It's a Damn shame what Corporate Harley Davidson demands from dealership owners. Lets start with their required building upgrades. All will became cookie cutter layouts at 1.4 million. Of course, dealer cost, no assistance. Thanks, Jochen Zeitz!! You're in touch with your foundation! Yeah, right!
Most of the Harley dealers have become used car like dealerships. Really miss the days when I would visit my local HD shop and have a few beers with the owner. Man those days are gone, and have been for over 40 years. So sad another part of America GONE!
Couldn’t agree more most are running the car dealership model business plan really sad to see it go this way! The family owned dealerships could give you a price instantaneously! In the car dealership model it takes three people to give you a price then you go back-and-forth about the price just awful!
@@NickHellings-zq8xt Sad, corporate HD feels the need to not support long time family run dealers in favor of Auto conglomerates. Own four HD currently, but bought a new Honda due to HD no longer fostering customer relations along with excessive pricing, sales & service depts.
I hate it for lynn and the rest of the staff. Not a better HD dealer anywhere. The MoCo is an absolutely terrible organization. They've completely forgotten where they came from. Thanks for making this video. I'm going to miss this place.
@scott_brudahl who said anything about his "family" wanting out? It is common knowledge that the MoCo wants to get rid of all the smaller Mom and Pop shops in favor of the bigger city shops. That is precisely why the MoCo sucks so much.
Corporate and dealerships both, just got too greedy. And handing over the company to a foreigner, clueless about, and indifferent to the whole culture, just isn't working. The American bmw...lol
It's kind of hard to stay in business when people go in for an oil change and they come out with a bill over $300. When someone can do the same job at home for around $60.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
If you're a mom & pop dealership, your in trouble....Harley only wants corporations with 50/250 million in capital that will own 5/10 dealerships, they could care less about mom & pop !!!
I agree totally. That's why I'm still riding my '09 Road King Classic. Everything you need...nothing you don't. Nobody needs navigation and a high-tech entertainment system. That's not what motorcycling is all about. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
Yup. The Harley dealership herebin Frederick MD closed last month. Harley wanted insane contingencies to renew the contract. We had also been open for almost 5 decades.
I love Harley-Davidson but corporate appears to be headed in the wrong direction. I hope I’m wrong. Only time will tell. Thanks for watching. Cheers! 😎
Love my Harley, Its just right for me. I've looked at other brands, they all have issues, talk about sticker shock, resell value, dealer support, aftermarket help, independent mechanics, other brands just don't match up. My Harley is 5 years old and looks good in a set of apes..
the real problem I see is, dealers buying used bikes at low auction price, say $15K for a 2019 RGU, and then putting on showroom at $21K, a $6K profit and then trying to sell new bikes at sticker plus. Its just a little bit to greedy. Why do they feel they need to make $7k profit on bike sales. Wanna sell more bikes, lower your profit margins , give more for used bikes, ask less for new bikes, people will buy. But I'm not giving you that kind of profit, no way. Back in the 80's when I was a selling motorcycles and cars, profit was counted in hundreds not thousands. People didn't have a lot of money, but sold a lot of bikes. My 2 cents.
I worked for a Mom and Pop Harley dealership in New York for a few years in the early 90's... They were forced to expand and buy a new building to become one of those huge Mc Dealerships and ended up going out of business when the economy tanked..... They had been in business since WW2 ! Sad..... I loved working there.... Reggie Pink Harley Davidson White Plains NY. They started in the Bronx I believe and originally one of the first Triumph importers on the East coast. Heavy into racing and AMA Events. I hate those new huge dealers........Sad, God bless.....
Think he was first importer of English motorcycles. Think 3 bay gas station. Had this HUGE place built across street.... My brother would take his Enduro dirt bike to him for inspection, done. Old time Motorcycle guy❤
Harley head management realizes that they've flooded the market and need to get out before the bubble bursts. The market for "blacked out Street Glides" is dropping.
It used to be Harley built a quality bike at a premium price, they haven't built a quality bike in some time, but they kept the premium price. People still put up with it because their dealer network was so strong you could find a Harley dealer almost anywhere. Now in Harley's infinite wisdom they're getting rid of dealers and the one selling point they have left.
We are just gutted. We’ve been going down to Stillwater to Forman Harley-Davidson since we moved to Oklahoma from New Mexico. It just won’t be the same dealing with one of those big corporate franchises. Enjoy your weekend, my friend. Ride safe. Cheers! 😎
Just my own opinion here when Willie-G retired the styling on alot of motorcycles from HD started to look like metric bikes , Some models still look old school but im not giving 30-40k for any scooter , I paid 19k in 2006 for my streetglide and i will stick with that until if falls apart !
I’m afraid this will happen to my local family owned Harley dealer. Here in Indiana most smaller dealers are long gone and replaced with huge chain dealers that claim to be family owned. No price tags on bikes, can’t get an actual price without signing your life away first. If I walk into a Harley dealership and ask a price on a certain bike and get the “that one is low to mid 30’s” I run for the door. Bensons Harley Davidson is where I purchase my Harley’s from. I ask for a total out the price and get it in minutes and it’s actually a reasonable price. They’ve never pushed me to purchase unwanted extras either. I really just can’t believe how fast the world has changed, it’s overwhelming.
I feel your pain, brother. Something is going to have to change. The way things are going, I'm not sure that Harley is going to make it. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
It’s the same in the car business. Penske auto group owns around 3,200 car dealerships worldwide. They are focused on profit targets that are sometimes unobtainable. Those that don’t meet the bar are usually closed, not sold.
I am in the UK. I have always fancied a fully dressed Harley touring bike, but over here you can get a decent used Bentley for the same price Harley are asking.
It’s not just Harley Davidson. It’s businesses all around America are closing, fast. Food stores and retailers are closing left and right, inflation is out of control. Our federal and State governments have lost their FN minds, and if something is not done, it’s gonna get a lot worse before it gets better. God help us all.
Absolutely agree. Our local Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha dealer just shut down last week. Had I know this video was going to be so popular I would have made another one. It's the sign of the times. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!.
It all started with the Marelli fuel injection,then the spring loaded camchain followers,cheap slip fit crankshafts and Harley then changed the run out spec when it would be replaced under warranty.People have had enough.
Ok this is NOT rocket science here,,, your selling motorcycles for HARLEY that are WAY WAY WAY over priced and your Harley clothing is marked up like 400%, your service department won’t even work on a Harley that’s over 5 years old… how long did you think you were going to stay in business? This is a PERFECT opportunity for someone to open up another motorcycle shop working on and selling used Harley’s!! These stupid corporations are freakin BLIND… sell to your clients!!!! Not to the woke society out there today. Figure out HOW to price your products reasonably and SERVICE the damn things!!! I am NOT specifically talking about this Harley dealership I am talking about ALL Harley dealerships in general. They are all basically the same.
So many of these corporations are run by people who have zero knowledge of the product, or the market they selling to. Huge blunder after another, while the execs are paid millions a year for their incompetence.
They also don't even work on anything besides Harleys either which is stupid and everyone at HD I've ever talked to over the phone seemed like total pricks that i don't wanna do business with.
When HD and all the foreigners that sit on the board of directors decided to have the band “Green Day” play at the 120th Anniversary celebration last year and sing about how much the USA sucks, I knew without a doubt that I had bought my last new harley. I’ve bought 2 new bikes in the last 12 months and they were absolutely NOT harleys. Sad to see that the most anti-American motorcycle manufacturer out there is harley davidson
I live in the UK. I have always fancied a full-dress Harley, but the cost is cripplingly obscene. Indeed for the same price I can buy a decent used Bentley, and as nice as a Harley would be there's no way in rain-lashed Britain I am forking out so much money for a bike that would get so little use (10 nice days since last June the 28th).....
