HARLEY DAVIDSON LOST MY BUSINESS FOR GOOD

Honda’s slogan was, “ You meet the nicest people on a Honda.” HD’s biggest mistake was going public. The small, locally owned shops were run out of business. Instead the “resort dealer” took over. Priority was given to the shareholders, not customers. Tee shirts are more profitable than actual motorcycles.

Generation X'er here. Like you mentioned, I started on sport bikes but eventually moved to Victory and then a Harley (used). I love my Harley, but I just can't justify spending 30, 40 or 50K+ for a new one that still needs more thousands for "upgrades" to lighting, suspension and engine performance. Just my opinion.

I am 80 years old, Ive been riding for 65 years. Harleys are TOO damn heavy, too expensive to maintain, and I don't give a damn if they go broke.

"You meet the nicest people on a Honda" was their slogan.

The kid is 100% right. I’ve been riding since I was a kid myself and now Harleys for the last 20 years. I love the bike but the culture rubs me totally the wrong way. It’s like some Harley riders are trying their best to look like hoodlums and outlaws. Sure, there are died in the wool thugs and very dangerous people that ride harleys, but come on people. MOST Harley riders these days are professionals and above-average earners in our day jobs. Stop with the ‘look at me I am tough’ mentality and just enjoy the bikes and the rides. The whole ‘we are dirty BIKERS and slobs that’ll kick your ass’ demeanor really doesn’t fly any more.

As a 46 yr old (Not a RUB) but old enough to be able to afford nicer stuff. I did my research, knew not to start on too big a bike. Really liked the street 750's as a starter bike. Literally got laughed at by the Harley dealership and pushed to a bigger bike that definitely would have been out of my skill level. Until the culture changes on bikes like that and the sportster being womens bikes, a lot of future customers will just go else where. I ended up with a Honda Shadow Phantom 750 as my first bike and never regretted that decision. Looking to upgrade to bigger bike soon and still have a bad taste in my mouth, so I have been looking at Indians a lot lately, especially with the HD service horror stories I have been hearing lately.

I feel H-D is about conforming- same bike, same clothes , same bars, same rides. Riding with others makes me crazy. I just want to go out alone and enjoy the ride

As a millennial, you nailed it on the cheaper transportation. At 24 I got a $6k Suzuki for a commuter. Then at 32, a couple years ago, got a small Kawasaki sport bike for $6k. Perfect bikes that are super reliable and cheap to maintain. Why ever in the world would I pay for a Harley, when I could get a new Japanese bike for a quarter of the price? All that matters to me is being on the road and not being broke, true freedom.

From what I have seen and heard, a lot of younger people don't even want to get their licenses. Much less any kind of transportation except for 50 cc scooters. No licenses, no registration, and no insurance.

In Europe I can tell you that the prime reason for not buying an Harley is the price, price and price. Taste, culture, comes last

He has a point. Even someone born in 54 with 50+ years riding on over 60 bikes (5 HDs) can think that Southpark pretty well nailed it.

For me here's what it comes down to, I'm a blue collar guy in my 40's living in NY. HD is just to expensive for me to buy new. I have always had to buy second hand and even then there pricey at times. So I ride around on my carbureted HD's piecing them together to keep them running just to have one. It's a love hate relationship but financially it's all I have to work with.

To be honest, Harley isn't the only ones who are having a problem with this generation who wrote this letter, they say we're ruffians but they all need a safe space to retreat to when their feelings get hurt so who's really got the problem here😥

The image and culture is changing. Less Skulls. Less Flames. Less Flaming Skulls. Less Land Pirate Costumes. Less Willie G

I grew up on dirt bikes and I rode Harley Davidson and the real reason I stopped buying Harley is the dealerships these days. I walked into a dealership and you have to literally throw money in there faces to evenget them to talk to me and it makes me sick.

I’m 44 and have moved away from the crotch rockets to the cruisers. I do believe that the Harley dealers should move to more affordable bikes. I went with the India scout. Looks good and plenty of power👍

I don't know, I'm a boomer and just purchased my first Harley. I always saw them as broken down, leaking oil, ruff riding and loud. Then early this year a friend had purchased a new Street Glide and he talked me into riding it. I really didn't want anything to do with it and why would I. I had a Yamaha FJR1300 and a BMW RT1200. In short, after riding his Street Glide, a few months later I purchased my own. I have to say I feel in love with that bike. I think Harley's problem is that they are pricing the bikes right out of the market and blaming everybody and thing except themself's. Super inflated pricing with quick and easy financing is no longer desirable for this generation. Just my 2 cents.

A lot of riders will find an older Harley with reasonable miles on it, something they can afford. There are plenty of good ones out there.

As a 33 year old Harley rider, there’s a lot to unpack here. 1. I don’t ride or go to rally’s with a lot of Harley riders because of the culture. + I’m married so the 🐱 events are not for me. I’m trying to chill and go at my own pace, fast or slow. 2. Harleys are overpriced. Water is wet. I’m young and got jacked on my financing but I agreed to it. Stay educated kids. 3. “He/she dresses like this or that and talks or carries himself/herself like this or that” none of that affects me or how I approach life and I don’t care how people judge me in traffic when they don’t know me. 4. I enjoy and love my Harley. When I see it in the garage, it makes me smile. The year I went without it was painful, ending in dreams about it, obsession and getting it back. The sound, the feel, the look, the smell & a lot of the riders in my area ARE cool and the community IS tight nit. If most of em aren’t for you, someone is. 5. Most of the time, when I do ride with others (few times a year) it’s me and maybe one other Harley rider and everyone else is on other kinds of bikes and let me tell ya, every single time the other Harley rider and I are just chill and cool with people, sending out good vibes and there’s always some rider on some other pos they don’t care about wrecking (and have a few times) doing stupid stuff or acting like a tough guy. Idk if it’s to show off for the group or specifically to show off to us Harley guys but I don’t like it and it’s usually the reminder I need of why I ride alone most of the year. (I maybe go on 6 group rides a year) Moral is, 🗑️ comes in all shapes and sizes. …exists in all groups and makes any amount of money. Culture as a whole is degrading and people are as close minded as ever. Ride what you want and go love someone today. ✌️

I'm torn. I bought a pretty sweet used harley at around age 22 and I'm 25 now, so over the last 3 years I have had a blast riding it, but here's the dilemma: Before owning a harley, I would walk around town and absolutely hate the intermittent disruption of a crazy loud exhaust. I would sit at a cafe and we'd have to stop the conversation for a solid minute until a harley was out of earshot. Then I try one myself and it's truly a fun thing, but I feel like a dickhead riding by homes or nice streets in town where I know i'm waking people up or ruining conversations, making babies cry, etc. Then there's all the cultural reasons this guy mentions above. Pile on top of that the all-in cost of a harley- loans, insurance, fuel, parts and labor, registration, etc. It's just as much of a financial curse as a car, except it cannot carry as many people or items as a car, AND you need good weather. Understand this. Every generation since the baby boomers has less wealth and more debt. I was born in 97. Simply owning a reasonable car might be out of the question for people like me and definitely the next generations. I'd be lucky to own a home, let alone recreational vehicles. It's no wonder why the younger market simply cannot justify the purchase, considering skyrocketing prices and all the risks involved in motorcycles in general. Riding a harley around is a truly thrilling, fun and novel experience. But it's just one of THOUSANDS of novel ways to travel. Considering how many other desirable, fun, and most importantly cheap and free options there are for commuters, buying a harley is not on my bucket list. Selling one is, though. If anyone is interested in a 2008 CVO hit me up lol. I'd like to save for a down payment on a home and be a bit more responsible with money.