HD needs younger riders?
Informal, non-scientific data...
At DK we have a couple people in their 50's...they have Harley's, most of their friends have Harley's.
2 in their 30's....one has a Harley and their friends either have Harley's or want them. One is bikeless.
4 in their 20's....one has a Harley, two have metrics and one is bikeless....almost all their friends want Harley's....just can't afford them, OR know they will eventually have one, but the thrill of the crotch rockets still has a hold of them.
It appears the MoCo is doing a good job of attracting the younger crowd.
At DK we have a couple people in their 50's...they have Harley's, most of their friends have Harley's.
2 in their 30's....one has a Harley and their friends either have Harley's or want them. One is bikeless.
4 in their 20's....one has a Harley, two have metrics and one is bikeless....almost all their friends want Harley's....just can't afford them, OR know they will eventually have one, but the thrill of the crotch rockets still has a hold of them.
It appears the MoCo is doing a good job of attracting the younger crowd.
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DKCustomProducts.com
DKCustomProducts.com
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,197
From: Oxford, Nc
In '95 I invested in an Independent motorcycle shop based on the Harley brand. So I did some research beforehand. At the time, the average HD owner was 36 years old and had a household income of $48,000. 10 years later, that average buyer is 48 years old with no appreciable increase in household income. The younger buyer either can't afford, ( or doesn't want,) HD like the older market does.
This doesn't bode well for a Harley dealership every 30 miles down any interstate in any given direction. The demographics just don't support it.
This doesn't bode well for a Harley dealership every 30 miles down any interstate in any given direction. The demographics just don't support it.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 781
Likes: 1
From: central, ohio
I think there are many factors for the 20 somethings not buying harleys. Most simply can not afford a Harley. When a Honda shadow is 3000 and a 1200 is 10000, that is a huge difference. Most are starting there families and buying there first homes. I sold all my bikes in my early 20's so I could support my young family. I did not pick it up again for over a decade. I always wanted a Harley but this is my first, now in my late 30's. I think Harley's big problem now is not luring youth in the door, but the simple point that the unemployed cant buy a bike.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Ocoee Flodida
I rode the rattiest collection of bike for years until I could afford a Harley. Most of my friends were about the same. I am sure that whole generation of riders on sport bike will migrate over eventually.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 933
Likes: 4
I agree! I wanted a Harley when I was young and simply could not afford one. I was in my late 30's before I could justify 20k for a toy. Bottom line, that is what stops most younger people from buying Harleys.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 5
From: Lakeland, Fl
Harley is old type of cats at in that thread...
Plain and simple people are going to buy what they like and afford...
Just cause one group of people get older, doesn't mean the people behind them stay the same age...
The sport bike population is massive.... You think those guys won't age, grow up, or start to dislike the riding position....
Harley is ok....
Yeah... The boom is over for now.... But I don't think there will be another 2 year waiting list again....
See
Seems some of you haven't been to metric shops lately either...
New vs new Harley is very competitive...
Used vs used.... Harley is still higher...
For good reason... Better mire desired product.... And those that are smart enough see and realize this...
Some will ride what they can afford only.... I find and applaud that more than going into deep debt, or causing you or your family to struggle...
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 17,625
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From: Blairsville GA
I always get a chuckle out of predictions of doom for the Motor Company based on this, or that that will happen some time in the future. The same with various seers that feel if HD doesn't start attracting teenyboppers they will face (you got it ) doom.
Most of these latter predictions are based on an opinion that since HD doesn't make what I really want to ride (e.g. a sport tourer, crotch rocket, dual sport, etc.) that no one else will want to buy what Harley is making.
Almost as ludicrous are the prophets of doom that forecast the end of Harley because "the younger buyers aren't interested." They always miss two important points: a) Harley is a premium-luxury product, and b) for many people owning a Harley is achieved only as a personal reward for some accomplishment or other.
I'm pretty sure management at Cadillac, Mercedes and Rolls Royce don't stay up at night worrying that only a few teenagers can afford their products. You are probably not going to see a new RR model to compete with the Honda Civic because "that's what the kids want." Similarly, RV manufacturers, boat builders and log cabin builders in the mountains don't fret that their showrooms are not flooded with the hip-hop generation. They understand that their products sell to people at a different level of financial security and stage of life than downtown condos.
Most manufacturers of everything are going to have to either re-size their production, or find other markets in the world for their products as the baby-boom generation stops buying products.
Most of these latter predictions are based on an opinion that since HD doesn't make what I really want to ride (e.g. a sport tourer, crotch rocket, dual sport, etc.) that no one else will want to buy what Harley is making.
Almost as ludicrous are the prophets of doom that forecast the end of Harley because "the younger buyers aren't interested." They always miss two important points: a) Harley is a premium-luxury product, and b) for many people owning a Harley is achieved only as a personal reward for some accomplishment or other.
I'm pretty sure management at Cadillac, Mercedes and Rolls Royce don't stay up at night worrying that only a few teenagers can afford their products. You are probably not going to see a new RR model to compete with the Honda Civic because "that's what the kids want." Similarly, RV manufacturers, boat builders and log cabin builders in the mountains don't fret that their showrooms are not flooded with the hip-hop generation. They understand that their products sell to people at a different level of financial security and stage of life than downtown condos.
Most manufacturers of everything are going to have to either re-size their production, or find other markets in the world for their products as the baby-boom generation stops buying products.
