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

[Big Dave]

OT - I had a SAAB 900 as a company car once (and a Van Den Plas (or whatever it was) Jaguar and a '67 Mustang - I used to get the MD's hand-me-downs when he got bored.) The only redeeming features of the SAAB were the stereo - Alpine that could make your ears bleed - and its remarkable ability off road (but don't tell him that).

[ducatilover]

Was it a turbo one? I almost bought one about 5 or 6 years ago. I was muchly amused by the torque steer (muppet )

But it was about as interesting as an MDF bookshelf.

[Big Dave]

Was it a turbo one?

Nah. Slower than your bike. But unlike your bike it had no redeeming features. :-P

[ducatilover]

Nah. Slower than your bike. But unlike your bike it had no redeeming features. :-P

That's impressively slow. One of my bikes has the motor on the floor.

[Dangsta]

i'm 42 and have been riding cruisers for a few years. Never owned or wanted a sportbike in any way shape or form. Partly I think because I own a fast car and if I want to get somewhere quickly I'll drive that. My cruiser is for getting out, enjoying the ride and going 100-110kph. I love my current bike but every bike I've owned to date has been a stepping-stone to a wideglide. I don't know why I have to have one....just something appeals to me on a level I find it difficult to put into words. I know every second cruiser is a Harley...I know people laugh at them (and so do I when I see some old fat dude get off one in chaps and a bandana), I know they're too expensive and not super fast, I don't like too much chrome and I know some of them can be stupidly noisy....and I don't care. One day soon, I'm going to walk into a dealership with a bike I love and hasn't missed a beat plus ten grand and ride off on a cliche.....with a huge fuck-off grin on my face.

[trumpy]

...and ride off on a cliche.....with a huge fuck-off grin on my face.

That about says it right there. It doesn't really matter what you ride it's the size of the grin that counts.

I also like "when you turn your bike on, does it repay the favour?" (streettracker XR1200 forum)

I have spent the last five years on a 600 sports bike that I had huge fun developing and riding it but felt it was time for a change. I probably fit the traditional Harley demographic perfectly (self employed, drive a Bimmer blah, blah, blah) but couldn't quite get my head around the cruiser thing. Harley still came to the rescue though......I bought this this for myself as a 60th birthday present (well, her indoors wasn't going to now was she?). Love it, should have done a couple of years ago.

[idb]

Why I ride a Harley?

In no particular order and off the cuff:

a) cos I wanted one back in the 60's when I couldn't afford one.
b) they look like a bike should (in my eyes)
c) they are relatively easy to work on
d) can carry a decent amount of gear
e) are thrifty on gas
f) are torquey enough that frequent gear changing isn't needed
g) are reliable as any other brand - better than some.
h) need little maintenance
i) they seem to piss-off a lot of people

Age? - well past 50....

j) where else are you going to use that 'bucket-o-tassels' you won at the A&P Show?

[Big Dave]

I went on the local MDA ride today.

Outstanding event.

Ladies (and a few blokes) pay $130 to be pillioned around the Sunshine Coast on a Harley. All proceeds go to the Muscular Dystrophy people. There were 300 on the ride and everyone - me included - had a phat time.

They were predominately greybeards, but there were a few younger set as well - and they were mostly on custom 72's and sporties.

[AllanB]

Have been thinking of this thread over the wet weekend.

Do HD even have a issue with trying to get younger riders? Do they care?

Over the next decade or so there are plenty of riders who will change from sports bikes or jap cruisers to HD's as they get 'older'.

[Smifffy]

Have been thinking of this thread over the wet weekend.

Do HD even have a issue with trying to get younger riders? Do they care?

Over the next decade or so there are plenty of riders who will change from sports bikes or jap cruisers to HD's as they get 'older'.

There is only one demographic they are interested in: the one with the cash to splash.

[Big Dave]

They have made a big effort to get more female riders in recent times too.

The 48 and 72 models are also aimed at yooof.

[AllanB]

There is only one demographic they are interested in: the one with the cash to splash.

I read in a mag some years back that HD 'expect' (encourage may be better ....) riders to spend between 25-30% of the original purchase price on 'goodies' for their new rides.

It is one thing that pisses me off about HD - they produce very good machines BUT they are aware they can be significantly better, they just ask you to open the HD Screaming Eagle catalogue and your pocket to make the bike what they 'should' be. Yes you can get a HD special model with all the SE shit on it but they load the price up something awful.

[R6_kid:Me]

Affordability. Having been the the US and seen how accessible they are over there it makes me sick to the stomach to see the NZ/Aus prices. It's hard to feel loyal to a brand when you're paying over 100% markup on what they are in the US, the only real difference being the way the headlight lens points.

[scumdog]

Affordability. Having been the the US and seen how accessible they are over there it makes me sick to the stomach to see the NZ/Aus prices. It's hard to feel loyal to a brand when you're paying over 100% markup on what they are in the US, the only real difference being the way the headlight lens points.

Yet 12 years ago a bike that cost $26,000 in the US cost the same in NZ.

Only back then the Kiwi pesos (dollar) was only worth 45 cents US.

A Yank would have been better off buying a H-D from NZ and shipping it back.

Go figure...

[ducatilover]

I bet Scummy wants his bike to appeal to the younger ones