In case you have not seen Harley-Davidson's New Business Plan-

[DK Custom Products]

Here it is. Get Ready!



No Sportster or Softail models mentioned at all.

Electric is second on their list.

Kevin

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Here it is. Get Ready!



No Sportster or Softail models mentioned at all.

Electric is second on their list.

Kevin

Go after the millennials ... Daddy might buy them one ...

[peteg59]

With all of the world's focus on electric vehicles of every type, you'd think some rocket scientist would have already developed a battery that will hold a charge for longer than 200~400 miles.

Guess we'll see where that goes in the years to come.

Hope I'm gone when, not if, all IC engines are "obsoleted" by the gov't. ...

[Seaweed]

Sportsters show under "Street" tab and Softails under "Cruiser". Had me worried there.

[DK Custom Products]

Sportsters show under "Street" tab and Softails under "Cruiser". Had me worried there.

They're boiling that frog slowly, but they are doing it.

No where under the Street tab does the word Sportster appear.

No where under the Cruiser tab does the word Softail appear.

Also, look closely under the Cruiser tab...where is the Heritage?

Now look under the Touring tab...you will see the Heritage there.

They are blurring the lines, and getting prepared to do some pretty big things over the next couple of years.

It won't be long until there is a whole new crop of HD riders who won't even know what the words Softail or Sportster mean.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Go after the millennials ... Daddy might buy them one ...

Yep...

With all of the world's focus on electric vehicles of every type, you'd think some rocket scientist would have already developed a battery that will hold a charge for longer than 200~400 miles.

Guess we'll see where that goes in the years to come.

Hope I'm gone when, not if, all IC engines are "obsoleted" by the gov't. ...

...and yep.

Kevin

[bikerbillone]

HD is slowly destroying it's history, that transition is gonna cost them big. Of course HD has some great minds figuring all that out. And yes, where is Willie when they need him, maybe he could care less these days, or if he did, it wouldn't matter.

[trikermutha]

I think Willie is running the Museum

[1dn5up]

I think Willie is running the Museum

Naaa , he’s into clothes , his sister does R&D.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Naaa , he’s into clothes , his sister does R&D.

Him and the Chinese ... ... I recently found a discontinued Water proof fleece jacket on eBay ... been wanting one ... just didn't want to pay $300 for it, great jacket for spring and fall ... anyway ... of Course ... made in China ... but ... Official Harley Davidson Motor Clothes.

So ... I took a look at all my other HD Jackets ... yep ... all made in China. Guess it's only fair ... most of the bike is built in Mexico ... HD truly is a "global" company ... maybe that's why they got upset with the President when he imposed Tariffs on China.

[ISP-FL]

My screen saver I use is still my old white Wide Glide. I guess I'm still mourning over that getting dropped.

When I first transitioned to a TG back in 2016 it was more because all of my riding was 2-up. The DW didn't have to pay attention and could move around back there and therefore be more comfortable. We still had a small group of friends who were on Ultras and TG's that we rode with.

Even that is changing. Newer friends at our winter home are not Harley owners/riders. Early this winter season another friend invited them to follow on one of our rides in their corvette. So now whenever two or three of us take off there is a vette following us with another couple and a dog in it. Can't turn the clock back and I'm not liking the new one!

[Halfnormal]

When I first transitioned to a TG back in 2016 it was more because all of my riding was 2-up..........Newer friends at our winter home are not Harley owners/riders. Early this winter season another friend invited them to follow on one of our rides in their corvette.

I stopped riding around 10 years ago when a cager tried to run my wife and I off the road. My wife said it was getting too dangerous to ride anymore so I sold my Victory. We talked over the years about riding. A trike was the only way she would ride again.

When I started looking to buy, most of the listings were people selling due to how dangerous it has gotten to ride anymore. I was surprised when I told some of my coworkers that I had purchased a new bike and now I could ride with them, they told me that they were going to or have sold their bikes due to riding conditions. They did say they would love to ride their cages with the group when we ride.

What I find most telling is that I do not see any young people at the dealer when I go there. Mid 40's and up. The sporty's were the entrance to the Harley world and of course affordable. I know most people cannot afford a $15,000 starting price for a motorcycle that they will not use everyday.

I think Harley is going after a market that does not exist anymore. I am sure they make as much money on their merchandise as they do on their wheels.

I am glad that I have been around to see the hey day of riding!

[DK Custom Products]

Two things I observed in the last week-

1. A twenty-something guy who has been riding since he was 10, the last 4 years on his Sporty, told me he was selling it. It has gotten too dangerous for him to ride with all the inattentive cagers out there.

2. Devin (the "D" in DK) stopped by a Dealership and saw the Harley Balance Bikes for kids. See them at this LINK



He is getting one for his son, Gabe, for his upcoming 4th birthday.

That, I believe, is how Harley plans to stay in the motorcycle game.

Gabe will have his first Harley at age 4. At some point down the road he will probably get a Harley E-Bike. Then when he turns 16 and gets his license, he will get a Harley motorcycle....probably an electric one. That will be what he has known since is first one at age 4.

It's a whole new world!

Kevin

P.S. Here's a photo of a bike I would have loved to have as a kid! In fact, I'd like one now, but I know I would hurt myself.

[Papa Zook]

The Sportster will never go away, it's one of their best selling bikes to this day and it will be around forever in one form or another.

[DK Custom Products]

The Sporter will never go away, it's one of their best selling bikes to this day and it will be around forever in one form or another.

Yeah, I agree, but not sure it will be called a Sportster, but I think there is a high probability it will look something like this.



This bike is supposed to be out in 2021 and is called a Custom and is 1250 cc.

Kevin

[Jack Klarich]

This is proof H D is not polling nor listening to the riders

Every time H D makes a change it seems desperate IMO

The clothing line , boots jackets and trinkets have been made in China for years

This kept cost down and profits high

Many of the parts on our bikes are made in Mexico for that same reason, at least our bikes for the American market are still assembled here

I have doubts the Sportster line is going away, it does need an engine make over IMO

[Bubber]

Harley is a clothing company that sometimes sells motorcycles.

Look at their revenue stream it is mostly from their overpriced clothes.

As someone once said, they have the best marketing of any company, ever!

[Papa Zook]

Yeah, I agree, but not sure it will be called a Sportster, but I think there is a high probability it will look something like this.



This bike is supposed to be out in 2021 and is called a Custom and is 1250 cc.

Kevin

I hope you are wrong, their model name recognition has real value and ditching the Sportster model name would be idiotic.

That new bike looks like an Indian Scout knockoff. The most knocked off mc brand has now become the one knocking off others.

I was at the Indian, BMW, Triumph dealership yesterday and all three brands are building some really impressive HD inspired bikes. Wide range too from baggers to small and medium displacement bobber style bikes.

I noticed they had lots of used Harley trade ins.

[Mykneesbehurtin]

There is a Indian dealer about 50 miles south of me and they are currently offering very low trade ins for HD,because they have so many used ones they don't want any more for now.That seems like a double edged knife because you want to sell new Indians but on the other hand what do you do with all the used ones,take them to the auction and hope for the best.

[Papa Zook]

There is a Indian dealer about 50 miles south of me and they are currently offering very low trade ins for HD,because they have so many used ones they don't want any more for now.That seems like a double edged knife because you want to sell new Indians but on the other hand what do you do with all the used ones,take them to the auction and hope for the best.

Our local Indian dealer wholesales them to other dealers or sends them to the auctions.