More variety from Harley Davidson

Message

Gummiente · Fri Mar 24, 2006 5:59 am

DivideOverflow wrote:I work with a lady that has a Harley, and it cost more for her to get a sissy bar put on then I paid for my entire bike.

One of my co-workers tipped over his FJ1300 in the parking lot at work last night; the repairs to the saddlebag and fairing will cost more than what I pay for insurance on my Harley AND Ural.

liablemtl · Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:53 am

DivideOverflow wrote:Fact of the matter is they charge that much because they can get away with it. Everyone knows they are overpriced, and we all know better than to think it is because they are the best.

It boils down to choice. For example, why would someone spend 5 grand on a Royal Enfield compared to more modern bikes around the same price range.. because they like the style. Why do people pay $7500 for a Triumph Bonneville? Because they like it.

As for the changing the bars and the seat and calling them new bikes... it beats me. But I am willing to bet if you went to buy those parts from Harley, it would probably be about the same cost as a new bike.

I work with a lady that has a Harley, and it cost more for her to get a sissy bar put on then I paid for my entire bike.

That's the joy of a free market system. The market drives and decides the value of an item for sale. If HD's lost their popularity, then the price would drop to the levels of the big 4 cruisers. But people are willing to pay the money for the brand name instead of the knock off (which is not a slam on the Japanese cruisers by any means). No big deal... that's the way it works. I wouldn't pay 50 bucks for a pair of Tommy Hilfiger jeans... but I'll buy a pair of Levi's or a pair of [insert JC Penney brand] jeans. Does that mean that the Tommy jeans are better? No. It just means that people are willing to dish out nearly twice the amount of money to wear a label.

HD makes (and has made) some bikes I like. So has Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Victory, Ural, Honda, Norton, Triumph, etc, etc, etc.

The question I ask is this... do you like what you ride? If so, then who cares what the market price is for another brand.

I don't care what the price is for a Harley. I will someday have a FXDX (not made anymore!!! dammit!) in my garage. Why? Because I like it. And I want it. I also like the Thruxton and will someday have one of those in my garage as well. Why? Because I like it and I want one. And when it comes time to spend the money on those bikes, I will do it if want to own it bad enough.

DivideOverflow · Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:28 am

That is exactly my point. People buy those bikes because they like them and are willing to pay for them... not because they are a better "value" on paper.

Personally, I would love a Thruxton as well, or one of those new Norton Commandos... but I lack the pesos.

liablemtl · Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:33 am

DivideOverflow wrote:
Personally, I would love a Thruxton as well, or one of those new Norton Commandos... but I lack the pesos.

Oh yeah... the commando. Sexy bike.

But a few bucks outta my price range as well.

scan · #35 Unread post by **scan** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:52 am

I want an old inline 4 air-cooled Kawasaki - in mint condition. Perfectly maintained. And a CBX - you know the 6 cylinder Honda - also in perfect shape. I always like playing the dream game.

#36 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:12 pm

The sad thing is, there was no need for this thread to ever reach four pages. I saw something funny in a review and posted the observation. It wasn't a pissing contest, just pointing out how easy Harley has it these days. Most die-hard Harley fans call Harley's designs "timeless", but what it amounts to in my opinion is not being able to tell the difference between an '86 and an '06. And when a seat and handlebar change is all that's involved in creating an "entirely new model"...well...like I said, Harley has it pretty easy. I agree they don't even have to try to sell their bikes, but it'd be nice if they weren't so obvious about the fact that they know it.

flynrider · Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:17 pm

DivideOverflow wrote:That is exactly my point. People buy those bikes because they like them and are willing to pay for them... not because they are a better "value" on paper.

Exactly. If I started building a bike that people were willing to pay $30K for, I'd be an idiot to only charge $10K for it.

Harley has built up an incredibly good marketing strategy in the last few decades and they're reaping the benefits.

I bought a brand new Harley back around the time your VF700F was made (not a 750 because of the Harley tariff). It turned out not to be what I expected from a motorcycle (value-wise) and I sold it 6 months later for about what I paid for it. At the time, it reinforced my belief that the Harley tariff on imported bikes over 700cc was misguided. People who were in the market for an Interceptor, or other Japanese bike, had no relation to the people who bought Harleys. I think that still holds true today.

#38 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:17 pm

scanevalexec wrote:And a CBX - you know the 6 cylinder Honda - also in perfect shape.

Gummiente · Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:11 pm

ZooTech wrote:The sad thing is, there was no need for this thread to ever reach four pages.

No, the sad thing is you continue to post useless drivel like this.

ZooTech wrote: I saw something funny in a review and posted the observation. It wasn't a pissing contest, just pointing out how easy Harley has it these days. Most die-hard Harley fans call Harley's designs "timeless", but what it amounts to in my opinion is not being able to tell the difference between an '86 and an '06. And when a seat and handlebar change is all that's involved in creating an "entirely new model"...well...like I said, Harley has it pretty easy. I agree they don't even have to try to sell their bikes, but it'd be nice if they weren't so obvious about the fact that they know it.

Oh, I see - now it all makes sense. Harley has it too easy and they're so smug about it, so you needed to find something you thought funny about one of the model lines and then post it so that everyone else could share in the laughter and thereby make yourself feel better. Right, then, carry on... I look forward to finding out what you find funny with BMW, Ducati, Aprillia, Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki and all the rest. Should be worth a few chuckles.

scan · #40 Unread post by **scan** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:11 pm

I can't find anything funny to say about that CBX - woohoo!

But those damn Japanese bikes, they make them well, the depreciate quickly, and they come in almost every shape. Pretty hard to stick a goofy label on that bunch.

Now BMW, Ducati, Triumph, Indian, HD, Ural, and Royal Enfield - pretty hard to not think of something funny or odd about them. I know I left an odd-ball out - OH yeah Moto Guzzi. Even the name is kind of funny.

Half those bike, I'd love to own if I had barrels of money. Or barrels of oil. I guess if I had barrels of oil I'd have barrels of money.

We need a new thread - a make fun of anyone but Harley thread. Let's give the boys a break. I guess since we have to ask, we don't understand.