12-04-2018, 10:47 AM
Like LongRanger and in part for the same reason, I'm unlikely ever to own a Harley Davidson. Also like LongRanger and other reasonable people on this forum, I'm not going to run HD down. Lots and lots of people ride them and are very happy to do so. In 2017, HD sold more road bikes in Australia than any other manufacturer and was the fifth biggest seller across all classes of motorcycle. HD sold more bikes than BMW, Indian, Triumph combined.
To the end of September 2018, only Honda has sold more road bikes than HD. Admittedly HD's sales have tanked in 2018—down 20.4% in the first 6 months of this year—but Honda's sales are also down, albeit only 3.6%. Indian has increased sales, but the rate of growth has slowed in Q3. Overall sales of motorcycles, scooters and ATVs is down 6.2%.
2017 data and commentary: http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycle-sale...australia/
2018 Q2 data & commentary: http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycle-sale...australia/
2018 Q3 data & commentary: http://www.mcnews.com.au/austrlalian-mot...s-q3-2018/
EDIT: dbarkdoll, I've not heard that current HD models have too many reliability issues. Many have posted here that HD has lifted its game big time in recent years.
To the end of September 2018, only Honda has sold more road bikes than HD. Admittedly HD's sales have tanked in 2018—down 20.4% in the first 6 months of this year—but Honda's sales are also down, albeit only 3.6%. Indian has increased sales, but the rate of growth has slowed in Q3. Overall sales of motorcycles, scooters and ATVs is down 6.2%.
2017 data and commentary: http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycle-sale...australia/
2018 Q2 data & commentary: http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycle-sale...australia/
2018 Q3 data & commentary: http://www.mcnews.com.au/austrlalian-mot...s-q3-2018/
EDIT: dbarkdoll, I've not heard that current HD models have too many reliability issues. Many have posted here that HD has lifted its game big time in recent years.