Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Harley Davidson going electric ?? What ?
https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/...motorcycl.aspx

What a trip , on FB it said they trying to get the millennials on board ??? Seems like a lousy plan.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

It will work in the favor of Harley Davidson.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Harley doesn't sell bikes anymore anyway. They sell an image attached to a giant product line. It is not unheard of for people to buy a new harley and roll an entire new wardrobe into the loan. $50k for a bike and some tacky clothing is ridiculous but it makes sense to the people dumb enough to buy the bikes anyway.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

You're either an ex moto guy yourself, or the only non moto person I've ever encountered who gets this.

It's the funniest shit I've ever seen too. Every dentist, doctor, lawyer, etc (let's face it, they're the only one's that can afford top of the line Hardley Ablesons any more) flock here every May to October on the same bikes, all dressed in the same gear, to weave, wobble, and quite a few fall down, because they're rebels dammit! Most have never ridden any other motorcycle, and definitely never been through a curve in their lives. I have literally watched these idiots lean into a corner, their expensive chrome starts dragging, and they'll stand that bike up and run wide into the oncoming lane ever single time.

I haven't met an actual motorcycle rider that chooses to own a Hardley in ages.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Imported bikes actually cost close to or that much in India.I don't support such ridiculous prices but people with a lot of money do buy, because for them money is just a medium to their percieved happiness.

I would like to buy a Triumph Tiger XRT or XCA, but it cost 22k USD. I will prefer to put that money in a new VMC.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

This is actually at the core of why Harley is going away from its core, the bikes it currently sells are mainly being bought by the older demographic, and they are really not attracting younger customers the way the other bike makers are. That is why they are making an electric bike, a Enduro-style bike, and plans for a crotch-rocket.

Plus, Harley is in a pickle right now, they want to change their image without changing their image. It goes back to the old joke, "What is the difference between a Hoover and a Harley? The Hoover carries the dirtbag on the inside." Harley very much wants to keep the rough-biker image, but Harley knows it is this image that is driving away a lot of customers. Don't know how they'll solve it.

I know a lot of guys that ride, many of them Harleys, and they just look silly. They dress up in VERY EXPENSIVE leather riding gear that is made to look worn, and they think makes them look tough, and they pretty much just hop from bar to bar.

I don't ride anymore (street, I ride ATVs), to me getting around on two-wheels is just too dangerous, too many people driving out there driving 70mhp with their eyes on their phones instead of on the road. If I did get another bike it would likely be a Spyder, a bit more stable and a bit more machine around you.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Harley riders are a funny lot. I ride an FZ-07 and I don't know what it is about them. They never wave. Either they are too scared to take a hand off the bars for a second or they think all other brand riders are below them. I don't know. I gotten to the point if I see a cruiser, I'm not waving unless they wave first. It's funny the "crotch rocket" riders with extended swing arms will throw you a wave across a 4 lane highway around here but the Harley guys won't even acknowledge you existence.

The new Street Fighter they are showing looks interesting. I wonder if it will have the balls to back the looks?

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Just told the Hoover joke to my buddy, who just bought a Harley. I got a LMAO, and a GEEZ as a reply. I’ve only ever ridden 4 motorbikes in my entire life, and everyone of them has wobbled, and I feel like I’m gonna die...everytime. I also has A.T.Vs.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I almost fell victim to it. I rode street my whole life...got my license just to get my m/c endorsement...but never could afford a Harley. When I sewed on tech sergeant I said screw it, I'm getting one. Almost signed on a $26k Heritage Softtail and then had a "wtf am I doing??" moment and left it there.