Hadn't heard about that celebration and concert, sounds about as well thought out as Budweiser with the Transgender person. Great way to insult and alienate almost your entire customer base in one go.
Bought my first Harley in the mid 1980’s (Conley’s Harley-Davidson, Plano (Dallas, TX) and wondered when all the dealerships started building these palaces how long that was going to last. Longer than I expected, but the day has finally come.
I believe the Harley "palace" trend began sometime in the early 2000's. I remember having to get on a list just to get the option to purchase new bike, almost like a lottery system. New bikes were in short supply and demand was high. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
I bought a brand new 1986 883 Sportster right off the floor. This was the “$3,995” special where you could ride it for a year (or less) and bring it back and trade in on a new one for that amount (which I did, trading it for a new 1985 FLHTC which had been on the dealers floor unsold for over a year). 5 years later (1991) I had moved to Chicago. I wanted one of the new Fat Boys, there were none in northern Illinois and I ended up going to Minneapolis to find one. You’re right, about this time the lottery system kicked in.
Couldn’t help but think of the irony when seeing that 94 springer softail. That bike was sold from a dealer probably a third the size of this one and Harley’s were in high demand and you had to wait for them by getting on an allocation list. Then again that was the 90s.
@@DJPTEXAS I bought a 1994 1200 Sporty from a dealer in Tampa, Florida “Barnes” in 95 with only 500 miles on it. Bought that cause pretty much all the big twins were pretty much spoken for lol. Showroom floor could hold about 8 bikes max. That dealer is long since gone but they sold a lot of bikes and there were some great folks there.
They started to require these huge dealerships that were not in tune with the typical customer. As soon as i saw that, I know the clock was ticking. Two of those mega projects have closed in my area of Pennsylvania in the last 5 years or so. In addition on, the owner demographics skew old..and that problem has never been solved by the brand. When your old customers are dying faster than you can find new ones, you are in trouble.
It's the same story here in northern England, out of the five dealerships that were, three have closed down recently, they are Preston, Manchester and Chester, that just leaves only Leeds and Gateshead to serve the whole of the north if England. Jersey H-D in the Channel Islands has also closed at the start of 2024, It is a sad situation indeed.
I used to work in Odessa tx, between dealership closings I dealt with big spring harley, good people. Old school. I'm 85 and probably on my last harle(2007 street glide agree Mega dealerships) are just like car dealerships screw you every which way and then don,t care to know you. I live n fllorida in melbourne twice a year I ride to daytona, bike week and biktoberfest . The dealership changed hands. You would Think you were in a small town that is the size of it several buildings take up space all kinds of stuff bike related BUT they have no interest in you unless you are planning on dropping 30 thousand bucks.. they cater strictly to. The Rubes and could give a rats ass about us loyal old guys. That attitude is ultimately going to cost them. There are more old harley riders than rubes
@@williammason8566 I've been working on motorcycles for almost 50 years, but even someone with limited abilities can do a better job of servicing and minor repairs than a dealership IMO, after all who is going to be the most conscientious and careful. It also saves not only a lot of money, but time also. When I've had vehicles under warranty and used dealer facilities I've not been to satisfied with the knowledge and workmanship I've experienced.
The MOCO is evil. Driving the small dealers out because they want all these dealers to spend millions to upgrade their facilities to look like cookie cutter versions of the big corporate dealers.
I’m not familiar with the dealership, but when HD threw their customer base under the bus, and decided to go after upscale clients, I knew we would start seeing this.
The primary owner passed away and the family did not want to keep it going,. Plus it no-longer fit Harley's corporate model. A sad ending to an outstanding small-town dealership. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
So here's Harley's take on that if you want to become a Harley Fanboy and you can't afford to buy new they want you to buy used and even those bikes are freaking outrageous and I own two of them
Wow, this video popped up after I finished watching another channel, never heard of your channel before but I continued to watch, brought a tear to my eyes. you now have another subscriber!! Rubber down, Faith up!! Xan Biker
Don't shed tears for HD. You have to know the company had it coming for the past 25 years. They outpriced their customer base. HD also was not about quality. I owned 3 of those bikes in the early 2000's and all over priced. I'll keep this short. Good riddance.
This is sad. The state of Nebraska has only 3 dealerships now, 2 in Omaha and 1 in Lincoln. Kansas is fairing the same way. I’m sure most of the closed dealers would still be open and thriving if the corporate asshats actually knew how to run a business. More sometimes is better!
I went to my local Harley Davidson Dealer in Harlingen, Texas for my annual State safety inspection. They said, "Sorry, our mechanic took the day off." They recommend I go to a nearby muffler shop. Now I go to that muffler shop often for air conditioning and other repairs for my pickup. I have never been back to the Harley Dealer. I buy my parts online and do my own services. Oddly, last year that Harley Davidson Dealer has permanently closed.
My experience is for some reason many companies are showing active disdain and disregard for their customers. It is baffling they are doing so, but even more baffling how many people still go along with it.
At my local dealer that are nice and respectful...too bad only to the rich people around here , selling them most of the bikes before they are even delivered .
I dropped into Big Spring HD awhile back to visit and buy some merch& parts for my '98 FXDSG. Oldest dealer in Texas. Opened in 1929. The main building is a big Quonset hut! People were great! Sometimes back some vlogger stopped there and remarked the area/place was sketchy and got the hell outta there. What a wuss! Felt like home to me.
Zero problems with my Indian and dealership support. I once considered adding a Harley to the stable because I never owned one, then thought about why I never owned one.
To each his own. Never had any real problems with any of the four Harleys I've owned except for wear-and-tear items like batteries and tires. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
That sounds about right. You might want to check with a local, independent repair shop. There are many competent outfits who can do the work and would appreciate the business. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
I predicted this and spoke to friends about it. One of the mistakes Harley made was to force dealers to build these big showrooms causing the shop owners to go so deeply into mortgage debt. Harley dealers will continue to close one by one as the years roll by. The Indian competition will gradually erode Harley sales. Too bad, I hate to see Harley’s presence in the American motorcycle scene fade away.
Harley made a big mistake forcing the small shops to go big and flashy, or close. I bought a HD 30 years ago from a dealer in a sweet old brick store in a Main Street setting, that had been there for decades. They had to move to a big glitzy place in the suburb. Those kinds of small dealerships are what the brand needs now.
Reminds me way back when AMF owned H.D. and killed off my uncle's dealership. He was extraordinary loyal to the brand including when they started into marketing the leathers and helmets. What a mess the corporate suits did.
Absolutely correct, people are not going to pay Harley prices for something they do not really desire. Many youngsters have no interest in motorcycles and cars, those that do noticeably like smaller, lighter faster bikes, the Harley Image is not what they aspire too. Movies, TV etc. no longer portray the bigger cruiser bikes often, Ducatis, Triumphs and a selection of sports bikes are more commonly seen. Harley has priced themselves out of a market that no longer exists in the volume they need to survive.
Very sad, I don’t know of your shop, but still sad to hear about another HD Dealership going out of Buisness. I really miss the days of much smaller, more personal family owned dealerships that really knew their local customers and cared about them. Spare me the glitz and glam mall type shops and give me some old shop whose sales people, parts guys and mechanics all know your name! Good bye old memories!
