[Richard230]

Apparently, the more Harley motorcycles cost the better their customers like them. But not so much their electric LiveWire models:
https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/harley-davidson-strong-livewire-less-so

[axman88]

It seems like the writer of the piece assumed that everything that has happened was some sort of intended plan.
 
  -  I think the air cooled Sportsters went bye-bye because HD closed Bawal and pulled out of Thailand, same as the Streets, not because HD didn't want to sell them.  The Streets were a sales flop here in the USA, although they sold well in Asia.  They were just running out of markets they could sell XLs into, everybody wants that pesky clean air!

 -  It was very bad luck that just after HD committed to closing Bawal, the pandemic hit.  If there was one time that anybody could sell any motorcycle they managed to build, that would have been late 2020.  They could have sold a bunch of, HD branded, starter bikes if they knew that was about to happen.

-  The article totally ignores the X440 which is targeted specifically at NEW, (although perhaps not young) riders.  These just won't be american riders.

-  It should be no surprise to USA moto media that the USA motorcycle market is generally contracting.  If young people don't want to drive, don't even want to leave the house, they aren't going to want to ride motorcycles.  Besides, I hear that requires two hands.  What will I do with my phone?

Somethings things happen despite our best efforts.   HD may be screwed because of nothing they did or didn't do.   But, admittedly, I'd rather blame THEM for my buying and riding a bike made in India, or Japan, or China, than myself.

[Richard230]

-  It should be no surprise to USA moto media that the USA motorcycle market is generally contracting.  If young people don't want to drive, don't even want to leave the house, they aren't going to want to ride motorcycles.  Besides, I hear that requires two hands.  What will I do with my phone?

That would describe my two mid-20's granddaughters to a tee - in spite of their parents owning six motorcycles and two cars. 

[AzCal Retred]

I see more affordable ($1000 - $3000) HD bikes & parts bikes on Craigslist now than I did 5 years ago. Gen-Xers cleaning out PeePaws garage prior to the "estate" sale and people with too little money to keep a see-pretty they really don't need around. Probably HD will be a great short-sales opportunity at the next economic downturn. The great news is that penny-pinchers like Axman88, myself, and maybe A2 will be able to finally get those "lifetime machines" we think we want for squat. 

[Richard230]

I see more affordable ($1000 - $3000) HD bikes & parts bikes on Craigslist now than I did 5 years ago. Gen-Xers cleaning out PeePaws garage prior to the "estate" sale and people with too little money to keep a see-pretty they really don't need around. Probably HD will be a great short-sales opportunity at the next economic downturn. The great news is that penny-pinchers like Axman88, myself, and maybe A2 will be able to finally get those "lifetime machines" we think we want for squat.

My daughter is selling her 2006 Triumph Bonneville T-100 for $3,500 on Craigslist. She has someone coming over today to check out the bike. The ad has only been up for two days. I gave her my 2009 BMW F650GS (an 800cc twin). She had to make room in her garage for that bike so the Triumph had to go. They both have around 49K miles on the clock. I tried selling my BMW for $3K, which included about $3K worth of luggage, parts and other extras in addition to complete service records, along with the bike on a couple of BMW forums, without a single inquiry. So I just gave it to her and now have more room to move around in my garage, with just a car and three more motorcycle left. I guess used Triumphs are more popular than used BMW's - unless you have an old airhead.

[him a layin]

holy cow that t100's a ten grand bike new. $3500. that's some serious depreciation.

[Richard230]

holy cow that t100's a ten grand bike new. $3500. that's some serious depreciation.

The bike cost $8K when I bought it in 2005 and it did have 49,000 miles on the clock. So I think the price was fair considering the age and mileage. It was just sold for the asking price to the first guy that showed up. Frankly, I thought it was worth less than that considering how slow used bike sales have been this year.

[Turbofurball]

Selling motorbikes is weird, this year I put up my Kawasaki Ninja 650 (a cheaply made machine that's lived outside for years and I've not taken great care of) and my other half's Honda CBR600RR (much more premium, and has been treated like a queen from day 1) ... I overpriced the Kwaka and underpriced the Honda, but it's the Honda that's still sat in the garage!  We'll try again next year.

I think I'll be hanging onto the Himalayan for a long time, since the launch of the new one I can't see the older ones being worth anything in the future, lol.  Just as well I'm happy with it!

[Richard230]

What I think might be happening with used bike sales is that people with loose cash in their pockets are mostly buying new bikes. But those working with a tight budget and looking for cheap transportation need a loan to buy the bike and when they find out what the interest rates are for a personal loan or a motorcycle loan, they decide to wait for better times. BTW, the name of the fellow who bought the Triumph is Vishak Aprameya Shivakumar Kanakapura. (Should he have been buying a Royal Enfield?) Good luck getting that name on the DMV transfer of title form.