OMG Harleys are so much more expensive the Metrics!
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,020
Likes: 69
From: Twin Cities, MN
OMG Harleys are so much more expensive the Metrics!
I posted this at the end of a dying thread earlier today, but thought it might be interesting for discussion.
You know, I get tired of all the whining from riders and some posters about how metrics are so much cheaper the HD. And how can you justify spending all that money?
So, I picked one, and researched the MSRP prices for bikes I felt were closest to the HD Ultra Classic.
Well here are the MSRP's (from "Motor Cyclist" website) of several bikes, all full on touring bikes, similar to the Ultra Classic in style and/or function. I didn't include the top Gold Wing, Arlen Ness Vision, Indian or CVO bikes, that was a different category in my mind.
You decide if HD's are out of line as far as prices go.
$21,499 Ultra Classic 2012
$23,799 Ultra Classic Limited 2012
$20,999 Victory Vision Tour 2012
$23,199 Honda Gold Wing Audio Comfort 2012
$23,300 BMW K 1600GTL 2012
$20,190 Yamaha RoyalStar Venture S 2012
$18,999 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS 2012
These are new bike prices, and maybe the argument is true in the used bike market.
But C'mon man! Enough of the beyotching!
You know, I get tired of all the whining from riders and some posters about how metrics are so much cheaper the HD. And how can you justify spending all that money?
So, I picked one, and researched the MSRP prices for bikes I felt were closest to the HD Ultra Classic.
Well here are the MSRP's (from "Motor Cyclist" website) of several bikes, all full on touring bikes, similar to the Ultra Classic in style and/or function. I didn't include the top Gold Wing, Arlen Ness Vision, Indian or CVO bikes, that was a different category in my mind.
You decide if HD's are out of line as far as prices go.
$21,499 Ultra Classic 2012
$23,799 Ultra Classic Limited 2012
$20,999 Victory Vision Tour 2012
$23,199 Honda Gold Wing Audio Comfort 2012
$23,300 BMW K 1600GTL 2012
$20,190 Yamaha RoyalStar Venture S 2012
$18,999 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS 2012
These are new bike prices, and maybe the argument is true in the used bike market.
But C'mon man! Enough of the beyotching!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 193
From: Las Vegas, NV
Yeah; the problem is that logic and truth don't matter to haters - A lot of people just hate HD and the the image. I spend a bit of time on other forums and its always the same crap. A lot of these people actually think HD still builds the same bike they built in '62... or '82 or whatever picture is stuck in their head.
Last edited by vistavette; Jun 21, 2012 at 06:00 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
out the door, heck no...HD is a deal in my opinion. The other guys just don't have all the cool stuff we have to do to our bikes and customize them to our liking. each and every gold wing looks and sounds like each and every other one I have ever seen.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 9,486
Likes: 4
From: Hico, TX (once home to Billy the Kid)
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,351
Likes: 1,936
From: Formerly Tampa Bay, FL, Currently Western PA
I think the price difference was true in the 90s, when dealers were charging whatever they wanted and such, and the japanese bikes were much cheaper, especially percentage wise. Nowadays, when I've been to other dealers and looked at japanese cruisers, the only ones that are cheaper often have lots of plastic, cheap parts, small engines, drum rear brakes, stuff like that.
I think these days, quality per dollar, HD is just as good a deal as any other cruiser out there.
I think these days, quality per dollar, HD is just as good a deal as any other cruiser out there.
I used to believe that as well. I was looking for a new metric before I bought my HD... Couldn't believe how much the pricing had changed and yet I never knew it... Yamaha had skyrocketed!
Still loved the Victory Cross Country, but in the end the Glide was the ride for me.
Still loved the Victory Cross Country, but in the end the Glide was the ride for me.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 343
Likes: 1
From: Western WA
Only metric I ever priced-compared was an RC-51 (as compared to a 996). 
Pricing premiums are the result of supply & demand factors. H-D upped supply, so prices stopped climbing as drastically/dealers had to back-off on their mark-ups. Additionally, demand for the alternatives/substitutes increased as those products' desireability/quality improved relative to H-D in the eyes of many buyers. I'm just glad it was closer to market equilibrium when I bought my RK than when I bought my '98 WG!
Pricing premiums are the result of supply & demand factors. H-D upped supply, so prices stopped climbing as drastically/dealers had to back-off on their mark-ups. Additionally, demand for the alternatives/substitutes increased as those products' desireability/quality improved relative to H-D in the eyes of many buyers. I'm just glad it was closer to market equilibrium when I bought my RK than when I bought my '98 WG!
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
You missed comparing competitive models.
The Vulcan should have been compared to the Road King which it is a direct clone of. They have a comparable msrp. BUT three years later the Vulcan is 50% of msrp and the Road King about 75 %.
Cost of ownership is more that just original price. Insurance for the same person will be lower if they select the HD. Mpg is better on most HD's. My Nomad was only good for 35 mpg. I get a solid 50 mpg on my HD's. With my 15 to 20K a year riding that amount to a big difference.
There are many factors to determine cost of ownership over a time period. For the most part HD's out perform the rest.
So take your uninformed troll post and STFU.
Now have a nice day.
The Vulcan should have been compared to the Road King which it is a direct clone of. They have a comparable msrp. BUT three years later the Vulcan is 50% of msrp and the Road King about 75 %.
Cost of ownership is more that just original price. Insurance for the same person will be lower if they select the HD. Mpg is better on most HD's. My Nomad was only good for 35 mpg. I get a solid 50 mpg on my HD's. With my 15 to 20K a year riding that amount to a big difference.
There are many factors to determine cost of ownership over a time period. For the most part HD's out perform the rest.
So take your uninformed troll post and STFU.
Now have a nice day.
The higher end bikes are comparable in price when new but those metrics take a beating as soon as they leave the showroom as far as re-sale.
Harleys hold their value far better than most bikes(BMW excluded).
That being said I bought an 06 1100 v-star for 8 grand out the door at then end of 06 and the only miles I got on it that year was riding it home because there was already snow. Now all I did to that bike was a pair of cobra pipes and a carb re-jet.
I put 45000 miles on that bike until last year when I bought my 08 street bob(with 3000 miles on it). So I listed it on kijiji. I got 4500 for it. So as far as I'm concerned I got my money's worth out of that bike but my story isn't the norm.
I'm seeing 3 year old bikes on kijiji for half of their retail price with no more than 10000 miles on em. Meanwhile the very few Harleys that are for sale are listed for only a few grand less than retail.
And the reliability issue doesn't exist anymore. Harleys,when left stock,are just as reliable as any other manufacturers out there.
There are days when I wish I didn't sell my v-star but one look at my Harley makes those thoughts drift quick.
Harleys hold their value far better than most bikes(BMW excluded).
That being said I bought an 06 1100 v-star for 8 grand out the door at then end of 06 and the only miles I got on it that year was riding it home because there was already snow. Now all I did to that bike was a pair of cobra pipes and a carb re-jet.
I put 45000 miles on that bike until last year when I bought my 08 street bob(with 3000 miles on it). So I listed it on kijiji. I got 4500 for it. So as far as I'm concerned I got my money's worth out of that bike but my story isn't the norm.
I'm seeing 3 year old bikes on kijiji for half of their retail price with no more than 10000 miles on em. Meanwhile the very few Harleys that are for sale are listed for only a few grand less than retail.
And the reliability issue doesn't exist anymore. Harleys,when left stock,are just as reliable as any other manufacturers out there.
There are days when I wish I didn't sell my v-star but one look at my Harley makes those thoughts drift quick.