What future does Harley-Davidson have?

**Zebedee** · 03-11-19, 22:29

I wonder what the future holds for Harley-Davidson.

Sales continue to decline and tariffs have further reduced profits. I blame Brexit

https://www.cyclenews.com/2019/10/ar...al-q3-reports/

**Yorick** · 03-11-19, 22:37

Sheep sales are down this year in New Zealand. Some twat will blame B*******

**Zebedee** · 03-11-19, 22:46

Round these parts, nobody’s bought a Harley since the summer of 2016. Oh, hang on ...

**Supermofo** · 04-11-19, 09:08

Harley have some big issues.

Too many eggs in the one cruiser/biker gang style which as a market is shrinking. A midlife crisis for an account used to be a Harley and a tasselled jacket. Now it's a BM GS and Toureg kit.

Increased competition. Indian, Ducati Diavel, Trumpet Bobber etc.

Trump picking fights with the ROTW and getting tariffs.

**cheb** · 04-11-19, 10:21

They could go back to making 2 strokes.

**Julian_Boolean** · 04-11-19, 10:33

Originally Posted by cheb

They could go back to making 2 strokes.

Isn't that a rebadged Aermacchi?
If so, Harley sold the business to Cagiva

**cheb** · 04-11-19, 10:39

It is. They could buy the business back.

Posted tongue in cheek really, most people don't associate HD with 2T bikes.

**Julian_Boolean** · 04-11-19, 10:56

Originally Posted by cheb

It is. They could buy the business back.

Posted tongue in cheek really, most people don't associate HD with 2T bikes.

What used to be Aermacchi is now SWM

**GiantPygmy** · 04-11-19, 10:57

Originally Posted by Supermofo

Harley have some big issues.

A midlife crisis for an accountant used to be a Harley and a tasselled jacket. Now it's a BM GS and Toureg kit.

Increased competition. Indian, Ducati Diavel, Trumpet Bobber etc.

This. The adventure "scene" has had a big impact, and lets face it, although the proper RTW crew look down on the weekend / commuter adventure bike riders, when you do go round europe with your mates, its a awful lot easier then on a Harley.

I've always thought that a Harley is something you should own at some point but now I think I'd go for a Triumph Bobber or an Indian Scout ahead of any Harley.

**Taipan** · 04-11-19, 11:53

I think they were pinning a lot on their leccy bike, but it looks like that has issues now? If they resolve that and I'm sure they will and survive for a few more years, then the leccy bike might be their saviour. Harleys have always been about image, especially to non bikers, but i think the brand name is losing its appeal/coolness now. If their marketing dept could convince Obama to ride a Bagger around the US and Europe, they'd be back on track!

**Julian_Boolean** · 04-11-19, 12:00

They could build a bike that runs on peanut oil that would make more power than they're current offerings.
They could give it a CVT transmission to make it more rideable than their current offerings.
What they can't get round is that the majority of their existing customers don't like change.

**mrlongbeard** · 04-11-19, 12:09

Originally Posted by Julian_Boolean

They could give it a CVT transmission to make it more rideable than their current offerings.

The gearbox on mine beats the one that was on the Triumph I had before it, not that you have to use it much as it's pretty happy to go along in any gear.

**nidge** · 04-11-19, 12:30

Originally Posted by Julian_Boolean

They could build a bike that runs on peanut oil that would make more power than they're current offerings.
They could give it a CVT transmission to make it more rideable than their current offerings.
What they can't get round is that the majority of their existing customers don't like change.

Twas ever thus

When my model of Harley (FXR) was launched in 1983 it was a sales flop because the frame triangle looked too Japanese and the shocks were too upright- never mind that this made it probably the best handling Harley. It's only now that hey are gathering a bit of a cult following

**Julian_Boolean** · 04-11-19, 13:29

Originally Posted by mrlongbeard

The gearbox on mine beats the one that was on the Triumph I had before it, not that you have to use it much as it's pretty happy to go along in any gear.

The only Harley I've ridden (an 883) had a very agricultural gearbox, I'm trying to think of something else that bad, but I can't, maybe a GPZ1100 with worn out linkage.

**mrlongbeard** · 04-11-19, 13:44

Originally Posted by Julian_Boolean

The only Harley I've ridden (an 883) had a very agricultural gearbox, I'm trying to think of something else that bad, but I can't, maybe a GPZ1100 with worn out linkage.

Times are changing and things are changing along with them.
I really rate my Harley, I was expecting semi- agricultural but came away with the complete opposite.

Buy what can Harley do,

I think the last time they tried to shake everything up was having a bike water cooled when they released the V-Rod, which IIRC went down like a dose of the clap with the die hard Harley fans (hell they don't even like the M

, but if the die hards are sticking to old twin cams etc. and not buying newer rides they've gotta up their game or go after a different younger market.

They'll not attract young uns with a $30k sticker price, but maybe in a year or 3 they'll take what they've learnt from the livewire and release something better @ $15k