If Harley Davidson is the Titanic, the pandemic might just be that one big iceberg. Worse still, it had a hole in the hull and sputtering engines before all this even began. Damn. Is HD done for? [Details below]
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You missed a step. HD's first response to Japanese bikes was to discontinue their lightweight bikes and replace them with Aermacchi Italian imports rebranded as Harleys.
I ride a Honda NC750. Should I feel comfortable attending the rally in Sturgis?
One word. OUTSTANDING!
Top!!!!
Harley needs a 125
Harley Davidson has essentially made an entire brand off of being an american rebel while turning its stores into an overpriced Walmart. You can walk in and buy a pre patched vest for 70 bucks and a shot glass for 20, both are made in China though. Don't forget to get your poker chip, that's like another 6 bucks. But you need all this crap in order to really enjoy your Harley. I mean if you can't advertise to every one your love for Harley with a jacket that costs an extra hundred bucks for a collar stamp harley symbol why even ride one?
Rather ironic calling it a "long march" because the real Long March turned out to be an astounding success because so many people got left behind they were ended up spreading communist influence so when the revolution came about, Mao had support from all the towns, villages and cities they past through. Not to mention Mao covered up the real reason behind the Long March, a retreat, as a journey to fight the Javanese invaders in North Eastern China. Maybe this "long march" of Harley will work, making motorcycles more accessible to a younger demographic and providing them with incremental "upgrades" to bigger bikes, steering them to "American Steel" in the process.
should've gone for Chinese market on the back of rich American sub-culture build over decades.
Its always been synonymous with white supremacists and let's say it's going to be very hard for them to shake that stigma. Compare that to other bike companies who seem to be more inclusive
A bit of an exageration, but only a bit.
The encouraging rail consistently clap because caravan fortunately spill over a fluffy hate. truculent, lucky suggestion
The electric bike crap turned me off BAD!
in my country only corrupt politicians and aarogant bussinesman rides Harley , they wanna look tough but in reality they are high cholesterol , diabetic , and on prescribtion
Harley: the Gibson of motorcycles....
First of all, I really enjoy your channel and this episode, I own a Harley Davidson iron 883 for 6 years now, it is a lot of fun to ride and (knock knock on the table) I have never have big issues with my motorcycle (no oil leaking etc) But for my next bike I was looking for the street bob until I saw the bmw f850gs...for the same price , the bmw gives you a lot more gadgets...I am not sure why I choose the harley instead of the bmw..because it’s harley..?! Naw...there really killing them self...
Harleys are a (fading) niche market. Their customers are boomers, wannabe badasses and...??? Other brands sell commuters, adventure bikes, sportbikes, cruisers, quads, tourers and more. I ride BMWs because they're enthusiast bikes and ergonomic; not loud, hard to pilot or hard to service.
Gas really used to cost a Nickel! I can't get over that. Fuck the Federal reserve! 😒👎🏦
Hey, I believe in pure capitalism. If Harley Davidson can't produce a bike that people want to buy, they deserve to die. I don't care how much heritage you do have. You either sell your product and live or dissolve as a failure...
Harley is to motorcylces what gibson is to guitars. Overpriced, designed to appeal to rich old white dudes who have more money than sense and want the thing that was cool in their childhood.
These guys are haters , go build your own company and let people talk crap about it
This is so far removed from Arthur Davidson's family and cultural roots in a wee hoose (sic) in the tiny village of Aberlemno (near Brechin, Angus, Scotland - famous for Pictish symbol stones that are the equivalent of 1,500 year old totem poles) that it never ceases to astound me that he had the vision to do what he did. Yet, I suppose there's more to life than being either a shepherd or ten bob a week 'teuchter' ploughman, although clearly, as this video suggests, any such greater ambitions are clearly temporal.
Back here in 2021 because it's such a good video
It's simple dollars and cents for me. I like some of the retro HDs and I've ridden a couple. Very old school, very mechanical, very unrefined. I liked that. Took me back to an earlier time in two-wheeling. But the price... it wasn't worth it. It's sad to see them in their death throes, but of they aren't going to take care of their customers, they deserve this fate. RIP HD
Scooters! They need to make teeny tiny scooters!
