HD out of bussiness?

[NONE_too_SOFT]

guys, consider the marketing appeal of HD though. Regardless of their bike sales, they could keep afloat on their merchandising alone. The amount of HD gear as opposed to honda or suzuki (etc) stuff out there has to be 10 to 1, and its all as overpriced as their bikes.

[pdog]

You need to sell a lot of t-shirts to make up for a defaulted loan on a $20,000 bike.

Originally Posted by NONE_too_SOFT

guys, consider the marketing appeal of HD though. Regardless of their bike sales, they could keep afloat on their merchandising alone. The amount of HD gear as opposed to honda or suzuki (etc) stuff out there has to be 10 to 1, and its all as overpriced as their bikes.

[Apoc]

hahaha, you guys make me laugh. I used to hear people bitch about HD riders attitudes, but you guys are far worse. Just cant get over the fact that someone might have a harley because they *GASP* ENJOY IT!

No, cant be possible, right? You gotta be cramped up so bad it hurts on a bike barely big enough for a 15 year old girl, with 150hp to be cool?

The HD guys who hate sportbikes are idiots. But so are you sportbikers who hate Harleys. For some its an image, and its there choice, others just love their harleys.

It doesn't have to be the most technologicly advanced to enjoy, you guys do know that right?

You also know, that while my bike may be overpriced new, that in 10 years, when your bike is worth 1500$ cdn, i'll still be able to sell mine for enough to buy the latest, greatest sportbike, and still have cash left over?

If you care what other people ride, you need to spend more time riding, and less time judging.

[pdog]

Apoc, your post made me think. Why do people spend $15-20k on an HD when AFAIK there are equivalent Japanese cruisers for half the price? Is it just brand snobbery or are the Japanese bikes really not equivalent? That's my problem with HD: they sell a little too much sizzle, not enough steak.

[Apoc]

Originally Posted by pdog

Apoc, your post made me think. Why do people spend $15-20k on an HD when AFAIK there are equivalent Japanese cruisers for half the price? Is it just brand snobbery or are the Japanese bikes really not equivalent? That's my problem with HD: they sell a little too much sizzle, not enough steak.

Like I said though, the HD has resale. I can pick up a 10 year old cruiser from 'insert japanese brand here' for 2k. Try and find a fatboy for that?

Are you paying a ton extra for a name and badges. Hell yes, i'd be a liar if I denied it. But, the resale on my harley when its 10 years old, will be the same price range as your average Jap cruiser is new.

So your paying more, but in the end, when you get rid of it, it probably costed you a lot less (not counting the ridiculous accessories people spend $$$$$$$$ on) in total fees, and return.

And, I know people will argue. But I have ridden friends cruisers. Hondas, kawi's, yamaha's, and they've all ridden my HD. And almost everytime someone tries my HD for the first time, they say something along the lines of 'Now I understand'..

And the HD dripping oil on the dealer floor thing, thats a thing of the past. Though HD haters like to push it as fact.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Apoc

Like I said though, the HD has resale. I can pick up a 10 year old cruiser from 'insert japanese brand here' for 2k. Try and find a fatboy for that?

Are you paying a ton extra for a name and badges. Hell yes, i'd be a liar if I denied it. But, the resale on my harley when its 10 years old, will be the same price range as your average Jap cruiser is new.

So your paying more, but in the end, when you get rid of it, it probably costed you a lot less (not counting the ridiculous accessories people spend $$$$$$$$ on) in total fees, and return.

And, I know people will argue. But I have ridden friends cruisers. Hondas, kawi's, yamaha's, and they've all ridden my HD. And almost everytime someone tries my HD for the first time, they say something along the lines of 'Now I understand'..

And the HD dripping oil on the dealer floor thing, thats a thing of the past. Though HD haters like to push it as fact.

I agree about resell but as a former Harley owner myself, I know that it's only because suckers are willing to pay it NOT because it necessarily a better bike.

[Apoc]

Originally Posted by TIGGER

I agree about resell but as a former Harley owner myself, I know that it's only because suckers are willing to pay it NOT because it necessarily a better bike.

you skipped over this part then....

Are you paying a ton extra for a name and badges? Hell yes, i'd be a liar if I denied it

[Tmall]

Originally Posted by pdog

Apoc, your post made me think. Why do people spend $15-20k on an HD when AFAIK there are equivalent Japanese cruisers for half the price? Is it just brand snobbery or are the Japanese bikes really not equivalent? That's my problem with HD: they sell a little too much sizzle, not enough steak.

Harley makes a good bike. Just as good or better than any Japanese bike I've ridden.

[Mr Lefty]

I think if they were going out of business there would be more than a few over seas companies that would buy them out... keep the HD brand name and continue on. it's a HUGE market... and it'd be much easier to buy out HD rather than let it disappear and try to fill the void with their own brand...

[pdog]

Thanks, Apoc, that makes sense. Reminds me of home buying in CA: the prices are high but since you theoretically can turn around and sell the house 10 years from now for the same or more, the upfront cost isn't as important.