I recently read an article about Harley Davidson motorcycle owners. The article stated that the average income of a person that owns a Harley is $80,000.00 a year. So in November I bought a 2007 FXDL. My question is this. How long do I have to wait for my income to go up to $80,000.00 ? Thanks in advance, Poor Louie.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/5859now-med.jpg

Yo have to wait as long as it takes to earn it. ;)

Is this a trick questiom?

You will need $80K a year to pay for chrome and engine upgrades, but it helps the economy.

guess you can be proud that you're not just the average biker. over 50% of them must be RUBs, thus you can be proud that you're a PUB and a real biker? Kinda like the HD commercial with the sheep, you're the black one. Be proud to be poor?






http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l179/hogglider/DSC03064.jpg

I would be interested in a citation for that statistic... I'm not sure I believe it is accurate.

Actually, I bought a 07 FB last year, and this year so far reportable income:$570, but im workin on it

local://upfiles/27112/3D27A9BE086848489E9BD17F20D28DCA.jpg

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I can get close, but it will take two years to do it.

I was counting on this income to pay for the motorcycle. So far things are not panning out. I am worried that I may have to start looking for a job ! What am I doing wrong ? Please tell me what the secret is. Thanks Louie.

Well, I guess I don't fit in that statistic. Does that mean I have to get rid of my Harley? Damn!!![:@]

ORIGINAL: Zevron

I recently read an article about Harley Davidson motorcycle owners. The article stated that the average income of a person that owns a Harley is $80,000.00 a year. So in November I bought a 2007 FXDL. My question is this. How long do I have to wait for my income to go up to $80,000.00 ? Thanks in advance, Poor Louie.



Screamin' Eagle Ultra owners make 80 grand +.

geography has alot to do with those numbers . the actual cost of living in the particular location a person lives has as much or more influence on a persons purchase than there wage its self.
80,000 a year here in southern illinois is going to give you a much more comfortable life style than it will 350 miles north in chicago.

I guess if I sold my bike that averagewould go up to say $110,000.00.

When they ask for your income on the loan app. they don't mean your REAL income do they?

the way the stock market I won't make it this year.

would take me two years also
but I am retired
but then I never made 80 thou. so I guess I am the black sheep also


local://upfiles/5757/D2216180FAD94BD6827973998D4826E5.jpg

ORIGINAL: jwb47

geography has alot to do with those numbers . the actual cost of living in the particular location a person lives has as much or more influence on a persons purchase than there wage its self.
80,000 a year here in southern illinois is going to give you a much more comfortable life style than it will 350 miles north in chicago.


Olney area here !! 80 grand and I'd be living the high life. my wife and I both work and don't come close to that:(

Do I need to call MOCO and ask when I will get my check? I don't want to bring down the value of their product.

That must be why I'm getting my new bike a piece at a time , this year its the swing arm.

There goes my free goverment cheese.

I dunno about the income..but you have excellent taste in bikes.....
<------ me too

Well, the income should be there BEFORE making expensive purchases (like big shiny toys i.e. your '07 FXDL). But like most Americans, you seem to be saying "give me what I want....and i'll figure out how to pay for it later." Right? In my experience.....if you really love the bike...you will find a way to pay for it. We Americans always do, me included!

Ride safe

ORIGINAL: Zevron

I was counting on this income to pay for the motorcycle. So far things are not panning out. I am worried that I may have to start looking for a job ! What am I doing wrong ? Please tell me what the secret is. Thanks Louie.


You missed the secret all right. Everyone else has 3 part time jobs to buy chrome.

WHATEVER!

80 K is the average --..who wants to be average anyway ?

That is just the income brackett for those of us that have to have CHORME!

Then again...80K/yr divided by 1 wife and a couple of kids isn't going tobuy you as many toysasit will with youbeing a happy bachelor...just sayin...[8D]

I'd like to know what publication that statcame from. There are just too many ways to manipulate statistics to show what ever you desire them to show.

ORIGINAL: swilsondds

But like most Americans, you seem to be saying "give me what I want....and i'll figure out how to pay for it later." Right? In my experience.....if you really love the bike...you will find a way to pay for it. We Americans always do, me included!



