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[CVOStreetglide]

More bad HARLEY sales news.

https://apnews.com/1188a04313054037a11f51ebb5a253c9

[Daniellee]

Looks like your ready for a new CVO . I just got mine a few months ago so I'm good.

[muddypaws]

Harley waited a bit to long to get more riders..

[ultrarider123]

Knoxville West is just about ready for opening their school.  Statistics show on average for every ten folks that take the Harley training, two purchase bikes from the teaching dealership.  So if you go with training 50 a month, that's potentially an increase of 10 more bike sales.  That's a dang good increase plus it helps bring more traffic into the brick and mortar store (parts, accessories, clothing, helmets, etc).  Makes very good financial sense....IF the stats hold true.

[JCZ]

Haird does your dealership's riding school train 50 people a month?  Based on what I've seen at several large dealerships in California, that number seems high.  In San Diego those classes (every other weekend.....so twice a month) are only 8-10 people a class.  And that translate only to the largest dealerships/riding schools across the nation and for much of the country, only in the summer months.  California and Florida are probably the only two states that are doing riding schools this time of year.

I remember when Willie G intoduced the V rod at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City (during the Sturgis Rally) years ago.  It was supposed to be geared towards the younger market.  Those came and went, without achieving their intended goal.

[FLSTFI Dave]

I would say Smokey Mountain trains 70 to 80 a month.  From March through October the classes are sold out about a month or two ahead of time.  They run a class almost every week end, skipping Memorial day, and Laborday.  They can handle 24 per class.

Im sure it helps there bike sales.  My wife bought a new 2007 sportster the week after she graduated class.  Then an 09 Heritage, then an 11 street glide, a 13 Street glide, a 15 Road glide and now a 17 road glide, actually her second one as she totaled the first 17 road glide.

[ultrarider123]

JC, I'd say it will be a slow start but knowing what Dave stated above being true, it's very doable for the 50/month in our part of the world.  I pushed one of my work associates to SMHD for rider training in 2016.  There was a waiting list for an opening.  SMHD has one heck of a dealership for the training.  Knoxville West (now Bootlegger) has a much larger lot being prepared for the course but their dealership isn't quite as large or well set up as Scott's place in Maryville (Smokey Mountain HD) but yep, 50 a month is a good start.

[Ironhorse]

Harley has to find new riders, and those classes are a great tie in. But for myself, I am not in the market for another Harley, gonna keep what I got. When I do buy another bike, most likely that new GoldWing, I'll keep the Harley. And, like most of us all my work is done by an independent, Metal Dragon. Jim does much better work than any dealership, is reasonable and trustworthy. Most of the dealerships I've been to have a few good mechanics, but the rest are "fresh kids" who replace parts instead of diagnosing and repairing.

[J.D.]

I'm with ya.  With the ongoing reliability issues, and regular tales of friction with dealerships and MoCo reps, I really think I have purchased my last Harley.  There's really no marketing or sales pitch that is going to sway that decision.

If/when reliability and customer service both become world class, who knows.

[scottt]

I'm with ya.  With the ongoing reliability issues, and regular tales of friction with dealerships and MoCo reps, I really think I have purchased my last Harley.  There's really no marketing or sales pitch that is going to sway that decision.

If/when reliability and customer service both become world class, who knows.

Rode Harleys for 28 years, 12 new HD's. Generally loved the bikes, good times and riding brothers. As time moved on Harley became more corporate. Dealers built huge fancy facilities, some have said that they looked more like Macy's than a motorcycle dealer. One thing for sure, it became about one thing..how much $$$ they could extract from you.

I guess it was to be expected. They had more customers than bikes. Dealers had new overhead to cover along with much higher lifestyles they had acquired. I could see it as plain as day.

Harley Davidson has become a huge mass marketing machine. Selling a dream as much as motorcycles. Unfortunately, in my opinion, they haven't stayed competitive. Haven't focused enough on quality, and delivering a superior riding experience.

For me that is what it's all about, that feeling you get when a fine piece of machinery  running below you delivers on your every request.

My latest bike is not a Harley, but Yes, it has personality. It's the new 2018 BMW K1600b. With 160hp and 129lb of torque right off the showroom floor. Suspension that has to be ridden to appreciate. Electronically controlled. At the flip of a switch it adjust from 1up to 2up or with luggage. Traction control along with linked ABS brakes. With the push of a button I have reverse. A power windshield too. Constant front and rear tire pressure readout. Oil level readout, a keyless central locking system, heated seats and handgrip. The sound system option comes standard with satellite radio that includes 1 year service. If you add the GPS system as I did you get a Garmin unit that can be used in your car as well. Comes with lifetime free map updates.

Basically a good looking Bagger that's only 741lbs wet. Every time I ride I'm grinning ear to ear. It's like a Corvette Z06 on 2 wheels.

Just under 25k, nothing in the Harley lineup came close. I might add that my local BMW dealership treats me really well. It's more like the old time motorcycle dealerships I really enjoyed.

Apologize for the long post. If you see a black BMW bagger flying down the road, might be me



Sent from my SM-J327T using Tapatalk

[Twolanerider]

They ought to offer free rider training courses for newbies getting their first motorcycle certification then combine that a grand off a new bike purchased within six months of completing the course.  HD needs new blood.  Eventually the blood on the floor will be their own without it.

[FLSTFI Dave]

They ought to offer free rider training courses for newbies getting their first motorcycle certification then combine that a grand off a new bike purchased within six months of completing the course.  HD needs new blood.  Eventually the blood on the floor will be their own without it.

Smokey Mountain Harley applies the cost of the course to a new bike if you choose to purchase one from them.  I know they did, and pretty sure they still do.

Makes sense to do it this way, as it helps you get the sale, vice taking the course for free and buying else where.

[iski]

They ought to offer free rider training courses for newbies getting their first motorcycle certification then combine that a grand off a new bike purchased within six months of completing the course.  HD needs new blood.  Eventually the blood on the floor will be their own without it.

X2.  Plus more affordable, smaller bikes for new riders.

[Twolanerider]

X2.  Plus more affordable, smaller bikes for new riders.

But no training wheels.

[Twolanerider]

Smokey Mountain Harley applies the cost of the course to a new bike if you choose to purchase one from them.  I know they did, and pretty sure they still do.

Makes sense to do it this way, as it helps you get the sale, vice taking the course for free and buying else where.

Can see it either way.  The MoCo needs to significantly expand the pool of young/new riders.  MoCo might consider co-sponsoring rider training with dealerships to absorb some of the cost.  Train at a Harley shop likely more likely to later buy at a Harley shop.  Six months or two years; you want the association of riding and that shop in their head.  It's an investment or its advertising.