Old Milwaukee...

[PapaUtah]

I thought they stood in line to buy and were all so rich they just paid cash out of their loose change…maybe not…

From some of the latest research on The Motor Company™…

“Approximately 75% of Harley-Davidson™ customers use financing, with an average loan balance and length of approximately $15,204 and 76 months respectively.”

At 6.75% that’s $18,727 in total payments. The price of that new Harley-Davidson™ just went up a little. I wonder if the resale argument proponents are able to do the math to include this little “cost of original purchase” into their calculations…Along with the $2,000 in accessories purchased by the “average” Harley-Davidson™ purchaser.

And that resale value may continue to decline taking into the current production, inventory and demand numbers…

“Harley-Davidson’s™ retail inventory increased by about 31,800 bikes in 4Q05, 5,000 bikes in 3Q05, 7,000 bikes in 1Q05, 27,000 bikes in 4Q04, and about 7,000 bikes in 3Q04, resulting in approximately 60,000 bikes at retail in the U.S. at the end of 1Q06 (over 80 bikers per dealer!)”

I believe we call that oversupply... ...others know it as a buyer's market...

 

[radman]

Throw in some Village People® brand assless chaps, and Spider's on his way.........

 

[Mike-H]

We all know spider only buys the best built....best handling....fastest accelerating....motorcycles made....so now he can have a garage full of HD.... unk: :****: unk: :****: unk: :****:

 

[SouthernCruizer]

My riding group is probably about 80% HD, thats around 20-23 guys I know riding them...I can only think of 2 guys that paid cash for their HD's, the rest financed. Yet another item of denial in the arsenal of the cult.

Jay

'04 FJR 1300

 

[FlyingLow]

They once stood in line. No more, however. Econ 101 rules again.

Give the Motor Company credit. They had a helluva run, they're marketing whizzes, they pay their American workers American wages, and this slowdown only brings them down to the same playing field as the rest of the motorcycle manufacturers.

 

[Windjammer]

Also worth noting that Harley could very well end up being a significant EXPORTER to China. They are known worldwide for being The Original Article, The Real McCoy, etc. Call it good branding. I don't own their product, not even a t-shirt, but America could use more exporting manufacuting firms like H-D.

And value be damned. Riding is a leisure activity (and commuting). If you like what you're riding, and it makes you happy, and you can make the payments without starving your kids, then who cares whether it cost more than another bike, or what it's resale is?

 

[odot]

Hm....assless chaps and gerbils....sounds like a good combination for a different thread. I don't think slappy would accept that, though. Unless, we ask nice......hey, slappy?

 

[Mike-H]

Hm....assless chaps and gerbils....sounds like a good combination for a different thread. I don't think slappy would accept that, though. Unless, we ask nice......hey, slappy?

You realize I could hurt myself if you make me laugh that hard odot....

 

[PapaUtah]

Although, as Kawasaki abandons the police bike market, Harley-Davidson™ appears to be making inroads there...

The Arlington Police Department is phasing out German-made BMW and Japanese-made Kawasaki motor bikes in favor of American Harley-Davidson™ Electra Glides. All of its motorcycle officers will be straddling sleek(sleek??? Sleek is defined as having trim graceful lines. Ponderous, of very great weight, may be a better adjective here!) black and chrome machines by the end of 2010.

The switch brings more uniformity to the department's 18-member unit for its escorts, funeral processions and traffic patrols,( <_< not exactly pursuit activities) an official said. Motorcycle officers already wear the same navy uniforms and white helmets.(But they will be stylin'!)

Thousands of law enforcement and emergency agencies ride Harley-Davidsons™. Police in Arlington, Fort Worth, Haltom City and Dallas said the Harley-Davidson™ is more rider-friendly. The standard Harley-Davidsons™ can reach speeds of 120 mph, though safety drastically decreases past 85mph , Ramirez said.

 

[radman]

The U of M here got on the HD lease program. Buck a year, they had them less than a week before the

pipes went on. 90% of their training consisted of low speed maneuvering procedures. Seems applicable.

 

[Woodstock]

Throw in some Village People® brand assless chaps, and Spider's on his way.........

Done.