H D bikes

[pt756]

Sounds like they are having a slowdown, local dealer on radio was advertising 24 and 25.s with special discounts, I wonder if its like farming?

[766 Man]

13 minutes ago, pt756 said:

Sounds like they are having a slowdown, local dealer on radio was advertising 24 and 25.s with special discounts, I wonder if its like farming?

  The local Chevy dealer had a new '25 2500 PU on their lot as of yesterday.  I would imagine that with HD despite whet they might tell you there is not an unlimited demand for bikes.  The younger people for the most part do not have the disposable income that previous generations had.  A lot of sports cars and HD bikes used to be bought with year end bonuses in Rochester, NY and those days are well over 25 years in the past.  The good retirements that allowed 60 year olds to have money to play with are now being used for health care as they head into their 80's.  Like with farming core businesses are identifying how much they can extract from consumers without the parasite killing the host.  Core consumer companies have pretty much done the same thing with items such as housing leaving little income for non-necessities. 

[Cattech]

They also had a bit of a "Bud Light" incident a year or two ago. I don't know the details, but somewhere/someone in the upper echelons of HD corporate tried to cozy up with the alphabet crowd and it became public knowledge.

I wasn't looking for evidence of such, but there's some live cameras in Sturgis you can view on the KELO website that I look at.... one camera showed the HD display in town. The above scandal broke not long before the Sturgis Rally and the HD display was virtually empty.

[TroyDairy]

Imho

 

Younger generations are less unsafe per se.  Scared of no airbags esp bikes.  And lets face it HD has done very little innovation.  I cant tell a 195 from a 2025.  Young "men" play video games and smoke weed biw vs go on a adventure or make a statement.  So many are so vanilla today its really sad

[cobfly]

Let's face it. You own an HD because you want one, not because you need one. 

[brewcrew]

Who had a Harley when you grew up? Some badazz drifter living the dream. Roll into town, sweep the ladies off their feet, ride off into the sunset carrying nothing but what fits in their saddlebags. Who owns a Harley today? Old guys with too much money, who pull them to Sturgis with a quarter million dollar camping rig, then ride them 100 miles while out there. Which vision inspires the next generation?

[Sask466]

I feel like the Harley/Chopper craze was driven by boomers with good savings, remaining disposable income and a desire to finally buy a Harley.  When I was young in the 80’s and 90’s, there were a few guys in town with Harley’s and they seemed like legit long-time enthusiasts.  Often gritty types of dudes…good dudes, but a bit of a wild side. 

Then all of sudden in the 2000’s/early 2010’s every school teacher, attorney and banker bought a big road bike.  They each bought one, but only one, and sold it a couple years later (after they almost dumped it and scared themselves, nearly got rear-ended, or thier hip or knee started hurting).  

It feels like the bikes are returning to more of a niche status around these parts.  

[766 Man]

9 hours ago, Sask466 said:

I feel like the Harley/Chopper craze was driven by boomers with good savings, remaining disposable income and a desire to finally buy a Harley.  When I was young in the 80’s and 90’s, there were a few guys in town with Harley’s and they seemed like legit long-time enthusiasts.  Often gritty types of dudes…good dudes, but a bit of a wild side. 

Then all of sudden in the 2000’s/early 2010’s every school teacher, attorney and banker bought a big road bike.  They each bought one, but only one, and sold it a couple years later (after they almost dumped it and scared themselves, nearly got rear-ended, or thier hip or knee started hurting).  

It feels like the bikes are returning to more of a niche status around these parts.  

  This hints at another problem with HD.  HD products are treated differently than most other products as they experience a high degree of care including not being run on salty roads.  These bikes often are around decades after they were made.  They compete with new stock and the young person today who does not have a high paying job which are many goes the used bike route.  But I still think the large problem is those who desire a new HD simply can't afford a new HD in most cases.  

[yellowrosefarm]

Can't say I ever got the HD thing, even though I like old farm equipment.

[twostepn2001]

Could be cost of one. Back in 1977, l bought a brand new FLH Electra Glide for $3900.00. Last l heard, a top of the line dressed out Harley is close to 30 grand. Last motorcycle l bought was a new 1984 Goldwing Aspencade, paid a tad bit over $8300.00 for it. A friend bought a new 2025 Goldwing last summer and it cost a little over $33,000.00. But it has a lot of what l call "wussy" stuff on it. Like a heated seat and heated handgrips and a powered windshield. Yes, the windshield actually goes up and down like a electric window on a car. Has a six speed transmission with reverse. 

