I was bad *** for about 15 minutes in the 60's, the rest of the time I have been a motorcyclist or a motorcycle enthusiast. I have not always ridden a Harley. My divorce forced me to look elsewhere and I actually appreciated the metric riders I met offroad or rode metric cruisers. I always enjoyed airheads, but nothing newer than 1977. As far as Brit bikes, I enjoyed my Hinckley Bonneville cafe, but I did not meet riders I enjoyed hanging with. When I could, I bought another Harley Touring. I only pay cash, no credit, so I am willing to save and wait until I can buy what I want.
I could care about the Harley lifestyle.Most of my friends ride Harleys, but not all. They ride Harley's because the are reliable, fun to ride and easy to work on. That is more about life, than lifestyle. Sure, I can dress like a pirate, but most of us dress for the road. Basic black is easy to match. People who wear colored leathers have a bitch matching browns and they water spot and fade. Black is black and if it turns charcoal, it is easy to make it black again.
My girlfriend and I like getting Harley Tee shirts from the far away dealerships when we travel. When we wear them later nearer home, they always remind us of our great road adventures. If that puts me into your "lifestyle" book, who cares?
I am not a HOG member. We ride as friends and motorcycling is our common interest.
But I am not unhappy that Harley sells a "lifestyle" as while I am not a direct participant, I get benefits from healthy dealerships nationwide. If a Millennial rides his bike 7000 miles a year and pays a Harley dealership to do his oil changes, what do I care, it means success for the system and then I can use what parts I need. In fact, as we are traveling now for weeks at a time, I rather like the idea that Harley has millennial cathedrals conveniently spaced throughout my ride.
In short, if Harley did not sell a lifestyle to Yuppies and then to millennial's, it would be a Polaris made Indian. Therefore, I'll take my baby boomer bias and use it for something useful, but hope that mother Harley can not only survive, but thrive with millennial's as its primary dollar generator.

 

I think they still focus on their bikes, but in the same breath I'll say there has always been an image about a badass ride. I've never heard anyone say when I grow up I want a Honda..

 

If we're talking about the same "Sonny", he now rides a Victory lol, Just sayin!

 

He's back in Oakland again, that may change- his choice.

 

I think the real demise came when a H-D became an investment with an electric start.
It used to be about having fun and punishing the hell out of it.

 

.....and being punished like hell while riding the darned thing! It still is, have you ridden one recently? The suspension is still......

 

There are still some of us who live for the ride. Sure I may be on big cushy "sofa bike" these days, but I paid my dues years ago and have not one single thing I need to prove to anyone. I just love to ride. That's me top left in Colorado this summer with some awesome friends having a great time!

 

15 - 19 years old motorcycle only. Next few years motorcycle and truck or car which was always left with my girlfriend-the wife. Hardtails, motocross before suspension, riding to work every day.
Agreed nothing ever to prove these days. Just enjoy riding.
Rode with friends last weekend, when we never passed any other bikes all day, but the ride with true friends is not limited by weather.

 

My last rigid ride was not that long ago- lol!

 

Sweet looking ride!

Still have one of mine...