Doesn’t surprise me! Harley made some bikes that brought me into their showroom but with those bikes they didn’t bring in a sales force that was welcoming! I went to my local HD dealership 2-3yrs ago to check out the new Pan America, I have an ADV bike (KTM 1290SA) I read the specs on the PA, the electrics were on par so I had to check it out, I walk into the dealership with full gear and walk over the PA start checking it out, salesman comes over I ask him about the bike, I felt that I was out of place and it hit home when I asked him if I could take it for a test ride, his reply “you can ride it if you have $22,000!” I knew out of place and statement confirmed it! I will NEVER walk into another Harley Davidson Dealership as long as I live! They need to change the sales force with people that are welcoming to everyone, sorry I’m not full of tattoos, with a wife beater on! I see the writing on the wall! They went the right direction on more inclusive bikes but they kept the same old sales force that look down any anything not on a Street Glide!
The big box model did them in. I worked at a dealer in Vancouver Canada before the big box and after. It was never the same after we moved to the big box store. Didn't feel the same.
Sad....bought my first H-D from them when they were in a very old building on main....I was going to OSU ....im going to say summer 86? Oil field had gone south the first time so all i could do was try to get a biz degree. I have not been in Stillwater since 87. seems like a 100 years ago. Sign of the times 30k bikes are a hard sell along with 100k Dodge trucks or Ford.....glad im retired. MAGA
Worth half of the prices they sell 😢gem for. And most service departments at the dealers are all jerks and dont care about their work .Ive experienced it at 3 dealerships. Total jerk owners and mechanics,
the number of bikers is going down . HD and others need to make lobby effort to make riding MC more safe . they should talk the state legislatures to pass laws about lane sharing . Motorcycle is great to cut those nasty huge traffic lines but in mosts states you will break the law doing so. HD should influence states to move to the legalize filtering
I remember going to an auction at our local Packard-Studebaker dealership in about 66-67 with my father and brothers after the company shut down. It was sad. I came away from that auction with some manuals, tools and some parts. I think this is where H-D is going. After studying manufacturing and economics all of my life, I've seen repeating patterns of wars and economic devastation to our economy, communities and the productive capabilities of our nation. Packard-Studebaker went down as our corrupt government robbed the American working class to fund a senseless war that was started as a scam to enrich the general and politicians. The parasite class. The same thing happened with Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Ukraine, the middle east and Africa. I can assure you H-D will be joining Packard-Studebaker, Hudson, the real Indian motorcycle company, Minneapolis-Moline, the Rock Island line, and so many others. Peace and prosperity is what brings us the wealth to purchase nice things to enjoy, like cars and motorcycles. War squandered and wastes lives, wealth and productive capacity for good. It always has. Like Rome fell so is the U.S. for that same reason.
@@drylinedrifter Cult perhaps, prestige questionable. HD corporate running the mom and pop dealers out of business in favor of the Big Box multi-dealership owners that have to charge a big uplift (the aren’t you glad we will sell you a bike charge) over MSRP to feed their profit hungry owners is what might just lead to HD demise after all the Boomers, and perhaps their kids, are dead and gone.
Hell, I have friends who are ashamed because they own a Harley. A friend bought a new Street Glide in 2020. We got to ride together only about 2 times because his bike stayed in the shop constantly. At least 7 times for major work. The last time, he sold it and bought a 24 year old Kawasaki cruiser and has had a smile on his face ever since.
That's true of many things today, the problem for Harley is less the actual price, but how uncompetitive it's become relative to what else is in the market place, and buyers whose tastes and aspirations have changed. Where I live many of the generation who would have bought a Harley in later life now buy the big side by side ATV's, younger people seem to not be as interested in vehicles of any type, but those in to motorcycles seem to like the smaller, lighter faster sportier bikes that provide a lot more for them, for a lot less money. HD has always been about image, but that image generally is not resonating with younger people, they wear armored hoodies on their motorcycles, not leather jackets and chaps.
I was at a local Harley dealer yesterday. I think there was one other person besides me there. The bikes had ADM between 6,000 to 8,000. Still 2023's on the floor. Really sad. I bought a few bikes there, of course that was several years ago and they were really busy.
Doesn’t surprise me! Harley made some bikes that brought me into their showroom but with those bike they didn’t bring in a sales force that was welcoming! I went to my local HD dealership 2-3yrs ago to check out the new Pan America, I have an ADV bike (KTM 1290SA) I read the specs on the PA, the electrics were on par so I had to check it out, I walk into the with full gear and walk over the PA start checking it out, salesman comes over I ask him about the bike, I felt that I was out of place and it hit home when I asked him if I could take it for a test ride, his reply “you can ride it if you have $22,000! I will NEVER walk into another Harley Davidson Dealership as long as I live! They need to change the sales force with people that are welcoming to everyone, sorry I’m not full of tattoos, with a wife beater on or a flannel shirt! I see the writing on the wall! Good change on bikes, but you’re selling the wrong images with these bike! Most newer riders don’t want anything to do with that HD or 1% biker image!
Wow, when you look at the size of these buildings, I cannot imagine the overheads involved. They would need to sell a lot of bikes with huge markups for that to be sustainable. My local dealer for my BMW, is a BMW, Ducati and Triumph dealership all in something a fraction of the size of my local HD dealership. While HD has been popular in my area, it's hard to comprehend a building as big as my local Dodge, Ram, Jeep dealership is needed given the drastic difference in sales volume.
Here in the San Francisco area, to flush the brake reservoirs and refill on my 2022 Pan America, it’s over $200. I’d do it my self but the dealer has the tool needed to reset the dash warning light. Thinking about getting rid of it and just riding my 2003 Deuce.
This will not be the only HD dealership closure. HD's future looks bleak, as they're woefully overpriced, and with an unenviable service department reputation, not to mention that their client base is dying away, while the brand is unable to attract younger buyers. To top it off, I cannot for the life of me believe that HD thinks that they can sell electric motorcycles, when one of the brand's biggest attractions is its unmistakable sound.
Yeah, there is something going on with the motor company. I just can't quite put my finger on it. I hope Harley figures out before its too late. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
HD has been closing smaller, and underperforming shops for decades now. Bellflower HD closed before I left SOCAL 22 years ago, and incorporated into a much larger and called it LA Harley.
Harley has had many hard times, and managed to overcome. maybe the mark has finally come to the end for new bikes, but old ones will always be wanted even more now. the independent shops will see a up tick.
Just about the time that HD came out with some models I liked both of the HD dealers within about 100 miles closed. My most recent bike is a MotoGuzzi. Yes, they have no dealer support, but I expected that when I go it. To add, the models I liked were the Street series, followed by the PanAmerica and the Nightster. It is not just the cost. There is also the issue that I find the "cruiser" riding position very uncomfortable. I broke my tailbone several years ago and It is fine for me for a short ride of under a half hour, but an hour or so in it just starts to hurt.
Sorry about your injury. I like MotoGuzzi also, as well as the PanAmerica. Not so big on the Nightster, though. I think at some point, Harley is going to drop the PanAm motor in the touring series. That will be a game changer. Thanks for commenting.
So this is the first vid of yours I've seen and I'm here in OKC, BUT I don't know this story. Seems like she said "We always knew at 50 years the dealership would be closing anyways" which sounds really odd to me. How did they know that?? Was it not possible to either sell the dealership or bring in some new partners to help run the business? I think I went to this dealership one time like 15 years ago but not entirely sure about that. Would love to hear more about what's gone on, their story, all that. Also Iron Nation in Edmond is the HD dealership where I bought my Harley way back when and I love that place. It's small but I've had great experience with that shop. Harley Davidson World is much bigger and has a much nicer showroom but I love the little Edmond dealership and give them as much business as I can.
The primary owner passed away and Lynn, the general manager was ready to retire (hence the 50 years). It was going to be too pricey for the family to upgrade the dealership to corporate standards, so they decided to get out. At least that's the way I understand it. We are going to go check out Iron Nation in Edmond. Thanks for watching.
Sad for the owners. As an Indian rider, I’m happy I never went the HD route. I always loved the Road King Classic, still do, but the Springfield’s Thunderstroke 111 was just so much smoother and handled better. I couldn’t resist.
