Not that I like the 2018 Softail lineup because I don't. HD saw the light and had to do something. You can't keep repackaging the same product in vivid black and expect people to keep buying it. Constantly tossing a larger engine into the same old bike will not maintain sales.

If TV manufacturers stopped adding features, people would stop buying TVs. if Apple stopped adding features people would stop buying phones. Harley just decided to change everything in one model year.

There's always someone who will like the product so sales will go on.

 

sooth·say·er
ˈso͞oTHˌs�ər/Submit
noun
noun: soothsayer; plural noun: soothsayers
a person supposed to be able to foresee the future.
synonyms: seer, oracle, augur, prophet/prophetess, sage, prognosticator, diviner, fortune teller, crystal gazer, clairvoyant, psychic; More
literarysibyl;
rareharuspex
"the most respected of the king's soothsayers"


In case anyone else was wondering...

 

You need to get a vision plan because you don't see so well.. my dealer has 17s left deeply discounted. 18s barely hit the floor. Never seen the dealer move so many bike so fast. big holes in the showroom floor. I'm waiting for winter to pick up a RG if I can get a deal. Wife wants a slim for her. time will tell.

 

Down compared to current Softail sales which were already on the slide? With no Dyna, I think they'll stay the same, maybe a slight drop as the old school guys gets used to the new Harleys.

As others have mentioned, even at my local HD Dealership, the Fatboy and Fat Bob are selling...

 

Once the novelty wears off......Heritage classic and fat bob are collecting dust at my local dealer. People have test ridden the fat bob, the Heritage hasnt moved.

 

I bet they sell BIGLY, gaining momentum rapidly as the world begins to understand the monstrous advance in technology from tip to tail, making these bikes an example of leading-edge modern machinery marvels that retain, for the most part, their world-renoun classic styling while embracing modern touches where it makes sense due to the technological advancement and a rapidly changing world market. My bet is down. Spin that wheel baby! And go buy you a bad *** new bike! My friend with a Hayabusa says he's jealous! Go MoCo! Woot!

 

I think you're right you know

 

Novelty is a shallow mirage which is why it wears off...this is a profound and meaningful improvement. The only thing that's going to wear off are the fears that it no longer feels or rides like a Harley. I'm a sworn rider and lover of old iron, and I promise you with real seat time these bikes will win almost anyone over. They will make you happy with their Harley character AND the way they perform so enthusiastically and entertainingly...

Regarding the visual changes, some I like, some I don't...but I've had bikes I LOVE the looks of, but ultimately sold because the ride never delivered...and bikes that always looked a little strange, but won me over because they rode sooo well...in the end, ride wins for many of us and these bikes deliver. Styling is something we can adjust and will get tweaked over time I'm sure. Nobody used to care what a stock Harley looked or sounded like because we knew we were going to make it "ours" down the road. That can still apply...only now the sumbitch rides as good as it feels.

For the record, I was incredibly sick and sad when I first saw the model reveal...literally my wife was worried. I'm glad to say I have found all those feelings have gone and I'm actually encouraged by the future of this motor platform, whereas I felt I was always yearning to hold on to the past with my Twin Cam and watching it get further away as the motors got hotter and more sterile..I now feel they've managed to capture most of what really feels good about my Evo and put it in a motor and a bike that has a future of its own.

 

I passed a scooter today, for a second I thought it was the new fat boy, when I saw the headlight.

 

I stopped by my dealer (this is a large dealership) last week mostly to see the Fat Bob. They only had one Breakout and one Fat Boy, no Fat Bob as they sell them as soon as the uncrate one and set it on the floor, don't have any more until the next shipment. None of the other models were available, so evidently they are selling well. The economy will have more to do with sales than anything else.