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Harley-Davidson Spirals Down, Announces US Layoffs, Builds Factory in Thailand
Wolf Street ^
| 18 July 2017
| Wolf Richter
Posted on 07/21/2017 8:13:13 AM PDT by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne
The target market for HD is aging out.
Many younger guys want sport bikes. Or none at all. I buried to many friends who rode motorcycles to want one now.
21
posted on
07/21/2017 8:30:13 AM PDT
by
redgolum
To: DIRTYSECRET
Only Kawasaki? What about Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki? If the tariffs were removed, the price of those bikes would come down, right?
22
posted on
07/21/2017 8:33:16 AM PDT
by
wastedyears
(Prophecy of sky Gods, the sun and moon)
To: rottndog
Absolutely... Their own fault, they have priced themselves right out of business. 20,000 Dollars could buy 20 acres of land in a rural area or go a long ways towards a down payment on a home.
To: Stevenc131
Baby boomers entering old age, and H-D bikes dont have the same appeal to millennials.
Nailed it. It’s demographics.
24
posted on
07/21/2017 8:34:53 AM PDT
by
Flick Lives
(#CNNblackmail)
To: elcid1970
Lol, you beat me to it. I’ve never met a Harley rider who didn’t use the term, “rice burner,” in the most sneering, condescending manner....going to be pretty hard to do with that, “Made in Thailand” label.
25
posted on
07/21/2017 8:36:31 AM PDT
by
Joe 6-pack
(Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
To: RegulatorCountry
I don’t own one presently, but I had a Harley years ago and was less than impressed. I don’t need my motorcycle to identify with a lifestyle, which is, in reality what Harley’s marketing is selling. The only V Twins I would ever consider are Victory and Indian. These are gorgeous motorcycles, beautifully designed and executed. Harley finally has some competition from another US manufacturer, the charade of lifestyle is no longer resonating, or may be bleeding over in Indian/Victory’s favor. Harley’s designs are outdated. Competition is a BITCH...
26
posted on
07/21/2017 8:37:35 AM PDT
by
OriginalChristian
(The end of America, as founded, began when the first Career Politician was elected...)
To: redgolum
I'm getting younger and just bought a Harley-engined Buell (used).
27
posted on
07/21/2017 8:37:55 AM PDT
by
steve86
(Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
To: JFoobar
“Nobody in Asia can afford those bikes, and nobody in the US is going to buy a Harley made in Thailand.”
Not so sure about that.
28
posted on
07/21/2017 8:39:14 AM PDT
by
Tallguy
(Twitter short-circuits common sense. Please engage your brain before tweeting.)
To: elcid1970
Boomers are growing out of the Harley affection / affliction.
People who do ride discover they really want a comfortable bike and buy something else after selling the Harley and, if they are lucky, pocketing some cash.
The bikes never did get ridden that much because while they are cool they are not very comfortable. I made one 1,000 mile trip on one I was able to borrow and said never, never, never again on a Harley. No amout of cool is worth that much discomfort.
29
posted on
07/21/2017 8:42:29 AM PDT
by
Sequoyah101
(It feels like we have exchanged our dreams for survival. We just have a few days that don't suck.)
To: bert
“Young and upcoming Asians might like an American Bike tailored specifically to their wants and needs”
You mean like with a 20” crotch height and 14” wheels?
30
posted on
07/21/2017 8:44:32 AM PDT
by
Sequoyah101
(It feels like we have exchanged our dreams for survival. We just have a few days that don't suck.)
To: Lorianne
I have seen three HDs in Viết Nam and one was ridden by a Vietnamese, the other two by showboating foreigners. With a top legal highway speed of about 50 mph in limited stretches of highway and speeds limited by traffic density in the cities to 30 or so, Harleys don't make a whole lot of sense. For me the ideal size bike would be a 250 which would actually be overpowered for conditions but is more comfortable. The reality is that it takes a lot of money to go bigger than 125cc because tax which is minimal up to 110 cc rises steeply above that which is why cars are not common. There are more and more cars though as the country gets richer and I see more and more larger motorbikes in the 15o cc range, even a 500 now and then. The police are privileged, they ride two up on Honda Nighthawks.
To: rottndog
They are...that is what they are doing.
32
posted on
07/21/2017 8:47:50 AM PDT
by
Dave W
To: elcid1970
...the market is saturated with low mileage used [Harley-Davidson] bikes...
Verrry interesting! Why should that be so?
For many, Harley is more of a lifestyle than a specific bike...lots of people see that and think they can buy into that lifestyle. But when they actually get on the bike and share space with much larger vehicles in traffic, it's not so appealing. People will spend a great deal of money on a new bike and all the accouterments, only to figure out that they really don't like to ride. So there are LOTS of low mileage and very low mileage bikes sitting in garages...and eventually those hit the used bike market.
This is exactly what happened in 2007...motorcycles became a fad and a status symbol, and the fad ended. Add that to the housing bubble collapse, and there was just too many very low mileage bikes on the market competing with new bikes. Supply and demand takes over, and new sales collapsed. I think we are in that position now.
But there is a big issue with Harley specifically...they are way overpriced, and notoriously unreliable. Not to mention very high maintenance costs in general. Harley has pushed the lifestyle instead of pushing a good product, actual motorcycles. They are reaping the rewards of what they have sown, and should be left to fend for themselves. Tariffs will only serve to help Harley continue to fail.
33
posted on
07/21/2017 8:50:43 AM PDT
by
rottndog
('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
To: JFoobar
You are right about that. The number ONE reason for buying a Harley has always been that it was Made in The USA.
34
posted on
07/21/2017 8:53:18 AM PDT
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
To: rottndog
Harley also needs to expand their customer base to include short girls.
I can’t legally drive a single model Harley makes.
To: redgolum
“The target market for HD is aging out.”
One good modern day Easy Rider road movie would change that.
Nothing like Wild Hogs to suck the cool right out of bike.
To: DannyTN
Are young guys buying Harleys? I know two men with motorcycles and they are older. The young guys I see riding are not on Harleys.
To: elcid1970
Motorcycles are a lot like boats. People really want them until they own them. Then they find out that in most weather riding sucks, and with the general lack of skill of American drivers it’s somewhat suicidal, so they sell it.
38
posted on
07/21/2017 8:58:44 AM PDT
by
discostu
(You are what you is, and that's all it is, you ain't what you're not, so see what you got.)
To: elcid1970
“...the market is saturated with low mileage used [Harley-Davidson] bikes...
Verrry interesting! Why should that be so?”
Texting drivers
39
posted on
07/21/2017 9:01:21 AM PDT
by
RS_Rider
(I hate Illinois Nazis)
To: mom4melody
I cant legally drive a single model Harley makes.
Yep...but lowering kits don't cost too much...
My first bike was a Honda Shadow...very low to the ground stock...was such a fun bike to ride.
40
posted on
07/21/2017 9:01:52 AM PDT
by
rottndog
('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
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