You know Harley does build other models beside the Street Glide and the Road Glide. The Heritage Softail Classic is an awesome example. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
I had a difficult time buying a new Harley when the sales manager came over to me and said said that I qualified for 20% interest with my 800 plus credit score He was also young enough to be my son. I don’t think that they are as smooth as they think they are
I went into a Harley dealership some years ago, in my riding gear. Couldn't get anyone's attention, even tho they weren't that busy. I left. Guess there's no reason to try again.
Unfortunately, I am an old white male and too old to change my values. Since Harley Davidson advertised on transgender Budweiser beer cans, I have abandoned the idea to ever buy one of their bikes. I own 4 other bikes from other brands that do not try to teach me what is morally right.
I'm not sure Harley has ever been the business of teaching morals, but I guess you could look at it that way. I think they are just trying to market their products in the most efficient way they can. Thanks for commenting. Cheers!
Younger generation not into bikes, boomers retiring from riding bikes, hard times, high inflation, Harley keeps raising prices on new bikes year after year. Dealers closing, it was bound to happen. Harley is pricing themselves out of business.
The dealerships don't deserve this but corporate definitely does. F Jochen Zeits and the rest of corporate Harley. They've completely alienated the blue collar customer that they pretend to relate to. I've been riding Harleys for about 20 years but I don't see myself buying another, at least nothing they've made since 2017. RIP Dyna, RIP real Softail, RIP Real Sportsrer, RIP Harley Davidson.
Stillwater is a small College town. Surprised they could pull a store like this. The state has 4 million people and 9 dealerships! This economy is cooking!
Simply Mathematics'...Harley just out Priced themselves ! There base core of buyers, where everyday working people.
Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Biden did it
@@larry68hd11
100%
@@larry68hd11 Lol, Biden had nothing to do with their bad business decisions. There Basic style has been the same for over 70 years.
Unfortunately there’s not much market for $30,000 motorcycles
Yes you got that right
30000 for a boring MC. Where's all the customers..!?
Huge market at 30. Not sure about 50
It's a Damn shame what Corporate Harley Davidson demands from dealership owners. Lets start with their required building upgrades. All will became cookie cutter layouts at 1.4 million. Of course, dealer cost, no assistance. Thanks, Jochen Zeitz!! You're in touch with your foundation! Yeah, right!
Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Most of the Harley dealers have become used car like dealerships.
Really miss the days when I would visit my local HD shop and have a few beers with the owner. Man those days are gone, and have been for over 40 years.
So sad another part of America GONE!
Couldn’t agree more most are running the car dealership model business plan really sad to see it go this way! The family owned dealerships could give you a price instantaneously! In the car dealership model it takes three people to give you a price then you go back-and-forth about the price just awful!
True story, my friend. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Happening here in Canada to.... Harley Dealerships being bought up by slimy car dealers.
@@NickHellings-zq8xt Sad, corporate HD feels the need to not support long time family run dealers in favor of Auto conglomerates. Own four HD currently, but bought a new Honda due to HD no longer fostering customer relations along with excessive pricing, sales & service depts.
Monty's cycle shop. W Bridgewater, MA. Since 1947. One of the best dealers
Harley pricing themselves out of the market
That too,
No, it's a corporate decision to close family-owned dealerships, some of which have been around since the 1920s.
@@spaceflight1019 F their corporate decisions.
Not the price
People are broke
@@canadianloon6433 same all a round the world when it’s not affordable then it’s the price
"Dropped the prices and they all sold!" Gee what a surprise.
Right!
Harley told three dealerships to figure out how to split Hot Metal's inventory or one of them would be shuttered.
I hate it for lynn and the rest of the staff. Not a better HD dealer anywhere. The MoCo is an absolutely terrible organization. They've completely forgotten where they came from. Thanks for making this video. I'm going to miss this place.
I totally agree...thanks for watching. Cheers!
It's the Motorcycle Company's fault that his family wants out of the business?
@scott_brudahl who said anything about his "family" wanting out? It is common knowledge that the MoCo wants to get rid of all the smaller Mom and Pop shops in favor of the bigger city shops. That is precisely why the MoCo sucks so much.
@@scott_brudahl Not so sure about that…thanks for watching. 😎
Corporate and dealerships both, just got too greedy. And handing over the company to a foreigner, clueless about, and indifferent to the whole culture, just isn't working. The American bmw...lol
It's kind of hard to stay in business when people go in for an oil change and they come out with a bill over $300. When someone can do the same job at home for around $60.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I think it depends on the dealership, but you could be entirely correct. Thanks for watching. Cheers! 😎
@@drylinedrifterhe is correct what a silly answer
Right in mate your exactly right
$33 for a gal of Yamalube for my Star 1300. What is HD synthetic $20/qt? And warranty is voided if you DIY.
@@drylinedrifter Any dealer here in Central Florida is $400-$500 for a 3-hole service.
If you're a mom & pop dealership, your in trouble....Harley only wants corporations with 50/250 million in capital that will own 5/10 dealerships, they could care less about mom & pop !!!
That may be the case...thanks for watching.
Biden
@@larry68hd11 that's the least of Harleys issues, happening long before Biden....
the old guys are keeping the old bikes...to hell with all this electronic B S.....
I agree totally. That's why I'm still riding my '09 Road King Classic. Everything you need...nothing you don't. Nobody needs navigation and a high-tech entertainment system. That's not what motorcycling is all about. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
Exactly.
My 2007 is the last year Road glide with a throttle cable..
I don't own a Harley but I hear you brother
Have an 02 Fl and a 90 Fl. Prefer the evo. Best bike made
Yup. The Harley dealership herebin Frederick MD closed last month. Harley wanted insane contingencies to renew the contract. We had also been open for almost 5 decades.
I love Harley-Davidson but corporate appears to be headed in the wrong direction. I hope I’m wrong. Only time will tell. Thanks for watching. Cheers! 😎
th-cam.com/video/6UyvvcXbKEM/w-d-xo.html
Not a Harley fan.
But truth be told modern motorcycles are like modern cars, none of them are worth half what is being charged for them.
I think that's true of nearly everything these days. Thanks for watching.
@@drylinedrifter I believe your right
Absolutely correct 100%.
Love my Harley, Its just right for me. I've looked at other brands, they all have issues, talk about sticker shock, resell value, dealer support, aftermarket help, independent mechanics, other brands just don't match up. My Harley is 5 years old and looks good in a set of apes..
the real problem I see is, dealers buying used bikes at low auction price, say $15K for a 2019 RGU, and then putting on showroom at $21K, a $6K profit and then trying to sell new bikes at sticker plus. Its just a little bit to greedy. Why do they feel they need to make $7k profit on bike sales. Wanna sell more bikes, lower your profit margins , give more for used bikes, ask less for new bikes, people will buy. But I'm not giving you that kind of profit, no way. Back in the 80's when I was a selling motorcycles and cars, profit was counted in hundreds not thousands. People didn't have a lot of money, but sold a lot of bikes. My 2 cents.
Harley went upscale. The bikers went somewhere else 😂
Thanks for watching.
I worked for a Mom and Pop Harley dealership in New York for a few years in the early 90's... They were forced to expand and buy a new building to become one of those huge Mc Dealerships and ended up going out of business when the economy tanked..... They had been in business since WW2 ! Sad..... I loved working there.... Reggie Pink Harley Davidson White Plains NY. They started in the Bronx I believe and originally one of the first Triumph importers on the East coast. Heavy into racing and AMA Events. I hate those new huge dealers........Sad, God bless.....
It’s really sad. I think the motor company may have lost its way. Thanks for watching. 😎
Think he was first importer of English motorcycles.
