What do you think?
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6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
What do you think?
Do you believe that Harley is going to go back to selling bikes like they did a few years ago, i.e. keeping supply lower then demand to keep the price over MSRP and forcing people to put a deposit down just to wait a year? I fear this because of how much they've cut production over the past couple of years.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 640
Likes: 44
From: Mancheser UK
Its the same in the UK, you cant buy a bike off the shop floor, their called show bikes, The dealer has to have special dispencation from Harley to sell one. It takes about 6 months + to get a new Harley now. 2009 Fatties are now going for the same price as 2010 Fatties, thats an increase of Ł1,500, however people are buying them. Bad in some way, but the secondhand market is booming, you can ask literaly what you like for a second hand HD bike now. I mentioned the show bikes earlier in the year but got poo, poo'd, well their alive and kicking over here.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
Its the same in the UK, you cant buy a bike off the shop floor, their called show bikes, The dealer has to have special dispencation from Harley to sell one. It takes about 6 months + to get a new Harley now. 2009 Fatties are now going for the same price as 2010 Fatties, thats an increase of Ł1,500, however people are buying them. Bad in some way, but the secondhand market is booming, you can ask literaly what you like for a second hand HD bike now. I mentioned the show bikes earlier in the year but got poo, poo'd, well their alive and kicking over here.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 6
From: Kingman, AZ
Maybe.....but it will be a long time coming. When used bike market is thinned out as mentioned above then they might be in that position again. For the near-term foreseeable future they are competing with the low mileage/late model used market.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 802
Likes: 3
From: Wisconsin
I think it is all due to layoffs at the plant. Living here near Milwaukee I know that they have cut down the workforce do to a slowdown in demand,additionally with the economy being so fu??ed up I would think that the used bike market will be booming this year also causing a slow down in demand for the new bikes.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,900
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From: way down upon the Suwannee River
Back in the 90s Harley was surprised by the "Harley Fad" and Demand far outstripped factory capacity. Now it's the other way around. However it looks like Harley is trying to push their top end models. Very easy to find Ultras and CVOs now. I was thinking of going from my FLHT to an FLHTC and my dealer can't locate one, But he has dozens of Ultras.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
It is demand driven. Its not if Harley will go back to Selling anything- either the "way they used to" or otherwise. It's - will people BUY the way they used to.
The new Camaro is only being Offered at MSRP+ - people have to BUY it at that. The DEMAND for the Camaro exceeds supply - expect to pay accordingly or Don't buy it.
Harley does not make a profit on your purchase - they got theirs from the Dealer. So the question is will Dealers try to sell at a premium. ONLY if they have enough to BUY at that price.
When I looked at Harleys several years ago and understood what was going on - A used Harley cost more than a new one - I said "good for them" but I am NOT buying.
It's not what Harley will do - they will react to the consumer and what THEY will do.
The new Camaro is only being Offered at MSRP+ - people have to BUY it at that. The DEMAND for the Camaro exceeds supply - expect to pay accordingly or Don't buy it.
Harley does not make a profit on your purchase - they got theirs from the Dealer. So the question is will Dealers try to sell at a premium. ONLY if they have enough to BUY at that price.
When I looked at Harleys several years ago and understood what was going on - A used Harley cost more than a new one - I said "good for them" but I am NOT buying.
It's not what Harley will do - they will react to the consumer and what THEY will do.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida, USA
I can understand in today's economy why the high-end bikes are available and the "lower-end" models aren't. If you make a decision to finance a bike it's a lot less painful to finance a $15k model versus a $20 - whatever one. I really like the new blacked-out CVO UC, but I don't like it $36k worth. Plus, what I'm hearing about the new EPA regs on the 2010 models I think a lot of people are desiring the "Less-EPA" bikes of the early-to-mid 2000s. Just my personal observation of what's going on around me, which isn't a very big sample I admit.