Comments on: Harley-Davidson and the 25 – 40 Year Old Buyer http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/10/06/harley-davidson-and-the-25-%e2%80%93-40-year-old-buyer/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Sat, 26 May 2012 02:39:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ken http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/10/06/harley-davidson-and-the-25-%e2%80%93-40-year-old-buyer/#comment-298969 Ken Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:55:52 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=8309#comment-298969 I've always wanted a Harley. Its the brand name. Its the fact that its American. The problem has been threefold: 1. To expensive 2. They haven't had what I want and I don't want to have to do a major customization to get it there. 3. The perception that the 883 and 1200 sportster was a girls bike kept me away. So I bought a Shadow Sabre instead. That was 9 years ago. Now I still have that bike, plus a few more since then. Now I am in my mid thirties and want something different. The Versys is looking awful good. Last year's model, brand new, can be had for 5 grand. That little 650 standard goes and is highly customizible. Honestly, if HD made a new XR750 or a XR500 based off the old blast motor, I would have to find a reason not to buy it. Lightweight steel frame, excel rims, brembo brakes. Start with the motor you have and then develope a 750 that has some of that wow factor like a Duc. They could take that Blast motor and make Peashooters like HD did back in the day. HD didn't always have large bore engines.... Maybe we shouldn't keep wishing for what HD hasn't delivered. Maybe we should all collectively turn our attention to Victory. They are young enough to try something new. Polaris makes amazing ATVs, Snowmobiles and Watercraft. Maybe they want our hard earned American dollars? Then again... This post is 15 months old... I’ve always wanted a Harley. Its the brand name. Its the fact that its American.

The problem has been threefold:

1. To expensive

2. They haven’t had what I want and I don’t want to have to do a major customization to get it there.

3. The perception that the 883 and 1200 sportster was a girls bike kept me away.

So I bought a Shadow Sabre instead. That was 9 years ago. Now I still have that bike, plus a few more since then. Now I am in my mid thirties and want something different. The Versys is looking awful good. Last year’s model, brand new, can be had for 5 grand. That little 650 standard goes and is highly customizible. Honestly, if HD made a new XR750 or a XR500 based off the old blast motor, I would have to find a reason not to buy it. Lightweight steel frame, excel rims, brembo brakes. Start with the motor you have and then develope a 750 that has some of that wow factor like a Duc.

They could take that Blast motor and make Peashooters like HD did back in the day. HD didn’t always have large bore engines….

Maybe we shouldn’t keep wishing for what HD hasn’t delivered. Maybe we should all collectively turn our attention to Victory. They are young enough to try something new. Polaris makes amazing ATVs, Snowmobiles and Watercraft. Maybe they want our hard earned American dollars?

Then again… This post is 15 months old…

]]> By: Jim http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/10/06/harley-davidson-and-the-25-%e2%80%93-40-year-old-buyer/#comment-292907 Jim Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:33:43 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=8309#comment-292907 Harley had the makings of a great sport touring machine. It was called the Buell Ulyssess XT and unfortunately died with the close of Buell Motorcycles. Harley had the makings of a great sport touring machine. It was called the Buell Ulyssess XT and unfortunately died with the close of Buell Motorcycles.

]]> By: Teck wee http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/10/06/harley-davidson-and-the-25-%e2%80%93-40-year-old-buyer/#comment-292885 Teck wee Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:59:34 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=8309#comment-292885 Give me the cafe gt any day Give me the cafe gt any day