Think 3 bay gas station.
Had this HUGE place built across street.... My brother would take his Enduro dirt bike to him for inspection, done. Old time
Motorcycle guy❤
@@endamccabe8895 Yes!
I didn't know that. Maybe. I know by 1960 that Whitey Loud's House of Triumph was the Triumph dealer in the Bronx
@@skymningforelsket1302 Yea I used to go to Whiteys for my Triumph... Pink was way before that... in the Bronx also...
Harley head management realizes that they've flooded the market and need to get out before the bubble bursts. The market for "blacked out Street Glides" is dropping.
Probably true. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
It used to be Harley built a quality bike at a premium price, they haven't built a quality bike in some time, but they kept the premium price. People still put up with it because their dealer network was so strong you could find a Harley dealer almost anywhere. Now in Harley's infinite wisdom they're getting rid of dealers and the one selling point they have left.
So true, my friend. Thanks for watching.
Id consider my 1996 Fatboy a very high quality bike.. evo runs great
@@USNVA-yn6cp my point exactly, the new ones not so much.
Kia Ora Drifter it’s a sad day in the neighborhood brother
47 years is a good run though
Thanks for sharing have a great weekend 🤙🏾✊🏾🇨🇦🇺🇸
We are just gutted. We’ve been going down to Stillwater to Forman Harley-Davidson since we moved to Oklahoma from New Mexico. It just won’t be the same dealing with one of those big corporate franchises. Enjoy your weekend, my friend. Ride safe. Cheers! 😎
@@drylinedrifter Unfortunately the big corporations are taking over everything. Pretty soon the Mom and Pop businesses will be a thing of the past.
Newzealand will close dealers soon economy world wide is bad
Large buildings and overhead have require higher prices...
Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Not to mention way over priced service and crappy technicians / mechanics that do poor quality work.
Harley had it's day in the sun.
Not so sure about that, my friend. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Just my own opinion here when Willie-G retired the styling on alot of motorcycles from HD started to look like metric bikes , Some models still look old school but im not giving 30-40k for any scooter , I paid 19k in 2006 for my streetglide and i will stick with that until if falls apart !
Same here...'09 Road King Classic. Probably my last Harley. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
Just to comment, 19K in 2006 equates to 28716.95 today.
I’m afraid this will happen to my local family owned Harley dealer. Here in Indiana most smaller dealers are long gone and replaced with huge chain dealers that claim to be family owned. No price tags on bikes, can’t get an actual price without signing your life away first. If I walk into a Harley dealership and ask a price on a certain bike and get the “that one is low to mid 30’s” I run for the door. Bensons Harley Davidson is where I purchase my Harley’s from. I ask for a total out the price and get it in minutes and it’s actually a reasonable price. They’ve never pushed me to purchase unwanted extras either. I really just can’t believe how fast the world has changed, it’s overwhelming.
I feel your pain, brother. Something is going to have to change. The way things are going, I'm not sure that Harley is going to make it. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Instead of going three miles to Hot Metal Harley now I have to go 20 miles to the nearest dealer.
It’s the same in the car business. Penske auto group owns around 3,200 car dealerships worldwide. They are focused on profit targets that are sometimes unobtainable. Those that don’t meet the bar are usually closed, not sold.
I bought e lectric and love it
Harley Davidson, a T-Shirt company that sells motorcycles on the side.
Ouch! Thanks for watching. Cheers!
And the shirts are over priced too
@@turboturtle9083 Don't hold back...tell me how you really feel. LOL
@@turboturtle9083 And poor quality
sales were down 23% in the first quarter of 2024...i think the end is near. 16 grand for the new sportster s? really?
It's partially the economy, but I agree. Thanks for watching.
@@drylinedrifter true...the high interest rates are a big factor. the cost to borrow money is crazy right now.
I am in the UK. I have always fancied a fully dressed Harley touring bike, but over here you can get a decent used Bentley for the same price Harley are asking.
It’s not just Harley Davidson. It’s businesses all around America are closing, fast. Food stores and retailers are closing left and right, inflation is out of control. Our federal and State governments have lost their FN minds, and if something is not done, it’s gonna get a lot worse before it gets better. God help us all.
Absolutely agree. Our local Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha dealer just shut down last week. Had I know this video was going to be so popular I would have made another one. It's the sign of the times. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!.
Pride month and transgender day on Easter. We reap what we sow.
Biden
It all started with the Marelli fuel injection,then the spring loaded camchain followers,cheap slip fit crankshafts and Harley then changed the run out spec when it would be replaced under warranty.People have had enough.
Cam bearings, oil pumps, fulid transfer, blow by, I could go on....
Texting! No way I'll ever ride a bike agian with these people on the phone whilst driving.
What in the world are you talking about?
Ok this is NOT rocket science here,,, your selling motorcycles for HARLEY that are WAY WAY WAY over priced and your Harley clothing is marked up like 400%, your service department won’t even work on a Harley that’s over 5 years old… how long did you think you were going to stay in business? This is a PERFECT opportunity for someone to open up another motorcycle shop working on and selling used Harley’s!! These stupid corporations are freakin BLIND… sell to your clients!!!! Not to the woke society out there today. Figure out HOW to price your products reasonably and SERVICE the damn things!!! I am NOT specifically talking about this Harley dealership I am talking about ALL Harley dealerships in general. They are all basically the same.
I feel your pain, brother. Forman was an awesome dealership. I'm sure there are still good ones out there. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Shitcan the clothing store. It's a motorcycle shop not Dillards.
Corps don't care like our current government. It's their way or the highway it seems. And that spells the END of a product.
So many of these corporations are run by people who have zero knowledge of the product, or the market they selling to. Huge blunder after another, while the execs are paid millions a year for their incompetence.
They also don't even work on anything besides Harleys either which is stupid and everyone at HD I've ever talked to over the phone seemed like total pricks that i don't wanna do business with.
Tommy was an old school dealer .... He was a GREAT 🇺🇸..🙏🏻
Well, isn't it amazing they started selling bikes when they dropped the prices and stopped ripping people off. Daaahhh....
Thanks for commenting.
When HD and all the foreigners that sit on the board of directors decided to have the band “Green Day” play at the 120th Anniversary celebration last year and sing about how much the USA sucks, I knew without a doubt that I had bought my last new harley. I’ve bought 2 new bikes in the last 12 months and they were absolutely NOT harleys. Sad to see that the most anti-American motorcycle manufacturer out there is harley davidson
I live in the UK. I have always fancied a full-dress Harley, but the cost is cripplingly obscene. Indeed for the same price I can buy a decent used Bentley, and as nice as a Harley would be there's no way in rain-lashed Britain I am forking out so much money for a bike that would get so little use (10 nice days since last June the 28th).....
Hadn't heard about that celebration and concert, sounds about as well thought out as Budweiser with the Transgender person. Great way to insult and alienate almost your entire customer base in one go.
Bought my first Harley in the mid 1980’s (Conley’s Harley-Davidson, Plano (Dallas, TX) and wondered when all the dealerships started building these palaces how long that was going to last. Longer than I expected, but the day has finally come.
I believe the Harley "palace" trend began sometime in the early 2000's. I remember having to get on a list just to get the option to purchase new bike, almost like a lottery system. New bikes were in short supply and demand was high. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
I bought a brand new 1986 883 Sportster right off the floor. This was the “$3,995” special where you could ride it for a year (or less) and bring it back and trade in on a new one for that amount (which I did, trading it for a new 1985 FLHTC which had been on the dealers floor unsold for over a year). 5 years later (1991) I had moved to Chicago. I wanted one of the new Fat Boys, there were none in northern Illinois and I ended up going to Minneapolis to find one. You’re right, about this time the lottery system kicked in.
