H-D: Painted into a demographic corner?

[melville]

And when you are prepared to believe all that jazz, you meet a couple like I met last night. We share a driveway with our nearest neighbor, and last night a big FLHABCDEFG rolled on in. As our neighbor was out, I went out to check that they weren't lost (we get confused people from time to time) and met the nicest people. Full pirate gear, assless fringed chaps and all, bike was shiny and probably a $$$$ CVO model mit custom paint and stock quiet pipes. There was an Iron Butt sticker on the rear fender and I asked about that. They had done SS1000, BB1500 and were working their way through the IBA system. When they pulled up last night, they'd just done a short 400 mile day to see their old friend, my neighbor.

[Ron Moss]

My best sighting was in a small store where I saw a guy in all the Harley get up, leave the store and get on his bicycle.

[Major Softie]

My best sighting was in a small store where I saw a guy in all the Harley get up, leave the store and get on his bicycle.

BUT, was it a Harley Davidson bicycle????

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Cheaper Sportsters are a step in the right direction. But as pointed out, few people want a "bitch bike". Back when the $4K Hugger was introduced, that was to attract new riders into the Harley fold with a cheap ride that could compete with "cheap" Japanese bikes price wise. The problem now isn't so much attracting new people as it is selling new Harley Davidsons in a recessionary market saturated with used Harleys.

Harley has two big problems, as I see it. They need a new engine and they need to sell NEW motorcycles in a saturated market. Failure in either challenge could get ugly.

Here are my ideas:

Harley needs to market a big-twin "Hugger" that is priced like a Hugger. That means a true minimalist bike--as opposed to a minimalist style. Sell it at cost if necessary. And don't screw around with displacement or power. It doesn't really cost much extra to make cylinders with large holes in them and it doesn't cost much extra to give the bike more horsepower, even at the cost of torque. Who doesn't like the rush of power as a bike gets "on the cam". Don't dumb down the engine.

And don't get cute with the design.

It's important for now just to keep the factory running at a decent pace. Then (drumroll) emphasize and expand (if possible) a wide range of accessories that the HD crowd will crave after they have the big-twin hugger in their garage. I'm not talking about bling as much as I am things like a passenger seat and footrests, handlebars other than the one on the big twin hugger, bags specific to the big twin hugger, and on and on. As soon as the pain of buying the big twin hugger subsides, the owners will need to set their ride aside from the thousands of other big twin huggers on the road. A big money maker will be different wheels and tires. Sell the hugger with only one combination. I personally prefer 16" wheels front and rear, but settle on one.

The engine: HD has to develop a new engine. They did a very good job when they did the twin cam engine, with and without balancers. What they did was change it as much as they could without changing the look and feel of the engine. This is a daunting proposition. HD must retain a single crank pin 45 degree (or close) engine with exhaust pipes exiting on the R/H side. They absolutely, positively must not water cool it. A radiator will be a deal killer, and a cleverly disguised radiator will be a bigger deal killer. I think an "oilhead" engine is the ticket. I think the big twin hugger customers will grudgingly accept a discrete "oil cooler". The engine should take full advantage of sophisticated fuel injection and other computer controlled functions. The engine will start and run well without glitches and expensive repairs when there is a problem will be good for the HD dealers, even if unsavory to the customers.

As they develop the new engine the form will necessarily change. HD must pay great attention to keeping all of the styling cues they can, including the castings themselves. It will be hard to do that especally since the engine/transmission must be unit construction, and likely sharing the same oil.

The general idea here is that the new big twin hugger must look and feel right and be minimalist in cost content. HD and its' dealers can maintain their aftermarket service and parts profit levels--provided that they aren't so over the top as to become an "issue" that will alienate prospective buyers. A healthy nod toward tradition must be maintained. HD cannot compete head to head with the other manufacturers on merit. They must continue the Harley "mystique" as much as possible. It is, perhaps, their greatest asset.

If they do all that, who knows, I might buy one myself.

Ken

[Major Softie]

They absolutely, positively must not water cool it. A radiator will be a deal killer, and a cleverly disguised radiator will be a bigger deal killer. I think an "oilhead" engine is the ticket. I think the big twin hugger customers will grudgingly accept a discrete "oil cooler".

If you've seen the XR1200, then you know that "discrete" oil coolers are not something they've been successful with yet. Its oil cooler is slightly less discrete than the external coolers bolted onto the sides of old VW buses.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

If you've seen the XR1200, then you know that "discrete" oil coolers are not something they've been successful with yet. Its oil cooler is slightly less discrete than the external coolers bolted onto the sides of old VW buses.

You could very well be right. I'm not very good at forecasting what HD will do and probably not very good at figuring out what they should do. Hell, I have a hard time just remembering the difference between discrete and discreet! As for a "discreet" oil cooler, well I have yet to accept the discreet oil cooler probiscus of the current oilhead GSPDs.

But I think I could accept a discreet oil cooler on a HD if that was the only way I could get a new HD and I really, really, really wanted one.


Ken

[gspd]

current oilhead GSPDs

Never seen one, do they really exist?

[Duane Ausherman]

Matt, thanks for a modern perspective on HD. My view starts at around the late 50s, as they were on the road when I started with BMW in 62. They were junk, they leaked oil and broke down a lot. I could go on and on, but just take a look at the road tests in magazines. They came out last in every test of reliability, braking and handling.

The demographics were such that I wanted to stay away from those on a HD. A few were OK, but most were not a crowd that I wanted.

I have always been astonished at the business model of HD. I never understood it at all. They catered to an image, not a product. It is theatre, not riding for transportation or fun. Few actually ride a HD, at least not like a BMW.

A few years back I was told that HD was the largest seller in the USA for over 750 cc road bike, I could hardly believe it. it couldn't possibly last, and it didn't.

The HD is not a product that should say "Made in America" on it.

[Deleted User 287]

Harley needs to market a big-twin "Hugger" that is priced like a Hugger. That means a true minimalist bike--as opposed to a minimalist style. Sell it at cost if necessary. And don't screw around with displacement or power. It doesn't really cost much extra to make cylinders with large holes in them and it doesn't cost much extra to give the bike more horsepower, even at the cost of torque. Who doesn't like the rush of power as a bike gets "on the cam". Don't dumb down the engine.

And DON'T put an iphone interface on it!!!

[Major Softie]

If you've seen the XR1200, then you know that "discrete" oil coolers are not something they've been successful with yet. Its oil cooler is slightly less discrete than the external coolers bolted onto the sides of old VW buses.

You could very well be right. I'm not very good at forecasting what HD will do and probably not very good at figuring out what they should do. Hell, I have a hard time just remembering the difference between discrete and discreet! As for a "discreet" oil cooler, well I have yet to accept the discreet oil cooler probiscus of the current oilhead GSPDs.

But I think I could accept a discreet oil cooler on a HD if that was the only way I could get a new HD and I really, really, really wanted one.


Ken

LOL. I didn't even notice the spelling issue, but, now that you mention it, I suppose the XR1200 DOES have a "discrete" oil-cooler, but I think it would look much better with a "discreet" one.