Reminds me of Gibson guitars
Love SOA, and I love the reference more at the end. My 06 CBR is still a beast.
Here's the point Harley thinks their worth paying $20000 for a bike not named Ducati... and just like American cars.. no freaking way!
sir... if you have not already discovered the Mises Institute at Auburn University... it's all about free market capitalism... practiced on eBay and almost nowhere else on Earth... especially with patents and other government licensed monopolies
gold is currently 2500/Toz... almost 75 dollhairs per gram... when I was growing up the US was involved with the Bretton Woods agreement after WW2.. gold prices were set at about a dollhair per gram... gold is NOT more valuable... dollhairs are about 3 trillion dollhairs less valuable each year our benevolent government spends more than it brings in... "the poor will always be with us ".. as long as We the People are being taxed to death 💔 .... fractions never reach zero.. Americans learn fractions and can't figure out where all the money goes... go figure 🤔
back when gold was 300/Toz... I bought common stock in Microsoft.. and a gold mining company in S America... recommended by Motley Fopl... 300 dollhairs of blue chip Microsoft stock... sold after 10 years when gold was 1500/Toz.. going price 275 deflated dollhairs... it's gambling no matter what... and the house always wins... despite much advertising to the contrary
I highly recommend Murray Rothbard... a step beyond... he is a very clear and lucid writer.. was.. one of my favorite teachers
The fact is that Harey's salles was faling thanks to the dramatic change of the demographic map of the USA throughout the years.Look the overal population of the american in the 60s and 70s and now there are huge difference between the new americans.In the past the typical american white or even black person buy an american motorcycles or cars btw that's the same reason which explained perfectly the downfal of the GM but that's an another debate.So now in the US are a lot of mix cultures asians for exemple they buy asian products motorcycles cars etc.That's why different point of view.Harley it's the Harley the same style but the buyiers aren't the same as they were in the 70s for exemple.
At bikes costing 63k+ who the hell is going to buy them. 1/4 a car full car price
i think they’re going to be bought out and used as a sub brand
I loved my xr up to 90 where it quit
"Its not about money. It about sending a message!" Harleys are badass
Catering only to the rich ,I'm surprised every politician doesn't have one!!
Right on! You nailed it!👍🤠🛵
Pay attention to the H-D ads on the radio or on TV - all they talk about is "image" and "lifestyle". The reason? They don't have a real motorcycle to sell. Harleys are underpowered, lousy handling, lousy brakes, overweight, and overpriced. You can get mre power by spending thousands in stage I, II, III, or IV upgrades, but it won't fix the other problems. H-D will probably survive, but as a shadow of its former self, as their sales numbers tank - that "image" doesn;'t sell any more.
A guy on a Harley said I "should get a real bike" about my CBR600... 😆. I Guess I should've gotten a bike with half the power and twice the weight, basically an overpriced paperweight.
Harley has been dead for 15 years!!
Very accurate. I believe Harley is definitely on a downward trend and will be in a place where no one will see, hear, or think of them again. That place is called “Oblivion”. Harleys are heavy and not really powerful . I can outrun, out turn and out brake a Harley 1000cc bike with an SV650. If Harley was to create a bike like the Triumph Trident for beginner riders, they may have a chance. If Harley kept Buell, they may be in a better position as they are today. As a half centurion myself, Triumph, Ducati, Suzuki and BMW has caught my eye. I hope Harley can turn themselves around. They currently are an American icon.
Harley needs to make a competitive sport bike. Sticking to cruisers will kill them
Harley will die when the last Boomer shrugs off their mortal coil
What do you know weirdo talking guy? Maybe if you spoke like a normal person Harley would be ok.
Nooooo thank you.