My local dealer, sure gonna miss that place. Lynn staying till the end...
Hey brother, I've been following you for some time now. Love your channel. Are you in Oklahoma also?
Couldn’t help but think of the irony when seeing that 94 springer softail. That bike was sold from a dealer probably a third the size of this one and Harley’s were in high demand and you had to wait for them by getting on an allocation list. Then again that was the 90s.
True...thanks for watching.
Yes at the dealership I worked for during those years we had waiting lists...
@@DJPTEXAS I bought a 1994 1200 Sporty from a dealer in Tampa, Florida “Barnes” in 95 with only 500 miles on it. Bought that cause pretty much all the big twins were pretty much spoken for lol. Showroom floor could hold about 8 bikes max. That dealer is long since gone but they sold a lot of bikes and there were some great folks there.
@@hdfxst1521 And we didn't even know those were the good ol days !
I purchased a 1989 softail custom from Barnes. Scott Barnes was one of the owners. They were in business since 1933.Harley ran them out.
They started to require these huge dealerships that were not in tune with the typical customer. As soon as i saw that, I know the clock was ticking. Two of those mega projects have closed in my area of Pennsylvania in the last 5 years or so. In addition on, the owner demographics skew old..and that problem has never been solved by the brand. When your old customers are dying faster than you can find new ones, you are in trouble.
Well said, my friend. Thanks for commenting. Cheers!
It's the same story here in northern England, out of the five dealerships that were, three have closed down recently, they are Preston, Manchester and Chester, that just leaves only Leeds and Gateshead to serve the whole of the north if England. Jersey H-D in the Channel Islands has also closed at the start of 2024, It is a sad situation indeed.
Not sure what the motor company is up to…at this point I’m still loyal to the brand. Thanks for watching. Cheers, mate! 😎
Manchester has reopened again recently.
I used to work in Odessa tx, between dealership closings I dealt with big spring harley, good people. Old school. I'm 85 and probably on my last harle(2007 street glide agree Mega dealerships) are just like car dealerships screw you every which way and then don,t care to know you. I live n fllorida in melbourne twice a year I ride to daytona, bike week and biktoberfest . The dealership changed hands. You would
Think you were in a small town that is the size of it several buildings take up space all kinds of stuff bike related BUT they have no interest in you unless you are planning on dropping 30 thousand bucks.. they cater strictly to. The Rubes and could give a rats ass about us loyal old guys. That attitude is ultimately going to cost them. There are more old harley riders than rubes
I really liked Preston its location , the cafe and the staff including Mick in sales.
Happy Days !
"Where would you recommend we take the bikes for service?" Oh, don't worry, there's another dealership 250 miles up the road! 😆
Fortunately for us there is another dealer only five miles further away. The problem is
it's not one we are familiar with. Thanks for watching.
Last place I’d go for service is a dealership unless it’s warranty work.
@@williammason8566 Correct
A local indy has gotten my work.
@@williammason8566 I've been working on motorcycles for almost 50 years, but even someone with limited abilities can do a better job of servicing and minor repairs than a dealership IMO, after all who is going to be the most conscientious and careful. It also saves not only a lot of money, but time also. When I've had vehicles under warranty and used dealer facilities I've not been to satisfied with the knowledge and workmanship I've experienced.
The MOCO is evil. Driving the small dealers out because they want all these dealers to spend millions to upgrade their facilities to look like cookie cutter versions of the big corporate dealers.
Not so sure I would describe the motor company as "evil"...perhaps just out of step with their customers. Thanks for watching.
I’m not familiar with the dealership, but when HD threw their customer base under the bus, and decided to go after upscale clients, I knew we would start seeing this.
The primary owner passed away and the family did not want to keep it going,. Plus it no-longer fit Harley's corporate model. A sad ending to an outstanding small-town dealership. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
@@drylinedrifteryour wrong it is the economy people ain’t buying and a lot are parting with there bikes wake up and smell the coffee
So here's Harley's take on that if you want to become a Harley Fanboy and you can't afford to buy new they want you to buy used and even those bikes are freaking outrageous and I own two of them
@@STATION26ADDISON I agree with you harley has lost there way and have gone for yuppies
Wow, this video popped up after I finished watching another channel, never heard of your channel before but I continued to watch, brought a tear to my eyes. you now have another subscriber!! Rubber down, Faith up!! Xan Biker
So glad you found us. Thanks for watching and subscribing. Cheers!
How strange for I am in the UK and also have no idea why this video was recommended, but like you I watched it through.
Don't shed tears for HD. You have to know the company had it coming for the past 25 years. They outpriced their customer base. HD also was not about quality. I owned 3 of those bikes in the early 2000's and all over priced. I'll keep this short. Good riddance.
They only survived the 70's because of the import tax put on machines over 700cc
Biden did it
This is sad. The state of Nebraska has only 3 dealerships now, 2 in Omaha and 1 in Lincoln. Kansas is fairing the same way. I’m sure most of the closed dealers would still be open and thriving if the corporate asshats actually knew how to run a business. More sometimes is better!
Harley-Davidson is up to something. Thanks for watching. Cheers! 😎
I went to my local Harley Davidson Dealer in Harlingen, Texas for my annual State safety inspection. They said, "Sorry, our mechanic took the day off." They recommend I go to a nearby muffler shop. Now I go to that muffler shop often for air conditioning and other repairs for my pickup. I have never been back to the Harley Dealer. I buy my parts online and do my own services. Oddly, last year that Harley Davidson Dealer has permanently closed.
That sounds about right...
My experience is for some reason many companies are showing active disdain and disregard for their customers. It is baffling they are doing so, but even more baffling how many people still go along with it.
Yep...that sounds about right. Thanks for commenting.
At my local dealer that are nice and respectful...too bad only to the rich people around here , selling them most of the bikes before they are even delivered .
I dropped into Big Spring HD awhile back to visit and buy some merch& parts for my '98 FXDSG. Oldest dealer in Texas. Opened in 1929. The main building is a big Quonset hut! People were great!
Sometimes back some vlogger stopped there and remarked the area/place was sketchy and got the hell outta there. What a wuss! Felt like home to me.
I know exactly what you mean...thanks for watching.
Probably a rub that saw a speck of dust
Miss all the old off street dealerships,,wood floors,,parts golore,conversation get around the wood stove,tell stories!!
So true...
Zero problems with my Indian and dealership support. I once considered adding a Harley to the stable because I never owned one, then thought about why I never owned one.
To each his own. Never had any real problems with any of the four Harleys I've owned except for wear-and-tear items like batteries and tires. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
On top of higher prices, my local hd also won't work on bikes older than 09 or 07 I forget.
That sounds about right. You might want to check with a local, independent repair shop. There are many competent outfits who can do the work and would appreciate the business. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
I predicted this and spoke to friends about it. One of the mistakes Harley made was to force dealers to build these big showrooms causing the shop owners to go so deeply into mortgage debt. Harley dealers will continue to close one by one as the years roll by. The Indian competition will gradually erode Harley sales. Too bad, I hate to see Harley’s presence in the American motorcycle scene fade away.
Perhaps things will change for the better. Thanks for commenting.
quess Ill keep buying and riding the old ones.. love em! and wayyy cheaper than new
I love the old bikes too. Thanks for commenting. Cheers!
Harley made a big mistake forcing the small shops to go big and flashy, or close. I bought a HD 30 years ago from a dealer in a sweet old brick store in a Main Street setting, that had been there for decades. They had to move to a big glitzy place in the suburb. Those kinds of small dealerships are what the brand needs now.
I agree with you 100%. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
160 an hour at my local stealer ship just madness
Yep...that sounds about right. Thanks for watching.
