trump’s Tariffs

 

Maybe not completely true.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/harley-davidson-was-hurt-more-by-recalls-than-tariffs-2019-01-29

[9 1/2 Beers]

Here is an article from today from " Bloomberg" concerning HD.
Harley-Davidson Profit Is Wiped Out by President Trump’s Tariffs

 

[charles05663]

Maybe not completely true.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/harley-davidson-was-hurt-more-by-recalls-than-tariffs-2019-01-29

Maybe a certain news source with the same name as possible presidential candidate is trying to undermine his possible opponent by throwing some spin into the article.

 

[mark]

Sales were trending down long before tariffs were initiated.  Stock down 38% in the past year.  Hostile takeover on the horizon. 

[dayne66]

Sales were trending down long before tariffs were initiated.  Stock down 38% in the past year.  Hostile takeover on the horizon. 

Maybe Daiwoo or some similarly unpronounceable name will take them over.  The it will be 100% no new Harley for me!

[Phantom309]

Maybe Daiwoo or some similarly unpronounceable name will take them over.  The it will be 100% no new Harley for me!

I sure hope if/whoever takes them over cleans house and actually knows what they're doing. If not, then they will only be diving deeper and deeper down the crapper. We all know that porcelain throne can only swallow so much chit before it clogs. Who is going to be the plunger??

I made myself a promise 5 years ago that this would be my last new HD and so far so good ... and I plan on sticking to that. They still haven't given me any reason to change that plan since the M8s have been in production. I have no desire to even try one out.   

[screem]

Screw the "next bike."  I like my old ones.  Don't like the newer ones; or more accurately don't like the baggage attendant to their ownership.  Will maintain the beasts I've got as long I'm liable to be riding them.

couldnt agree more.. the once in a blue moon when i do go into my local dealership, i dont see anything that gets my want meter pegged. i have had my SERG o/w/b since new, purchashed on 3/8/00, so i am coming up on 19 years of ownership and get memories, it will fall to my daughter to sell it after i am gone. the other bikes, which i love, will be sold at somepoint, i hope many years from now
   when i go to a fairly good sized bike night here in Fort Myers, 1000-1500 bikes typically, i dont see very many people below the age of 50, bike night features bands playing on various street corners.. all 60'-70's music.. i dont think we are welcoming or encouraging the under 50 crowd to join us... just my opinion

[Ironhorse]

Like it or not, electric IS the future. We all laughed at the early electric cars that came out, Hell we even laughed at the first water cooled motorcycles came out. But now days you can't drive across the state without seeing some type of electric vehicle or water cooled motorcycle.

I applaud HD for taking this bold step into the future. Hopefully they won't kill it like they did the V-Rod. Personally I don't think the V-Rod is gone forever. Hopefully they can repackage it into a touring frame and bring it back out in 4 or 5 years. That was my only complaint about it, no upright seating, no large bags, tour pack, fairing and floorboards. All that stuff had to come aftermarket.

[aclass]

Screw the "next bike."  I like my old ones.  Don't like the newer ones; or more accurately don't like the baggage attendant to their ownership.  Will maintain the beasts I've got as long I'm liable to be riding them.

I "like" your post TwoLane

[ultrarider123]

Like it or not, electric IS the future. We all laughed at the early electric cars that came out, Hell we even laughed at the first water cooled motorcycles came out. But now days you can't drive across the state without seeing some type of electric vehicle or water cooled motorcycle.

Mark, I agree with you in theory that electric is part of the future but do not agree it is "the" future.  While there are water cooled motorcycles now days, there are still quite a few air/oil cooled around.  Heck, Yamaha put an air cooled twin in their recent new touring bike and that thing is WAY big enough to handle a radiator.  Indian's big twins are air/oil while their Scouts are water cooled so while it's a great improvement on cooling and efficiency, there are also efficient air cooled options.  My question is what is the fascination with full electric?  Range and recharge time would be the number 1 and 2 issues with that on the bike and while you could do a hybrid gas/electric, it would be heavy until the technology can catch up.   I'm still not sold on why.  I have been around lots of motor heads in my time and I've yet to hear anything like "wow, that's a cool bike.  Bet it would be so much better if it were electric".  Maybe that discussion is different on the West coast?

I like innovation.  Fuel injection instead of the carburetor.  Radial tires instead of bias ply.  But the full electric deal as the be all and end all instead of burning dead dinosaurs?  I don't know...

Good discussion...sorry to have 

[Ironhorse]

Mark, I agree with you in theory that electric is part of the future but do not agree it is "the" future.  But the full electric deal as the be all and end all instead of burning dead dinosaurs?  I don't know...

I see your point and I agree. I don't see where electric will completely replace the internal combustion engine. but I do see trends. I know that some cities in Europe are limiting the number of internal combustion engines they allow "into the city" at certain times. Electric cars are allowed in. This is done to reduce congestion and pollution. But big diesel and gas engines are still needed to haul. I think exceptions are made for trade vehicles that haul tools, equipment and supplies.

Who knows, maybe it will become like the solid state transistor, and tube television. Still in use, but slowly surrendering to the microchip and LCD.

[FLSTFI Dave]

I am interested in the electric motorcycle.  I did a demo on the Live wire, instant torque.

However Harley is sadly missing the mark on it.  Cost is way to high, recharge time way to long, and range way to short. 

There are others on the market for 10K less, that charge quicker, and have a longer range.
https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-srf/

I like the Tesla.  But again, range is an issue for me.  Needs to be at least double.  They are very quick

[Ironhorse]

There are others on the market for 10K less, that charge quicker, and have a longer range.

That's always been an issue dating back to the 70s when the Japanese 750s and 1000s overtook HD on performance and reliability. So HD should be used to that by now.

[FLSTFI Dave]

That's always been an issue dating back to the 70s when the Japanese 750s and 1000s overtook HD on performance and reliability. So HD should be used to that by now.

And not learning from past mistakes is one of the reasons they are having issues..

The live wires is something I am interested in, but not at 1/3 more money for less range, and more charge time.

I am also very interested in the Pan America.  However I am afraid the BMW GS will cost less and perform way better.