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...I don't think the market for classics/cruisers/tourers are going away completely any time soon.
Piaggio better hope it isn't, since they've bet the Mandello del Lario farm on that area of the market, at least for the next few years!
PS the money thing is BS too.Sure you CAN spend ridiculous dosh on some top of the line models loaded with accessories. But equally you can buy models for similar prices to the competition if you look. Hell I just spent less on a new RK then I would have a Cali 1400.
Perhaps it's Canada, or perhaps it's my local dealer...But when a fatbob or a soft tail slim with no accessories costs the same with a 1400 California with full fairing, that is pricy to me...I am gonna go with its Canada...
Back when I lived in Edmonton and hung around with Steen Hansen's kids, it was pretty widely acknowledged that the HD Canada organization (which has a completely unique relationship to the mothercorp compared to operations in other countries) tacked on a premium of around 25% or more on all new HDs they provided to dealers. From all I've heard, nothing has changed. Take US retail, add the exchange rate for the loonie, then add 25% or so 'just because we can'.
Up until a couple years ago ALL Harley Davidsons shipped to Canada where distributed through the Deeley empire in Vancouver and they set the retail prices. Harley dealerships in the USA would not sell a new HD to a Canadian customer that was planning on taking the bike back to Canada. Back around 2010 when the Canadian buck was worth more than the US greenback a Canadian could get a new HD for a lot less in the USA, a lot of 'like new' Harleys found their way north. I can't speak for HD new prices in Canada but now but most Japanese bikes and BMW are cheaper for me to buy here in Canada. A bike that sells for $25K USD sells for about the same in CDN dollars.
10 years ago I had a Guzzi friend that decided to buy a new Harley instead in norCal and found out he could only buy 1 for a local HD dealer where he lived, period. No other HD dealers would seriously offer to sell him a new bike. That pissed him off so he bought a new Victory instead.
And the beat goes on for BMW: https://rideapart.com/articles/bmw-motorrad-reports-record-growth-bike-salesPaul
Hats off to BMW and good for them!! :1:
You diversify to bikes riders want and they wii come it appears.
Perhaps, but it would be good to ignore that BMW is still selling tens of thousands fewer units in a year, and is Afton far off from the peak Harley years of 300k+ bikes.So even with their market contracting and selling a less diverse portfolio they're still ahead, but who's to say for how much longer.
It's all about capturing market share. You gain share by producing products that interest the public and feed there dreams.... not many new riders dream of being a pirate these days. There more sifisticted, seek adventure, and embrace technology. Just my thoughts..... Paul
I remember hearing about some dealers who wouldn't sell out of their "territory", trying to ensure service customers, I guess. However, I have not ever had an HD dealer tell me they wouldn't sell to me because I wasn't local.
I do have to hand it to BMW for their willingness to expand into different sectors.
The K1600GTL is priced very close to a HD Electra Glide Ultra Classic. The K bike has a lot more tech, is it all necessary?? well it didn't cost me any more than the Ultra and the K has a lot more power, weighs over a 100lbs less and is turbine smooth up to the point of loosing my licence.
My nephew the Harley salesman tells me that the MoCo is concerned . He bases this on the communication between the MoCo and the very large corporate dealership where he works . The dealership is getting pressure to "do something" because sales and overall market share are on the decline . Like Sears or K Mart , once a huge company begins to contract it can be tough to find equilibrium . HD rode the wave successfully for many years , but that wave may be dying on the shores of a shrinking market , and an unwillingness to look far enough into the future . Dusty PS . One thing my nephew has told me is that in his dealership sales of Motor Clothes have declined , T shirts and doo rag sales ain't what they used to be .
Spoke with a corporate rep at Wilkins HD in Vermont and he stated that HD will release 100 new models in the next 5 years to accommodate changing demographics. I asked if the new motor will be in the Dyna line next year he stated it may be a few years but had no official answer.
There is no way on Earth they could release a 100 new models over 5 years! 20 a year, come on!!