Harley-Davidson tries to lose its geezer appeal

[flynavyj]

Yes, I've noticed that the price of new bikes is pretty competitive despite where it was manufactured or where the company calls home. The big difference is in depreciation, the HD holds its value well enough to make stomaching the price of a new bike often easier than trying to talk down the price of a used unit. The Japanese built motorbike will start at 13-14k, but two or three years later can be had for 5k, making them significantly better values when it comes to the used market...HD's great resale price is both a benefit and a curse, as is the Japanese quick depreciation.

[Big_Al]

Yeah! Electric starter is for people with wooden legs. Go kick!

[catman]

I think Harley's big problem is holding onto their 'geezer market' while attracting non-geezers. However, their sales are up again, so they are doing all right, at least until the 'geezers' quit riding.

[Ga Jerk]

I think I'm gonna buy a used Harley XR1200.

Nice standard that will be fun on short trips and at Deal's Gap.

The bonus is the I will be shunned by all the "real" Harley guys since the XR1200 is a Sportster.

It's a shame. I have a really nice can and it would have looked amazing in leather chaps.

[flynavyj]

rode the XR1200, and it was a pretty decent bike. It has more show than go though, and could have really benefited from a Buell sourced motor. High center of gravity and a narrow tank kind of annoyed me, as there was nothing to grab my knees onto.

Some of the fit and finish didn't seem up to typical Harley Spec, such as rust on the steering stem bolt on a brand new bike, and if memory serves me right, it wasn't a chrome cap, but something else all together cheaper...probably added more to the "Race" heritage of the bike, but came off as cheap when my little SV has more race potential, and a chrome cap at the steering head.