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HD working on 50 new models

15K views 146 replies 46 participants last post by  NN65 
#1 ·
HD announced they are currently working R&D on 50 new models, and expect to introduce 100 new models by the year 2027.

They also plan on introducing over a million new riders to the sport with the new line of bikes.

This could get interesting.
 
#19 ·
Great points here.

I saw the new Street Rod 750 the other day in person. That version surprisingly doesn't look that bad. Maybe I have bad taste though. I also don't think the Roadster is too bad looking either. I could see them trying to step more into this realm. Maybe that was just their first go at it. Whatever happens, I'm interested in seeing what pops out over the next few years. They have a lot of work to do.
 
#7 ·
Let me guess: 10 or so all black models, a bunch of special editions, some chromers, a few with stage 2 motors or whatever they call them…

HD makes about 4 bikes, the rest are all some variation. Heavy, slow and all V-twin with one cylinder right in back of the other with intakes in the middle. Just like 1930.
 
#8 ·
It can be problematic when tradition inhibits innovation. Triumph got round the problem by going out of business and reappearing as an entirely new concern and learning from the competition. Ducati's continued adherence to forward inclined V engines appears to underlie their MotoGP turning struggles because they cannot achieve the tight centre of mass achieved by Honda's upright V4 design. HD might see how BMW modernised their boxer twin while simultaneously developing an entirely new to BMW tradition of transverse 4 superbikes.
 
#11 ·
They really need to venture out of their comfort zone and start making something different, a modern standard, maybe even a supersport type bike, or even venture into the ADV thing. Since their base is aging fast, the obstacles to doing such are not what they once were.
 
#91 ·
That's a very good idea, and something that I would seriously look at. I'm not a Harley fan but I must admit the (standard) engine sound is an absolute winner and I do love it. 200HP BMW GS-a-like would go straight to the top of my wish list :D.
 
#14 ·
I can't comment on the Motor Company's big machines, having never driven one. However, I did test drive an XG750 and was very, very surprised at what a nice bike it really is. It's a lot of fun to throw rocks at Harley but I would not expect very many folks on this forum to be very positive about their bikes. But if you haven't driven one of them, you're not in a position to make any meaningful comments about any particular machine. Harley obviously understands their market and sure sells a lot of motorcycles. Some of their gloves and boots are absolutely top-notch even if you drive a Triumph.
 
#15 ·
Don't have to ride one to know the engines are obsolete and of poor design as are the rest of the bike.
They were maybe relevant 50 years ago. As for the clothing, not interested in doing business when I'm treated with disrespect because I'm riding in on something other than a HD.
 
#17 ·
I remember when owners of Japanese bikes were saying exactly the same thing about Triumphs. Then the 675 triples came out and they all rushed to buy them.

And it's not so long ago that BMW was synonymous with slow, dull old-fashioned bikes for slow, dull old men. And now there's this:
http://www.cycleworld.com/bmw-hp4-race-first-look

So it's always possible that Harley D could turn themselves around a similar way to Triumph and BMW. But they'll need a big change in attitude to do so. There core buyers are ageing, which does provide them with an opportunity to try something drastically new.
 
#18 ·
Wow. That Beemer is supposed to put out 215 HP! Ridiculous. Even if it is at the crank, that's still close to 200 after drive line. That's innovation!

Ah, I remember when the 675 came out. Was in love with it. But the R6 I owned at the time was doing the job nicely. :)
@Doberperson
I HAVE ridden an HD. A Road King. It was huge, handled reasonably well for its size, but was loud and obnoxious. So, I'm qualified in your words, to make comments. :)

I think most people who don't own HDs are put off by the tradition and inflexibility of the brand and the typical meat head riders we see. No one likes being made fun of when they go to a dealer on a non HD bike. Why would you, as a customer, stick around with crap attitudes like that? And unless you are said meat head, why would you be interested in joining that crowd of clowns? They need to re-think the company from the ground up if they want to stay in business. Forget the aging out Easy Rider/Wild Bunch bad boy image (so tiring). Forget all the accessories, special edition trucks, jackets, whatever. Stop being a marketing company that sells motorcycles and start being a motorcycle company again. Design your cruisers, people like them. But also design bikes for the rest of the motorcycling public that could give two rats asses (see how generous I am?) about the cruiser scene. It is only one segment of the market. All 4 Japanese manufacturers, Triumph, BMW, MotoGuzzi, etc, have more than one segment covered. And that is why they are successful. Diversity.

