Author Topic: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...  (Read 2091 times)

Offline Vagrant

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #30 on: March 15, 2023, 03:57:56 PM »
It will be interesting to see how many classes get canceled because of "lack of parts".
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Offline MMRanch

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #31 on: March 15, 2023, 05:53:31 PM »
Ha Vagrant ,  them China folks never run out of parts !   :smiley:
.........

I've had a couple of the china ATV's , they're good as the japan machines they are copied from .   :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:   
« Last Edit: March 15, 2023, 05:55:18 PM by MMRanch »
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Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #32 on: March 15, 2023, 07:06:32 PM »
Tarrifs kept Harley from having to improve their product, until they didn't.

Dude!  That Tariff ended in 1988!  That was 35 years ago!  LOL!

It started in 1983 and only applied to bikes over 700cc.  During the first year of the tariff, the tariff was set at 45%, then dropping to 39.4% in the second year.[2] In the third year, the rate dropped to 24.4%, then 19.4% in the fourth year and 14.4% in the fifth year.

Talk about stuck in the past. 
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Offline MMRanch

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #33 on: March 15, 2023, 09:00:39 PM »
   
I knew a guy who had one of the older solid mounted Sportsters , well for some reason I never could get him to cruise along over 65mph ???

In 2004 when Harley started rubber mounting the Sportster .   So I got one of the 1200 Roadsters , and kept it for a few years.    It was a likeable machine till it broke. 




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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #33 on: March 15, 2023, 09:00:39 PM »

Offline Enzo Toma

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #34 on: March 16, 2023, 12:58:26 PM »
Dude!  That Tariff ended in 1988!  That was 35 years ago!  LOL!

It started in 1983 and only applied to bikes over 700cc.  During the first year of the tariff, the tariff was set at 45%, then dropping to 39.4% in the second year.[2] In the third year, the rate dropped to 24.4%, then 19.4% in the fourth year and 14.4% in the fifth year.

Talk about stuck in the past. 

That's all it took to establish market and cultural dominance. It's only been in very recent years that Harley has largely invested in dramatically new motorcycle designs and engineering (Rev Max engine) under the current management. Just look how that is going over with the Sportster crowd lol

It's not all in the distant past either, see the EU tariff deal that benefited HD just last year.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2023, 01:23:38 PM by Enzo Toma »

Offline MMRanch

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #35 on: March 16, 2023, 08:27:33 PM »
Didn't Harley drop the Sportster line ?     

It seems to me that when the in-line / air cooled V-Twin was designed the HP to displacement ratio was very low compared to modern designs.
So
Its no wonder that a HEAT problem might hold the design back a little ,
But
Harleys real problem might be the price ?
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Offline Shorty

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #36 on: March 16, 2023, 09:49:26 PM »
Didn't Harley drop the Sportster line ?     

It seems to me that when the in-line / air cooled V-Twin was designed the HP to displacement ratio was very low compared to modern designs.
So
Its no wonder that a HEAT problem might hold the design back a little ,
But
Harleys real problem might be the price ?

I don't keep a finger to the pulse of the HD market, but I do know that many older HD (and other full size bike marques) riders are moving to smaller bikes. The R.E. web pages are full of aging riders who wanted a small, classic looking, inexpensive bike to continue the ride into dotage.  :grin:  Many express surprise at the amount of pure fun you can have with so little money on such a small machine.
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Offline Muzz

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #37 on: March 16, 2023, 10:46:32 PM »
That's not true.  I have been on this board for well over 20 years.  As I recall WG started prior to the introduction of the Breva 750, the first of the modern small blocks.   And since that beginning through today the culture of this board certainly didn't piss on small block owners at any point.  Sure there may have been an individual or two who had a stick up their keister, but it certainly wasn't the culture here.

I started here in 2004 Chad, with my 2003 Breva. Back then, there was a separate smallblock section. There was a bit of sneering, mainly because they offered a low seat option for ladies, which earned it the title a "ladies bike". The term "grenade" attached to some of the earlier models didn't help. A few riders did get one for their womenfolk, and every now and then one would take"the wife's bike" to scoot down to the shops or a short trip. They found that they are a barrel of fun, and started going the long way home. After that, it wasn't long before the culture changed as more found it did a pretty competent job of all kinds of riding, and the later designed smallblocks became accepted. So much so that it was the smallblocks that kept the marque in business.

