Harley Woes

I posted this on the Valkyrie (VRCC) site and started an interesting conversation so I'll post it here, too. I was having my truck serviced last week and walked to a nearby Honda dealer while I waited. I talked to a salesman I've known for a long time and asked him about the row of about a dozen used Harley Davidsons on the floor. He said they had an agreement with a finance company to take their repossessed Harleys. Apparently, the H-D dealers don't want them as they are having too much trouble selling new motorcycles.

How things have changed! Just 15 or so years ago you could buy a new Harley, ride it for a year, then sell it for a profit. Today some dealers won't even take a trade.

But Harley isn't alone. The same salesman said they used to sell a few dozen small Hondas right before Christmas, but these days they're lucky to sell 2 or 3. And a salesman at another Honda dealer told me of a Saturday in the 1980s when they delivered 11 new Goldwings. They would have delivered an even dozen but one owner couldn't get to the dealership before closing time.

I'm amazed we still have such a large selection of excellent motorcycles to choose from. But I get this feeling that in a decade or so the motorcycle marketplace won't be so broad, and we'll look back at this time as the 'good old days'.

I feel the Motorcycle industry like any other business that has cycles where business is good and time it is not so good. The 90"s saw some pretty slow sales also.

People that are my age when I first threw leg over a motorcycle would rather ride an electric scooter, that's why all these companies are springing up everywhere...(Bird, Lime).

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Originally Posted by Cali261

People that are my age when I first threw leg over a motorcycle would rather ride an electric scooter, that's why all these companies are springing up everywhere...(Bird, Lime).

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Right on my friend!!..These damn things are "popping up" like rabbits all over Detroit and surrounding areas......Times are a changing as my Grandfather used to say.....Regards

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Originally Posted by F6Dave

I posted this on the Valkyrie (VRCC) site and started an interesting conversation so I'll post it here, too. I was having my truck serviced last week and walked to a nearby Honda dealer while I waited. I talked to a salesman I've known for a long time and asked him about the row of about a dozen used Harley Davidsons on the floor. He said they had an agreement with a finance company to take their repossessed Harleys. Apparently, the H-D dealers don't want them as they are having too much trouble selling new motorcycles.

How things have changed! Just 15 or so years ago you could buy a new Harley, ride it for a year, then sell it for a profit. Today some dealers won't even take a trade.

But Harley isn't alone. The same salesman said they used to sell a few dozen small Hondas right before Christmas, but these days they're lucky to sell 2 or 3. And a salesman at another Honda dealer told me of a Saturday in the 1980s when they delivered 11 new Goldwings. They would have delivered an even dozen but one owner couldn't get to the dealership before closing time.

I'm amazed we still have such a large selection of excellent motorcycles to choose from. But I get this feeling that in a decade or so the motorcycle marketplace won't be so broad, and we'll look back at this time as the 'good old days'.

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Age and disposable income drive the industry.

Most every major city is experiencing housing affordability, so for many young families there's not a lot of money left over to throw at a motorcycle. Many [calm down, not all] current cruiser clientele are old geezers that couldn't swing a leg over a garden hose so what they own now will likely be their last big bike...:duck:

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Originally Posted by unsub

Age and disposable income drive the industry.

Most every major city is experiencing housing affordability, so for many young families there's not a lot of money left over to throw at a motorcycle. Many [calm down, not all] current cruiser clientele are old geezers that couldn't swing a leg over a garden hose so what they own now will likely be their last big bike...:duck:

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Oh, swing their leg OVER a garden hose....
I was thinking I couldn't swing my leg with my 'garden hose'.......

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Originally Posted by DMAGOLDRDR

I feel the Motorcycle industry like any other business that has cycles where business is good and time it is not so good. The 90"s saw some pretty slow sales also.

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I remember that. I recall reading that motorcycle sales peaked around 1990 or 1991, then dropped for several years. I think the explanation was that baby boomers were having families, and motorcycles had to make way for minivans. It bounced back as the kids grew up and the families had disposable income. That fueled a later boom in Beemers, Goldwings, and Harleys for older guys with more to spend.

This time around I fear the drop in sales is due to aging riders, and there may not be a rebound. Except maybe for trikes!

The introduction of the cell phone has upped the risk management of riding and could be another detractor to cycle riding.

Might be missing something here.....
It's the parents, they are not parenting...
Way back when...... my father taught me how to:
Change a car tire, auto maintenance and repair
Cut the lawn, Shovel the Snow, rake the leaves......
Go camping, pitch a tent, start a fire with sticks......
Firearm safety, Archery, Hunt Deer on Opening Day, gut a deer, and process the meat...
Clean the gutters, paint the garage.....
Play baseball, play football, play hockey....
Ride a motorcycle...

Parents today are are simply not parenting.
If parents only did their job, our country would still be Great, and no need to "Make America Great Again."
....and we'd have kids who would actually want to ride instead of playing video games or deciding what restroom to use...

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Originally Posted by 53driver

Oh, swing their leg OVER a garden hose....
I was thinking I couldn't swing my leg with my 'garden hose'.......

