Beginning of the End?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7,524
Likes: 12,118
From: Indianapolis
IMO, Harley's asinine all badass introduction and ad campaign is what went wrong.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,998
Likes: 11,439
Industry is changing. But a lot of the negative when it comes to Harley is Motley Fools non stop anti Harley news. For course they have a major stake in Polaris and got their butts handed to them with Victory. This family still rides, doing what I can to share it with grandchildren .
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,166
Likes: 1,801
From: Puget Sound, WA.
Mark Twain said it best, "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics!"
I reject any opinions that something is on the way out- I can't remember how many times I heard H-D was done and ready to close for good.
The thing about the intelligent highway system plans is there's no motorcycles included.
I'll look forward to riders of the future being the outlaws of society.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 243
From: Maine
That's my story. We had a neighbor who rode bikes, and one day I walked up and he was blowing insulation in his attic. I asked if he could use some help, and he said sure.
When we finished he went in the house, and when he came back out he threw me a set of keys. They were to his wife's CB350, and he said "let's go for a ride". He jumped on his CB750, and off we went. We rode for about an hour, and I loved every minute of it. Keep in mind I was only around 14-15 years old at the time, but was bitten by the bug big time.
To this day I dog him, and blame him for my addiction to motorcycles, he just laughs. He is one of the good ones, and I'll NEVER forget him or that day.
When we finished he went in the house, and when he came back out he threw me a set of keys. They were to his wife's CB350, and he said "let's go for a ride". He jumped on his CB750, and off we went. We rode for about an hour, and I loved every minute of it. Keep in mind I was only around 14-15 years old at the time, but was bitten by the bug big time.
To this day I dog him, and blame him for my addiction to motorcycles, he just laughs. He is one of the good ones, and I'll NEVER forget him or that day.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 77
Likes: 57
From: USA
LA Times reporting findings based on "two dozen concerned motorcycle veterans" and 300 survey respondents, and one group or the other was full of anonymous people.
Not the most credible source of info here. yup, it's all over folks. The world is ending.
Also lets just add that you can't FORCE people to want to ride a bike. Every kind of bike imaginable is available out there for any kind of price (well used to new).
Not the most credible source of info here. yup, it's all over folks. The world is ending.
Also lets just add that you can't FORCE people to want to ride a bike. Every kind of bike imaginable is available out there for any kind of price (well used to new).
Last edited by ford13; Dec 15, 2017 at 03:57 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 6,863
Likes: 3,725
From: St. Charles, MO
Because at some point, those "kids" turned into adults and are now responsible for their own actions. Blaming parents on a 30-year old non-binary snowflake only gets so far.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 5,562
Likes: 4,758
From: Albuquerque, NM
I think this is the most telling part:
"The industry has failed to increase sales by making new riders out of women, minorities and millennials."
The percentage of the female population has remained pretty much constant. The same with minorities. Hmm.... what could possibly be the answer here?
It's probably a safe bet that motorcycles have always been primarily the domain of males. No offense whatsoever meant to the lady riders here, but this is true. That leaves (gulp).....
The millennial male. He doesn't like motorcycles because he might break a nail or get a hair out of place. A motorcycle requires skill to ride, more so than a car. Or more accurately, it requires more skill to ride well than to drive a car well. Millennials don't like things that require effort, or things that aren't handed to them on a silver platter. Not only that, but motorcycles are "scary" when compared to a car or SUV. The very thought of a motorcycle probably sends the modern "male" retreating to his safe space with a therapy dog.
"The industry has failed to increase sales by making new riders out of women, minorities and millennials."
The percentage of the female population has remained pretty much constant. The same with minorities. Hmm.... what could possibly be the answer here?
It's probably a safe bet that motorcycles have always been primarily the domain of males. No offense whatsoever meant to the lady riders here, but this is true. That leaves (gulp).....
The millennial male. He doesn't like motorcycles because he might break a nail or get a hair out of place. A motorcycle requires skill to ride, more so than a car. Or more accurately, it requires more skill to ride well than to drive a car well. Millennials don't like things that require effort, or things that aren't handed to them on a silver platter. Not only that, but motorcycles are "scary" when compared to a car or SUV. The very thought of a motorcycle probably sends the modern "male" retreating to his safe space with a therapy dog.
I see a lot of my generation who won't ride because they would have to get off a bar stool or turn off the TV. Every generation has their turds.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Dec 16, 2017 at 12:06 AM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 11,630
Likes: 990
From: NC
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 6,863
Likes: 3,725
From: St. Charles, MO
A "non-binary" is a person who bounces between identifying male and identifying female.