[singhg5]

Finally Harley Davidson has set up shop in India and are booking orders for bikes for delivery in June.  They have an interesting Indian website.  Here is what I found out.

They have only five dealers in the whole country, one in each of these five big cities - Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chandigarh. HD will sell 12 models.  What is so shocking is the PRICE of these bikes.  They have to pay heavy excise duty that shoots prices through the roof.  Here is a list of approximate prices in US dollars in two countries.  

Model                           Price in India (US$)              Price in USA (US$)

Sportster 883                    $15,000                                $8,000

Sportster 1200                  $21,000                              $10,000

Dyna street bob                 $29,000                              $13,000

Softail fat boy                    $38,000                               $17,000

Touring road king               $43,000                              $17,000

COMPARE THAT TO RE CLASSIC 500 or C5

RE Classic 500                    $2,600                               $6,400

Do you think people in India would buy HD at these prices, when they can buy a RE classic 500 or a Nano car for approximately $2600 ?  Or is it a bad venture for HD unless they start manufacturing there ?

[Ice]

Br. singhg5,
 I do not believe it will be the average blue collar Indian buying those H-D's.
I do believe the affluent who can afford them will rave about them to their peers while the average guy shakes his head at the waste of fuel and money.
 

[1Blackwolf1]

  I shake my head at disbelief at the prices here anyway.  They've become a toy for the rich.  While the average person rides something less costly.  Sure an Enfield C5/G5 is in roughly the same price range as a Sportster but the Sporty is running an ancient design engine.  Nothing really new in over 50 years.  Even though it only has half the engine size of the Sporty, the Enfield is at least trying to keep pace with new designs.

  The only new design by H-D recently has been the V-Rod.  But that's out of price range for comparison.  And it's a Porsche designed engine and trans package, so you really can't call it American Iron.

  I have had H-D's in the past.  But were purchased as fixer uppers.  Will probably rebuild another in the future..but even the cost of that is becoming prohibitive.  And it's getting hard to find NOS parts for the older machines.

  As Ice said even here it's more the well off than the blue collar buying them a lot of times.   

[r80rt]

No.

[Cabo Cruz]

Br. Sing, keep the Sporty and pass the C5, please.  

[REpozer]

I can't remember the article to reproduce here, but in essence it stated that India has many millionares and the number continuous to grow.
That stated, its my observation that many countries do not have a middle class.
You are  either rich or your poor( I'm not talking about a 300 lbs person that drives a 10 year old car like you see in the States) dirt poor , someone that makes less then a $ 1 an hour an really lives in a tin/cardboard shack and gets up and goes to work.
If you are poor, you will not be able to purchase an RE, even in India. If you are rich , then a H-D might be something you want .
Currently our middle class is struggling to survive.There are many reasons , that might be anther good thread , but I' ll spare you the boredom.
So to answer your question ,No I don't see a H-D in my future,mainly because of the high price, and next due to the stigma of being a fat rich retied accountant  wearing leathers with package creases,and  drags his feet at stop lights.
H-D has become very undesirable to me. No thanks H-D.

[GBBullet]

I ride both a Bullet iron barrel and an HD and they both have their uses.  If I am running to a job site and have to take the Eway, better believe that I'm on my Softtail. If I'm going trout fishing up in the mountains, chances are I'm on my Bullet.  Oh, I'm not a retired accountant or fat, and I ride my bike to trailer week.

[PaulF]

Currently our middle class is struggling to survive.There are many reasons , that might be anther good thread , but I' ll spare you the boredom.

What middle class? We are all just government wards of the Obama vision now, (I'd better watch what I say since free speech is now outlawed here in the US).

That being said, no. I wouldn't pay 20K for anything with two wheels when I payed less than that for my SUV brand new.

[Rick Sperko]

What middle class? We are all just government wards of the Obama vision now, (I'd better watch what I say since free speech is now outlawed here in the US).

Now I remember why I don't frequent the Campfire Talk. Even in an innocuous HD thread. I will go back to the technical forums now.

-Rick

[REpozer]

Oh, I'm not a retired accountant or fat, and I ride my bike to trailer week.

I was referring to the  stereo type clone poser, complete with grimith face ,and attitude, by the way I have ridden a custom v twin , great feel above 45 mph.
 I don't care for the direction H-D marketing went , but hey, they  have sold a ton of H-D's, so what do I know?
GB you have my apologies,I enjoy people for who they are , not what they can afford to ride.

[PaulF]

Now I remember why I don't frequent the Campfire Talk. Even in an innocuous HD thread. I will go back to the technical forums now.

-Rick

Sorry Rick. I just couldn't resist a political poke. I will restrain myself.

[ace.cafe]

Well, the Harley is more expensive in India, and the RE is more expensive in the US.

I suppose that by the time the shipping halfway around the world is figured-in, along with whatever duties and taxes and other issues get included, it's probably normal.

[single]

I would not pay that much for anything because I would have to finance it and that is no longer possible.I would buy a Harley in a New York minute if I could, however.If I did not like the ride,I would just polish and admire.But I have ridden them,and I liked.I only ride the RE as I believe I will be happier with it that way,I stay off other bikes.

[PhilJ]

A use for an H-D ..... an anchor. 

[GBBullet]

I was referring to the  stereo type clone poser, complete with grimith face ,and attitude, by the way I have ridden a custom v twin , great feel above 45 mph.
 I don't care for the direction H-D marketing went , but hey, they  have sold a ton of H-D's, so what do I know?
GB you have my apologies,I enjoy people for who they are , not what they can afford to ride.

No offense taken there is room for everyone on the ride or on the road