.RJ Wrote:CaptainHenreh Wrote:I had a point, but I lost it somewhere. Anyway, point is, HD could make a motorcycle that The Industry doesn't hate...they just don't wanna.
But would their customers buy it?
Back from the dead.
Nope. The VRod hasn't sold particularly well, and it's an amazing bike. The Street Rod version, which handles better and has better lean angles has sold the worst of the family.
It should appeal to the typically H-D buyer (40+ years old, income >$75,000, looking for a standard or cruiser), but it doesn't. They buy Softails or baggers instead.
My XL883 gets me around fine. I tested dual-sports and SV650s. I never planned to test a Harley, but I was at Whitt's H-D to test the SV650 and my wife said "you'd be hot on a Harley" so off I went. Surprisingly, I liked the bike a lot. And now it's in my garage.
There's a reason all the metric companies sell big twin cruisers. That's what American buyers want. End of story.
I think alot of the VRod's sales difficulties had nothing at all to do with the bike OR the customers...I think it had far more to do with the salespeople and dealers.
*They* are the ones that really didn't like it. I heard "it's not a real harley" from more than one HD sales person and even from a manager.
WTF do you mean it's not a real harley? What the FUCK is it, then?
The truth is that alot of those people were afraid that harley was going to "replace" all the sportsters and whatnot with VRods, when I don't think that was ever their intention. I think their intent was to bring in a buyer who didn't want a "leaky shakey gutless air cooled pushrod motor" but might be able to be talked into a harley if it were OHC and watercooled and maybe had it's heart designed in Weissach. It wasn't meant to appeal my crazy uncle, who still rides his ancient softtail. (actually, ok, he doesn't still ride it because his health is too poor, but you get my picture)
All the same, it seems like the VRSC line might finally be gaining a little steam. Frankly, I fuckin' love 'em, and while I don't fit on the "feet forward " one, I'd love to have one.
1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442
I'm sure Phil will be in here soon to tell me how wrong I am. :lol:
1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442
Alistair Wrote:They buy Softails or baggers instead.
Psst, unless you think Harleys were introduced to the world less than ten years ago, they're dresses, not baggers 
CaptainHenreh Wrote:"leaky shakey gutless air cooled pushrod motor"
They don't leak any more.
And the engines are rubber-mounted, so the shaking is much diminished. At idle, the 883 vibrates a bit, but once it's underway, it's fine. If you want to see shakey, go test a Royal Enfield Bullet - big thumper sends you down the road 10' at a time.
Yeah, they seriously lack revs and horses as-delivered, but the torque is nice. Mostly, it's a result of more stringent emissions rules, not H-D engineers. In order to meet more stringent rules, the air-cooled engine has gotten bigger and more under-stressed. However, this also means one can build a ~100hp Evo without too much effort or expense.
Ginger Wrote:Alistair Wrote:They buy Softails or baggers instead.
Psst, unless you think Harleys were introduced to the world less than ten years ago, they're dresses, not baggers
Dresses... Wat?
Bagger, dresser, puh-tey-to, puh-ta-to.
Alistair Wrote:CaptainHenreh Wrote:"leaky shakey gutless air cooled pushrod motor"
They don't leak any more.
DId you read the whole thread? You're preaching to the choir. I know they don't leak and shake* and I know they make decent power.
But you know what? The old "harley davidson can't make computers because they can't figure out how to make it leak oil" is still funny. Perception might as well be reality for people buying a motorcycle.
Or, for that manner, anything at all.
*as much
1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442
Alistair Wrote:Ginger Wrote:Alistair Wrote:They buy Softails or baggers instead.
Psst, unless you think Harleys were introduced to the world less than ten years ago, they're dresses, not baggers
Dresses... Wat?
Bagger, dresser, puh-tey-to, puh-ta-to.
Typo - dressers.
But seriously. If you call them baggers, you're identifying yourself as an OC Choppers, "Wild Hogs" yuppie douchebag crowd that started buying Harleys as status symbols when the price went up.
*edit* I'm just nitpicking because I can, and when Rex show me that this thread was still up, I cried and wished it would just die already.
Ginger Wrote:yuppie douchebag crowd
If I look like a duck and quack like a duck something something...
Quote:*edit* I'm just nitpicking because I can, and when Rex show me that this thread was still up, I cried and wished it would just die already.
Q: A Harley owner and a NASCAR fan get in a fight, who wins?
A: We all do!
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