Inventory shortages
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,160
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
Timing is everything.... you may have missed the boat...
IMHO...
This current spike in demand will pass soon enough, and then we'll be back in the world of diminishing sales... This is a Covid inspired spike in demand.... If HD lowers production, it may raise new bike prices (remember the late 80's to early 90's) but once covid induced hysteria, and boredom subside, the market will be back to what it was pre-covid... Don't forget, all motorcycle sales have been on a downward trend... the current generation is just not as enamored with motorcycles as we, baby boomers, were...
Same thing happening in the RV world... due to Covid and people wanting to get out of the house, it's hard to find a new or used, good RV for sale.... the used prices are way up. The new inventory is so low, that the big discounts from MSRP on new RVs (25%-30%) are much less if discounted at all....
If you want an RV (or a Harley), just wait another 18 months or so... there will be a glut of lightly used RV's/Harleys on the market as there was pre-Covid, and the prices will be far better than for the same RV today...
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,882
Likes: 1,215
From: Fort Myers, Fl
While I agree with youre statements you forgot about my group gen x, we still like to ride plenty. And then gen z I guess, plenty of guys younger than me riding around here.
You guys (boomers) made H-D cool to us.
We kept it going too.
Maybe people are working from home quite a bit more to.
Which allows for life changes Im guessing, I still have to physically go to work.
You guys (boomers) made H-D cool to us.
We kept it going too.
Maybe people are working from home quite a bit more to.
Which allows for life changes Im guessing, I still have to physically go to work.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,001
Likes: 11,441
HD is restricting inventory to force sales of what they want to sell and not what you want. It is a case of you will buy what we offer period. Just as they are not stocking parts at dealerships. You will wait for parts.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,160
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
While I agree with you’re statements you forgot about my group gen x, we still like to ride plenty. And then gen z I guess, plenty of guys younger than me riding around here.
You guys (boomers) made H-D cool to us.
We kept it going too.
Maybe people are working from home quite a bit more to.
Which allows for life changes I’m guessing, I still have to physically go to work.
You guys (boomers) made H-D cool to us.
We kept it going too.
Maybe people are working from home quite a bit more to.
Which allows for life changes I’m guessing, I still have to physically go to work.
Glad to see you Gen X & Gen Z people riding... But when I look around at my kids, nephews and their friend's... the numbers of people who want to ride, love to ride, and need to ride..... are a mere shadow of the numbers I saw growing up as a kid.....
All 5 of my nephews never got their driver licenses until they were 17 or 18.... I, as almost every friend I knew, was at the DMV on my 16th birthday to get my permit. I took my drivers test, passed, and had my license 2 months later...
These are different times....
Last edited by hattitude; Apr 9, 2021 at 01:56 PM.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 19
Likes: 8
From: Nebraska
Well I would think "what they want to sell" would include new 2021 road glides.. pretty expensive after all and decent margins I would think. Yet 0 to this dealer.
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 314
Likes: 189
From: Triad, North Carolina
As a manufactuer I would not restrict what comes out of my factory as long as I can keep up quality and demand. There might be some residual parts shortages from suppliers causing a ripple effect. But you would have to be a dumb *** to hold back sales just to prop up prices. JMO!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,466
From: Charleston, SC
Smitty, that "wait for parts" philosophy is exactly why I own a Harley and not a Goldwing or BMW. Especially after being cooped up for over a year now, folks want to get out and ride and travel. If they have long wait on parts and their bike sits in a dealer, those folks are going to be aggravated, maybe even enough to consider another brand.....one that is more reliable and doesn't need parts that often.