I don’t agree with that. I never buy something unless I know I can pay for it. I never want to be in a position where I overextend my credit to the point where I can’t make payments. Too many people have the “buy it now, pay later” attitude and they ultimately get burned. Look at the housing market. Foreclosures are at an all time high. Its not just houses either. It’s also affecting the auto and bike market. There are plenty of repossessed bikes on the market right now. When I was looking for a used bike I talked with a guy in Florida that makes a living selling repossessed cars and bikes. He had a whole bunch of Harleys. He has a dealer license and buys bikes directly from Harley Credit. I’m sure there are other people running similar businesses. There are a lot of newer low mile used bikes on the market right now. I bet a lot of the sellers are getting rid of their bikes because they can’t afford them. Most of the people I know that ride Harleys don’t make $80K a year. Fortunately they are smart enough not to over extend themselves so they can pay for the bike.

Me thinks that that article is whacky.

...actually the median (middle figure) income would have been a better statistic rather than using the average. Here's how the average can distort things...................

Incomes of $10,000 +$10,000 +$10,000 + $10,000 +$360,000 = $80,000 average, I think only one of these income earners can afford a Harley under normal circumstances unless they're doing unreported sh!t on the side.

However, when icomes are $75,000 +$75,000 + $75,000 + $75,000 + $100,000 = $80,000, I think all 5might be able to afford a Harley.

ORIGINAL: Zevron

I recently read an article about Harley Davidson motorcycle owners. The article stated that the average income of a person that owns a Harley is $80,000.00 a year. So in November I bought a 2007 FXDL. My question is this. How long do I have to wait for my income to go up to $80,000.00 ? Thanks in advance, Poor Louie.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/5859now-med.jpg

You can do it on half of that...........................if you drag the payments out to 84 months.:DWife said.................."If you can get the payments down to around $120 a month................go for it!" She didn't have to say it twice. ;):DThat being said.................my other ride is a 1995 Chevy S-10 with 146,000 miles on it. :eek:

it would have been a lot higher but i filled out the same questionnaire i lowerd it by at least20% ha ha good job they dont poll us subs over here! (sub) skint uk biker

Yeah, but you haven't recieved your taxstimulus check yet

damn, Looks like I need to sell about half of my bike... time for the sawzall. Oh yeah 500th post! :D

ORIGINAL: Fishguy001

80 K is the average --..who wants to be average anyway ?


I don't know about you guys but I sure would like to be above average.:D

Send me $10 and a SASE, and I will send you my secrets to making it rich.

80 k huh,guess im gonna get my old lady back on the corner,cause im lite according that report lol

I get a SS check every month.

Hmmm, 80k? Well, I'm retired and am FAR from 80k.

Do I have to return my 07 Lowrider? My pension barely puts gas in.

Bad Boy You will have to give me youraddress.

The article also said that most people who ride Harleys are orthodontists. That would explain why they all have such nice teeth.

ride the Harley and you don't need 80,000 a year

80k and the wife and I would have the Harley and not have to share thesofa sleeperwith our three kids. Might even have enough left over for satellite.

ORIGINAL: zukeeper

ORIGINAL: jwb47

geography has alot to do with those numbers . the actual cost of living in the particular location a person lives has as much or more influence on a persons purchase than there wage its self.
80,000 a year here in southern illinois is going to give you a much more comfortable life style than it will 350 miles north in chicago.


Olney area here !! 80 grand and I'd be living the high life. my wife and I both work and don't come close to that:(

Im south of you down in eldorado, saline county , we have white squirrels here also but they all live in the housing project.

Yea...I barely make $1200 a month. I pay for my Harley with my tax money every year. Given I don't completely own my bike I am more than grateful to have my HD. There are times I have traded food for my pride. Couldn't live without the Blue Bomber

I think that's an average household income figure they're quoting.Anyways,putting my former financial planner hat back on, spending at or over a quarter of your annual income on a motorcycle isn'ta smart financial choice.

Butif you still sleap at night,than whogivesa****.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh88/lwh4x4/BILD0097.jpg
Don't tell my wife but I think I spent more than my income on these.

ORIGINAL: Beercan321

ORIGINAL: swilsondds

But like most Americans, you seem to be saying "give me what I want....and i'll figure out how to pay for it later." Right? In my experience.....if you really love the bike...you will find a way to pay for it. We Americans always do, me included!



