Alarming HD trend....
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Alarming HD trend....
Yep, no argument here. Harley has discontinued some of their best bikes. Harley even drops great machines before they go production. Harley drops world championship machines. Harley has dropped whole segments of the market. Could that be why Harley is still in business? If you study markets, you will find that it is pretty typical for many competitors who try to be the "best" to go belly up.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 44,848
Likes: 3
From: South of Utica New York
RE: Alarming HD trend....
ORIGINAL: Fandango6
Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't they dropped models before ( Springer Classic? )only to bring them back a few years later with minor changes?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't they dropped models before ( Springer Classic? )only to bring them back a few years later with minor changes?
I will miss the Wide Glide [&:]
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: Pacific Northwest
RE: Alarming HD trend....
OK maybe this is off point, but I think Harley is manufacturing now for planned obsolesence, they make a higher margin on parts,reduce the product line, more parts to sell to separate bikes, more profit, they gang up parts so they cannot be be repaired on a cost effective basis, oops, you have to replace a whole assemblies to get a $2.oo part. Not just Harley but a lot of manufacturers build this way they design in a certain timespan before their product will wear out, sorry it will cost more to fix it than it's worth, might be better just to buy a new one, that way the factory keeps churning out product. Gone are the days you might actually fix a toaster, lawnmoweror a DVD player or whatever,buy a new one when it's broke, it's cheaper. Does anybody else but me see a major problem with this short sided business plan(on a personal and planetary level), we live in a era of diminishing resources and we fill our landfills with junk, because so much of what we buy is designed to be disposable. Gone are the "warhorses" that can be repaired indefinetly, a flat head 45 cubic inch from the forties could be repaired easily for decades and be cost effective in repair, Just wait til your 2007 bites it in 2010, cheaper to buy a new one, and that's what they are counting on.The whole thing makes me sick, and now China is upping the ante and dumping even more more rapidly disposal crap on the world, all based on price, the world is going insane, OK done now.
Banned
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Alarming HD trend....
ORIGINAL: Unibomber
Heres what I see happening with the HD model line up and the model selection in general, and it really bums me out.....They are pulling the unique models like the Wide Glide, Springers, deuce etc............Eventually all we are left with is One or two Dynas, Softails with different paint and fenders to make up "different models" when they really arent different at all.
I understand that sales of the above mentioned models were not spectacular, but having a wide range of choices makes HD attractive. Its obvious that HD would like to pump one or two models from each line-up outta the factory with little or no machining difference, but paint,fender and bars, call one a Fatboy and the other a Heritage and bam theres your softail line-up.....
I always enjoyed seeing an HD model I either havent seen before or dont see very much, even if I dont like that model its cool to have had so many different options at the HD dealer......[sm=partyparty.gif]
Maybe HD will prove me wrong and bring back alot of those odd ball models in years to come as special editions,,,,,,I will be happy to eat crow, with sides of roadkill........
Heres what I see happening with the HD model line up and the model selection in general, and it really bums me out.....They are pulling the unique models like the Wide Glide, Springers, deuce etc............Eventually all we are left with is One or two Dynas, Softails with different paint and fenders to make up "different models" when they really arent different at all.
I understand that sales of the above mentioned models were not spectacular, but having a wide range of choices makes HD attractive. Its obvious that HD would like to pump one or two models from each line-up outta the factory with little or no machining difference, but paint,fender and bars, call one a Fatboy and the other a Heritage and bam theres your softail line-up.....I always enjoyed seeing an HD model I either havent seen before or dont see very much, even if I dont like that model its cool to have had so many different options at the HD dealer......[sm=partyparty.gif]
Maybe HD will prove me wrong and bring back alot of those odd ball models in years to come as special editions,,,,,,I will be happy to eat crow, with sides of roadkill........
Back in the old days, we called those 'choppers'. Usually homemade.
Don't remember how many there were to choose from in '79, but I'll bet less than half of what's available on the showroom floor today.
Or, tomorrow.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Alarming HD trend....
This is one smart company. They'll discontinue some models only to bring them back as "anniversary" or "Special editions". You'll probably see a pan head again in the near future. Just like the auto makers are with the Challenger, Camaro, etc. They stopped making them because the sales weren't justifying the manufacturiing. They'll be a waiting list for those cars people will be paying MSRP+