Reminds me way back when AMF owned H.D. and killed off my uncle's dealership. He was extraordinary loyal to the brand including when they started into marketing the leathers and helmets. What a mess the corporate suits did.
Agreed. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
Very sad - this is a legend!
Agreed. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
The demographics of bike riders have changed as well and they don’t prefer Harleys
I think you may be right on that assessment. Thanks for watching.
That Is correct. The old riders are passing away or getting off their bikes ( my dad) and no one is replacing them.
Don't agree.
No one wants to ride
Absolutely correct, people are not going to pay Harley prices for something they do not really desire. Many youngsters have no interest in motorcycles and cars, those that do noticeably like smaller, lighter faster bikes, the Harley Image is not what they aspire too. Movies, TV etc. no longer portray the bigger cruiser bikes often, Ducatis, Triumphs and a selection of sports bikes are more commonly seen. Harley has priced themselves out of a market that no longer exists in the volume they need to survive.
@@ptinatlanta6815 the tattoo shops at sturgis aren’t going to be happy 😂
What's the average age of a Harley owner versus other brands? I think there are fewer and fewer younger riders with the means for the Harley hobby.
That would be a really interesting statistic to research. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
Very sad, I don’t know of your shop, but still sad to hear about another HD Dealership going out of Buisness. I really miss the days of much smaller, more personal family owned dealerships that really knew their local customers and cared about them. Spare me the glitz and glam mall type shops and give me some old shop whose sales people, parts guys and mechanics all know your name!
Good bye old memories!
So true, my friend. Thanks for watching.
What's going to happen with the two roped-off vintage bikes shown towards the end of the video? Are they for sale?
As far as I know, the vintage bikes and other collectables will remain with the family. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers.
Hard to swallow for the long term shops. Local riders many only bought H-D's for decades , crazy times.
So true...
Imagine how blown away they will be when they get on a Japanese bike. Half the price, twice the performance, 3 times the reliability, 4 times the fun.
Doesn’t surprise me! Harley made some bikes that brought me into their showroom but with those bikes they didn’t bring in a sales force that was welcoming! I went to my local HD dealership 2-3yrs ago to check out the new Pan America, I have an ADV bike (KTM 1290SA) I read the specs on the PA, the electrics were on par so I had to check it out, I walk into the dealership with full gear and walk over the PA start checking it out, salesman comes over I ask him about the bike, I felt that I was out of place and it hit home when I asked him if I could take it for a test ride, his reply “you can ride it if you have $22,000!” I knew out of place and statement confirmed it! I will NEVER walk into another Harley Davidson Dealership as long as I live! They need to change the sales force with people that are welcoming to everyone, sorry I’m not full of tattoos, with a wife beater on! I see the writing on the wall! They went the right direction on more inclusive bikes but they kept the same old sales force that look down any anything not on a Street Glide!
Sorry you had a bad experience. Thanks for commenting.
The big box model did them in. I worked at a dealer in Vancouver Canada before the big box and after. It was never the same after we moved to the big box store. Didn't feel the same.
Seems to be the trend. Very sad. Thanks for commenting. Cheers!
Sad....bought my first H-D from them when they were in a very old building on main....I was going to OSU ....im going to say summer 86? Oil field had gone south the first time so all i could do was try to get a biz degree. I have not been in Stillwater since 87. seems like a 100 years ago. Sign of the times 30k bikes are a hard sell along with 100k Dodge trucks or Ford.....glad im retired. MAGA
Thanks so much for commenting. Cheers!
Yes, the new bikes are too expensive!
You get what you pay for, in my opinion. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Worth half of the prices they sell 😢gem for. And most service departments at the dealers are all jerks and dont care about their work .Ive experienced it at 3 dealerships. Total jerk owners and mechanics,
Thanks for watching.
the number of bikers is going down . HD and others need to make lobby effort to make riding MC more safe . they should talk the state legislatures to pass laws about lane sharing . Motorcycle is great to cut those nasty huge traffic lines but in mosts states you will break the law doing so. HD should influence states to move to the legalize filtering
Now that's new to me. Thanks for commenting. Cheers!
I remember going to an auction at our local Packard-Studebaker dealership in about 66-67 with my father and brothers after the company shut down. It was sad. I came away from that auction with some manuals, tools and some parts. I think this is where H-D is going.
After studying manufacturing and economics all of my life, I've seen repeating patterns of wars and economic devastation to our economy, communities and the productive capabilities of our nation. Packard-Studebaker went down as our corrupt government robbed the American working class to fund a senseless war that was started as a scam to enrich the general and politicians. The parasite class. The same thing happened with Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Ukraine, the middle east and Africa. I can assure you H-D will be joining Packard-Studebaker, Hudson, the real Indian motorcycle company, Minneapolis-Moline, the Rock Island line, and so many others. Peace and prosperity is what brings us the wealth to purchase nice things to enjoy, like cars and motorcycles. War squandered and wastes lives, wealth and productive capacity for good. It always has. Like Rome fell so is the U.S. for that same reason.
That is a very real possibility (where H-D is going), my friend. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
the free market at its best. this is exactly how things should work. No story here.
There's always story if you know what to look for. Thanks for commenting. Cheers!
But some of the demise is because Harley dealers think they are doing you a favor by selling you an already overpriced motorcycle.Right!
It’s all part of the prestige of owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Thanks for watching. Cheers! 😎
@@drylinedrifter Cult perhaps, prestige questionable. HD corporate running the mom and pop dealers out of business in favor of the Big Box multi-dealership owners that have to charge a big uplift (the aren’t you glad we will sell you a bike charge) over MSRP to feed their profit hungry owners is what might just lead to HD demise after all the Boomers, and perhaps their kids, are dead and gone.
@@drylinedrifterPrestige doesn’t get you up and down the road.
Hell, I have friends who are ashamed because they own a Harley. A friend bought a new Street Glide in 2020. We got to ride together only about 2 times because his bike stayed in the shop constantly. At least 7 times for major work. The last time, he sold it and bought a 24 year old Kawasaki cruiser and has had a smile on his face ever since.
“HarLeY hAs pRiCed tHeIR cUsTomErs OuT oF ThE mArkET.”
Adjust prior decade’s prices for inflation. Harley’s are a better value than ever.
That may very well be the case. Thanks for pointing that out. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
That's true of many things today, the problem for Harley is less the actual price, but how uncompetitive it's become relative to what else is in the market place, and buyers whose tastes and aspirations have changed. Where I live many of the generation who would have bought a Harley in later life now buy the big side by side ATV's, younger people seem to not be as interested in vehicles of any type, but those in to motorcycles seem to like the smaller, lighter faster sportier bikes that provide a lot more for them, for a lot less money. HD has always been about image, but that image generally is not resonating with younger people, they wear armored hoodies on their motorcycles, not leather jackets and chaps.
I was at a local Harley dealer yesterday. I think there was one other person besides me there. The bikes had ADM between 6,000 to 8,000. Still 2023's on the floor. Really sad. I bought a few bikes there, of course that was several years ago and they were really busy.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
Doesn’t surprise me! Harley made some bikes that brought me into their showroom but with those bike they didn’t bring in a sales force that was welcoming! I went to my local HD dealership 2-3yrs ago to check out the new Pan America, I have an ADV bike (KTM 1290SA) I read the specs on the PA, the electrics were on par so I had to check it out, I walk into the with full gear and walk over the PA start checking it out, salesman comes over I ask him about the bike, I felt that I was out of place and it hit home when I asked him if I could take it for a test ride, his reply “you can ride it if you have $22,000! I will NEVER walk into another Harley Davidson Dealership as long as I live! They need to change the sales force with people that are welcoming to everyone, sorry I’m not full of tattoos, with a wife beater on or a flannel shirt! I see the writing on the wall! Good change on bikes, but you’re selling the wrong images with these bike! Most newer riders don’t want anything to do with that HD or 1% biker image!
