Can't see it. When I leave for a ride in the morning and go for the day I may need, a sweater, a coat, raingear, gloves, leathers, sunglasses, clear glasses, or combinations of all of above, and if the wife is with me well that's another story.
As long as there are riders who live in climates where the day can change dramatically there will be a market for Baggers. Maybe not the extreme baggers we are seeing but everyday baggers.

Now if we can all get a 45' RV to follow us everywhere we go like Jesse James we can keep the custom choppers.

 

They'll have their day again. I don't know when, could be a while. These things are cyclical.

 

Big Bear did make some cool bikes and kits, but I have never seen one here in Ohio. I still like seeing teh custom bike and choppers, but it does seem to be a almost dead trend. I see more baggers than I ever seen choppers so I doubt they will go out any time soon if ever.

 

Economy Sucks? sure does for the common man,the upper 1% (the media claims a bigger percentage) sure aint complaining along with their cronie politician buddies.

 

Never really cared for most of their bikes but it's a shame.

 

I like choppers always did, some were just too crazy though. They will come back just like everything else. Baggers are big right now but look at the used market there are so many up for sale too more than anyother style bike. Sad to see them go

 

Baggers are more practical than choppers. The customization trend might die out, or lessen, but baggers will be there--or something very much like them--for as long as bikes exist.

I never paid a lot of attention to BBC. But reading comments about them now, the principals seem to have been pretty unpleasant people, in the estimation of most who are commenting. 'Arrogant' keeps coming up. Also, seemingly BBC has filed a few law-suits against others, and had at least one significant suit filed against themselves.

Our local chopper-builder (MGS, Lancaster Cali) branched out into service a long time ago, and are now doing HD warranty work, even. That seems to me to be the model, if you want to last, i.e., your basis is service, and parts-sales (aftermarket), and you build bikes as an adjunct to those things. As for the style you build, I'd go with the market. If bobbers and old-school are hot, that's what I'd do.

Choppers were popular back in the 60's and early 70's. They got popular again, when? About 2000'ish? So look for them to come back...along about 2030, or so. I'll be taking a 'dirt nap' by then (or probably won't be able to ride a bike, so won't care so much about it) but some of you younguns might see the 'fad' reborn... Human beings recycle the same things over the course of several generations. We give it a little twist, or two, call it our own, and everyone keeps marching...

Alan

 

I wonder when the goatee fad will go?

 

Interesting article posted on the Cyril huze blog today 18th dec ..... does not come as any surprise considering the rumors of moving bike parts ... If i was the one owed money with no bike to show for it i would be the first with a personal visit and close the door behind me!!!!!!

 

I saw a show about them on some business channel a while back. The consultant was trying to figure out their situation and fix it. Seems they needed to sell 12 or 14 bikes a month to break even but were only moving 7 or 8. They didn't have a lot of cash reserve as I recall so this outcome was probably inevitable. I didn't watch the end of the show so don't know what his final conclusion was for them. FWIW I don't much care for any new style choppers.