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[Ironhorse]

It's not a Harley specific thing.

Like everyone else in this economy Harley is doing what it has to to survive. Folks are wary and just holding onto their money looking to see if things get better. The new tariffs, or import fees, import tax or whatever you want to call them should have helped Harley a little, but folks are just not buying like they used to. So reducing the line makes sense for now, and cutting the two most expensive models makes even more sense.  I'm surprised the CVO line hasn't come under the chopping block too.

I was at San Jose Harley last week and there were no used bikes to be seen, only new ones and the sales floor was packed. It used to be the outside sidewalk in front of the building was lined with used bikes,  Maybe they hadn't rolled them out of the service bays yet. This tells me that most folks are hanging onto to their current bikes and not trading up for new ones. As I was walking the showroom floor a salesman came over and asked me what my current bike is. I told him 2006 CVO Ultra with 111,000 miles on it.  He stood there eyes blinking for a second and then said, "Well either you're going to keep that one or it's time for a new one". I replied, "Of course I'm keeping it, but it's nice to window shop".


https://www.topspeed.com/harley-davidson-ultra-limited-road-glide-limited-discontinued/

[RivRaptor]

Stopped by a local dealer yesterday for some parts for the ladies bike and while perusing the inventory (they did have plenty of used bikes) the one CVO was a dark purple (nice color in person) SG.  I believe part of HDs problem is price, sticker was almost $47k with $4k markup & shipping, then add tax, license and b.s. fees your around $60k and god forbid you finance.  I don't know maybe I'm getting cheap in my older age, and I own some pricey  bikes but I don't see a big market or value for 60k to 70k 2 wheel, 2 cylinder machines.

[Ironhorse]

I believe part of HDs problem is price, sticker was almost $47k with $4k markup & shipping, then add tax, license and b.s. fees your around $60k and god forbid you finance. I don't see a big market or value for 60k to 70k 2 wheel, 2 cylinder machines.

You're right.  That's a lot of disposable or discretionary spending especially these days. You're in Rancho Cucamonga, which shop do you go to?

[kevin_n]

I won’t say that I won’t buy a new bike, but not anytime soon.  Between the new truck and a camper a few years ago, I enjoy having a bike that’s mine and paid for. I’ll just buy new parts for it and really make it mine. The wife really really likes the new mystic shift color but even she said the new bikes are a little pricey. She rides a 13 street glide and she decided she wants new bars so I will be trying to install those when it warms up. I told her if she wanted a new bikes are go for it. She responded saying no cause her bike will be set up exactly how she wants it and doesn’t want to start over.

[RivRaptor]

You're right.  That's a lot of disposable or discretionary spending especially these days. You're in Rancho Cucamonga, which shop do you go to?

Well since Pomona Valley closed we split between Laidlaws & Quaid we are about right in the middle, sucks because you can't really take side roads for a little putt on the weekend to the dealer, we hate freeways.  I was at Quaid yesterday.

[RivRaptor]

https://www.advrider.com/more-talk-about-harley-davidson-selling-its-most-profitable-asset-the-bank/

Some interesting moves

[SHRADER]

I’ve been looking to potentially acquire another motorcycle but it will not be a 2024 up with the big screen. I looked up what the infotainment screen costs and it’s $2600. The headlight assembly for a road glide is $1700.

I think Harley needs to get back to basics and quit loading up the machines with super expensive crap that might actually detract from the riding experience. I might be the minority but I ride to experience the peace of tooling down the road listening to the engine do its thing. If I want to listen to the radio, I’ll ride the truck.

[Eqcons]

I’ve been looking to potentially acquire another motorcycle but it will not be a 2024 up with the big screen. I looked up what the infotainment screen costs and it’s $2600. The headlight assembly for a road glide is $1700.

I think Harley needs to get back to basics and quit loading up the machines with super expensive crap that might actually detract from the riding experience. I might be the minority but I ride to experience the peace of tooling down the road listening to the engine do its thing. If I want to listen to the radio, I’ll ride the truck.

That's not quite the problem... HD are not loading up the machines with super expensive crap, they are loading them up with reasonably decent crap, for which they charge unbelievably high prices that bear zero relation to their costs.  Many people are no longer willing or in some cases able, to pay HD's prices.

Examples are in every thing that Harley sells.  Boots:
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/mens-tyson-leather-riding-boots/p/98619-14VM
$220 there ($325.00 here in the UK)

They are made by Bates, and these are identical, except no HD badge on the side:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006H1XBBQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
$77 and free shipping when I bought them.

Now HD will be paying a lot less than $77 for these, I'm sure, and their markup is not a reasonable amount to make a profit, but HUNDREDS of percent, to be paid by us, the gullible. That sort of ripoff markup applies to every single item, including bikes, that HD sells. As the older generation die out or stop riding, younger folks will not be buying into the HD lifestyle, and so will simply laugh at HD's prices; HD are a disaster waiting to happen, and it's of their own making. 

HD are killing the goose that laid the golden egg...

[mjb765]

When I saw the picture of the CVO Road Glide in Blue Streak I really wanted to take a look at it. Don't really need a new bike, but the color got me......then I saw the premium price for that color is $5k extra!!!  So even if the dealer sells at MSRP, that's over $50K for 2 wheels and an engine (without even a tour pack) ......decided not to go look.

[SHRADER]

Yeah Mike

Thats one I was kinda looking at along with a preowned white ST with 1261 miles. The one is too terribly overpriced the other sounds like a ticking time bomb with the 511 cam in it. Ive ridden two STs and both ticked something awful.

Then i looked up the prices I listed and I wouldnt touch either of them or a regular Street Glide or Road Glide.

Too bad they wont make another CVO Road King although it would probably be too much money even without the screen and with a 600 headlight.