I don’t agree with that. I never buy something unless I know I can pay for it. I never want to be in a position where I overextend my credit to the point where I can’t make payments. Too many people have the “buy it now, pay later” attitude and they ultimately get burned. Look at the housing market. Foreclosures are at an all time high. Its not just houses either. It’s also affecting the auto and bike market. There are plenty of repossessed bikes on the market right now. When I was looking for a used bike I talked with a guy in Florida that makes a living selling repossessed cars and bikes. He had a whole bunch of Harleys. He has a dealer license and buys bikes directly from Harley Credit. I’m sure there are other people running similar businesses. There are a lot of newer low mile used bikes on the market right now. I bet a lot of the sellers are getting rid of their bikes because they can’t afford them. Most of the people I know that ride Harleys don’t make $80K a year. Fortunately they are smart enough not to over extend themselves so they can pay for the bike.


Well, no one wants to be over extended and, sure, people make mistakes with money. But not everyone that bought a house over the last few years went into foreclosure, and lots of folks still make the payments on thier new bikes just fine. They worked it out. I'm happy for you if you only deal in cash and don't finance anything. Good for you. But most of us put things on credit, make payments, and enjoy the things we purchased. That's all I'm saying.

Guess I'm not your average Harley owner. I'm one of the guys that makes a lot more than 80K but in all honesty I'm tired of the responsibilites and the stress that comes with the job. I'm just about to the point where I'm ready to walk away and say the heck with it all.

If I were to work for 72 hours a week I would make before taxes 84000, but I can't make myself work but the required 48 hours, so I guess I too am below the average, Who the heck here is it that is bringing the average up?

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It's the paradox of Harley ownership; you have to make 80k a year to buy one but dress like you're unemployed when riding it.

Don't care how much you earn a year, it's quality of life that's important for me. So you set your priorities as you see them and go with it.Mine are family comes first and then my bike. I have sold two bikes to go on holiday as a family as time with my kids is precious and it's all two quickly gone. I saved for my current bike and bought it cash and I have no debts apart from my mortgage. If I needed to I'd sell the bike for the sake of my family in an instant - then start all over when I could.

Its all geography whereI live 80K has you in the poorhouse 80K isnt d*ck

Plus population has alot to do with it

Example my county has 1.5 million people

Average median income 85K

With 10K property taxes on 50x100 plots $400 a month electric bills

80K aint close to rich

A regular family needs a 150K income just to survive now times that by other suburbs of big cities thats where you get that figure

How many Harleysare owned amongst 1.5 million per capita

ORIGINAL: DLW_FLHTC

You will need $80K a year to pay for chrome and engine upgrades, but it helps the economy.
and gas.(ya forgot gas)

So....I guess I could bring my income up even more during the warm months when I'm riding the bike instead of driving the car. I paid $4.11 for 92 octane yesterday. But filled up for $13. Put less than 9 gallons in my car the other day cuz it was bad weather (70 mile drive to work) and it cost me almost $35!!! Maybe I'll be closer to six figures this summer.....:D

glad my 3 bikes are paid off and my house is paid off cause I be dirt poor,also life member of H.O.G......something aint right about the 80k thing a ma gigie.....Myself I have never made close to that.......

ORIGINAL: swilsondds

I'm happy for you if you only deal in cash and don't finance anything. Good for you. But most of us put things on credit, make payments, and enjoy the things we purchased.


I think you misunderstood me. I definitely don't only deal in cash. I finance a lot of stuff. I have to. As the saying goes "you ain't American unless you’re in debt". What I meant was that a lot of people overextend themselves and finance too much stuff. They basically live paycheck to paycheck spending every dime they have just to make payments on the stuff they bought. Then when something happens that affects their income they end up losing their house or their bike because they can't afford to pay for it. I have a mortgage and other bills just like everyone else. I just make sure that I don't buy something that I can't afford. I keep a few months worth of living expenses in a bank account just to cover my bills in case I get laid off etc. A lot of people have no cash reserves and are way overextended with their credit. That's how they ultimately end up screwing themselves.

80 Large is just middle class anymore the way things are goin. Me and the ol lady have that covered by far, but after the federal, state, and local goverments get done bending us over, all the stress, frustration, and aggravation, don't seem worth it. I need my bike just to get some sanity back.

