• There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.

I wonder where the HD riders are going?

:agree: ... especially when the HD dealers load the riders up on free beer and send them on their way... I'm frankly surprised that I haven't heard about more wrecks and deaths...
 
One word. Competition. People are probably realizing there are much better bangs for the buck out there these days. Ive never been one who liked the HD Koolaid when there are equal if not better built machines out there for less money. Maybe more people are finally waking up from the Koolaid hangover.
 
Not for me

Drove a couple different Harley's 16 years ago , unless they have changed immensely I could not imagine paying that kind of money for one ... but I do have a few friends who have them now after owning Japanese sport bikes so ..... they were asking a lot of questions about my Spyder though
 
A similar article today on Yahoo also discussed the lay off of 200 plant workers due to sliding sales of the product.

Mentioned was the fact that Polaris (Indian) sales have dramatically increased this year by about 23%. Methinks, that is where a lot of the business is going. :thumbup:
 
Harley has one thing going for them: it seems there's a Harley dealer in every town with over 50 population. ;) Which might be a Godsend, as from what I hear, that's about as long as they hold together.... /snark

When I rode BMWs, there were some states that had no BMW dealers. One of the reasons I moved to the Spyder was that the only BMW dealer in Alabama went under, leaving me with having to trailer the bike out-of-state if anything serious went wrong. Screw that! (One bike dealer in Birmingham later added BMW to their stable, but by then it was too late.)

I was talking to my local Harley dealer not too long ago, and they said they were trying to increase their annual sales to 750 units. And they thought that was quite do-able.
 
The new "small" Harley

For the millennials I see Harley has the basic 500cc(?) model for city driving that is keeping them afloat. I read a lot of motorcycle makers are trying to get a small basic model geared towards the young 'uns.
 
We'll have to watch how the industry performs as a whole. The Harley slide could be just the tip of the iceberg . . or it could be a brand-specific phenomenon. I hope it's not a general thing and that Spyders won't be affected.
 
Industry wide

Sales are down for all brands. Some are offering 0% financing, and rebates. Partly that they work very well, so less need to replace/upgrade, and partly that there is little new/improved to get folks off the fence. So, ride it, and see what the next year's model is like!
 
They have catered to the "faithful" for the last

35 years and it has worked for them. Guess what? The "faithful" are aging and not buying HD's anymore and the next generation craves the latest technology. The new Milwaukee 8 is a good engine. 40 years ago it would have been a great engine. I always liked the V-Rod engine, but the only package it came in was that ugly a$$ pseudo drag bike. Wrap that motor with a nice sport touring bike and I would probably have had one. HD is not alone in this flat market. Our local Honda dealer hasn't sold a Wing in over two years and doesn't even have one in stock anymore. The same goes for most motorcycle dealers here in southern Ohio. They are not selling motorcycles, period. Side by sides and four wheelers are keeping the shop doors open at the three shops I frequent. My buddy is an independent mechanic who has had his own shop for 30 years. He is a good mechanic and gets work from as far away as Cincinnati and Mansfield. Not only is he usually covered up all summer, but he hires help to take care of tire changing etc. so he can concentrate on the big stuff. This is the third year that his business has dropped off at the 4th of July. Folks here are not buying and their not RIDING as much either. The boom is over boys, be interesting to see if it returns.
 
I have owned & rode Harley's for almost 40 years

I have owned a total of 5 Harley's and I have to say to be completely honest, I enjoyed them. I now realize that this Can Am product is by far a superior product in many ways ..! If they (Spyders) were as refined as they are today earlier I believe I would have "jumped ship" a long time ago. For some it could be an "ego" or "culture " thing but if those types could ever look past that, they would see a newer, dare I say different type of ride that satisfies and gets you to your destination safer and with the same feeling of freedom .,! And sadly, I'm sure for others they're stuck (by their own choice) in the stereotype to continue to ride their Harley's and be happy.,! Bottom line -to each their own ..! I've made my choice and couldn't be happier..! My .02 !
 
the dealer in my area quit selling spyders a couple years ago. they told me and I quote "we'll sell you a spyder but we won't service it". that's when they were getting away from the spyders. I saw some canam crates there a couple weeks ago when I was driving by but I expect they are side by sides. as for the Honda/Kawasaki store here in town. all you see sitting there are 4 wheelers and dirt bikes. I think they have a few street bikes in the showroom but not many. Harley store here, they seem to be doing alright, but not near as well as a few years ago. go to a bike nite at a Harley dealership and sit and observe. it's about portraying an image for most of them. I went to the Harley store yesterday to get a refill bottle of S100 cleaner. a salesman walked up to me and asked what I was riding today, I said, not a Harley!
 
You have to understand that HD is a clothing company that happens to also sell motorcycles. They make far more off T-shirts than they do from bikes.
They're not attracting new riders either.

But yes, all MC sales are down.. people don't have the disposable income they used to. BRP isn't immune to it either.

That being said, Polaris has sold more Indian motorcycles in the past year than all of their Victory sales were for the entire lifespan of the product(17 years). :yikes:
 
Almost pulled the trigger on an Indian. They are so nicely built and beautiful.

Then, I rode home on my Spyder and forgot what I looked at!



(I do wish the Spyder wasn't so plastic.)
 
Similar

My husband made the same comment last weekend. We were at a local dealership of Hondas, Kawasaki etc. He noticed most of the pre-owned inventory was Harleys. We decided the traditional Harley rider was getting up in age and the millenniums don't work traditional jobs to make payments on a Harley.

 
There quality IMO took a dump and they can run hot. Plus the dealers are still stuck on over pricing them

as for being plastic everything is plastic even the HD models has plastic on them too.
 
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