03-29-2015, 06:14 AM
(03-28-2015, 05:34 PM)JustPassinThru_imp Wrote: Interesting. I'd look up those models - and will, later - but it's late-night here; I've spent my hour of decompression after work and now it's time for rack-ops.
I'd hate do see a storied brand go - but I have a visceral hatred for Harley-Davidson. I'm not asking anyone to join me in it here - but there are many reasons, starting with the uncouth behavior of their customer base, to the loud (styling and muffling, both) cycles themselves; to the way they've promoted BRAND, not superiority of product.
In other venues, that's sometimes called "jingoism" or "chauvinism." In Milwaukee, it's called "marketing."
And in ANY business, when the brand is turned into a cult quite apart from the product - be it H-D or Oakley sunglasses or Levis jeans...excepting Levis, the fall is rapid and messy. And value to the consumer is nearly absent.
I don't necessarily expect you to agree. And I do plan to read up on those models...now that old Willie G has shuffled off to retirement, maybe someone can overhaul that company. But they're going to have to shift their focus before they get my attention.
Just took a few minutes to look them up.
I was TOTALLY unaware of the Street lineup. Although a review panned the seat and ergonomics of the 750...it sounds like a good first effort, and something long overdue. The 500 looks like it has more human-friendly ergonomics, from the photo.
The Livewire is going to be a novelty - like electric vehicles will be, barring some sort of game-changing breakthrough in electrical storage. IMHO, of course; but so far they've proved themselves on golf courses and warehouses, and few other places.
We will see. Triumph, as this ties in to the OP, was either unwilling, unable or both, to pull out of its death spiral. H-D maybe more readily - they have a changing of the guard, with Davidson's retirement and the obvious changing demographics of their customers.