Harley Move Into 20th Century!

... but will it still run on coal or wood?

 

I've yet to read anything good about the new Harley Streetvendor.

 

If it was that or nothing, I'd take nothing!

 

USA!USA!

 

That Multistrada is starting to look pretty!

 

Now we know where HD got their inspiration from!

 

What would the other 2 be then?

Do I take it that you may tempted to the Harley brand?

 

Honestly why would you? Ok to some people it looks great & its f******* noisy. But it's soooo heavy & so down on power. Certainly absolutely no fun on our roads in my opinion & that's the only one that counts

 

Designed for big lanes on long highways, I did have a Dynaglide for a time while saving for my speedy. 1450 produces a lot of low end torque, but not a patch on my Triumph. I even looked at the military styled 1800, but was like sitting on a toy

 

Only significant difference I can see is some sort of radiator cooling ? Oil or Water ?

 

We have a learners class in NZ, with bike approved (LAMS) on power, so HD have a market with street 500 to entice them to the dark side

 

Not so long ago Harley we’re making more profit from their merchandising than their bikes - a bit like food profits underpinning pubs rather than their beer!

I think the people Harley also need to look at are BMW. Time was when BMW meant boxer twin. From the mid 80s they vastly modernised the boxer while diversifying with range with multiple new engine layouts and sports bikes. The big potato potato V Twin limits Harley’s market and Indian can claim the same heritage while the Japanese make them in many more shapes and sizes.

Bluntly, you could see the development potential of ‘their style’ of big V twin hitting the buffers when Cal Rayborn was competing them and BSA/Triumph has already added a third cylinder. Watching Harley bikes, it is as if they cannot escape the speedway formula of 500 singles. It is just oddly self limiting and change is dangerously late in the day.

I also just remembered their flirtation with smaller machines through Aermacchi and how lack of investment (as I recall) saw that quickly fold.

 

Many of our Triumph dealers also have BMW dealerships and their range is attractive to daily riders who also want to do track days. Seems they are ranged on price point.