I bought my first Harley-Davidson in 1999, it was a 1997 dyna convertible. The following year I traded in and bought a 2000 Softail Deuce. Two different dealerships and both dealerships were absolute ridiculous stupid idiots and the only reason they sold a motorcycle was because they had a pen for me to sign with. So I don't mind that they're in Decline. They were so arrogant it was ridiculous.
Something about those bikes sure. But when you consider value/money - then there are better options on the market. Or just buy used one - last "braking news" was the change of carburetor to fuel injection. And that was 2006->2007. Go figure :)
I knowingly paid for a Harley for the brand. Brand new 2020 fxlr and already has had the turning signals and rear break light issues.
If they improved their engine efficiency and kept the displacement, they would actually be powerful enough to matter again
As a finance student, i find this very well explained 👏
You are so goddamn talented, bro. Great job
As a 22 year old who just bought an Africa Twin: I love the styling but i am not buying a 20k bike with halogen blinkers and no cruise control that looses half its value when left outside in the rain that you also only can ride for 30min before your back gives out... If they can make a retro styled bike with some technology for
Never understood why a harley with an aircooled, carbureted lawn mower engine is more expensive then a well made Japanese bike with a modern engine. Must be like yeti coolers.
As a millennial and someone who's not rich, I'd never consider buying a Harley-Davidson. I've only seen them as bikes for folks with money to burn and who only care about your image. I had a Honda Shadow 600 VLX with unbeatable reliability and it was a fraction of what a equivalent Harley would have cost. Unless Harley-Davidson offers an affordable bike to attract new riders, they're dead in the water. I've never ridden a Harley (probably the only brand I haven't tried) so maybe I'm missing something that justifies the high price tag.
HD technology is way behind. As a new rider, i would suggest any other brand. This is coming from someone who currently rides an HD 48. Short trips no longer than 30min is the max i can do on my bike. I love all bikes, but my next bike will be a SS litre bike.
Hey Just curious how you came up with the name Fort Nine?
HD ruined me on v-twins. From a young age, having to plug my ears just sucked when one of these things was around. Give me a smooth, quiet yet commanding, powerful and reliable Honda inline 4 any day.... In fact, pretty sure a CB650R or CB1000R are in my near future.
Buell was an interesting use of a V-Twin on a roadster but for whatever reason, it never seemed to convince the North American market. It has to be said bikers can be horribly conventional too. The biggest seller in Europe was probably the Suzuki Bandit on both 600cc and 1200cc versions at the time. When Yamaha released the BT-1100 Bulldog (V-Twin), no one bought it; when they released the awesome 1700cc V-Twin powered MT-01, again no one bought it. Most bikers wants - it is a sad fact - an emotion less, vibration less linear 4 cylinders motorbike. Then you have insurance companies which make certain types of bikes utterly impossible to afford. Harley Davidson would be one of these. I might have bought a 1200cc Harley roadster or Cafe Racer, had Harley Davidson hired a designer older than 5yo... HD SUCKS at designing anything that is not a chopper. Take the laughable PanAmerica and Street Fighter or even the remarkably bland Livewire... these bikes looked outdated from the get go. And then there is the price tag, cost of running and servicing, an array of reliability issues. Harley is super expensive for a plasticky bike which technology dates from the 50s. I could buy a combo of brand new Yamaha Tenere 700 plus BMW R9T with the money required to buy a one trick pony Fat Boy. Then there is the credentials, everybody loves a bit of creds. The Japanese and most European brands have plenty of creds in motorsport whether it is enduro, adventure, MotoGP, Superbike, TT, Motocross, etc. To be fair it is not just Harley, I would not buy an Adventure bike from Triumph, Ducati or Moto Guzzi either. HD badge is mostly gang related and they have no creds so clearly you cannot associate the brand with anything young, fun and modern. Even in my 40yo crisis buying an HD never crossed my mind and that would be their biggest chance to reach anyone outside their typical clientele.
Regardless of tariffs and profit and share manipulation , the bottom line is HD make shit bikes that are unreliable and way overpriced. I for one would love to see them collapse because it’s obvious they only care about the bottom line. I own two metric bikes. My Boulevarde is a great bike. It does more than a HD can do for less than a third of the price. The only people who can’t see that are the ones that are so blindly loyal they refuse to see the world around them.
