Will Victory ever be a threat to Harley?

[Maha]

When you buy a Harley you're not really just buying a bike. You enter a whole family, merchandising etc.

The average rider might discount this, especially in NZ, but certainly not in the USA.

I have the T-Shirt...

[Maha]

I'm going to give up being a troll

One thing that is lost on a harley purchase is, ones humour...

[ducatilover]

One thing that is lost on a harley purchase is, ones humour...

And ability to shave

[Maha]

And ability to shave

We'll get to the women later....

[Big Dave]

I have the T-Shirt...

Unfortunately it has a 'My Little Pony' motif.

[Maha]

Unfortunately it has a 'My Little Pony' motif.

With tassles as the mane, it looks killer as.

[The Lone Rider]

I will say one thing as I have not read all the rest...


Given Harleys have "always been around" and are "the american motorcycle" and can be picked up for as little as $2000USD second hand and in running condition,

I predict Victory will never gain the same ground. But do they really want to? They market as more of a premium amongst the premium.

Ie... you can have any old American vtwin... or you can have Victory.

[skippa1]

I will say one thing as I have not read all the rest...


Given Harleys have "always been around" and are "the american motorcycle" and can be picked up for as little as $2000USD second hand and in running condition,

I predict Victory will never gain the same ground. But do they really want to? They market as more of a premium amongst the premium.

Ie... you can have any old American vtwin... or you can have Victory.

yup, wel said

[Zamiam]

I have the T-Shirt...

PML I've got two!

[GrayWolf]

Harleys have been around for over 100 years and are as popular today as ever. They have outlasted many great compeditors...Indian comes to mind...Victory?...I doubt Willie G is losing any sleep over them.

except Husqvarna and Royal Enfield are both older as manufacturer's. Remember HD has been bailed out a few times by their govt over the years, had they not? HD would be among the 'dead ducks' of marque's. A lot of us old farts will remember the HD's of the late 60's early 70's they were FUCKING terrible heaps of SHITE, if you ever get a chance to ride an AMF era HD? Do it for the experience! it is the EVO engine that made HD 'popular' in the 1980's HD are in serious difficulty for sales, that is a printed fact/statement.. they are looking to 'international' sales to keep them ahead. The V rod was the bike that is/was supposed to attract those looking for a faster/sportier machine, yet in NZ/Aussie? They are not importing the XR1200, which is the best HD produced in My oipinion.
So please dont run away with the idea HD have always been the dogs bollox,,, by rights they should have gone the same way triumph/norton/villiers went in the 70's.

Victory is selling a motorcycle.

Harley-Davidson is selling a lifestyle and membership in a community......your ticket in just happens to be the bike.
Within the motorcycling community in many places(as well as here in NZ) Harley-Davidson IS the herd with quite significant market share....so it results in upstarts like Victory getting the odd bike on the road, but the odds of them achieving any kind of scale against HD is quite slim.

One of the most cheeky things I've ever seen was Indian Motorcycles parking up in front of the convention center where Harley was having their dealer meeting a few years ago to solicit dealers.

It was quite cheeky and smelled of desperation.

Just look at Ferrari....they make some hot cars.....but it's possible to build cars that are better, better looking, and cheaper.....but the odds of them gaining traction against the Ferrari Machine is approaching absolute zero in my lifetime.

Really Ferrari are the 'niche market machine' like you say Victory is to the HD. Ferrari is equalled/outperformed by Porsche as an example. Lambourghini/ferrari are small production manufactureres, porsche are mass produced. Therin lies the appeal of the Italian marques, exclusivity.. HD are now like assholes, they are everywhere and the bubble for HD WILL burst sooner rather than later I believe.

[Flip]

Some of us here just don't like the japs or jap vehicles. They could be better faster stronger, but they are just rice burers to me and I say "no thanks not interested".

[avgas]

More importantly will Harley ever get another race win.
The only other one they have ever had was the 250 GP many moons ago.

[Coolz]

More importantly will Harley ever get another race win.
The only other one they have ever had was the 250 GP many moons ago.

Thats because they build cruisers not sportbikes. They did however hold the land speed record for 20 years. Harleys are not my favorite bike but I don't hate them either and I think the world would be a much duller place without them.

[ratusratus]

Thats because they build cruisers not sportbikes. They did however hold the land speed record for 20 years. Harleys are not my favorite bike but I don't hate them either and I think the world would be a much duller place without them.

Thats dead bloody right mate

[ratusratus]

Some of us here just don't like the japs or jap vehicles. They could be better faster stronger, but they are just rice burers to me and I say "no thanks not interested".

at last the truth has been told