by smackeyacky
2 subcomments
- Harley backed themselves into a niche and only have themselves to blame. I ride motorcycles but have zero interest in Harley’s because most of the riders seem to be cosplaying a 1%er vibe that is off putting in the extreme.
The clothing lines are a giveaway as to who their market is.
I divide riders into Harley enthusiasts and everybody else. People who like motorcycles generally have wide tastes or at least can appreciate all kinds of bikes. Harley riders wobble to a stop outside a bar and pretend to be hard men.
- They are too expensive for younger generations, too unreliable for people without tools and a garage and mechanical experience along with crazy expensive parts, and the old people who still love Harleys are now old enough that riding a motorcycle is treacherous at best because age reduces both balance and strength which are important factors in safely riding a motorcycle in anything but the most ideal conditions.
Also, single pin crank engines are essentially obsolete but that is the distinctive sound of Harleys. So they can't change the motor without losing customers, but also that engine is a dead-end for use in most any other application too. Double pin cranks are superior in basically every way with better performance, better efficiency, and less vibration.
- I don't think GenZ and Millennials have the expendable income. Between college debt and a house mortgage the extra money just isn't there, even if they find the Harley's attractive.
- harley engines, are about low end torque, in a small form.
HD would probably do good with a line of generator products if they still wanted to do business, and work with alternate fuels.
by richardatlarge
1 subcomments
- I'm not sure the numbers support the dire title. A five percent decline ?
by fred_is_fred
0 subcomment
- Harley is in a tough position. Despite the marketing it's mainly for people 55+ who make a good salary. The joke was always that if you lost a fight to someone on a Harley at least they could fix your teeth (since they're all dentists). As someone who's well on his way to 55+ there isn't anything less cool on the planet than a brand for the olds. It's the Buick of motorcycles.
- oh no! custom exhaust noise lost /s
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