ORIGINAL: King FLH

80 Large is just middle class anymore the way things are goin. Me and the ol lady have that covered by far, but after the federal, state, and local goverments get done bending us over, all the stress, frustration, and aggravation, don't seem worth it. I need my bike just to get some sanity back.
agreed. ill go as far as to say the bike ALLOWS me to keep the job by maintaing my sanity. after a rode..........its all good.

I have two Harleys. Why am I not making $160K a year??? Something is very wrong!!

Actually, when I bought bike #2, I was living in a piece of garbage doublewide on a dirt road and also had a rusted out pickup as my winter vehicle. Not sure if I was getting to $30K a year then or not. I'll never see $80K a year.......... so, might as well go buy another bike.

With the cost of living being what it is up here 80k is enuff to live in a tent with a shopping cart for transportation.
good thing We make substansially more than that , 110k+ and it is still hard to make ends meet. You cant buy a house here for under 500'000. And I would rather ride a honda than live in an apartment.

I agree that where you live affects your lifestyle. So does number of kids at home. Twelve years ago, my wife and I had three teenage boys, and we both worked full time as relatively new teachers. I bought a used Yamaha Virago 750 'cuz that's what I could afford ($450 out the door) and rode it until the family TV went out. Sold it and got a 32" TV from Costco.

Eightyears later, all the kids are out of the nest. We've both earned Masters degrees and advanced on our salary schedule. We've built our dream house, bought two new cars, and are on our first vacation without kids since our honeymoon. Wife turns to me and says "Sure see a lot of people riding Harleys. That looks like fun." I agreed. THEN SHE SAYS " We ought to get a couple."(I love this woman!)Stopped at the next dealer we saw (Salem, OR) and got literature - VERY nice folks, even though they knew we would be buying back home in California. We got back in my truck, and I asked her if she really wanted to spend $30-40K on motorcycles - she replied "If we don't do it now, we never will!" (I LOVE this woman!)

We got home Thursday, shopped a little and got our permits Friday. Shopped a little more and bought two '04s from the local dealer the following Tuesday. That was four years ago in August. She's gone from the 04 XL1200C to a 04 FXDLI to a 07 Softail Deluxe. I've gone from a 04 Wide Glide to a 06 Road King to a 07 Road Glide. We ride together often, including lots of 300+ mile days. We'll ride over to the beach for lunch some Sundays. We've had two vacations in the saddle (4500 miles on the Dynas, 5400 on the current ones) and log 8-12K per year. Have I mentioned I LOVE THIS WOMAN?

$80K here in California would not support our lifestyle. After taxes, that would net ~$59,500, roughly $5,000 per month. House, property taxes and homeowners insurance would eat up half. Living in California at $4+ a gallon and $4 for a loaf of bread would eat up the rest. As much as we love our (paid for) Harleys, I seriously doubt we'd have spent 4 months take-home pay on ONE, much less have done it twice. We both teach summer school and night classes (once a week for her, 4-5 times a week for me). Our extra work pays for our Harley addictions.

Doing my part to keep the average down!! Are you sure thats not per HOUSEHOLD income?

My questions is if you make more than 80k does that make you an instantRUB?

somebody is full of s--- cuzz i have had 5 harley's over the last 20 years and i dont make close to that.

I walked into bosses officeand said,See that bike out front.He says yes,I said according to chatter I just read,I should be making 80,000 a year,but I am willing to settle for 70,000.He said see that door and I replied yes,he said don`t let it hit you on the way out.

If I made 80 grand a year I would have two harleys!:D

Its all logistics and averages

Rememberstatisticians don't lie

Statistics do

Simple 4th grade math with averages

Say there were only 2 Harleys around

Schwartzenegger and some guy fom the sticks

Arnold probably pulls in about 10million a year with all his year to date gains

The other guy makes 50K a year

Acoording to averages that means that means that Harley riders average 5,025,00.00 a year

Now do the the math for the whole country

That poll did not include everyone,and around here it does not hold true.The harder I work for something the more it means to me.

Its all relative economics. If you make $20k a year, then you have a certain view on how much that is. If you make $100k a year, you simply have a different view.

Haven't seen the article, but I'd guess that this figure is an AVERAGE (versus median) income number that was polled among purchasers of NEW HD motorcycles.(A couple of millionaire rock stars buying new HDs can really skew an average figure)
There's a lot of us poor people out here that don't see value in buying new!

