Let's Help HD Execs Make Riding Great Again
Road Captain
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 614
Likes: 79
From: Virginia
It amazes me the diversity of bikes/engines a small, private company like Triumph offers (Ill admit a bias towards Triumph). It irks me that HD is so limited. Id love to see HD really focus engineering on expanding its lineup. Its a shame the the Street line missed so badly. Id love the own a Street Rod but the ergonomics are awful. Most uncomfortable bike Ive ever ridden. Come on HD, grow your product!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 546
From: Wayne County, PA
Hey triumph900 why buy a street rod when an fz07 is around 2k less money, weighs 100lbs less than the street rod, but the power is equal. Harley failed miserably with the street rod. It's not sporty by any means, just another example of the tank badge being more important than engineering... The moco makes me so mad!
Road Captain
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 614
Likes: 79
From: Virginia
Hey triumph900 why buy a street rod when an fz07 is around 2k less money, weighs 100lbs less than the street rod, but the power is equal. Harley failed miserably with the street rod. It's not sporty by any means, just another example of the tank badge being more important than engineering... The moco makes me so mad!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,031
Likes: 7,152
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
Originally Posted by Cbyway
Gotcha. Limited use for some.
Payments (if you got 'em)
Insurance
Mantanance
Degradation costs
All while you DON'T get to ride it.
Like getting married and saving your wife for her boytoy...
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 33
From: TEXAS
Here is the dilemma as I see it. We (and I use we as in you, me, wives mothers etc.) are worrying about the wrong things. Follows is a chart from the National Safety Council depicting the statistics in the US on what is killing us. Motorcycle deaths is number 10, Cancer is number one. Even car accidents are ahead of motorcycle deaths and a person is more likely to get shot than die from a motorcycle accident. That said, the risk of being injured on motorcycle is about 30% higher than in a car and the risk of death is about 17% higher. The reason car deaths are higher is we,(as a population) simply spend more time in cars. Now, how do we convince the wives, mothers, daughters, friends, that you should be worrying about dying from Cancer and not motorcycles. My test is, and I am 72, I personally know about 15 people that have died due to Cancer, one that has died on a motorcycle, and that was fifty plus years ago. I would bet most people don't know anyone that has died on a motorcycle and probably does know someone that has died from Cancer. How do we get the point across, I don't know. Most people are in the camp, "my mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts"
http://www.nsc.org/learn/safety-know...cts-chart.aspx
http://www.nsc.org/learn/safety-know...cts-chart.aspx
Last edited by harleyflyboy; Feb 9, 2018 at 11:15 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 824
From: Nevada
Here is the dilemma as I see it. We (and I use we as in you, me, wives mothers etc.) are worrying about the wrong things. Follows is a chart from the National Safety Council depicting the statistics in the US on what is killing us. Motorcycle deaths is number 10, Cancer is number one. Even car accidents are ahead of motorcycle deaths and a person is more likely to get shot than die from a motorcycle accident. That said, the risk of being injured on motorcycle is about 30% higher than in a car and the risk of death is about 17% higher. The reason car deaths are higher is we,(as a population) simply spend more time in cars. Now, how do we convince the wives, mothers, daughters, friends, that you should be worrying about dying from Cancer and not motorcycles. My test is, and I am 72, I personally know about 15 people that have died due to Cancer, one that has died on a motorcycle, and that was fifty plus years ago. I would bet most people don't know anyone that has died on a motorcycle and probably does know someone that has died from Cancer. How do we get the point across, I don't know. Most people are in the camp, "my mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts"
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,507
Likes: 4,991
From: North Dakota
Good point. Almost every article I read on the motorcycle industry's decline says millennials consider bikes dangerous. I'm beginning to think this is a bigger factor in declining market interest than cost and other factors. If this is the case, the motorcycle industry should put on their thinking caps and collectively determine how to address the issue.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 210
Likes: 108
From: East Central South Dakota
Here is the dilemma as I see it. We (and I use we as in you, me, wives mothers etc.) are worrying about the wrong things. Follows is a chart from the National Safety Council depicting the statistics in the US on what is killing us. Motorcycle deaths is number 10, Cancer is number one.
+1000
That's why if I go out of this world on two wheels, it will be with a smile on my face. I'm going to try to enjoy as much of this life as possible before mother nature takes me out.
I think everyone who has posted a response, has some viable points. I hope someone at Harley is listening.
IMO Harley needs to look at.
- Working harder to control cost to assist in holding the price point of their motorcycles, and assist in keeping features/options instead of eliminating them.
- Listening to the desires, needs, & wants of their current client base while evolving to meet the same of potential clients.
- Many have hit on the concept of technology & value, key in my opinion going forward. . . I don't care what you are selling, if you want to continue to sell it, you must be on the cutting edge of technology whether for safety, convenience, or entertainment.
- Better advertising across all demographics.
- Promotion of what they actually offer vs. a lifestyle. No other motorcycle manufacturer has the dealership network Harley offers across the U.S.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,856
Likes: 8,773
From: Edmonton, Alberta
And honestly, the expenses you mentioned don't even enter my mind. Beats not riding at all.....