I’m sure Harley watched this vid
Harley Davidson? Why are you guys making videos about a clothing company?
if you don't buy a harley go to f..k !!!!!
As most of the boomers move into retirement and a fixed income. They can't afford a new one. Myself. Harley riders are just as how southpark made them out to be.
You should make a new video about electric bikes in 2021 (including the new Harley Davidson live wire)
Great vid, enjoy your comedy as well! I'm 33, love bikes and ride as well. Sure, we can all appreciate what each bike out there has to offer. But, buying, owning or riding a HD has never been in my mindset since taking on riding. Maybe when I was 10.. I evenly wanted a HD or a Gsxr1000.. but now. No way. The reliability, smoothness, quality, new tech, innovation, desings etc.. that's in their competition.. then 10 to 15 yrs ago and now just makes them look lost as a company. I sat on a 07 HD Ulta Glide after idle of 10 mins, the heat from the engine and whole damn thing shaking from the grips to pegs.. just makes me go wtf.. who likes this??
Fuck younger rider HD just needs to build the bikes the older harcore fans love. The Youngsters will come along. Quit trying to build MC for people who can not afford them.
HD will lose market share but they will stay in business and always be the MC most people want to own. They cost a lot but they last forever and the the new softails are fun MC to ride. You should try a sortail FXLR not even the S. it looks great and is fun to ride.
Well done 🤘
Harley are like Rolls Royce without the quality but you still are buying the name .
Bought one of their fuel injected twin cam Dyna Lowrider junk bikes for near twenny grand, never did get the POS to cruise right without surging. Aftermarket fuel computer, nope. Stage 1 Harley download, nope. Professional dyno tune, nope. And then the factory in York, PA tells you to get lost because that's how their rotten bikes are. And then you have the dumbass Harley people... Never, ever, again.
he looks so much like joffrey from GoT
Very interesting commentary on Harley. Back in '83 I almost bought a '74 Harley until the local H-D shop warned me against buying an AMF built machine. After that I subscribed to Motorcycle Consumer News (now defunct) and learned about what the rest of motorcycling was all about. Since then I just can't seem to find a way to like Harley's. I thought maybe the Live Wire might help them come into the new century. Buy your talk included that bike too. Too sad.
The reason they lose business is because people refuse to over pay for a brand that got greedy 😂 so they buy a metric cruiser for 2 grand to 5 grand instead of 15 to 30 grand for a bike with a crappy kickstand n ancient motor mounts that vibrate more than a earthquake besides Japanese bikes are more reliable and cheaper
When you don't adapt and adjust your business model you will not overcome your obstacle.
very well made !Thank You 🙏
Harley Davidson will never die. WW1, The Great Depression, WW2 and you say they will die. The only thing that died was Honda Goldwing in Marysville Ohio until production was halted and moved to Japan. Now when you buy a Goldwing it does not come with cylinder sleeves.
a giant mobility scooter !!!! hilarious !!!
The stock manipulation by corporations is the real "New normal" Humanity is a failure
Dude that was a HECK of a video. I just LOVE the way you put it. "Bikes after the war came back home as battered as the troops". LOL. Genius. Thanks!
That corporate BS at 11:17 is flawed from the start. They didn't have a mindset of building great motorcycles. They were coasting on douchey imagery that only delusional Boomers actually bought in to. When a corporation abandons its core principles (moot point here) to just saying, nakedly, that it sees customers as resources (what else does a goal of "building committed riders" really mean?) then it is on borrowed time. This actually *IS* their own losing strategy and they are breathing their own exhaust fumes. They were already at the stage of relying on "committed riders" who bought their crappy, overpriced products by being committed to some cringy, self-deluded image when they should be been moving *TO* building great motorcycles.
I'd buy a Harley over a Yamaha or KTM if they had a broader selection of bikes. They could save themselves if they split their bikes into categories: Old Traditional Logo and Updated Modern Logo. They could keep their old head fans as well as bringing in a new culture.