Bought a new Honda instead for less than $8k and kept my existing wardrobe. "thumbsup"

Like Greatscott said, no way in hell I'd ride now surrounded by mental midgets.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

They need to do just that, their core market is getting old and will die, they need to bring us younger people (for the record, I'm 42 and don't ride) into the fold and catering to boomers who want to cosplay as badass bikers is coming back to bite them in the ass, as are the "customers" that would do things like cut the tires on bikes they don't like, even ones that are also Harleys.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I was strongly considering a few different bikes that were offered to me at pretty good prices, but in the end I figured best not to bother. Waaaay too many idiots on our roads, I know lots of bikers and pretty much all of them have been taken down.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

This is ultimately why I hung up the leathers last year. Sold all my gear with the bike so that there was no temptation. If there was a track close by, it'd have been different.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I never understood this particular type of mid life crisis. Buying a fancy sports car makes some sense because you can drive it in any weather and you dont have to rick race it around. Maybe its because a lot of my family have motorcycles, and every one of them has had near fatal accidents, I have never liked the idea of a motorcycle on safety alone. Add in the big name brands like Harley sell the damn things for the price of a car and to me you coulda just bought a dirt bike or quad and had more fun with it. The clothing thing is hilarious for sure. Anytime I see someone in all leather I think of Rocky Horror Picture show and BDSM queers in parades. The Harley people do love their parades.........Coincidence?!?!?!

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Sound good to me, just hope they get it done in time to save my hearing, cuz i swear to any deity of your choosing that only 1 out of 10 Harley's i hear here have stock exhaust system, and i am so sick and tired of those f..s and their noise.
Okay not that drivers of crotch rockets are any better, its pissing me off turning me into a even more grumpy old man.
I have developed a new way to salute them, what i do is put my little fingers in my ears and extend my middle fingers towards the sky, look just as silly as they sound.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I'm an anti-Harley guy just like I'm an anti-Glock and anti-Colt guy because of the owners. I don't mind the products, but I hate most of the owners. They think the only real motorcycle, or gun, is made by their preferred brand. That's fanboi-ism to the extreme. The sad thing is that all of the brands, yes, including Harley make good products, but they don't justify the extra cost or the hype. The competition is just as good if not better. Nobody in the world can touch Harley in terms of paint and aesthetics. And on a tech sheet they look far behind the competition, but when it comes down to it that doesn't matter much on a cruiser. The outrageous pricing is the real killer. But in lowering price that means Harley would be admitting they aren't special so that's not going to happen until they have no other option left.

Harley was built up by their fanbois, and the motorcycle boom that came earlier this decade when yuppies bought top of the line hogs and dropped Honda Civic type money on a motorcycle. The rich, trend followers quickly bailed out when they realized they couldn't or didn't want to ride. Now all Harley has left is the aging biker douchebags and hipsters. Harley continues to make outdated, air-cooled motors because of the douchebags. They resist change. They don't want water cooling. They don't want better balance and less vibrations inside the motor. They want the potato potato sound. So the same guys that helped build Harley are now killing them.

New motorcyclists aren't being born as often as they used to. Millennials are either afraid of motorcycles, too busy combing their hipster hair instead of going outside, or pretending to be green in their electric BS of a vehicle. That's why motorcycling, as a whole is dying. The one standout, that I'm aware of, is Indian. They are doing what people want Harley to do and they are kicking ass and taking names. Indian is even kicking Harley's ass in flat track racing which is something Harley has long dominated.

Anytime motorcycles come up in any conversation the inherent danger is mentioned. I think it's laughable. Life is too short for me to not be doing something I love because of the what-ifs. Car accidents kill people every single day and depending on the age bracket they are one of the top killers. Nobody bats an eye getting into their car and doing 70MPH+ on a highway. The hypocrisy is what I find funny.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Wow these comments are surprising! Maybe I just misunderstand the demographic that uses this forum, but I wouldn't have thought so many people would be against them. The Harley brand must really be in trouble. No wonder they're finally trying new things.

For the record, I have the same problems with Harley's brand image and clientele that others have mentioned. If they didn't change course, they would have deserved the slow death they were heading towards. Having said that, I think the new designs look pretty good. Whether or not they could convince me or any other non-Harley rider to actually buy one will depend a lot on pricing.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Harley Davidson, Tattooing, ghetto slang, surf culture... all fill the suburban families home. Economy is mans religion whether he acknowledges it or not. We all abide by its path.

As a result the authenticity of all things cool gets threatened eventually. It's always painful when it's something close to your soul.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I wouldn't buy a harley newer than the 60s. If I'm going to own a bike that needs a lot of attention and doesn't perform well, it's going to be a classic.