I'd love to see a real change in their line up. Maybe even a different engine than the V-Twin. That engine is effing huge and a real roadblock to branching out with new frame designs. Oh, and contrary to CBurt, their engines are pretty much up to date and modern. Have been for a while. Let's put that one to bed, shall we?

So 110 models? We shall see if they are brave enough to take a risk or if it is business as usual...
 
#20 ·
I have never ridden a Harley so can not comment on that. I can say that my local Triumph dealer in also an HD dealer. The staff and clientele on that side of the shop have never been anything but kind and respectful. People there always saying how beautiful my bike is, how great it sounds etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#21 ·
I have ridden the HD Street 750. I loved the sitting position. Everything was right where it belonged. I sat upright, I could flatfoot the ground, the bars came to me rather than my reaching for them. At 5'6", I'm no giant, so I appreciate a bike that fits me well. The HD Street 750 was almost scary it felt so comfortable in an ergonomic sense.

Still, there were signature Harley traits that were off putting. As a motorcycle it ran clunky, almost cobbled together with odd engine noises and tremors. Handling was lackluster. I'm told HD engineers a certain amount of vibration into the ride so that you have the feel of a motorcycle. Really? I think I know I'm on a bike, thank you.

The Bonneville was so smooth on my first test ride, I was a bit dubious about its guts, but I now understand that you can have a smooth ride with a lot of muscle on call if needed.

Anyway, I wish Harley all the best. The more motorcycles on the road, the better off we all are in our presence and visibility on the highways.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Oh look, another HD thread on a Trumpet forum and a bunch of Trumpeters complaining about them. Let me go back and count how many times I have written that this last week alone. "Argh you'll never get me on one" is my favorite response. As if anyone cares what you do? "They are slow" hmm let me go ride my 50HP 500lb+ Scrambler around and blow doors off people...
there are "Grown Ups" talking right?
 
#53 ·
Pretty much my thought too. It's always entertaining!
But, it matters not to me what others think of my choice in bikes. This is after all a Triumph forum, and anything other than Triumph is looked down upon with scorn and derision.
At the same time, Triumphs are rarely talked about on the HD forums.
As far as my own tastes go, I ride my T100 for short trips, mostly around town. Rarely if ever on a long road trip. For a road trip or weekend riding, I'm on my HD Softail without a second thought. Comfortable, smooth and reliable. Not to mention that the "1930s era Big Twin" gets significantly better fuel mileage than my T100. Kinda funny, since the HD is 1550cc in a 750 pound bike and the Triumph is 865cc in a 475 pound bike.

Whenever Harlee steps outside of their "core" product (big V-twin cruiser and touring bikes) it pretty much flops.
The sport bike and adventure bike guys won't go into a Harley dealership and anything new (Buell, V-Rod) is dismissed as being a Jap bike.
They have their work cut out for them if they're trying to expand their range outside of the cruiser/heavy weight touring category where they're successful.
I wish them luck but I won't be one of their customers.
You're right. HD has made several attempts at different types of bikes, and they keep coming back to their core, the big cruiser. The trend I see is when riders get older, they are inclined to migrate over to HD cruisers. Some go to other brands such as BMW and Honda for big comfortable road machines. When you get over 50 or 60 years old, any riding on a bike with clip-ons, or any low and forward leaning position limits how long you can go.

There have been a lot of opinions on what Harley SHOULD do. There is no denying they've been very successful at what they do best.
 
#25 ·
I have nothing hew to add really - but adding to the suspicion that "100" really means possibly 10 with engine and chrome variants. Possibly 1 that carries some kind of meaningful innovation.

I did a favor for a friend and rode their 883 sportster as part of a move/transport thing. Once it was moving it wasn't really a bad bike. Good ergos neutral responses etc. The clutch required popeye forearms and the brakes sucked... I have never ridden one of the touring styles and likely wouldn't want to anytime in the near future.

RE: Dealer inventory and slow sales. I was talking to one of the corporate guys from Honda at the bike show and he did confirm that in the sport and sport touring category that they have too much inventory and that they are holding back stock and production until it clears out.
 