[pt756]

I was told the trikes close to 50 k?

[766 Man]

53 minutes ago, twostepn2001 said:

Could be cost of one. Back in 1977, l bought a brand new FLH Electra Glide for $3900.00. Last l heard, a top of the line dressed out Harley is close to 30 grand. Last motorcycle l bought was a new 1984 Goldwing Aspencade, paid a tad bit over $8300.00 for it. A friend bought a new 2025 Goldwing last summer and it cost a little over $33,000.00. But it has a lot of what l call "wussy" stuff on it. Like a heated seat and heated handgrips and a powered windshield. Yes, the windshield actually goes up and down like a electric window on a car. Has a six speed transmission with reverse. 

  Other than the 1984 price you quoted the prices you mention are consistent with the bottom end of the domestic car market.  A Toyota Corolla that has some options will price out at around 30,000 dollars these days.  I still contend that HD is facing a customer income problem more than a price problem.  

[nepoweshiekfarmalls]

Never owned a HD, but had a Honda Magna 750 for a few years.  Shaft driven, radiator cooled.  Lovely bike to ride.  Enjoyed it very much at the time.  But, a few close calls in traffic and losing my leg in a farm accident.   No longer appealed to me.  Sold the bike (for more than I paid) and purchased a convertible.  Never looked back.  Still have the matching helmet somewhere. 

[sandhiller]

It was a bucket list thing with me

Found this 04 that had been completely gone through, big bore kit, cams, throttle bodies, tuner, +++, dead nutz solid and verrrrrrry fast

It was a helluva bike

But it hated the 12 miles of shiddy road I had to travel to get it to a highway

Had it 2 years and sold it for a modest profit

Towards the end I had to force my self to ride it. 

Happy the day I brought it home, happier the day it left

I kept a video with sound of it idling, not another sound like it in the world, will put a shiver down your leg if things like that put a shiver down your leg😍🤣

[FARMALL FIXER]

Only HD I have ever owned is the top one 1973 HD 350SX dirt bike.

I had 1st chance to own the one in the bottom 3 photo's, my neighbor who was going to have an auction sale offered it to me before the sale for $65,000 which in reality was a fair price. 1911 HD with full restoration done. He kept it upstairs in his house.

My checkbook could not handle the $65K

[brewcrew]

4 hours ago, twostepn2001 said:

Could be cost of one. Back in 1977, l bought a brand new FLH Electra Glide for $3900.00. Last l heard, a top of the line dressed out Harley is close to 30 grand. Last motorcycle l bought was a new 1984 Goldwing Aspencade, paid a tad bit over $8300.00 for it. A friend bought a new 2025 Goldwing last summer and it cost a little over $33,000.00. But it has a lot of what l call "wussy" stuff on it. Like a heated seat and heated handgrips and a powered windshield. Yes, the windshield actually goes up and down like an electric window on a car. Has a six speed transmission with reverse. 

Inflation has been a bigger for us all, but I’ve seen people talk about Harley prices being directly proportional to inflation. Indian being brought back by Polaris has put a small dent in Harley sales, but has provided a much needed kick in the pants to a company that hasn’t had real competition in who knows how long. Initially Indian undercut Harley prices by a bit, but now they seem to be right on par depending on options. Harley and Indian offer the sportster/scout sub-10k, but I bet very few are sold with that option package. Without a doubt the used market puts a damper on the new market. Harley has kept that at bay by rolling the price of your gear into the purchase price, effectively financing clothing for 60 months!! Fast forward two years and you never ride, decide to let it go for the remaining payment and that includes clothing and helmets and jackets etc, wouldn’t you know it, you owe basically the same as a brand new bike. But eventually it gets paid for and sold for a fair price. I bought my chieftain at five years old with less than 1300 miles. Two seasons later it’s over 9000 and I wish I was able to ride it more.