I still have the same bike, and it still puts a smile on my dial.
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Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #38 on: March 17, 2023, 08:12:42 AM »
That's all it took to establish market and cultural dominance. It's only been in very recent years that Harley has largely invested in dramatically new motorcycle designs and engineering (Rev Max engine) under the current management. Just look how that is going over with the Sportster crowd lol

It's not all in the distant past either, see the EU tariff deal that benefited HD just last year.

Well, I didn't buy my first Harley until 2016.  They were the best value in a full size touring bike to replace my Vulcan Voyager.  I have only owned bikes from their touring line. 

Not everyone wants liquid cooled engines.  Four out of the five bikes in my garage are air/oil cooled.  I also don't need more than 50 HP in a bike.  Yes, I have owned bikes up to 160 HP, but rarely revved them higher than the 50 hp RPMs. 
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Offline kballowe

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #39 on: March 17, 2023, 08:52:45 AM »
Well, I didn't buy my first Harley until 2016. 


1981 for me.  A 1980 Sportster.  I also had a 1978 Yamaha 650 Special at the time.  The Yamaha was much easier to kick.   LOL
Since then.... three more Sortsters, five Dyna's, three Road Kings, and now on our third Heritage Softail.  Oh, and a Fat Boy.

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Offline Enzo Toma

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #40 on: March 17, 2023, 11:21:23 AM »
The Sportster updates bumped the starting price up a whopping $7,400 USD for a now very complicated and still heavy bike that just barely beats the Indian FTR in performance while costing $2,800 more in MSRP. For anyone who doesn't need that type of performance or isn't dead set on paying for a brand, may as well buy a fleet of Royal Enfields instead  :wink:

Online john fish

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #41 on: March 18, 2023, 06:10:36 AM »
Didn't Harley drop the Sportster line ?     

It seems to me that when the in-line / air cooled V-Twin was designed the HP to displacement ratio was very low compared to modern designs.
So
Its no wonder that a HEAT problem might hold the design back a little ,
But
Harleys real problem might be the price ?

I looked at the Harley site not long ago.  They are offering 8 year loans at 12% interest.   :shocked:  Holey and moley.

Personally, I like the looks of a classic Harley but none of the current models appeal to me aesthetically.  The new Sportster replacement is an abomination. 
He lost the run of himself.

Offline Enzo Toma

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #42 on: April 01, 2023, 07:33:01 PM »
Sat on one today, not sure how it rides but it's definitely a learner friendly size and weight! I bet the Harley-Davidson Rider Academies are getting real tired of having to buy small fleets of the Buell Blast, HD Street, and now this little X 350. Speedo goes to 130 mph, that's a lot of gauge!



« Last Edit: April 01, 2023, 07:34:20 PM by Enzo Toma »

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #43 on: April 02, 2023, 07:55:38 AM »
I looked at the Harley site not long ago.  They are offering 8 year loans at 12% interest.   :shocked:  Holey and moley.

Personally, I like the looks of a classic Harley but none of the current models appeal to me aesthetically.  The new Sportster replacement is an abomination.

That must be for the lower credit score individuals who have to have a new Harley. 
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Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #44 on: April 02, 2023, 07:57:42 AM »
Sat on one today, not sure how it rides but it's definitely a learner friendly size and weight! I bet the Harley-Davidson Rider Academies are getting real tired of having to buy small fleets of the Buell Blast, HD Street, and now this little X 350. Speedo goes to 130 mph, that's a lot of gauge!


What makes you say that?  I was at my local dealer this past week and they still have the "Street" in their academy and will replace with the new X350 as the bikes require replacing.  They are not being forced to just change bikes. 
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Offline bad Chad

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #45 on: April 02, 2023, 08:29:10 AM »
Muzz, I don’t think Terr was ever a separate section for small blocks on this site.
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Offline Enzo Toma

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #46 on: April 02, 2023, 03:57:25 PM »
What makes you say that?  I was at my local dealer this past week and they still have the "Street" in their academy and will replace with the new X350 as the bikes require replacing.  They are not being forced to just change bikes.

The staff said they had to buy the X350RA models for the 2023 year and retire their Streets. I didn't ask for more details, but imagine that may be in their Rider Academy contract with HD.

Offline Muzz

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Re: New Harley Line Built on Benelli 302...
« Reply #47 on: April 04, 2023, 06:34:53 AM »
Muzz, I don’t think Terr was ever a separate section for small blocks on this site.

Definitely was. Always far more postings in the big block section. Would have been in 2004 Chad. One of the best things that happened was when the two sections merged. The smallblocks lost their "junior" status when that happened and riders found that the Breva was actually a very capable machine.
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Offline Canuck750

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