Why are Harleys cool?

[jstark47]

I think the biggest downfall of the Harley is the dealers. They inflate the prices. Just go to the factory Harley site and check out the base price of the bikes there, Then go to any Harley dealer and compare.

Bubba, that's interesting. I haven't done that comparison, but I've read the 2005 Harley Annual Report, which gave the impression they'd stamped out that kind of abusive dealer markup.

[The Grinch]

[Gummiente]

Bubba, that's interesting. I haven't done that comparison, but I've read the 2005 Harley Annual Report, which gave the impression they'd stamped out that kind of abusive dealer markup.

Some people don't want to be updated on that sort of thing, it messes with their prejudice.

[dieziege]

I don't understand the term "abuse" in this context... dealers charge what the market will bear. If the official price is too low, the dealers should raise it... especially if they can't get enough product from the manufacturer to meet demand. If there is more product than demand, dealers will need to lower the price until the product moves.

How can a dealer setting a price be "abusive"?

Now, if HD was screwing up on quantity of product delivered that's something they should've fixed... either way it's only abuse if people have no choice.

[Nibblet99]

Going back to the original question...

Most Harley enthusiasts see them as replicas of classic vintage bikes. They're cool for the same reason that people will pay a small fortune to have a replica GT40 car made.

Its all about prestige, glamour, the shrewd marketing tactics that HD employ, and an obscene chrome fetish.

You don't see people buying a classic car to thrash the nuts off it, they sit back and cruise, enjoying every second... I view Harleys the same way.

Having said that, the classic stylings of HD have no appeal to me, but I can see what others might see in them


Just my 2 pence worth

[Gummiente]

Its all about prestige, glamour, the shrewd marketing tactics that HD employ,

the reliability, build quality, excellent warranty, camaraderie, prolific dealerships, ease of maintenance, ride quality, sound, incredible amount of OEM and aftermarket parts for customisation, plus the fact that you're on the real thing and not some plastic copy.

[DirtyD86]

the reliability

HA!

[DragonSlayer]

harleys are so cool because the money you can make with 'em. when my dad got the used 883 sportster when he first brought it to the neighborhood he was offered 10k for it (sure he payed over msrp of a new one for a 98 but 10k!!! especially being offered!)

[DragonSlayer]

the reliability

HA!

i havent had one mechanical problem with mine since i got it, really no problems with the bike at all. that said, only had it since the end of december.

[ZooTech]

Okay, here's my take on it:

Why are Harley's cool? What is it about them that allows them to fetch a premium price? To answer these questions I think we need to look at another brand that also fetches a premium...BMW.

When you buy a BMW it's a given that you will enjoy top-shelf fit-and-finish, excellent comfort, lots of ammenities, and some trick suspension. BMW may have earned an undeserved reputation for suspension genius with their automobiles, but the bikes bring the real deal. It's not about the image (for most, at least) it's about owning a bike that was thoroughly engineered to run and corner fast and comfortable.

So, what about Harley? Any technical genius to speak of? Any trick suspension setups or high-tech engines? Any well-deserved cornering prowess? That would be a big, fat no all around. They are old-fashioned in design much the same way as Royal-Enfield is. Granted, the reliability is finally up, but only to industry standards and no higher. To say that Hondas fetch the same high prices is silly, since a fully-loaded GoldWing includes GPS navigation, heated seats, an airbag, and a six-speaker CD stereo system - hardly an apples-to-apples comparison with an Electri-Glide.

So, the only thing left really is image and aesthetics, the latter of which I understand since I've been known to pay a little extra for something if it catches my eye more than the others. As for image, however, that's not for me. But it is for some, and Harley knows it. Some say Harleys change very little from year to year in an effort to stay true to their heritage, but I say why pay huge salaries to a design team when you can keep serving up the same bikes year after year with record sales?

In short, Harleys are cool for the exact same reason Nike Air Jordans have been cool since I was in elementary school. Not because they're a superior shoe, but because society has deemed them such. And as long as people are willing to pay $125.00 for a $5.00 pair of sneakers, Nike isn't interested in making them any better.