I own a 2016 Roadster. Its the first Not-A-Honda that I’ve owned. I don’t count the Suzuki GS450 that was bought for the now ex-wife’s first bike, we got her a 600 Shadow after the learning curve flattened out.
The Roadster is a fun bike, but I’ve said multiple times that I probably won’t own another HD.
I’ve wanted a Honda Africa Twin for years.
but this new Sportglide from HD has me intrigued.

I really need to be independently wealthy.

Hahaha. I want all the motorcycles.
I wish H-D made more power - 67hp at the wheels just isn't enough!
I love the look of the Breakout, but the new 2018 has such a small tank.
I also love the new Triumph Bobber Black, but it suffers from the exact same problem! So much for getting a "cool" bike. Guess I'll have to settle for a KTM 1290 Super Duke R.....

Their stock dropped big time today after earnings

I go into a Indian dealer maybe once a month to drool. Their Bobbers are sweet lil machines. The big bikes are beautiful. There is a restored 1948 in the window. They got 3 used Victory bikes and several Slingshots. Just took a bunch more pics today.

My third (and last) motorcycle was a Harley-Davidson Sportster (1984 1000cc). After my very bad accident in 1989 I quit riding, but I still love Harleys. I hear every one that passes within 1/2 mile of me, and photograph them whenever possible--parked or moving. I visit H-D dealers in many of the places I visit on trips and tours, and buy a shirt or cap with their name/logo; sometimes they'll even start one up for me so I can revel in the sound!

I love Harleys! I even sit on one at a dealership once in a while--this one was in DeKalb, Illinois:

DSC_6231.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr

flashguy

Never much liked the Softails, while they looked good the suspension always left much to be desired in handling at least in my opinion.

I was taken aback when the Dyna series was discontinued for this year. And I thought the Softail line being expanded to take it's place was a big risk.

The new Softail frame is approximately 30 or so pounds less and 35 or so percent stronger than the previous model years. That with the redesigned rear suspension is supposed to make the new bike ride and handle a lot better.

Sometime this spring I will test ride back to back a 2017 against a 2018 to see for myself the difference. Shouldn't be too hard to do as I work in a dealership.........

They announced today that the relatively new Harley factory they recently built in Kansas City is being closed by the summer of 2019. Times are not good for Harley

Just an FYI, I’m not really concerned w/ their finances in this thread. They’ve been in financial straits before.

They sound good. (IMO)
Some of their models appeal to me visually.
They’re American made (for the most part)
I need more money so I can give them some of it.

quote:

Originally posted by hudr:

I’ve wanted a Honda Africa Twin for years.
but this new Sportglide from HD has me intrigued.

What one? Had to look but what a mess, it looks like they have a 2018 Sport Glide and now a 2018 1/2 Sport Glide? Man I hate it when they pull this 1/2 year stuff!

https://www.cycleworld.com/201...davidson-sport-glide

There is only one Sport Glide. It's a 2018 model but it was released in November a couple months after the other 2018 models.

I'll be glad to get a HD, soon as someone figures out a way to make them in XL sizes. At 6'5" and 300ish, I look like I'm in a Shriner's parade sitting on their stock bikes.

quote:

Originally posted by sig77:
They announced today that the relatively new Harley factory they recently built in Kansas City is being closed by the summer of 2019. Times are not good for Harley

Interesting, as that's where most of the HD motorcycle line is made.

The 2018 Road King Special is a beautiful motorcycle and I know from those that own them it is a great cruiser.

quote:

Originally posted by GWbiker

Interesting, as that's where most of the HD motorcycle line is made.

Not quite accurate the kc plant makes dyna, v rod, sportster and the small starter bikes

The dyna line is gone as is v rod, so that's a big part of production lost to discontinued lines

V rod and dyna were never big sellers and the new Street bikes are low sellers intro bikes which have never fared well in a crowded 500/700 cc field

Also HD is building a new plant in York and adding 450 new jobs there. The net job reductions are about 200 jobs

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
...in DeKalb, Illinois:...

Warn me next time you're going to be in DeKalb. I'm not far from there, and although there isn't a decent gun range anywhere near the place, I know a couple good places to get lunch.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by GWbiker

Interesting, as that's where most of the HD motorcycle line is made.

Not quite accurate the kc plant makes dyna, v rod, sportster and the small starter bikes

The dyna line is gone as is v rod, so that's a big part of production lost to discontinued lines

V rod and dyna were never big sellers and the new Street bikes are low sellers intro bikes which have never fared well in a crowded 500/700 cc field

A
So hd is building a new plant in York and adding 450 new jobs there. The net job reductions are about 200 jobs

Didn't know about the new York plant. I no longer kept up to date with HD future when I traded up to BMW last year.

My 2014 Dyna and my '06 Road Glide were both assembled at KC plant.

Also interesting. New York factory while HD sales are down.

Pennsylvania must be offering the "Motor Company" a huge tax break.

HD is also moving wheel production from Australia back to the USA so jobs are coming back maybe we'll get a MAGA mag wheel lol

They are also combining other multiple point operation for other parts

York is a historical location for Harley so that and I'd presume Union deals on jobs helped in the decision to combine it into a single location

Also remember victory was shut down by Polaris to make the Indian line heavy bikes only, and those sales have cut into the heavy bike market which is down overall

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
...in DeKalb, Illinois:...

Warn me next time you're going to be in DeKalb. I'm not far from there, and although there isn't a decent gun range anywhere near the place, I know a couple good places to get lunch.

I'd enjoy doing that! Perhaps you'd be interested in the photos I took in 2014 when I went up there to stay a week at a resort at Fox River: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157647393261489/. There are pictures in Rochelle, DeKalb, and Sycamore, Illinois in that Collection.

flashguy

Thanks! Good pics of the DeKalb/Sycamore/Rochelle area. Last September I served on a jury in the Sycamore courthouse. I haven't been in the DeKalb Harley showroom for a whole bunch of years, so maybe it's time to stop by for a visit. Sold my Gold Wing in about 1996 or 1997 and haven't ridden anything since them.

quote:

Originally posted by Surefire:
Hahaha. I want all the motorcycles.
I wish H-D made more power - 67hp at the wheels just isn't enough!

Harley makes a very "Pretty" bike.............