Younger Riders...
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,058
Likes: 8
From: MEXICO
RE: Younger Riders...
We... Hate Diapers 
I was 26 when I got my first (and so far only) Harley Davidson, spent almost every single dime saved over 2 years of hard work. Yes motorcycles before in my family (my dad was a huge motorcycling enthusiast) but mine was the first HD.
Mimo.
I was 26 when I got my first (and so far only) Harley Davidson, spent almost every single dime saved over 2 years of hard work. Yes motorcycles before in my family (my dad was a huge motorcycling enthusiast) but mine was the first HD.
Mimo.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Rocket City, AL
RE: Younger Riders...
Agree with those who have said that the marketing has a lot to do with it. Perfect example is the local dealer's TV advertising, shows different men & women on their rides talking about how they're doctors, lawyers, professionals, etc. but when they're on their bikes "they're just plain free." No one in this commercial (at least to me) appears to be younger than 50.
This same dealer has a showroom full of Sportys & Buells collecting dust...
This same dealer has a showroom full of Sportys & Buells collecting dust...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
Likes: 4
From: Midland, TX
RE: Younger Riders...
There are not a lot of young HD riders. I truly believe HD was targeting younger riders when they developed the V-Rod. Kinda didn't work so much. Like was mentionedthough, most younger folks can't afford an HD.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
From: Near Tacoma
RE: Younger Riders...
I built my first Shovelhead in1980 when I was 22, back then everyone was in their 20's or early 30's. Maybe a few old hands but most of the people I knew were in their 20's. You could buy a decent running Sporty for $1500 and a beat up Pan or Flattie for $2500 or so. A good stock Shovelhead a couple of years old was around $4000 and up, new ones were around $ 9000. We all just bought beater'70's UJM's and stripped them down so we could ride and worked on finding or piecing together whatever HD we could get our hands on.
Young guys don't seem to want to do that anymore, they can go buy Japanese Sport bikes or Cruisers for $99 a month that run a million times better than anything we had without getting their hands dirty.
Young guys don't seem to want to do that anymore, they can go buy Japanese Sport bikes or Cruisers for $99 a month that run a million times better than anything we had without getting their hands dirty.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,705
Likes: 358
From: C-Town
RE: Younger Riders...
ORIGINAL: HeatherC
Most younger people (under say 25) don't want to spend the money on a Harley. The ones that do usually come from a family history of riding Harley's.
Most younger people (under say 25) don't want to spend the money on a Harley. The ones that do usually come from a family history of riding Harley's.
For
Truth.
QTF
My Grandfather rode an Indian, and Father & Uncles had Harleys.
I was born into it.
And now that I've a mind of my own, I still love them.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 1
From: Northern VA, Madison GA
RE: Younger Riders...
ORIGINAL: RedlegRK
Agree with those who have said that the marketing has a lot to do with it. Perfect example is the local dealer's TV advertising, shows different men & women on their rides talking about how they're doctors, lawyers, professionals, etc. but when they're on their bikes "they're just plain free." No one in this commercial (at least to me) appears to be younger than 50.
This same dealer has a showroom full of Sportys & Buells collecting dust...
Agree with those who have said that the marketing has a lot to do with it. Perfect example is the local dealer's TV advertising, shows different men & women on their rides talking about how they're doctors, lawyers, professionals, etc. but when they're on their bikes "they're just plain free." No one in this commercial (at least to me) appears to be younger than 50.
This same dealer has a showroom full of Sportys & Buells collecting dust...
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 543
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Younger Riders...
ORIGINAL: stevent
I built my first Shovelhead in1980 when I was 22, back then everyone was in their 20's or early 30's. Maybe a few old hands but most of the people I knew were in their 20's. You could buy a decent running Sporty for $1500 and a beat up Pan or Flattie for $2500 or so. A good stock Shovelhead a couple of years old was around $4000 and up, new ones were around $ 9000.
I built my first Shovelhead in1980 when I was 22, back then everyone was in their 20's or early 30's. Maybe a few old hands but most of the people I knew were in their 20's. You could buy a decent running Sporty for $1500 and a beat up Pan or Flattie for $2500 or so. A good stock Shovelhead a couple of years old was around $4000 and up, new ones were around $ 9000.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 824
Likes: 3
RE: Younger Riders...
Don't get all defensive and rag on the kid, he makes a valid point. This 'whatever' generation, and the two that preceded it, are not into the 'Harley' lifestyle and image thing. That's something for their parents (or grandparents). You won't see them lusting after a Buick either. If they're into bikes at all, they're into inexpensive, fast, sport bikes, the kind of bikes that are status symbols to their friends, and the kind of bikes they can afford. They don't care if it's covered in plastic. Most things in their lives have been plastic, so that's not a negative to them. American-made? What's that? They probably don't own anything that's American-made, and they've grown up thinking motorized things from Japan, be it cars or motorcycles, are the ones to own.
The ones who should be concerned about this are the giant brains at the Mo-Co. Sooner or later, and sooner would be better, they're going to have to find a way to appeal to these generations. But that's not our problem, is it,
The ones who should be concerned about this are the giant brains at the Mo-Co. Sooner or later, and sooner would be better, they're going to have to find a way to appeal to these generations. But that's not our problem, is it,
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: Younger Riders...
ORIGINAL: EricVonZipper
I bought a brand new 1979 lowrider in late 78 for $4,200, and so I know you coulda bought it at least as cheap in late 79. A brand new superglide in 1979 was about $3,600 to $3,800. At least in the Atlanta area.
ORIGINAL: stevent
I built my first Shovelhead in1980 when I was 22, back then everyone was in their 20's or early 30's. Maybe a few old hands but most of the people I knew were in their 20's. You could buy a decent running Sporty for $1500 and a beat up Pan or Flattie for $2500 or so. A good stock Shovelhead a couple of years old was around $4000 and up, new ones were around $ 9000.
I built my first Shovelhead in1980 when I was 22, back then everyone was in their 20's or early 30's. Maybe a few old hands but most of the people I knew were in their 20's. You could buy a decent running Sporty for $1500 and a beat up Pan or Flattie for $2500 or so. A good stock Shovelhead a couple of years old was around $4000 and up, new ones were around $ 9000.
For example, $4,200 in 1978 has the same 'buying power' as $13,492 in 2006.
http://www.westegg.com/inflation/