Harley Davidson Names Topgolf’s Artie Stars as New CEO

[grampi]

I find the loud exhausts/revving that HD riders disrespectful as I am gassing up. Absolutely no regard for anyone.

Not all riders are like that at all. However the few who do this ruin it for younger generation to even think it’s remotely appealing.

Motorcyclists are a dying breed. Not a single kid at daughters HS of 1000 in very affluent towns had one. A few Rukus scooter but that is under 16 no license situation.

Motorcycles are dead.

Your first sentence describes every HD rider at Sturgis. I swear it's a competition to see who can be the loudest and most annoying...then again, that's pretty much everywhere there are HD riders...the stock exhaust is the first thing to go on a HD...

 

[UncleDave]

Talk about going from one extreme to another...

Although the big zook may look like a "crotch rocket" it's actually a sport tourer and pretty conservative from a riding position.
With aftermarket suspension and just a bit taller screen it's a joy to swallow miles on.

Now this Ducati on the other hand....

 

[alarmguy]

Well, HD is in a tough position. They need touring sport bikes to compete on a small scale.
With that said they are a luxury motorcycle brand, typically luxury brands do not rule market share. However Harley does rule market share for heavy weight cruisers. As HD sells more cruisers in the USA than all the manufacturers in the world combined. Nothing to sneeze at but demographics are changing.

Bottom line is motorcycles are a dead industry in the sense there is no more growth and never will be. It's just a matter of style of bike for those that ride. Sport tourers are the new fad. Shorter trips, nice style, people feel "cool" riding them.

Source = https://www.bts.gov/browse-statisti...rtation-statistics/number-us-road-motorcycles

 

[grampi]

For purposes of the pricing discussion, I’m saying an Ultra Glide vs a GW with the touring trunk, or. BMW K1600. You could say that the GW and the K1600 have six cylinder engines. Also, you have to say that the newer HD V-twins have plenty of power for two up touring. Maybe not so much in the Evo era, but the new ones with the liquid cooled heads are more than sufficient.
HD has plenty of problems, but I think at least for the touring bikes ( Road Glide, Street Glide, Ultra) price is not an issue.
I’m not a HD rider, but I see what people like about them.

I rode my buddy's Road Glide Ultra (a 2017 M8) two years ago. Compared to my 2018 Gold Wing, I found the the bike to be over weight and under powered...

 

[grampi]

Well, HD is in a tough position. They need touring sport bikes to compete on a small scale.
With that said they are a luxury motorcycle brand, typically luxury brands do not rule market share. However Harley does rule market share for heavy weight cruisers. As HD sells more cruisers in the USA than all the manufacturers in the world combined. Nothing to sneeze at but demographics are changing.

Bottom line is motorcycles are a dead industry in the sense there is no more growth and never will be. It's just a matter of style of bike for those that ride. Sport tourers are the new fad. Shorter trips, nice style, people feel "cool" riding them.

View attachment 294752
Source = https://www.bts.gov/browse-statisti...rtation-statistics/number-us-road-motorcycles

I don't see an adventure bike category. Those bikes are becoming very popular...

 

[grampi]

Although the big zook may look like a "crotch rocket" it's actually a sport tourer and pretty conservative from a riding position.
With aftermarket suspension and just a bit taller screen it's a joy to swallow miles on.

Now this Ducati on the other hand....

View attachment 294743View attachment 294744

The Ducs are a lot like my VTR Super Hawk, which is basically Honda's version of a Duc...

 

[UncleDave]

I don't see an adventure bike category. Those bikes are becoming very popular...

Prob gets munged under dual purpose.