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Forest Service Fire Management could've used your talents last summer!

I just read on Yahoo that Harley is recalling 178,000 units to fix the clutches. That should help the situation.

Harley will stick to their old ways to the bitter end. They do try to keep up with the tech. But there is only so much you can do.
They may eventually be like Tesla.

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Originally Posted by tenxxx

Harley will stick to their old ways to the bitter end. They do try to keep up with the tech. But there is only so much you can do.
They may eventually be like Tesla.

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Harley is “Turning the page” in an attempt to appeal to younger riders.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...tion-of-riders

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Originally Posted by Cali261

Harley is “Turning the page” in an attempt to appeal to younger riders.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...tion-of-riders

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I think they're all doing that to some degree. The new Wing is one of several Hondas aimed at younger riders. Surely everyone in the industry is aware of the demographic shifts shrinking their customer base.

I don't know how successful these new bikes are. Personally, when I'm out on the road I hardly see any of them, nor do I see many young riders.

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Originally Posted by 1911

Might be missing something here.....
It's the parents, they are not parenting...
Way back when...... my father taught me how to:
Change a car tire, auto maintenance and repair
Cut the lawn, Shovel the Snow, rake the leaves......
Go camping, pitch a tent, start a fire with sticks......
Firearm safety, Archery, Hunt Deer on Opening Day, gut a deer, and process the meat...
Clean the gutters, paint the garage.....
Play baseball, play football, play hockey....
Ride a motorcycle...

Parents today are are simply not parenting.
If parents only did their job, our country would still be Great, and no need to "Make America Great Again."
....and we'd have kids who would actually want to ride instead of playing video games or deciding what restroom to use...

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Kids? Unfortunately grown men would rather play video games or stare at their phone 24/7. I'm amazed when I'm out and about how many people can't put that little screen away for anything.

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Originally Posted by F6Dave

I think they're all doing that to some degree. The new Wing is one of several Hondas aimed at younger riders. Surely everyone in the industry is aware of the demographic shifts shrinking their customer base.

I don't know how successful these new bikes are. Personally, when I'm out on the road I hardly see any of them, nor do I see many young riders.

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I have not seen "one" new 2018 GW on the road anywhere in Michigan yet...The same one's that were on the floor at my dealer last Spring are still sitting there except for one silver basic model.......

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Originally Posted by Ewreck

Kids? Unfortunately grown men would rather play video games or stare at their phone 24/7. I'm amazed when I'm out and about how many people can't put that little screen away for anything.

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I know. I stopped at a nearby bar for a Coors last week. I remember when guys at a bar would talk about things like sports, or cars, or motorcycles. Now they are all looking at their phones. So much for socializing at the neighborhood tavern!

We live in a really "sick society" anymore....Technology is going to eat us up and spit us out!!!...It is really a sad state of affairs when one thinks about what is really going on with people that are "addicted" to video games and smart/dumb phones....Regards

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Originally Posted by opas ride

We live in a really "sick society" anymore....Technology is going to eat us up and spit us out!!!...It is really a sad state of affairs when one thinks about what is really going on with people that are "addicted" to video games and smart/dumb phones....Regards

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Saw a news story the other night where Silicon Valley Executives send their kids to schools that prohibit tablets and screens and teach the old fashioned way, real books, real paper and real pencils. If the silicon valley execs keep it from their kids, that should be telling us something.

Kids are not taught cursive any more, can't read or write it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXXJUwqG-Pc

why-tech-moguls-send-their-kids-to-anti-tech-schools-2017-11

'Harley Davidson: The most efficient way to convert gasoline into noise without the byproduct of horsepower.'

Im gonna quote you Dave. Ive owned 4. Never again. Just a comment about the new wing. They made a mistake cutting the storage down on the new ones in my opinion and from what I read Im not the only one who feels that way. Appealing to the younger crowd isnt where most of there sales in the past come from. The younger crowd and now alot of the older crowd are into there cell phones. As you mention go to the bar or restaurant and everyone has there face in there cell phones. What a nice evening with the wife take her out to eat and just look at your cell phone. Not to mention when you are waiting at stop light especially if its a short cycling light people have there face in there cell phone instead of paying attention to the light. Some people would actually like to get where they are going. Al

I completely agree about the luggage space on the new Wing. It's pretty much a deal breaker for me, even though I love the DCT and 'forkless' from suspension.

My F6B has much less space than my old Valkyrie Tourer. I've had to adjust by carrying less on a trip and packing more carefully. With another reduction in space you couldn't carry much more than a change of underwear and a toothbrush -- that's not what Goldwing riders have come to expect!

Perhaps Harley should diversify. When Gold Wing sales hit a low, Honda sells three business jets.

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Originally Posted by F6Dave

I know. I stopped at a nearby bar for a Coors last week. I remember when guys at a bar would talk about things like sports, or cars, or motorcycles. Now they are all looking at their phones. So much for socializing at the neighborhood tavern!

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And the bartenders aren't any better. As soon as they serve their customers, they pull out their phones again, until a customer hollers at them.