So I cannot buy a Street Glide next year[:@]

Johan

ORIGINAL: Jetpat

Its all relative economics. If you make $20k a year, then you have a certain view on how much that is. If you make $100k a year, you simply have a different view.


That makes sense, I guess you live to what your means are

ORIGINAL: gman

guess you can be proud that you're not just the average biker. over 50% of them must be RUBs, thus you can be proud that you're a PUB and a real biker? Kinda like the HD commercial with the sheep, you're the black one. Be proud to be poor?



Just so I understand this right, just cause I make over 80k a year and I own a couple HD's I am a "RUB", or I am part of the sheepel crowd???? Well that is just crap.

Here in Dallas it goes from one extreme to another as far as incomes, and we are lucky that we unlike most states are not seeing the hit or recession that most states are right now, but just because I was young when the dot com boom hit and I am good at what I do and get paid well for it should automatically lump me into a particular pool.

I didn't know crap about computers 13 or so years ago was turning wrenches and slinging booze as a high school drop out.I made a decision then that I didn't want to do thatforever and taught myself to program.I believe that anyone can do what they want to do, if you don't make what you want to make then change careers. If you can't make what you want to make where you are at then move. If you have another excuse then it is you not us"RUBS"that is the problem.

Sorry for the rant and to single your post out GMan...

Jeff

$80K??? I'm Active Army, I will probably never see $80K a year, maybe when I retire and work my A$$ off for another 20 years.......

ORIGINAL: mason417

ORIGINAL: Jetpat

Its all relative economics. If you make $20k a year, then you have a certain view on how much that is. If you make $100k a year, you simply have a different view.


That makes sense, I guess you live to what your means are


Exactly. About 5 years ago I made X/year...now, about 4 times that. I certainly lived a different lifestyle back then...and its funny that I look back and I still have the same worries ~ just a bit bigger!! :D

Statistacally then, if I buy two Harleys, I can expect $160,000.00 to show up in the mail. Won't need my Social Security to buy gasoline anymore. That is a f'ing brilliant idea.

Military here so dont expect to see much more than 50k a year. who gives a damn tho I make due with what I have and have my harley!

ORIGINAL: Zevron
My question is this. How long do I have to wait for my income to go up to $80,000.00 ?

Like I tell my employees...."you're raise will become effective when you do"

ORIGINAL: FXDXTSport

ORIGINAL: Zevron
My question is this. How long do I have to wait for my income to go up to $80,000.00 ?

Like I tell my employees...."you're raise will become effective when you do"


Nothing says thank you more than your boss telling you that. That would be the time I started looking for a new job. I don't want all the money in the world, I am happy getting by and having my Harley. Given I am broke half the time I am enjoying life to the max. No way some coporate ass would hold me down.

ORIGINAL: HDRick

Statistacally then, if I buy two Harleys, I can expect $160,000.00 to show up in the mail.


Sorry, bud, but no matter how many Harleys you own, you're still one Harley owner.

80k? Whoo Hoo!! I'm halfway there. Maybe next year I can buy some gas and ride it!!

ORIGINAL: danielo

Me thinks that that article is whacky.



[sm=exactly.gif] Me agrees!!!!

ORIGINAL: Zattaltin

ORIGINAL: FXDXTSport

ORIGINAL: Zevron
My question is this. How long do I have to wait for my income to go up to $80,000.00 ?

Like I tell my employees...."you're raise will become effective when you do"


Nothing says thank you more than your boss telling you that. That would be the time I started looking for a new job. I don't want all the money in the world, I am happy getting by and having my Harley. Given I am broke half the time I am enjoying life to the max. No way some coporate ass would hold me down.



Jeez Louise, it's a joke for crying out loud. Just like his waiting for his income to hit $80K because he owns a Harley. [sm=massbounce.gif]

oh well

rubbish stat I bet... made up to fit someones agenda... but I don't care... I just care about riding and enjoying it!

I gave all my green to Chevron.;)

I feel like I've lost 80k in the stock market this year. even though i didnt own anywhere near that

Doesn't surprise me one bit.

$80k isn't a lot of money these days.

See what happens when you lie on that survey after you buy your bike. :D Seriously I make more than 80K and so does my wife.