H-D...Pay to Play?
 

Don't know if this will become normal, but I think I'll keep my old stuff.

I think it is already there. Don't you have to pay extra for the Nav on the 2024s?

I don't know, but I can get a reliable version of Nav on my phone if I need it (I generally don't).
But he was also talking about P2P for heated grips and seat. I'll drive the car before I pay extra for that.

This reminds me of a GM survey from a couple of years ago where subjects were asked how many subscriptions they would anticipate on a car and they'd still buy it.
Surprisingly (to me at least,) it was something like up tp $160 / month.
No thank you here. (and my phone mounts to two of my bikes for nav already anyway.)

I refused to pay a yearly subscription for BlueLink remote start and GPS in my ‘21 Hyundai Palisade. This after my free two years was up.

I’ve got free GPS on my smart phone so I use that.

And I have the OEM fob that can start the car for a short throw, in line of sight.

On the new BMW’s, you have to subscribe to turn the heated seats and steering wheel on.

I can see a GPS update fee. But not an already out of date one like HD offers.

I am with you on that. Not paying for those kinds of features. Just talked to OnStar today - they wanted me to pay $9 for the remote app on my Tahoe. Nope, I can start it with my remote - don't need my phone.

I have AA on my phone and can plug that into my trick. If they stop that, I can always go back to my Garmin.

My thing is - if a lot of folks continue to pay, they will continue to add. Just like my TV; I no longer have those $9 boxes - just stream my shows.

It is killing satellite radio and it will kill any vehicle company in the end that tries to control its consumer by tagging them with monthly or yearly taxes. I refuse and it will drive consumers to other vehicles. It is a reason for me to embrace a basic motorcycle. No touchscreen. As soon as you add a touch screen, lots of extraneous features can be added. I don’t need those features to ride. I can check the air pressure in my own tires when I check tire wear. I can live without “ride” modes on a touring or cruiser motorcycle. The only gauge I need is speed. I know my engine revs by sound, I prefer a stand alone nav, whether garmin or phone app. I don’t need a screen to run a radio. A button and dial work fine, especially when moving. I don’t like the idea of touchscreening through screens to adjust volume, find a station. A button or knob and your eyes never have to leave the road.

In short, I will not ever pay for a feature and if a bike or car required I do so, I’ll purchase another brand of vehicle. I hope I’m not alone in this.

Ideas like this seem to come from companies run by accountants. Need I say more. In the 60’s and 70’s, I thought lawyers were ruining the world, but then I saw accountants taking over companies. It’s been downhill fast ever since that happened.

In my view, the accountant or lawyer should be the number 2 man, telling the top man the cost advantage vs the negative, or the risk involved. But the future of the company needs to have a risk vs reward leader in the top decision making position. Otherwise, it’s just dying a slow, safe, cut corners death. Subscription fees is that death.

They will have to come pry my analog vehicles and evo from my cold, dead hands! LOL

What happens when the physical parts break? Are they going to expect the customer to pay to fix the things they are renting?

Well, I don't have or need a radio on my bike - I have the music in my head that's playing all the time, anyway....

We just bought a '21 Hyundai. They wanted a fee to include a remote start. No, thanks. Now the 'puter in the new vehicles tells your insurance company when you misbehave, and your insurance will go up. You gotta bet it tells the feds when and where you're speeding, etc, too.

I'm in the market for a new-to-me truck. It'll be the latest one I can find that DOESN'T have the tattletales in it.

Ride safe!