These comments are all on point about the Harley image and customer. Both of my uncles owned harleys. One was a state patrol officer, had an early make shovel head in creme/blue. Worked on it himself after he retired. My other uncle was a lawyer and judge. Had a brand new 90s harley that I never cared to ask about. All the shiny bits, all the fancy leather, and he never worked on it himself. I also had a step dad who was a "real" biker, member of Macon chapter hells angels MC. He didn't need to wear a jacket to know it, it was tatted on his arms and head. Rode an old Harley he kept running himself. Both the real bikers and the lawyer generation is getting old and their kids are not buying new harleys.


Getting into the electric realm is good for them. It's probably the only way they will make a dependable bike I would want to buy. If course, I don't have 30 or 40k to blow on a new bike, but at least they are doing something that could appeal to my generation that wants nothing to do with any of their new bikes.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Damn, that's deep.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Harley is really reaching out there, with a new "Adventure" bike in the works. That's another group that I have mixed feelings about, it seems like the same mid-lifers that would have been buying OCC choppers 10-15 years ago are now wanting a different image of overweight offroad world traveler, complete with wale foreskin riding suits, and tents with bike garages. I thought BMW already had that market cornered!

Then again, I could totally see Ponch on this: https://www.cycleworld.com/harley-da...following-2019

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

^^I've actually always dug the adventure bikes. But they're just too portly for tight east coast NC woods, what little we can still access anyway. I've actually been eyeballing a plated KTM 300XC two smoke as my next bike. But I think moving out of this podunk shit hole is going to win the financial argument before a new bike does.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I do seem to notice that those who are younger and do ride tend to go to what they can afford and is fast for the price point, then seen plenty of comments about the Harley Cosplayers that seem to muddy the image of those who ride them, plus the prickish attitude these "younger" rider have encountered at the dealers that sell the things on top of it will push away a couple generations of riders, let alone products that are stale and expensive.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I for one hope that Harley succeeds on there endeavor to keep younger people interested. So far I think they have done fairly well with their line of smaller water cooled bikes for younger folks,or for folks that want to get into the brand without spending a small fortune like me (44) to keep an interest in their line. I do have one of their water cooled bikes and yes it cost more than a metric bike of the same cc and type,but why not? You say I'm biased toward Harley?,no because I like all makes and types and have owned Jap bikes. So many think that all people that owns or rides a Harley is a stuck up grizzly unfriendly a-hole,I beg to differ. I do however agree if you ride anything but a cruiser,you're not gonna get a wave of confirmation for being a fellow rider,but then again I have also seen a plenty of metric cruiser riders keep looking down the road and not waving back at me because I was on a crotch-rocket. And what's up with the thinking that Harley's are slow? So on that note,I hope that Harley stays in business for years to come because I don't want the only choice for American iron to be Indian.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I have ridden a bike for 40+ years, in 2007 I decided I had to see what the hype was with a Harley so I bought a Softtail Classic. All I can say it was like riding a bad handling wood stove, it was gone for 2008. Can not imagine Harley will do a good job with a electric, if it is good they didn't make it.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I'll be the first to admit i bought into the hype of modern Harley's. Had the bikes, different attitude when i was ridding them and the all important clothes. I was never an A-Hole, Harley fanatic, group rides, bar hopping, Sturgis and my Harley is better than anything else out there though. That's just not me as a person but Harley did make a few bucks of me that's for sure. Felt good at the time but i grew up i guess.


Ive said it here before. I could give a rats set of balls what you ride. If your having fun on 50cc or a 1200lb Bagger it makes no difference to me. I enjoy every bike out there even if it's a moped. If you ride and your not having fun as the #1 priority then get a different bike or move to something else.


I personally wave to every person on 2 or 3 wheels expect if i am in a turn. I can ride at speed one handed in most of not all turn but i have no clue if you can or not so you only get a wave on a straight. Wave at me or not at me makes no difference in my ride day.


My Softail handled very well for what it was. A softail. I ruined a $1000 set of D&D pipes by dragging them through the mountain roads. I did not waste that $1000 as i always had a grin doing it. Going in thinking your going to drag a knee is foolish. Thinking a softail is going to corner, ride or have the power of a Sport bike with the same CC motor is foolish. Harley's are what they are and though expensive i had no issues with mine because i knew what they were and rode them accordingly.