I agree. When the government gets involved helping Private companies, in the long run that business will struggle. What incentive do they have to innovate and improve? This is why us automakers deal with starting with their first bailout.
Bmw doesn’t really over price that much In the states at least, I swear they’re loosing money on some bikes in order to establish the brand
Harley is lazy and does not want to step up and make a better product. The challenger did and that’s why I went with that and not a road glide.
Harley didn't destroy themselves all on their own. The hd cult had a helping hand in it too. Every motorcyclist who doesn't ride a hd motorcycle has expierenced some sort of crude behavior from a hd cultist simply because hd cultist gain an ego and treat other motorcyclist as inferior for not owning a harley davidson motorcycle. The company did try to market to the sport bike consumers but even at that the hd cult rejected it. The majority of hd cult killed the brand by making it as a social status and used that status to step on others. Now that harley davidson has a bad rep in the motorcycle world. The people with the same mentality do this with japanese hypersport bikes or trackriding.
The cow bottoms out in that right hand corner it’s a no wonder it did not sell much.
K first of all there not dying if there is like 3 brand new shops here in ...ND u dumbass lmfao
You forgot a chapter where they had tried reaching the younger market & fell on their face. It was called the Buell.... I loved mine! That is until it came to parts or service. Heck, I'd say it was biggest issues. They sell you a great bike, then you stood in a building filled with custom bike parts, & shown six pages of a catalog with part's they might be able to order for yours.... It's was SO frustrating! But no worries if you could get past that! After all, once you've bitten the bullet & spent the money. Well, at that point you come to realize that you'd just PAID for the whole red headed step child vs abusive drunk dad experience.....
95 % of All Harley's are still on the road. The other 5 % made it home !
the 95% have their machine broke on the way home the 5% are still stuck in their garage/home because their engine won't start
Ok this is just funny...I have feeling this might be laughabke in 2026 like all comoanys
Also n bro.. Your about 12 years late on your graph thoughs are slick willy years in office that's Clinton the rapist to canadians
Bro who do you think buys Harleys ? The same flower children NIW 68 years olds lol...cause it Ajit genxers
Where's the CAVEMAN in this business meeting.....?
Idk I kinda like that xr1200. They should have stuck with it for a bit.
As a millennial, I can absolutely concur that Harleys are distinctly uncool. They have a reputation of being loud, rough, unrefined, brash, and just overall obnoxious. The snobbery pressure I experience every time I walk into a Harley dealer is uncanny. On the flip side (literally right across the street in my case), there's an Indian dealer that's super chill and lets people check out bikes on their own time without getting a salesman all up in their business the second they walk in the door. It's a MUCH better browsing experience for sure and the bikes are better for the same price too.
Under powered, poor handing, poor stopping, poor efficiency, uncomfortable, unreliable, overpriced and you can hear the owner of the bad decision coming way before any other biker.
Overpriced and antiquated.
where i live, i gotta hand over $35000 for 70hp... for a bike thats exciting as making toast.. Also the livewire is $50,000 and i cant get to town and back on it.
Just found this channel. Its awesome. Reminds me of top gear's style of review.
When I was a kid I'd wait for my neighbor riding his 1000 sportster on my YZ 125 dirtbike. He would pass me at 40 or so mph and I'd pull out and pass him like he was standing still.
I truly enjoy your videos, thank you!
After decades of riding metrics, I tried an EVO Road King. Heavy, crude and expensive to work on. It had it’s charm. Sold it and bought a Yamaha 300 scooter. Now I’m enjoying riding again and I don’t have to dress like the Village People.
Wish they would come out with more light weight models, better brakes and updated engine technology at a lower price. That would be Perfect!
As a millennial rider with a friend group of millennial riders none of us have ever bought a bike from a dealer because 1 over priced and 2 insane depreciation. Instead we buy used from the boomer (no offense intended) who thought I'd be cool to ride and either got scared or just doesn't ride enough to justify insurance and maintenance