Did harley jump the shark? Electric?

[riverroyal]

HD has a battery bike coming out. Im not a street bike guy, but i do appreciate the history and american icon that is HD.
Innovative? Or wtf?

 

[rivermobster]

Just going with the times...

Awhile back there was a TV show about a top fuel Harley V-Rod vs. an electric one some eggheads built. The top fuel bike won, but not by much...

From 2014

 

[Rajobigguy]

Harley needs to evolve in order to stay relevant. They will still be making their heritage V-Twins for the foreseeable future but they are losing their old clientele to old age and the grim reaper and they need some other options to attract a new generation.

 

[pronstar]

I’m happy to see them doing something innovative.

Their core business is dying, and has been for quite some time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

They have to evolve to cater to tomorrow’s buyers. The average age of Harley buyers is going up every year, eventually we will all be dead. Till then I can’t fathom riding anything without pistons.

 

[Ziggy]

They could add a speaker that makes engine noises relative to throttle movement

 

[badluck24/7]

I could get with the Harley electric motorcycle program but I don’t like the futuristic style. I’d prefer something restomod like an electric drivetrain with classic Harley style.

 

[jetboatperformance]

Maybe they can make a "RUM RUM" sound effect simulator to play thru the stereo system ...... Imagine if you would a group riding (whirring) these up to a biker bar ....

 

[dribble]

One more thing to consider. Automotive and motorcycle manufacturers are allowed to average their tailpipe emissions over their entire fleet of vehicles. If Harley wants to stay air cooled on much of their product line they need to reign in the emissions belt somewhere. Porsche went to water cooling for that very reason.

 

[Wombat]

I wonder how they go with the 1% clubs.

 

[Gelcoater]

I’m not really a Harley guy.
If I decided to be one electric wouldn’t be my choice.
I’d go Hemi!

 

[PlumLoco]

The R&D efforts should have been spent on designing a truck. A simple old school, "American made" truck. The Harley enthusiasts don't need an electric bike, but I bet a huge percentage of them own trucks.

 

[KENDOG689]

The R&D efforts should have been spent on designing a truck. A simple old school, "American made" truck. The Harley enthusiasts don't need an electric bike, but I bet a huge percentage of them own trucks.

They have never really diversified the company and should have tried at one point.They do love to drag out models till they die.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

The bike actually looks pretty awesome imo, but I can’t imagine anything more dangerous than a silent motorcycle. Loved my 600RR, but I really want a Night Rod or Diavel for my next ride.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

HD kind of hangs on by its fingernails as it is. As mentioned their core buyer is aging out rather quickly, if E-bikes can get the snowflakes to buy a HD they have a huge untapped market.

 

[USMC2010]

I like the innovation but at 2x the price of other electric motorcycles sales won't be high. The V-Rod was a great bike but they didn't evolve that engine into other models and look at it now, this one won't last either. Harley has a pricing problem not so much a dying clientele problem. If you look at most other motorcycle brands they have stayed in a mostly friendlier price point. Before anyone brings up how expensive the touring models of other brands are, look at the built in accessories they come with first.

 

[pronstar]

The R&D efforts should have been spent on designing a truck. A simple old school, "American made" truck. The Harley enthusiasts don't need an electric bike, but I bet a huge percentage of them own trucks.

They don’t really have that kind of coin.

A ground-up vehicle that meets emission and safety regs is several billion to develop, and that’s before tooling a factory to produce it.

These days it takes tech money to get into the car biz.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

I like the innovation but at 2x the price of other electric motorcycles sales won't be high. The V-Rod was a great bike but they didn't evolve that engine into other models and look at it now, this one won't last either. Harley has a pricing problem not so much a dying clientele problem. If you look at most other motorcycle brands they have stayed in a mostly friendlier price point. Before anyone brings up how expensive the touring models of other brands are, look at the built in accessories they come with first.

$42,000 for a new cvo streetglide!

 

[Shlbyntro]

They could probably spend their money on the "anti-pussification" of America and get better results.

I'll still be riding my Street Bob

 

[HALLETT BOY]

$42,000 for a new cvo streetglide!

Yea , I was shocked at that too ! I don’t think many millennials will be lining up to buy that ...plus they don’t even drive till there 20’s nowadays.

 

[PlanB]

$42,000 for a new cvo streetglide!

I paid almost that for my CVO SG in 2016. With the CVO I have found myself spending way less on aftermarket parts. Exhaust, tuner, bars and I was done. My other Harley’s have a bunch of coin dumped in them, and if you go to sell or trade the add on’s Are not worth much. The CVO always books as a CVO. I have zero regrets bypassing the Special and buying a CVO.

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

I paid almost that for my CVO SG in 2016. With the CVO I have found myself spending way less on aftermarket parts. Exhaust, tuner, bars and I was done. My other Harley’s have a bunch of coin dumped in them, and if you go to sell or trade the add on’s Are not worth much. The CVO always books as a CVO. I have zero regrets bypassing the Special and buying a CVO.

I get it, if you add it all up it’s worth it and the resale is way higher. Problem is the newer crowd doesn’t realize that and just freaks out at 42k.

 

[USMC2010]

I paid almost that for my CVO SG in 2016. With the CVO I have found myself spending way less on aftermarket parts. Exhaust, tuner, bars and I was done. My other Harley’s have a bunch of coin dumped in them, and if you go to sell or trade the add on’s Are not worth much. The CVO always books as a CVO. I have zero regrets bypassing the Special and buying a CVO.

Are you saying you would put 20k into a stock SG?

 

[manxman]

I love it. I ride a zero electric now. Can't stand Harleys. Always used to tour on a BMW. If Harley came to market with a reasonably priced electric, I would own it. It's a different riding experience with electric, my only complaint now is range. It's so easy to ride, you don't get fatigue, you can ride further.

 

[PlanB]

Are you saying you would put 20k into a stock SG?

I paid 38k for my CVO SG. The Special at the time was about 26K. The bike I had just sold had about 10k in aftermarket stuff on it, and I figured I would drop at least that into a SG Special. I did not want to go down the same road as I did on my last bike and just eat the aftermarket parts when I went to sell or trade. I have zero regrets paying more for the CVO.

 

[highvoltagehands]

$42,000 for a new cvo streetglide!

Yep. Saw this one at Rocklin HD listed for $41k. The CVO and Milwaukee 8 are badass engines.

 

[WildHorses24]

I’m happy to see them doing something innovative.

Their core business is dying, and has been for quite some time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

This.

Was just talking about this with a friend, he races flat track and has been coming up with bitchin concept bikes like this..

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[rivermobster]

The bike actually looks pretty awesome imo, but I can’t imagine anything more dangerous than a silent motorcycle. Loved my 600RR, but I really want a Night Rod or Diavel for my next ride.

I have an 07 (best year for this bike) Night Rod I'm thinking about selling. Shoot me a PM if you're serious.