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

[Brett]

Further to a post I placed under the General section, I would love some feedback from the Hogs/cruiser riders on here...Very simply...what can Harley Davidson do, in your opinion, to appeal to younger riders (say...sub 30)? Also, if you're a HD rider...how old are you?

[AllanB]

Some of the Sportster models are very horny looking rides. They need to be cheaper if you want to get a younger person into them.

If you are 20 or so why would you drop $16k or so on a single seat low powered motorcycle when you can buy a high performance import car that holds 8 (I'm allowing for two in the boot as long as it is not full of fucking amps and speakers)?

[madandy]

Put a v- rod engine in something like a street tripple.

[Brett]

Some of the Sportster models are very horny looking rides. They need to be cheaper if you want to get a younger person into them.

If you are 20 or so why would you drop $16k or so on a single seat low powered motorcycle when you can buy a high performance import car that holds 8 (I'm allowing for two in the boot as long as it is not full of fucking amps and speakers)?

And how do you convince them to get a bike license and ride bikes instead of/as well as drive a car? It seems us bike riders are a shrinking minority! As a 29 year old, I have been considering a cruiser type bike now for some time (as well as a sportsbike) but in all honesty, a HD bike has not crossed my mind once! The bikes I have been looking at are cafe racer type bikes (Triumph, Norton, Motoguzi, some of the Jappers...) something a bit funky, cool and with more 'character' as I perceive it.

[Brett]

Put a v- rod engine in something like a street tripple.

I LOVE this idea...honestly I do!

Aside from being a cool idea for a bike...why do you think that this is a good idea - why would it appeal to younger riders? Are you saying the bikes are the cause of the age barrier issue or is it something fundamentally to do with their brand?

[AllanB]

There is no incentive for them to ride a motorcycle.

I wanted one since I was about 7 apparently. Something fundamentally appealed to me from a very young age - the more people told me 'no' the more I wanted one and I have had one in my shed since I was 16 (48 now).

I do know a young chap who purchased a 250 Yammy cruiser a while back - the cool factor appealed to him.


HD may now be in the position where a young guy considers them to be an old mans bike. Shit I joke with my friends each birthday that we are getting closer each year to owning a Harley (ie once you hit 50!).

[madandy]

The V-Rod engine is a modern engine design with, I beleive 125 hp in the Night Train. It revs decently and sounds proper without the obnoxious old school fart most harleys make. It would have made more sense for Buell to use than pushrod clunkers that redlined at 5500rpm.

I rode a friends 883 Sporty that was highly modified with a very worked engine at 1200cc and I honestly couldn't find a good word to say about it and my stock '95 900SS was quicker.

In a Street Tripple like frame - so a Buell with better ergonomics and brakes - a 125hp twin that liked a few revs would be sublime

[Big Dave]

V-rod engine is too bulky for a nekkid.
That Roher sportsbike conversion is 260kg or thereabouts from memory.

H-D put it in a great handling chassis in 2005 and it didn't sell.

Al - 883 Sportser is in the same price bracket as some of the metric cruisers. $12k for a nice sporty. The Touring rigs are top dollar though.


The younger guys I've met with H-D's often have custom builds. Most of the builders I've met with Heavy Duty are 30-somethings too.

For the mothership the 'extra-curricular' marketing/branding challenge is unique.

When they go 'young and hip' at their events all the old coots rark up. 'What's this shite?'

When they go 'tried and trusted' all the younguns go 'wtf Jimmy Barnes again'?

But it's not just H-D that has an ageing market.

[AllanB]

At least Honda is trying to appeal to a wider market.......... (though I'd be the first to throw in a ghey joke!).

[Big Dave]

I quite liked the Buell perimeter brakes on my XB12X - and the 20 other Buells I rode.
Not as good as some nice Brembos, (you want superb brakes - try a new night rod) but they were comparable with any of the Nissens I've tested.

[Brett]

HD may now be in the position where a young guy considers them to be an old mans bike. Shit I joke with my friends each birthday that we are getting closer each year to owning a Harley (ie once you hit 50!).

I think that they have done such a great job of building their brand...that it has rather solidified and are now a victim of their own success in this regard...that much momentum and connection to the market is hard to turn around.

[Brett]

V-rod engine is too bulky for a nekkid.
That Roher sportsbike conversion is 260kg or thereabouts from memory.

H-D put it in a great handling chassis in 2005 and it didn't sell.

Al - 883 Sportser is in the same price bracket as some of the metric cruisers. $12k for a nice sporty. The Touring rigs are top dollar though.


The younger guys I've met with H-D's often have custom builds. Most of the builders I've met with Heavy Duty are 30-somethings too.

For the mothership the 'extra-curricular' marketing/branding challenge is unique.

When they go 'young and hip' at their events all the old coots rark up. 'What's this shite?'

When they go 'tried and trusted' all the younguns go 'wtf Jimmy Barnes again'?

But it's not just H-D that has an ageing market.

I understand Motoguzi & Ducati in particular are looking at similar issues with regards to demographics.

[madandy]

V-rod engine is too bulky for a nekkid.
That Roher sportsbike conversion is 260kg or thereabouts from memory.

H-D put it in a great handling chassis in 2005 and it didn't sell.

Al - 883 Sportser is in the same price bracket as some of the metric cruisers. $12k for a nice sporty. The Touring rigs are top dollar though.


The younger guys I've met with H-D's often have custom builds. Most of the builders I've met with Heavy Duty are 30-somethings too.

For the mothership the 'extra-curricular' marketing/branding challenge is unique.

When they go 'young and hip' at their events all the old coots rark up. 'What's this shite?'

When they go 'tried and trusted' all the younguns go 'wtf Jimmy Barnes again'?

But it's not just H-D that has an ageing market.

They could shave some weight and bulk from The original design and look at the price too...wait that would mean Asian production wouldn't it?
Its not enough for it to handle well, it has to look like it handles well and have lean angle and some go fast appeal.
It would have to be imagined and designed by someone from the target age group who may not give a flying fuck about made in USA.

[wysper]

Further to a post I placed under the General section, I would love some feedback from the Hogs/cruiser riders on here...Very simply...what can Harley Davidson do, in your opinion, to appeal to younger riders (say...sub 30)?

Do they actually want to appeal to that market?

How many young guys and girls are looking for a big v-twin cruiser as their first, second or third bike?

They are generally looking at a first bike for something small and cheap to learn on - not in HDs design brief.
Second bike, a bigger, faster version of the first bike - still not in HDs design brief.
Third bike, most are probably still in the second hand market, sub $10k, still looking for fast and powerful - closer to HD but still not really what they do and are known for.

If HD wants a slice of the young new riders market, they are basically going to have to design either a Japper style road bike or something like the Triumph scrambler, but even that wouldn't most likely appeal to younger newer riders.
I believe if HD tried to enter the entry level road bike market, they would fail.

I don't think there is a simple answer to that question. Or if I was forced to, I would say they can't. Not without a dramatically new and different model range. Even then they would be up against a certain level of Harley Hate.

[wysper]

Although..... there could be a massive shake up to the whole industry when the electric motorbikes are sorted and start becoming available.

I would love to try out the torque on one of those. Electric motors are OOOOOZING with it.

May make some of this moot.