06-18-2018, 03:40 PM
We could talk for hours about what Harley should, or shouldn't be doing in the current motorcycle market place. When Harley rolled out the XR1200 back in 08 it was for the European riders. Once it was brought stateside the following year the Kool-Aide drinking faithful didn't ask for it, didn't want it, and henceforth did not embrace it. Japanese brand riders weren't remotely interested (too heavy said they, too underpowered said they). Too little of this and too little of that. Not sure what Americans are clamoring for Harley to build this bike but Harley riders (in any semblance of appreciable numbers) are NOT among them. I base this on a number of observations. In the 3 years and change that the XR was for sale in the USA (including the XR-X with the upgraded suspension) approximately 10,000 units were sold. That's from a company that at one time was selling in excess of 300,000 bike a YEAR.
Harley could drop an XR version of that Scout into the showroom tomorrow, meaning 475 pounds WET with 100-125+ horsepower and it wouldn't move in the numbers required to make it profitable. Again, current Harley riders aren't looking for a sport bike and the rift between Japanese brand owners and Harleys brand image is too wide for many (not all) to make the jump, not to mention that performance would still be lagging behind the cutting edge Asian bikes.
I'm in our local Harley dealer fairly routinely (I have an XR1200, daughter has an Iron 883 and her boyfriend has a 1200 Sportster and couple of friends I hang with also ride Harleys among the brands they own). We're kind of an oddity in the dealership. We ride the MoCo's products but wear armored jackets and helmets and don't have the traditional pirate outfits. On the infrequent occasion that I engage one of the unwashed masses the discussion NEVER comes around wishing that Harley reintroduce an XR that's 75 to 100 pounds lighter and has 125HP minimum at the rear wheel. In my opinion the closest thing to a sports bike Harley currently has on the showroom floor is the Roadster. A bike that appears to not be selling well (not because of it's numerous shortcomings) but because there just isn't any interest or demand in a sporting platform among the faithful. I've seen the same Roadster sitting on the floor for several months now.
Harley really dropped the ball (again, just my opinion here) with Eric Beull. Were I in charge at the corporate level of the MoCo I would have handled that relationship much differently. Again, something we could discuss for hours.
ALL of the aforementioned comments aside...I'm keeping an eye on this Scout development. My interest is piqued.
BTW: I love my overweight, underpowered XR
![[Image: eeb177f876bb18a6965596e9f04370f7.jpg?1]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201806/eeb177f876bb18a6965596e9f04370f7.jpg?1)
Harley could drop an XR version of that Scout into the showroom tomorrow, meaning 475 pounds WET with 100-125+ horsepower and it wouldn't move in the numbers required to make it profitable. Again, current Harley riders aren't looking for a sport bike and the rift between Japanese brand owners and Harleys brand image is too wide for many (not all) to make the jump, not to mention that performance would still be lagging behind the cutting edge Asian bikes.
I'm in our local Harley dealer fairly routinely (I have an XR1200, daughter has an Iron 883 and her boyfriend has a 1200 Sportster and couple of friends I hang with also ride Harleys among the brands they own). We're kind of an oddity in the dealership. We ride the MoCo's products but wear armored jackets and helmets and don't have the traditional pirate outfits. On the infrequent occasion that I engage one of the unwashed masses the discussion NEVER comes around wishing that Harley reintroduce an XR that's 75 to 100 pounds lighter and has 125HP minimum at the rear wheel. In my opinion the closest thing to a sports bike Harley currently has on the showroom floor is the Roadster. A bike that appears to not be selling well (not because of it's numerous shortcomings) but because there just isn't any interest or demand in a sporting platform among the faithful. I've seen the same Roadster sitting on the floor for several months now.
Harley really dropped the ball (again, just my opinion here) with Eric Beull. Were I in charge at the corporate level of the MoCo I would have handled that relationship much differently. Again, something we could discuss for hours.
ALL of the aforementioned comments aside...I'm keeping an eye on this Scout development. My interest is piqued.
BTW: I love my overweight, underpowered XR