]]> By: Andrew http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/10/06/harley-davidson-and-the-25-%e2%80%93-40-year-old-buyer/#comment-277731 Andrew Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:07:37 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=8309#comment-277731 I will be getting a Sportster soon. Used and hopefully I'll be able to hold out, be patient and scoop up a good one for less than $3000. There are a few in my neck of the woods at that price point, just hope they hold out long enough for my funds to build up. My opinion, as someone who is getting his first bike and I am 27 is Harley builds all the right stuff. I am in the guitar business and Fender and Gibson have been selling the same guitar for a long time and they show no signs of slowing down. It's the same for Harley; it's Americana. I really liked RJ's sportster. I guess I would be the target demographic as someone who wants a Harley for not a lot of money. I really think that they could go a little cheaper but not too much. A sportster sized bike with an engine like the VROD would be cool. Something that screams Harley but has a European aura to it. That would probably be pricey so if you keep that idea and have it be a one cylinder engine and have it be between $4000 and $5000. I really like the sportster. It's like a 60's muscle car that they keep making new year after year. The 60's muscle car was perfect. It was all down hill from there as far as style is concerned. The sportster is a thing of beauty. It's a little outdated but who cares? It's in the same league as the Fender Strat and Gibson Les Paul. I will be getting a Sportster soon. Used and hopefully I’ll be able to hold out, be patient and scoop up a good one for less than $3000. There are a few in my neck of the woods at that price point, just hope they hold out long enough for my funds to build up. My opinion, as someone who is getting his first bike and I am 27 is Harley builds all the right stuff. I am in the guitar business and Fender and Gibson have been selling the same guitar for a long time and they show no signs of slowing down. It’s the same for Harley; it’s Americana. I really liked RJ’s sportster. I guess I would be the target demographic as someone who wants a Harley for not a lot of money.

I really think that they could go a little cheaper but not too much. A sportster sized bike with an engine like the VROD would be cool. Something that screams Harley but has a European aura to it. That would probably be pricey so if you keep that idea and have it be a one cylinder engine and have it be between $4000 and $5000.

I really like the sportster. It’s like a 60′s muscle car that they keep making new year after year. The 60′s muscle car was perfect. It was all down hill from there as far as style is concerned. The sportster is a thing of beauty. It’s a little outdated but who cares? It’s in the same league as the Fender Strat and Gibson Les Paul.

]]> By: Rudy Pyatt http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/10/06/harley-davidson-and-the-25-%e2%80%93-40-year-old-buyer/#comment-272916 Rudy Pyatt Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:07:37 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=8309#comment-272916 Well, I'm just above the age cut for this demographic (45 upcoming). But (having been interrupted in the mad scheme by some medical issues), I intend to begin riding this year. So I'd say that the broader question is, what else can (or will) Harley provide to newer riders of any age? With the Blast gone (and I understand that it was the single best selling model in the entire Harley line), the only possible bike IS the 883 Sportster. It's an attractive proposition, but the weight and price are a concern. I like the idea of a 450 or 500cc single, and I've read that in the deeps of time, Singles were a big part of the Motor Company's success. I've also read that the Blast engine was originally developed for just such an H-D, but that they didn't want to undercut the 883. They still have that engine, but what frame could they put it in? A restyled Blast? A cut-down Sportster frame? Like the OP said, cost and time to market are the keys, so those are the only likely options if they go this route. Won't happen in time for me (fingers crossed for a May road test and license), but it would be nice to have the option of getting an XR 500! Well, I’m just above the age cut for this demographic (45 upcoming). But (having been interrupted in the mad scheme by some medical issues), I intend to begin riding this year. So I’d say that the broader question is, what else can (or will) Harley provide to newer riders of any age?

With the Blast gone (and I understand that it was the single best selling model in the entire Harley line), the only possible bike IS the 883 Sportster. It’s an attractive proposition, but the weight and price are a concern. I like the idea of a 450 or 500cc single, and I’ve read that in the deeps of time, Singles were a big part of the Motor Company’s success. I’ve also read that the Blast engine was originally developed for just such an H-D, but that they didn’t want to undercut the 883. They still have that engine, but what frame could they put it in? A restyled Blast? A cut-down Sportster frame? Like the OP said, cost and time to market are the keys, so those are the only likely options if they go this route.

Won’t happen in time for me (fingers crossed for a May road test and license), but it would be nice to have the option of getting an XR 500!

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