#26 ·
I think every other motorcycle manufacturer would love harleys problems. It's a modern day country club that accepts anyone and if you wear the uniform you will be judged equal. I ride with some and they are social clubs that meet up on harleys and they don't really talk about motorcycles, they're the farthest thing from motorcycle enthusiasts or they would be riding something else. The touring bikes do a good job at keeping the mrs happy. I have noticed over the last couple decades HD has incrementally lowering price while raising quality to keep sales up. It is true the 30 or so models are actually 3 different models just farkled up. Triumph has always been a poor mans harley in the USA but the brilliant marketing of the modern classics may make Triumph the new harley davidson, wouldn't that be ironic.
 
#27 ·
Harley is just recognizing what other manufactures have known for quite some time. To prosper in the motorcycle marketplace today, you must try to penetrate as many segments of the market as possible. Making just cruisers and super slab tanks ain’t gonna cut it financially anymore. Sure they were fine for Boomers and Gen-Xers, but Millennials have shown that they are looking in other directions, and Millennials are the future.

Last year, Harley issued a press release stating that they intended to develop a new superbike model that would be used as a basis for a superbike racers. I haven’t seen or heard anything since, but this is the type of thing Harley needs to do to establish itself in a new market segment and show that they are relevant. Next maybe they can try to develop a new Adventure line of bikes – a growing segment of the market.

Producing the Heritage stuff is fine, but they need to establish something like a new Harley-Davidson Performance Group that produces modern vehicles that compete on a performance/quality/reliability basis with other mainstream manufacturers.

This could be what the R&D announcement is all about.
It's been a long time coming, but I wish them luck.
 
#30 ·
An external perspective......
HD's market is overwhelmingly in the US. They have a few devotees around the globe but they are a lifestyle brand, not that long ago making more from bandanas than bikes. Commercial success means one of three things: growing the market, growing your share of the market or increasing profitability (or a combination of all three). Without a change of direction they must be close to 'peak Harley'. In Europe cruisers are more often seen in advertising than on the roads. Adventure bikes are the current vogue along with a healthy slice of nakeds, sports bikes and classics.
In the US Harley cannot want to abandon the ground they hold given the rebirth of Indian etc. In Europe the Street Rod is pitching against a host of faster, lighter more agile machines better suited to our roads and traffic. Its milieu (nod to the French!) is going to be the city based hipster market which probably finds the Bobber even more visually, never mind dynamically, appealing.
I wish HD well but they must look at the minnow Triumph's growth figures like an alarming headlight growing in the rear view mirror and driven by a mix of styling and engineering innovation. The 45 degree V twin is a narrow road to go down. It looks like it took Porsche to once get them to 60 degrees!
 
#31 ·
......which is a long winded way of saying 'If you become an innovative engineering business you won't be HD any more and that might be too big a commercial risk. Take the marketing talk with a large spoonful of salt. Why pitch headlong at some serious competition when you command your own segment?'
 
#32 ·
Whenever Harlee steps outside of their "core" product (big V-twin cruiser and touring bikes) it pretty much flops.
The sport bike and adventure bike guys won't go into a Harley dealership and anything new (Buell, V-Rod) is dismissed as being a Jap bike.
They have their work cut out for them if they're trying to expand their range outside of the cruiser/heavy weight touring category where they're successful.
I wish them luck but I won't be one of their customers.
 
#33 ·
I've owned several HD's over the years. I don't own one now. My favorite was the Road King. Big, fat, heavy, comfortable and reliable. It's exactly what it's designers imagined and for its intended purpose, works very well. Good wind protection in cold weather, removable windshield and lowers for summer.

Never understood anyone who criticizes other brands. Different tools for different jobs. I'm sure I'll own another HD at some point down the line. I like how they sound and feel when you roll on the throttle. Their bikes are great. Their dealerships suck. Clothing stores packed with middle aged lawyers wearing pirate costumes. I do most of my own maintenance so never set foot in their stores (Amazon provides all parts and disposables).

To each his own. It's why I always own at least two bikes. Different tools.....
 
#35 ·
I don't believe the Porsche engine was intended for the V-Rod. It was supposed to go in a Buell if i'm not mistaken. But high performance was not something they were interested in because it moved the brand away from cruisers (and bandannas). So they killed off Buell and made the V-Rod. Maybe it would have done better if it wasn't so weird looking?

I think HD can survive if they slowly grow the brand into other markets. They will always have the cruiser core, but should be able to safely move to growing segments if they execute well. However, if the 750 here is an indication, I doubt they will succeed.
 
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