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

[AllanB]

While that video is fun it proves nothing other than a very good rider will always out perform a average one.

Best to watch a vid of the XR1200 racing series.

Google XR1200 racing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B26FVkm3FvE

[Tarded]

In non harley speak Duckie.

Like I said - I'm not interested in race tracks - just road and off road riding. So that's the qualifier. If you are a track head stop reading now.


If someone said to me here Dave, you can have either a V7 Moto Guzzi or an F4 MV Agusta for a ride around the Coromandel.

In the first instance I'd take the one I hadn't ridden.

Having done it done it on both I would take the 45 hp Guzzi nine times out of 10. (Once because the MV is just so horny).

Because I can really give the V7 a flogging, row it through the gearbox, use a heap of body english and 'use' the machine. Rewarding, engaging - without actually going particularly fast. Fast enough to draw some heat, but you will probably still have enough demerit points to do it more than once and if it does all turn to custard it isn't quite as thick. Big grin factor.

If you do more than sit just above idle on the MV for most of the loop, beautiful thing that it is, you risk having it impounded. You push it anywhere near its handling limits on those sufaces, surrounded by the dropkick motorists...If you *could* do 180kph everywhere - different story. It can do that in first gear. The rest of the ride becomes an exercise in self-control.

That isn't as satisfying as giving something a workout.

I agree.

Im happy with the 80hp/ft.lbs I have. I can actually give it a bit of shit and not see number starting with 2 on the dial.

The big jappas I have had did exactly what you say the MV would do (in less style!)- warp speed before it got interesting. The ZZR1100 being the worst - funny that. - a jato rocket arm chair.

I believe the saying is something like the policeman never thinks its a funny as you do.

I imagine a 1000 would be really frustrating in general in the modern era. They are so bloody competent by all accounts that I dont how people ever behave on them. or stay awake if they do so.

So a sporty has appeal here again too I guess. I say sportys as they can lean a bit. A prerequisite for an 'only' bike. If Im stacking up toys its open season.

Its more fun to hammer a slower bike than restrain a mega grunter in my experience.
Esp if its a rorty V twin.
Loud pipes enhance lives.

All of which answers the original question SFA.

[Big Dave]

There is some pertinence in regard to original - convince the young buck he doesn't 'need' 300kph.

[AllanB]

It is a odd thing this motorcycling. My Hornet 900 punches out what 110hp if one believes the brochure (yeah yeah rear wheel is less) it is a nice torquey engine and in reality I don't use anywhere near the full hp much. As with most IL4's it's at the top of the rev range.

Even so if you told me I could buy a special 'box' that plugged in somewhere and I'd get a magic 130hp (with no loss of torque of course) I'd start saving for it.

And the same shit applies to most Harleys, first step is to let those big pistons breathe better - inlet and outlet bolt-ons release a lot of ponies. They do not need to be stupid loud to gain this either.

Of interest I note that when there was a Vance and Hines sponsored XR1200 race series in the States they had a kit that included airbox, pipes, damper and a 17 inch front wheel. Stock front is a 18 I think and the 17 offered a choice of all that sticky rubber out there.

The XR was a dead duck in the USA ............ I guess they were too fast, after all if you are wearing leather chaps there must be a point where anything over 70mph starts they whipping against your legs like a $150 an hour mistress.


Harley has tried to appeal to the younger buyer - the 48 and similar Sportsters are marketed towards the 'cool' younger crowd.

[Big Dave]

Personally I prefer around 100hp or a motor with big torque - or both - for the times I carry a passenger. All the mega V-twins makes virtually no difference with a pillion.

[Wayz]

I grew up around harley riding uncles, who owned their first Harley's in their mid twenty's. thus making it my life long dream to own a harley one day....I've given most bikes a decent go but nothing soothed my soul like my first ride on a big block...amen!

[Wayz]

...I do however get sick of only seeing older blokes on Harley's. I was in road and sport a couple months ago looking at a bike and come close to buying it till some old wanker (looked around mid 50's) come up and asked the sales rep I was talking to 'have you sold this one?' To which both me and the rep replied 'almost a done deal' to only receive a reply that went like 'ok, add $2000 to what this guy is paying and I'll wheel it out today' I looked at him and said 'are you serious?' He said I am dead serious, where do I pay......anyhow, I told him go for it (little did he know that it was catalogued so no matter what I could've had the same bike the next for $2000 less...a couple weeks later I went with a mate to get his bike a w.o.f at a local garage when low and behold, on the back of a trailer being towed by B.M.W SUV was the bike I missed out on, with more scratches than a D.J. Set....and of course the wanker who bought it haha.....

[Bonez]

Being 50 something HDs other than the discontinued XR have no real appeal to me personally, But each to their own and all that stuff. What would increase HD sales to the younger set? A free tattoo with every sale obviously.......

[Crasherfromwayback]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh1bpMBqFiM one for Large Dave
An XR12 can out run poorly ridden sport bikes (looks rather fun). It's not very fast in a straight line though, but it's not really meant to be.

I like XR1200s

What a bunch of fucking pussies!

[scumdog]

The XR was a dead duck in the USA ............ I guess they were too fast, after all if you are wearing leather chaps there must be a point where anything over 70mph starts they whipping against your legs like a $150 an hour mistress.

Yup, that's what the Ultraglide Classic was built for - big-arsed fairings + screen = no chaps whipping aginst legs!

[awayatc]

Big arsed fairies..........?

[Bonez]

Big arsed fairies..........?

And where's the fun in no chap whippings....?

[Tarded]

There is some pertinence in regard to original - convince the young buck he doesn't 'need' 300kph.

I think you have to have it to realise afterwards?

Thats if you live long enough in the youth plus huge power equation.
I had mine (GRUNTER BIKE) in my early 30s and it was still an issue.

At 18 - I shudder to think.

If I had it now - one day I know I would try.
So I dont and Im a happy critter rumbling around with plenty of grunt for where I ride and how I ride.

It depends why the youth is getting a bike. If power comes into it then forget Harley - too much fast competition.

If its sons of anarchy dreams the harley it is.

I know I slagged the brand but they have a lot of *&^% owners.
HOG members couldnt ride a fkn merry go round from what I saw. Truly abysmal. Youth dont want to associate with that either. Ulysses with chaps on.

[speights_bud]

Because Young people are educated by tv these days:


On a more serious note, when i started (road) riding at 16, I knew it would be 30 years before I'd even consider a Harley. As a young rider who started road riding in the racing scene why would I want to ride a bike that was 2x more expensive than anything else available that I'd never get insurance on until after i was 25?. On top of that for my limited budget i could get a bike which would out accelerate, out turn and out brake a Harley. It just didn't appeal at all for a young rider. I've seen the Harley racing and to be honest heck yea it looks like alot of fun! I've raced an interesting range of bikes and sometimes the less suitable for the job it is the more fun you have!

But as for Harley use on the road, no thanks! I'm not ready to ride Ulysses style!

(Now off to read the rest of the thread)

[Big Dave]

'Experience is that thing you get just after you need it.' - Whoever said that.