Harley Cost
I think you need to check your facts. I bought a new '06 Vulcan 2000 Classic OTD for $11500. I got a good deal, but it wasn't a spectacularly low price. They can be had for that price just about anywhere. The H-D equivilent would be a Fatboy. Both are single crankpin V-twins, both are EFI, both are softtails, both are belt drive, both have cast wheels, both weigh about 750 lbs, both are excellent motorcycles. There are only two real differences between the two bikes:
1. One is watercooled, the other is not
2.One costs about $6000 less than the other one
Nothing wrong with the Fatboy or the Vulcan, but there can bea significant price differential between comparable metric and S.A.E. bikes.
OK so why do HD's cost close to 20K OTD. My 07 FXDC was 19,972 OTD.
Gosh I'm not anywhere near the most tenured person on this forum and even I'm already tired of seeing this subject! [sm=outcold.gif]
Nothing personal Motorsportman, just a bit of a vent.
They'll charge $20k so long as folks like you and me are willing to pay $20k.
If they could charge $40k and still sell...they'd charge $40k.
Don't let anyone fool you into thinking Harley's in business to make friends.
It's all about the almighty dollar.
So...why do they charge $20k?
Because they can.
Don't look for your HD to have anything extra special on it likeplatinum wheels, or solid gold handlebars to make it worth more than the other brands on the market.
The same reason why dogs lick themselves!
Sorry Blackmouth I couldn't help myself, the compulsion was too great!
OK so why do HD's cost close to 20K OTD. My 07 FXDC was 19,972 OTD. man that's alot of money for a motorcycle.
.. Oh yeah....by the way I rented every HD tourer there was before riding it and was gonna drop $20K on an EG classic until I checked the Nomad. Let's see the Nomad looked better, sounded better, rode better than any HD I've ever ridden......and feels meaner.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I be holding a Harley before a Nomad anyday.
So you saved yourself a few grand, good, come back to me in 5 years and let me know what your Nomad is worth.
OK so why do HD's cost close to 20K OTD. My 07 FXDC was 19,972 OTD. man that's alot of money for a motorcycle.
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
Here's a prime example of what kind of answer you're looking for:
Our company's president wanted to try sending an acoustical product to India (for enginnering) and have China (tool and manufacture) a product we design & make here. India engineers said that they could improve the current design & boost acoustical output by 3 dB. Upper amnagement thought - WOW! that's impressive - maybe we can just utilize India enginners and get rid of our engineering department here. Prototype came in. (Now mind you - they had schematics, drawings and the actual product that they were going to make.) China built the "new" product to India drawings. This is the result: A 3 dB LOSS of acoustical output (that's 1/2 power for those that don't know). Upon analysis, the India design was flawed due to inefficient routing of pathways for acoustical sound.
If you still here after digesting the above - here's my point - In this case, American enginnering and manufacturing was superior. The end result was a superior product.
Harley might not have it right all the time, but if the product has been out there for a little bit of time with customer feedback - they make a great product.
I can go on and on but I won't because I do not want this thread turning into a bashing thread.
I respect the admins here too much.
Nick
To continue mine above, for whatever reason, big Harleys have now reached the price point where they are just not justifiable to me. I don't ride enough, have never been part of, or enjoyed, the 'Harley lifestyle', and have no need own anything just to be able to brag about it, be it large screen TVs or motorcycles. With Harleys now at a price point equal to some pretty nice sports cars, my Harley is on the block and I'm switching to 4 wheels.
This is not as expensive as some other hobbies look at how much a boat costs and it won't get you to work.






