Retro Harley Davidson
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 30
From: Waterville MN
But take a closer look at all of those 'retro' models you mention. Those were originally designed to be affordable and fast - and they were.
Now just go and try to buy an 'affordable' 2012 Mustang, Camaro, or Challenger. Can't be done. They ALL come with nearly every option that can be had and run $40K-50K minimum. Every one is made like a CVO Ultra, and priced likewise.
It'd be so sweet if you could buy a 400 hp. Mustang (Camaro, Challenger) with roll-up windows, 5 speed, cloth/vinyl seats, steel wheels and dog dish hub caps for say around $25K-$30K. That my friend would be retro AND cool.
Problem with the automotive world, is that ALL of the manufacturers figured out a long time ago, nobody wants a stripped down model. The numbers do not lie, only a few would buy - not worth producing....
Now just go and try to buy an 'affordable' 2012 Mustang, Camaro, or Challenger. Can't be done. They ALL come with nearly every option that can be had and run $40K-50K minimum. Every one is made like a CVO Ultra, and priced likewise.
It'd be so sweet if you could buy a 400 hp. Mustang (Camaro, Challenger) with roll-up windows, 5 speed, cloth/vinyl seats, steel wheels and dog dish hub caps for say around $25K-$30K. That my friend would be retro AND cool.
Problem with the automotive world, is that ALL of the manufacturers figured out a long time ago, nobody wants a stripped down model. The numbers do not lie, only a few would buy - not worth producing....
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: Republic of Tejas
That is kind of what I was thinking after starting this thread. I am looking at get a house right now with shop (for projects).
I had been planning on building a streettracker but might just switch this idea and find a donor Sportster and build a retro bike.
I had been planning on building a streettracker but might just switch this idea and find a donor Sportster and build a retro bike.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
But take a closer look at all of those 'retro' models you mention. Those were originally designed to be affordable and fast - and they were.
Now just go and try to buy an 'affordable' 2012 Mustang, Camaro, or Challenger. Can't be done. They ALL come with nearly every option that can be had and run $40K-50K minimum. Every one is made like a CVO Ultra, and priced likewise.
It'd be so sweet if you could buy a 400 hp. Mustang (Camaro, Challenger) with roll-up windows, 5 speed, cloth/vinyl seats, steel wheels and dog dish hub caps for say around $25K-$30K. That my friend would be retro AND cool.
Problem with the automotive world, is that ALL of the manufacturers figured out a long time ago, nobody wants a stripped down model. The numbers do not lie, only a few would buy - not worth producing....
Now just go and try to buy an 'affordable' 2012 Mustang, Camaro, or Challenger. Can't be done. They ALL come with nearly every option that can be had and run $40K-50K minimum. Every one is made like a CVO Ultra, and priced likewise.
It'd be so sweet if you could buy a 400 hp. Mustang (Camaro, Challenger) with roll-up windows, 5 speed, cloth/vinyl seats, steel wheels and dog dish hub caps for say around $25K-$30K. That my friend would be retro AND cool.
Problem with the automotive world, is that ALL of the manufacturers figured out a long time ago, nobody wants a stripped down model. The numbers do not lie, only a few would buy - not worth producing....
Besides that, you're a little off on your facts. What they found is that there's so much more money in loaded models they decided to only offer fully loaded muscle cars.
Big mistake. And the very reason every high school kid has a Civic with a fart-can muffler, a turbo and a tuning device instead of a Mustang, Camaro, or Challenger.
Short sighted to say the least.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
Every model Harley builds is "retro". If they werent the would be styled like all those ugly metric bikes. Some folks who don't know the model think my bike was built in the 50's or 60's although those folks don't know a disk brake from a drum brake.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,498
Likes: 19
From: East Alton, IL
I agree, the only bike Harley currently builds that doesn't look "retro" is the V-rod.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,882
Likes: 5
From: So California
That's where the Heritage non-classic came from. HD asked at a dealer meeting, what they would like to see.
The dealers said a bike that looked like it was from the 40-50s but with modern tech.
Usually the first thing replaced by the new owner was what was nicked named the "Honda Shadow Reject seat".
The next year the Heritage Classic was released.
P.S. ***** G. rode a proto model of it to Sturgis and was swamped with riders asking what it was. They knew they had a bike that would sell.
The dealers said a bike that looked like it was from the 40-50s but with modern tech.
Usually the first thing replaced by the new owner was what was nicked named the "Honda Shadow Reject seat".
The next year the Heritage Classic was released.
P.S. ***** G. rode a proto model of it to Sturgis and was swamped with riders asking what it was. They knew they had a bike that would sell.
Last edited by Kowan; Feb 28, 2012 at 11:34 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,499
Likes: 3,716
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
The American auto makers have done all produced their sports cars as a retro model (Mustang, Camero, and Challenger) and they have sold great.
Do yall think if Harley Davidson produced a retro model that looked like '10s-30s model at a price of the Sportsters how many would sell?
Do yall think if Harley Davidson produced a retro model that looked like '10s-30s model at a price of the Sportsters how many would sell?
Sorry but there is no way to take a bicycle-type frame, F-head type motor design (gave you a whopping 439 cc engine displacement) and make it affordable and high performance.
OHV style motors introduced with knucklehead motors were the design breakthrough that set HD apart from companies like Indian.
There is no reason fro HD to go back to the older style and it seems that for the most part, customers do not want it (how many times have they brought out a springer model now?). And besides if someone has an interest in retro-high performance, there are already options to go retro style with modern components...
S&S already produces knuckle, pan and shovel motors that are seemingly bulletproof and high performance, but they are not cheap. There is a guy down-under who is building OEM style frames that are exact replicas of the older OHV frames but again, they are not cheap. (Definitely have to stay away, far away, from Taiwan Ted for your frame.) Companies like Baker produce trannys, Performance Machine gets you the best braking system.
Probably the hardest part would be finding the sheetmetal...tanks and fenders. The primary vendor of aftermarket tanks and fenders is Taiwan Ted. They are more poorly made than the frames. Not sure where J&P gets theirs from but it is the same crap and just as poorly made.
At the end of the day you could assemble one but price would depend on how much you could do yourself.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Market Demographic is too small for the 10's and 30's bike styles to warrant a complete design from the ground up. That's what it would take too...the current sportster motors look completely different, every facet of the bike design would have to be crafted. Then you are talking factory retooling etc.
This is a better idea for a small business to hand craft each model and lease the design from HD. If HD doesn't want to part with it, or it is too expensive, or they can't due to brand and quality control issues, then you can try to buy or lease the Henderson name (early competitor of HD).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._manufacturers
This is a better idea for a small business to hand craft each model and lease the design from HD. If HD doesn't want to part with it, or it is too expensive, or they can't due to brand and quality control issues, then you can try to buy or lease the Henderson name (early competitor of HD).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._manufacturers
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: Overgaard, AZ