[gonzo1066]

More than 55 years of motorcycle ownership and riding for me.  My last BEST bike was a BMW K1200GT 153hp that handled the road spectacularly well.   One of my worst disappointments was riding several different HD bikes.  I understand nostalgia but the HD experience was underwhelming to say the least.  AND I DONT WANT A TATOO

[pt756]

Not so long ago I remember guys having to wait for there bikes, the last one I owned was a 650 1974 Yamaha, rode it on a 3000 mile trip out to Yellowstone. was about 18 at the time, no fairing, or windshield,  at that time the Kawasaki 900 was the big bike,

[acem]

How do you take an overweight, balding, middle aged (and older) man and make him fashionable?

You shave his head,  dress him in black leather and put him on a HD!

 

[TroyDairy]

11 hours ago, 766 Man said:

  Other than the 1984 price you quoted the prices you mention are consistent with the bottom end of the domestic car market.  A Toyota Corolla that has some options will price out at around 30,000 dollars these days.  I still contend that HD is facing a customer income problem more than a price problem.  

But... the corolla has A/c, cup holders, and some protection from the 1,000,000 morons on the road now.  I am not clean as snow either i admit.  But going to grab my heifers 360 miles away on the freeway i am shocked at how much i see people watching movies or clearly text/emailing.  Going 70mph.  

I cant imagine riding a bike in town with these people so disconnected from their surroundings.  I swear last 10 years most people have 0 concern for anything around them.  

[Jacka]

Licensed motorcycle rider for 45 years. Older brother got his first motorcycle after me.I like the rice burners,would love to own a BMW and if I rode again it would probably be a Goldwing.Brother loves his Harleys.I had buddies that had Harleys.They were no fun to ride with,always had bike trouble or were hard to start.No way would I buy a Harley.You ever seen a man riding a Harley smile?The only time is if they have a hot woman on the back in a commercial. 

[New Englander]

Where to begin? I've been riding since I was a kid. My first bike was a BSA . Through the years I've had a few rice rockets and still have and ride my Norton. Yes HD capitalized on boomers that finally had the money to afford the bike their mother wouldn't let them have. They sold them the image, the Screaming Eagle accessories, the full set of leathers including chaps, boots, and a jacket that looked like an outlaw gangs patch HOG! in smaller letters Harley Owners Group. I watched a bunch go down that route and laughed to myself. With the exception of a few none of those guys are serious riders and many not very good. They're all aging out now.

One of the aircraft mechanics I know who was a serious rider with bikes in the cafe racer variety made the complete switch. He bought a new Heritage Soft Tail and invited me to try it. I scraped the crap out of the foot boards just attempting to leave the parking lot. I sheepishly rode back to him and he said these bikes aren't made to go around corners. He is still riding with a sidecar putting thousands of miles a year in all sorts of weather, an exception to the HD sales target.

I'll keep riding my ancient Brit bike. It's got plenty of performance for the back roads and the few miles I ride a year. I stay away from traffic and distracted drivers. It brings a smile to my face every time I ride. I can't even imagine shining up a bike and putting it in an enclosed trailer to FL or Sturgis where most of the other bikes are very similar except for the assortment of accessories and bars.

I'll say this for HD. They've taken what was often dead on the side of the road and made them reliable machines.

[cobfly]

Think I'll take a ride today on my 12 road King classic. Wife will outrun me on her 18 heritage soft tail classic m8.

[cobfly]

Had a nice little ride today. Down the river, up the crick.

[Ian Beale]

On 3/27/2026 at 2:07 AM, Cattech said:

They also had a bit of a "Bud Light" incident a year or two ago. I don't know the details, but somewhere/someone in the upper echelons of HD corporate tried to cozy up with the alphabet crowd and it became public knowledge.

I wasn't looking for evidence of such, but there's some live cameras in Sturgis you can view on the KELO website that I look at.... one camera showed the HD display in town. The above scandal broke not long before the Sturgis Rally and the HD display was virtually empty.

I saw an article somewhere a while back that management got optimistic to the tune of an over-production of about 80,000 bikes -

DDG Search Assist

"Harley-Davidson's production capacity is currently set for 300,000 bikes a year, but they only sold 124,500 motorcycles last year, resulting in a significant overproduction of about 70,000 bikes. This mismatch has led to layoffs and a reevaluation of their operational costs.
 gaukmotorbuzz.com carglassadvisor.com "

gives an idea