View Poll Results: If you own a Harley, how old are you?

I don't own a Harley Davidson motorcycle

0.32%

16-25

3.80%

26-35

13.61%

36-45

18.99%

46-55

30.06%

56-65

27.53%

66-75

5.70%

76-85

86-95

96+

Voters: 316. You may not vote on this poll

How old are you?

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Nov 8, 2011 | 03:34 PM

#31

Village Idiot™

Thread Starter

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 3,158

Likes: 68

From: Martinsburg, WV

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwiZted Biker

I really think buying a harley has been a jump the bandwagon experience for a lot the last 25 yrs or so and it has been tapering off as that generation has aged . This doesn't of course reflect everyone I'd say the bigger group in this forum just like the bike but we do a good number of the other types and this isn't that thread .

Younger riders I don't think are drawn as much to the machine or the " Image " like a lot of our age group where and let's face it the price tag for cool has gotten a bit steep to the point of ridiculous for a younger person with a young family to be paying and with the economy going as it has .

Read an article like a week ago where a lawyer who had to become a stripper to make ends meet , that's the reality of our world today not the head in the clouds pricing the MoCo think's is still ok .

You can still find good used deals and HD's pricing is at an advantage to where it used to be 10 years ago. Back then, heh that's funny right?, you could get a 600cc race rep for around $7k which was almost half of what an entry level dyna or softail was. Now they're all over $8k and the prices are rising with the dyna and softail entries still staying about the same and used bikes not bein much more. Of course the used sport bike segment leaves you with very cheap offers in comparison.

But the Vrod is the first new platform debuted in about 20 years, IIRC, with the one before that being the new dyna in the early to mid 90's. With that, there have been no huge updates other than engines and even then it was the Evo to 88 change and incremental displacement updates after that.

Every other non American motorcycle company I can think of has new line debuts and major updates every couple of years with especially the sport bike lines of companies that do factory racing having major overhauls every 3 years or so. Do you think this is one of the things holding a new generation back from purchasing HD? Sure, they have a fine line to balance on with pleasing the existing customers and trying to draw in a younger crowd and newer customer base by trying to mix new tech with old designs, but if they fail to innovate will they eventually fade to obscurity?

Hell, even now the traditionalist don't accept the Vrod as a Harley. If they still had Buell and Buell would have been given a chance to develop a great bike with that Rotax motor, HD would have had a brand that the younger crowd would have been drawn to and would have had an easier way to bridge the gap. I know a lot of the race rep crowd are extremely brand loyal. When they're turning 30 and 40 and think that they want something a bit more comfortable to enjoy that they'll stick with their favorite brand or jump ship?

Nov 8, 2011 | 03:43 PM

#32

Longhair4life

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 17,900

Likes: 13

From: Hollywood, CA.

45 first HD at 28yrs old

Nov 8, 2011 | 04:39 PM

#33

Recycled

Road Captain

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 575

Likes: 4

From: SouthWestern Ontario

First Harley I owned was in 1969 at 18 years of age. Will be 61 in a couple of weeks and am on only my 3rd Harley with a dozen other bikes in between. Loved them all in their own way, not just the Harleys.

Nov 8, 2011 | 05:24 PM

#34

bikenut1957

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 11,240

Likes: 2,292

From: Lake Seminole

I've had motorcycles most of my life. My first Harley at 50, I'm 54.

Nov 8, 2011 | 06:45 PM

#35

Hollywood Ball

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 2,759

Likes: 3

From: NCWV

I'm 28. So when I say something stupid, now you know why.

Nov 8, 2011 | 06:52 PM

#36

Jim Kraft

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 2,856

Likes: 127

From: Middle of Kansas

I think our kids will end up with Harley's. I know mine did. I will be 71 in 21 days, and love my 99 FXSTC. Started out on a 45 back in 56.

Nov 8, 2011 | 06:52 PM

#37

harderd

Advanced

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 81

Likes: 0

From: South Carolina

I have road dirt bikes since I was 10. Always wanted a Harley but had to do the 2 kids thing. Son raced dirt bikes and 4 wheelers, played football, etc. Daughter played ball, danced, had a horse and rode 4 wheelers. Kids are gone, out of school and the cars are paid for. Purchased a softtale deluxe in June and loving it. Im 54 and still have a dirt bike.