How can Harley Davidson appeal to younger riders? + Poll.

[Monkfish]

Pointless comparisons....

Its arguable that while HD have never much been affected by these trends as they have usually had a distinct fan base. However times are tough and you can't help but wonder if any maker is wise to have just a premium brand in its portfolio. While they can attract some new riders with models like the 48 etc they will never pick up any sales in the new trends segments.

In my opinion the bike HD really missed the boat on when retiring Buell was the Uylsses... Updated and tweaked they would be selling well at the moment.

Agreed.

however here is a good, pointless comparison, on some of the bikes mentioned in this thread.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/10/162...onneville.aspx

Bit long, but good reading for conversations sake.

As mentioned else where in this thread Harley's answer to attracting younger riders is the 883 sporty.

[ducatilover]

All I can quote is lap times. I've done 1 min 19 flat round Manfeild on my Twinsport 883.

Could you set a lap on my slow old tank for me one day? I doubt I could get it around that fast

[AllanB]

I had shit loads of fun on a Honda 50 step-through when I was 16.

[Voltaire]

hmm 10kNZ for a Bonnie/883 vs 15kNZ here..... postage must be a killer.

[Big Dave]

step-through

REAL kids rode CLs

[idb]

REAL kids rode CLs

Or RVs
.......

[Smifffy]

Maybe something like this?

http://www.bikeexif.com/dual-sport-m...28Bike+EXIF%29

[scumdog]

Maybe something like this?

http://www.bikeexif.com/dual-sport-m...28Bike+EXIF%29

Ripper!

[avgas]

In my opinion the bike HD really missed the boat on when retiring Buell was the Uylsses... Updated and tweaked they would be selling well at the moment.

In a market full of Yamaha's, Triumphs and BMW's.............if they were lucky at best the Buell Uylsses could do is catch the Aprilla breadcrumbs.
Unless by update you mean take $5000 off the price tag.

What they should have done is not sold a bike at all but parts. There were truckloads of custom designers out there wanting either performance V-Twins or the blast motors. Now they have moved to other manufacturers.

Eric saying he wasn't going to make the Blast (.....in public.......by crushing one into a cube and saying it was the worst motorcycle in the world) was the equivalent to Colgate saying they aren't going to sell toothpaste.
It may not be exciting. But never shoot the cash cow.

At least 4 manufacturers have tries to buy the dies to the blast engine. HD won't sell them or make them. Even told Mac's to fuck off elsewhere.

HD are not interested in getting new riders. They would build a mobility scooter before they build a small nimble bike.

[Ocean1]

In a market full of Yamaha's, Triumphs and BMW's.............if they were lucky at best the Buell Uylsses could do is catch the Aprilla breadcrumbs.
Unless by update you mean take $5000 off the price tag.

Pretty sure the last real-season price for a Uly was well more than $5k less than the closest model Ape's.

And none of them are very close.

And none of them are well supported.

[scumdog]

I had shit loads of fun on a Honda 50 step-through when I was 16.

And I had a shit load of fun with the owner of a Suzuki 50 step-through when I was 20...

[granstar]

Me too, but hers was a road bike ...Suzuki A 50 that is Flatmate had a Hilda 50 step thru and had to borrow it a few times when the Triumph was on rags, bloody long way to work on that wee thing, and even longer home after work and the pub.


Good point that Harley may not care to change to other customer markets, they do in reality have a home market of middle aged persons with pockets full of dosh, probably keeps the wheels rolling out the sheds, the bikes are suited to to U.S roads as well, so why downsize. Unlikely Japan would have enough big people that could own a Harley, and China a hog would take up 10 parking spaces that 20 families could have used.

[Crasherfromwayback]

WOW, I was looking at the lap times for last year of the CMCRR and your 3 seconds ahead faster than the Triumph Trident ( on meths), 850 Moto Guzzi and 12 seconds up on the XLCH 900. , you should come classic racing.

I'd love to mate...as I love classic bikes of all sorts. But I've got so much money tied up in my vintage Moto-X bikes right now...that I can't do the road racing side of it as well.

If you know someone that has a bike that needs to be raced due to their rider being unavailable for whatever reason....give me a shout!

[scumdog]

Unlikely Japan would have enough big people that could own a Harley, and China a hog would take up 10 parking spaces that 20 families could have used.

My H-D T-Sport is ex-Japan - it arrived in NZ with a shit-load of other H-Ds from there.

Along with Ducatis etc.

[avgas]

I think HD has a huge market in Japan from recall. Can't remember the exact figures but something like 3rd largest.

Shinya seems to have a lot to play with.