If Harley-Davidson was to make a smaller bike (less than 500 CCs) for new riders and Rider Training programs what would you like to see?

It has to be under 500cc

The seat has to be lower than 25" (higher could be an option but 25" is required)

(Those are unchangeable requirements)

Think about your kids, smaller women, first time riders. A sportster low with 450CC jugs you could easily change to 883 or 1200? Plastic bodywork that could be replaced with Metal? (They are gonna get dropped)

Or.... completely new bike like the old Sprint? What would you bring Jr. to the showroom for?

No offense to anyone, I know, I know, your first bike was a dresser or a Softail. Good for you, but this is the real world.

 

The Buell Blast was a flop, no one cares about ***** bikes.

 

Ninja 250....he needs to learn to ride.

 

Nope because they price tag would be too high. My dealer has had the same Buells on the floor for the last 2 months, has not sold a ONE.

 

There is NO market for a itty bitty HD. They have tried three times from the late 50's on and it NEVER worked.

Go post on Boss Hoss and tell them that they need to market to a younger buyer with a 50cc bike.

The market for Harley is populated with riders that advance through other smaller makes and matured into the Harley world. And many that were smart enough to begin with.

 

Harley didn't have 248 training Ranges in over 40 states with almost 200,000 students in the 1950s they do now and they plan to produce a new bike for them. They need close to 3000 bikes just for themselves. And the Dealers that have those programs did sell Blasts.

When you saw Buell "discontinue" the blast they didn't stop making them, they just didn't sell them in the Buell line. They were still made without the "Buell" sticker on the tank.

And your state DOT strictly requires "*****" bikes for training, it is inflexible.

 

They shouldn't consider anything under 45 CI.
Don't need that Metric Crap.

 

In these hard times why would Harley waste the money to develope a small bike that won't sell !!!

 

Haven't I seen about 500 different threads on this same basic concept. Just say no.

 

Its like asking Masseratti to make an affordable automobile. Theres enough small, plastic bikes out there already.