Harley Sales Slide

[blowndodge]

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee...=yahoo&ref=yfp

[smbke]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee...=yahoo&ref=yfp

Brad,
Though I think we all sometimes enjoy bashing HD as the largest and likely the most overpriced "American" motorcycle manufacturer, the article you referenced seems to imply that motorcycle sales are down across the board. That being said, I do think they are losing a significant percentage of market share to Polaris in both the Victory and Indian brands. People are starting to look for something different. The Harley mystique is starting to wear thin. Back in the day, guys who rode Harleys were rebels, outlaws ready to stick it to the man! Today, they ARE the man! I tell people I ride a Vulcan because I don't want to be like everybody else. Like Victory and Indian riders, I guess that makes me a modern day rebel!

[ringadingh]

With our weak Canadian dollar a HD Ultra Classic is about $36,000 cdn out the door, and a CVO model is around $55,000 thats a lot of cash for a summer toy.

[mick56]

Look what this bloke is asking for this pig ugly thing ! That's $17,000.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1117137912...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[cnc]

Toboggan sales have slid up our way since the spring.

[Ridefree]

I tell people I'd rather keep the extra $$$$ to put towards my search for the ultimate burger .

[Dave]

"The strong U.S. dollar, which allows Japanese and European competitors to cut their prices by nearly $3,000 per bike"

Funny, I've not seen it on the retail prices in the stores. Maybe they should have said, ".....to increase their margins by nearly $3,000 per bike"

[cnc]

Originally Posted by Dave

"The strong U.S. dollar, which allows Japanese and European competitors to cut their prices by nearly $3,000 per bike"

Funny, I've not seen it on the retail prices in the stores. Maybe they should have said, ".....to increase their margins by nearly $3,000 per bike"

And you probably won't. For years we have been told here in Canada that our weaker dollar is the rational for higher prices here, yet every time our dollar edges up and is close to par or even the odd time it is better than par against the US dollar there is still a massive difference between Canadian and US prices on vertuly everything.

[mick56]

Originally Posted by cnc

And you probably won't. For years we have been told here in Canada that our weaker dollar is the rational for higher prices here, yet every time our dollar edges up and is close to par or even the odd time it is better than par against the US dollar there is still a massive difference between Canadian and US prices on vertuly everything.

We have the same situation here in England. Most of the disparity in the price we pay for good's as compared to America, is down to our stupidly high taxes.The goverment claim's that import tax should be high to encourage home production,but it wont work because there is no way that we can compete with the Chinese,we have to buy from them,so the government get's Billion's in taxes to waste on social security for the unemployed immigrant's

[Kawhead]

Originally Posted by cnc

Toboggan sales have slid up our way since the spring.

Same around here with fire wood....

Originally Posted by glwilson

I wouldn't exactly call it a "slide". You sound like the media exaggerating the facts a bit.

HD sold around 800 fewer motorcycles this last quarter in comparison to one-year ago. That means each of their dealerships sold ¾ of one less bike. Again, that isn't exactly like they are rolling over and dying.

If you read more about the profit downturn, it is most entirely related to foreign sales where the strengthening dollar hurt them -- just like it did with any multi-national company (i.e., caterpillar, cummins). Polaris, on the other hand, isn't in the global market.

HD still outsells Polaris by nearly 3 ½ times; as per both firm's recently released financials.

Polaris is, in fact, selling more bikes each year; which I see as a good thing for every consumer. Competition is good.

But the sobering fact remains that Polaris has a long, long way to go to equal HD's sales, let alone outpace them.

Everyone can have their own opinion, but not their own facts.

Oh Yeah? Put one of your in-laws up for a couple weeks 'till they can get back on their feet, and you soon come to realize their fact about two weeks and your fact of two weeks ain't the same.

"Till death do you part", comes to mind. I thought that fact was just something you say for instance when a buddy says something sarcastic, then you reply "Kiss my backside". It's something you say and if y'all followed through with it folks would think you're weird.

Turns out, my fact was different.

[mick56]

Hey Mike,how you doing mate. Your badge turned up today,i'll post it tommorrow,i got you this aswell.

[redjay]

Motorcycle insurance costs in Canada is hurting sales here.
$1100 for the six months we can ride is the part of the reason I am now without a bike.

[cnc]

Originally Posted by redjay

Motorcycle insurance costs in Canada is hurting sales here.
$1100 for the six months we can ride is the part of the reason I am now without a bike.

I just cut down on the amount of Christmas presents we buy our kids.

[redjay]

I have been motorcycling for 47 years so I have had a good innings.

Started out on a Honda 50 and ended with a Yamaha FJR.

I never did find the "perfect" bike but had a lot of fun trying.

[rolfe]

Originally Posted by redjay

Motorcycle insurance costs in Canada is hurting sales here.
$1100 for the six months we can ride is the part of the reason I am now without a bike.

Just curious as to why the Extremely High Cost of Insurance in Canada?