Harley in big financial trouble

[Cali261]

Every generation loves to shake their heads at younger generations. My father said me and my friends were lazy and did not care about getting ahead in this world. His father told him and his friends that they were a bunch of pot smoking, bandana wearing wannabe hippies who were doomed. Each generation also fears the next generation's ability to pay for their social security.

Well, most of us turned out fine, and so will these guys. Even if spoiled, the world will whip most of them into shape, just it did to me when my mom stopped doing my laundry and paying for my car insurance at age 23.

"The kids will be alright".

That being said, recreational vehicles tend to wax and wane. Didn't the motorcycle industry fear going out of business 30-40 years ago? It will always be around, manufacturers will adjust. If it goes away, it will go away due to market forces, which can be harsh.

I hope you are right that everything “will be alright”. It feels different this time though. The progressives, the hate for what the flag stands for, the hate for anyone that does not agree with the liberal point of view just scares me. It feels like the bigger threat might be here at home from the liberals and the media then from other countries. I hope I’m wrong on this one.

[Draxsr]

I hope you are right that everything “will be alright”. It feels different this time though. The progressives, the hate for what the flag stands for, the hate for anyone that does not agree with the liberal point of view just scares me. It feels like the bigger threat might be here at home from the liberals and the media then from other countries. I hope I’m wrong on this one.

You're not.

[opas ride]

Not to turn this into a political thread, but at 79 years old, I have seen this great country go from bad to worse and in my opinion, we are headed for a very uncertain future with these "radical left wing idiots" who don't know their ass from a "hot rock". If socialism is such a great idea to them they should all move to corrupt countries that are under this "bullshit" and see how well it does not work!!....Regards

[f6byellow]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/harley-da...161322886.html

[pdxstriper]

Every generation loves to shake their heads at younger generations. My father said me and my friends were lazy and did not care about getting ahead in this world. His father told him and his friends that they were a bunch of pot smoking, bandana wearing wannabe hippies who were doomed. Each generation also fears the next generation's ability to pay for their social security.

Well, most of us turned out fine, and so will these guys. Even if spoiled, the world will whip most of them into shape, just it did to me when my mom stopped doing my laundry and paying for my car insurance at age 23.

"The kids will be alright".

That being said, recreational vehicles tend to wax and wane. Didn't the motorcycle industry fear going out of business 30-40 years ago? It will always be around, manufacturers will adjust. If it goes away, it will go away due to market forces, which can be harsh.

Student loans are a factor affecting lots of recreational products. These loans often run 10 years or more, and soak up discretionary funds that could otherwise go to bikes, boats, etc.

[tenxxx]

This time we have a president who will do something to stop the socialist movement.
Thats why they are going nuts. They had a free ride till now.
They have been brain washing our kids for 40 years. And we just sat back and let them.
A lot of our generational stuff will fall by the way side. But hopefully new tech will replace it.
I want a hover bike.
The F6Hb !!

[F6Dave]

This has been coming for years. Since the late 60s, the motorcycle industry's fortunes have depended heavily on the baby boomer generation. Business in the 70s was great, then cooled in the 80s as boomers had families. Harley didn't fare well in those days because affordable, faster bikes from Japan were so popular.

When the boomers reentered the market, they bought bikes aimed at older riders, so Harley and BMW saw sales numbers like they'd never seen before. But now these old riders are retiring, riding less, or not at all. Harley sales are falling, and I'm sure others will too. When I go to a rally and a guy pushing 40 gets the 'youngest rider' award, I know the industry has big problems ahead! I'm pleasantly surprised we still have so many great bikes to choose from, but we may someday look back on these days as a 'golden age'.

[Travelor]

I know Harley has financial issues, but BMW had a very good year in 2018. Sales are up already this year. My local Honda dealer is pushing me hard to trade up to the new "F6B", he has 2018 models on the floor with a 2,000 (I think) factory incentive. I think Honda miscalculated with the new Wing - there was a lot of pent up demand that didn't materialize into sales when the new model was introduced. Just doesn't live up to the expectations.

[F6Dave]

These numbers tell a lot of the story. The median age of motorcycle riders in the USA:

1990: 32
2009: 40
2017: 47

Median age of Sturgis attendees in 2012: 58!

[opas ride]

These numbers tell a lot of the story. The median age of motorcycle riders in the USA:

1990: 32
2009: 40
2017: 47

Median age of Sturgis attendees in 2012: 58!

Good observation and most likely one of the main factors of the reduced sales of larger bikes...Also, in my opinion, bikes as well as cars, have become so "0ver Priced" in an effort to keep CEO's salaries at ridiculous levels and the Board of Directors happy that younger and older folks are spending money on other things...Regards