(08-27-2017, 05:04 AM)DragonFury Wrote:

Quote:The U.S motorcycling industry has been stuck in something of a tailspin for the last several years, with analysts predicting rider growth will continue to drop over at least the next five years as the current generation of young adults are believed to be taking up the hobby at far lower rates than previous generations.

Probably has less to do with HD's branding and more with the fact a lot of them can't afford to take up what is essentially a luxury hobby and certainly not at the prices HD is asking for their product.

Man, ain't that the truth. A coworker just plunked down 28k for a new Harley. Even the used ones are priced high. Don't get me wrong, Harleys are nice bikes, but the whole HD biker mystique thing has over inflated their stock. Not to mention the exorbitant prices HD wants for parts, service and add-ons. 
They've done well for the last 15 years marketing to the late-boomer generation who've had the disposable income to buy into the brand. However, for the younger casual riders who only want to invest a reasonable amount of money for a hobby, HDs are out of reach. They don't want to buy into a lifestyle, they simply want a machine that's fun to ride but can also be affordably operated and maintained.

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