03-29-2015, 03:16 AM
(03-28-2015, 10:15 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: If Harley goes, then so does Indian and Victory whose product lines and customer base mimics those of Harley Davidson. I think these mfgs have too much invested to just throw up their hands and stubbornly keep producing nothing but cruisers for a market that no longer exists. Harley adding liquid cooled and electric bikes to their line shows they can read the writing on the wall, as well as the liquid cooled scout from Indian.
You can hate Harley if you want but many companies, including all the Japanese companies, have made and continue to make their own forays into that lucrative market place pioneered by Harley Davidson. Harleys marketing plan has been nothing but genious.
True enough, in noting the changes. Although I'd posit that it's emissions equipment, and the need to have engine temperatures strictly controlled to narrow parameters, which is the impetus behind liquid cooling.
It's what killed the old VW Beetle in the Mexican market - the last significant market they had for it, not quite third-world but one of the last big ones for a basic car. But the air-cooled engine couldn't be reasonably made to comply even with more lax emissions standards.
Honda had to WORK to get the CB1100 engine out - and air cooling was a goal, not something that would naturally be. They had to go with "oil and air cooling" to use alternate methods of controlling operating temps.
As for the balance of the cruiser market: I think if someone is interested in the riding experience, not the brand identification, the Virago and Eliminator series in the past (and whatever has replaced them) offered the same format with superior quality and reliability. I know little about Victory bikes - not my cup of joe. Indian has been abused by operators who've tried to ape the Harley experience, with little success. Polaris has deep pockets; if they can get a product that can stand on its own merits, not on memories or image...they should do well.
I don't see Harley-style cruisers as the future, however. Those are in the past; and for riders with a memory of things past. Not comfortable...can't raise off the seat for rough spots; the seating position is hard on the spine. I think the future will be between sportbikes and BMW-style tourers...designed with comfort in mind. Something that goes between the Gold Wing and the RT.
For the rest of us who never were drawn to crotch rockets...I'm enjoying the UJM revival with the CB and others.