Would i own another Harley with the current line they have? No way even though i make twice what i did when i had them.


If Harley is truly trying to "Change" and go for the younger market then the LiveWire and the Street Fighter is there best chance. The Live Wire will compete with the Energica line and the Street Fighter will be in the company of the Ducati, Triumph MV Agusta, Aprilia MT09 etc. Arena of those Gladiators. Good luck but IMO By the looks of the Street Fighter they are not messing around. It truly looks like they grabbed some "Outside" designers and engineers for the new models. Weight and Power will be the first hurdle then handling. I rode a V-Rod years ago and i am not the most experienced street ride but Fawk did that have some power for the era. Should have been since it was a Porsche motor. If Harley bumps that power and put's it in a good chassis with good brakes etc it will be a contender for sure. Not V-Maxx power but for the chassis and design it was very good. I was lucky to ride a V65 Magna and an 86' V-Maxx. Power levels of that kind shouldn't be allowed in that type of motorcycle design but GD was it ok to admit you needed to change your Brown Stain choney's.



Harley should employ someone like Rossi, Stoner or the like and make them "Stig" like for the initial press release / launch. The Naysayers, horrible brand biased bike reviewers of today will STFU and actually give any new Harley a fair chance. When and if they do something like that the marketing and sales will be easy. I hope but doubt that will happen due to Harley's 50+ years of marketing to 1 or 2 types of buyers. It should be the type of bike you want because it is really good but have no idea what it is because there is no badge on it. The salesman slaps the HD badge on it and you throw away all the BS you heard or read about and say where do i sign because it is that good.


Good Luck HD. The more choices the better IMO.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

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Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

The future is coming. You can either embrace it or get ran over by it.

That's because you've not spent the majority of your life in a building at a sit-down job, wearing a suit, trading your soul for enough upward mobility to keep the Joneses in the rear view mirror.

Most of the people I know that own a Harley fit that description. Conversely, most of the people I know that actually enjoy riding neither fit that description nor own a Harley.

Post retirement biking is definitely a lifestyle and an industry.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

Meh, Im happy with my high pay and early retirement <3

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

As long as we're taking shots at Harley, lets talk for a minute about how they neglected and then killed Buell. These were cool bikes with a lot of unique engineering. Maybe Buell could have kept Harley out of the situation they're in now. I've never ridden one, but the XB is one of my all-time favorites. So quirky.

http://databikes.com/imgs/a/c/o/i/x/...2009_1_lgw.jpg

http://databikes.com/imgs/a/c/o/i/x/...2009_5_lgw.jpg

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I just came back to this thread to mention Buell - an XB in fact! "thumbsup"

This is my 2007 XB12SCg. At its heart it is a Harley Sportster. It's a torque lump of a motor in a fantastic chassis with many innovations. Erik Buell is an innovator and a lot of his ideas were taken by Harley and used on their other motorcycles. Other manufacturers borrowed Erik's ideas as well. One of Harley's dumbest decisions was letting Erik go. He could have lead that business into the future. Erik isn't a great businessman, as his past failures have shown, but he's a hell of an engineer and he's not a quitter.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1727/...b54d46aa_b.jpg

I bought my Buell brand new at a Harley dealership. "Real" Harley guys won't acknowledge it as a Harley. The ****ers won't even wave to you on the road. Another example of Harley riders being asshats.

I don't care what you ride. If you ride I like that. Anything with wheels and an engine is fun.

It's about time Harley introduces new models. The new models will be very important. They'll be a sign of their answer to Indian and also a signal of things to come in the future.

I, for one, have absolutely no interest in electric vehicles. Electric isn't sustainable. There's a lot of pollution in the manufacturing and charging of batteries. Plus, we are mining for elements to put in batteries. Once that supply has dried up we'll be in the same predicament that we are in with oil - hoping the supply never runs out.

Re: Harley equals ELECTRIC ??
 

I had a Buell XB, not super fast but lots of torque. My wife's first bike was a Blast, she still has it for her short distance rides.