That is certainly one way to look at it. Cheers!
Wow, when you look at the size of these buildings, I cannot imagine the overheads involved. They would need to sell a lot of bikes with huge markups for that to be sustainable. My local dealer for my BMW, is a BMW, Ducati and Triumph dealership all in something a fraction of the size of my local HD dealership. While HD has been popular in my area, it's hard to comprehend a building as big as my local Dodge, Ram, Jeep dealership is needed given the drastic difference in sales volume.
I know...it's all a big mess. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
Well the boomers had money to buy them until there were no more boomers to buy them.
So many of the family own dealers are closing or selling out to large car dealers. It is very sad.
Here in the San Francisco area, to flush the brake reservoirs and refill on my 2022 Pan America, it’s over $200. I’d do it my self but the dealer has the tool needed to reset the dash warning light. Thinking about getting rid of it and just riding my 2003 Deuce.
Yep, owning a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle can be expensive...no doubt about it. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
Bought my 2006 Deuce from Dudley Perkins in SF. That was the best buying experience of any product I've ever had. They're gone as well.
Good!
Not sure what "Good!" refers to, but thanks for watching.
This will not be the only HD dealership closure. HD's future looks bleak, as they're woefully overpriced, and with an unenviable service department reputation, not to mention that their client base is dying away, while the brand is unable to attract younger buyers. To top it off, I cannot for the life of me believe that HD thinks that they can sell electric motorcycles, when one of the brand's biggest attractions is its unmistakable sound.
Yeah, there is something going on with the motor company. I just can't quite put my finger on it. I hope Harley figures out before its too late. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
HD has been closing smaller, and underperforming shops for decades now. Bellflower HD closed before I left SOCAL 22 years ago, and incorporated into a much larger and called it LA Harley.
I agree...a bad strategy in my opinion. Thanks for commenting. Cheers!
We had ours close in Kingwood Tx. Bought 5 bikes there, they “consolidated “ with another dealer 40 miles away..sad
It's a sad day in mudville...thanks for watching.
Harley has had many hard times, and managed to overcome. maybe the mark has finally come to the end for new bikes, but old ones will always be wanted even more now. the independent shops will see a up tick.
Truth! Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
Just about the time that HD came out with some models I liked both of the HD dealers within about 100 miles closed. My most recent bike is a MotoGuzzi. Yes, they have no dealer support, but I expected that when I go it.
To add, the models I liked were the Street series, followed by the PanAmerica and the Nightster. It is not just the cost. There is also the issue that I find the "cruiser" riding position very uncomfortable. I broke my tailbone several years ago and It is fine for me for a short ride of under a half hour, but an hour or so in it just starts to hurt.
Sorry about your injury. I like MotoGuzzi also, as well as the PanAmerica. Not so big on the Nightster, though. I think at some point, Harley is going to drop the PanAm motor in the touring series. That will be a game changer. Thanks for commenting.
47 years. Another dealership put under by Zeitz.
They earned it !😂
Perhaps.
Can’t figure out exactly what does post Mortem accomplished
I'm not sure what you are referring to (post Mortem)?
So this is the first vid of yours I've seen and I'm here in OKC, BUT I don't know this story. Seems like she said "We always knew at 50 years the dealership would be closing anyways" which sounds really odd to me. How did they know that?? Was it not possible to either sell the dealership or bring in some new partners to help run the business? I think I went to this dealership one time like 15 years ago but not entirely sure about that. Would love to hear more about what's gone on, their story, all that.
Also Iron Nation in Edmond is the HD dealership where I bought my Harley way back when and I love that place. It's small but I've had great experience with that shop. Harley Davidson World is much bigger and has a much nicer showroom but I love the little Edmond dealership and give them as much business as I can.
The primary owner passed away and Lynn, the general manager was ready to retire (hence the 50 years). It was going to be too pricey for the family to upgrade the dealership to corporate standards, so they decided to get out. At least that's the way I understand it. We are going to go check out Iron Nation in Edmond. Thanks for watching.
@@drylinedrifter Ahh ok - thanks for the info.
Our HD here in New Bern, NC closed forever 2 years ago for the same reasons. Really sad.
Thanks for watching. Cheers!
I’m not a Harley fan but I’m sad also. It is an American icon.
Thanks for watching.
You need to remove the 'i' from icon.
Sad for the owners. As an Indian rider, I’m happy I never went the HD route. I always loved the Road King Classic, still do, but the Springfield’s Thunderstroke 111 was just so much smoother and handled better. I couldn’t resist.
Thanks for watching.
I think Indian has been another thorn in HD 's side, in a shrinking market Indian has made big inroads with better motorcycles.
New UGLY plastic bikes with blinding LED headlights and stupid touch screens. Far cry from the old school good looking bikes. Pan knuckle shovel & Evo
You know Harley does build other models beside the Street Glide and the Road Glide. The Heritage Softail Classic is an awesome example. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
Also Harley priced the 24s cheaper than the 23s. That screwed many dealers
That's because of chip shortages during COVID, I believe. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
This is one reason of many i will never buy another Harley Davidson
Sorry you feel that way...thanks for watching. Cheers!
I had a difficult time buying a new Harley when the sales manager came over to me and said said that I qualified for 20% interest with my 800 plus credit score He was also young enough to be my son. I don’t think that they are as smooth as they think they are
@@friedrichcrump6145 Where was this? Thanks for watching.
I went into a Harley dealership some years ago, in my riding gear. Couldn't get anyone's attention, even tho they weren't that busy. I left. Guess there's no reason to try again.
What a shame...thanks for watching.
Unfortunately, I am an old white male and too old to change my values. Since Harley Davidson advertised on transgender Budweiser beer cans, I have abandoned the idea to ever buy one of their bikes. I own 4 other bikes from other brands that do not try to teach me what is morally right.
I'm not sure Harley has ever been the business of teaching morals, but I guess you could look at it that way. I think they are just trying to market their products in the most efficient way they can. Thanks for commenting. Cheers!
@@drylinedrifter I guess when you go down that type of marketing road, you better gain a lot more buyers than you lose.
Maybe if HD didn’t screw their customers every chance they get maybe dealers wouldn’t be closing.
Not the reason Forman is closing. Thanks for watching.
Younger generation not into bikes, boomers retiring from riding bikes, hard times, high inflation, Harley keeps raising prices on new bikes year after year. Dealers closing, it was bound to happen. Harley is pricing themselves out of business.
Thanks for watching.
Prices are to high, in Canada a CVO is 59000.00 plus tax!!
That's just insane. Thanks for watching.
what happens to all the people who got Harley tattoos?
They just get more tattoos...LOL. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
No surprise. Prices are out of this world anyways.
What would you consider to be a reasonable price for a new, fully-equipped, touring model? Just curious. Thanks for commenting. Cheers!
@@drylinedrifter25k
Not a touring model, but a Heritage Classic 114 starts out at $22,499.
The dealerships don't deserve this but corporate definitely does. F Jochen Zeits and the rest of corporate Harley. They've completely alienated the blue collar customer that they pretend to relate to.
I've been riding Harleys for about 20 years but I don't see myself buying another, at least nothing they've made since 2017. RIP Dyna, RIP real Softail, RIP Real Sportsrer, RIP Harley Davidson.
Yikes...thanks for watching.
That’s Harley ,,For you 😢. I own a 2003 Black and silver Anniversary.Which I bought new..Still have the bike. Will never sell . So easy to maintain 👍
Love that...I had a new 100th Anniversary 883 Sportster. Sold it before getting the '09 Road King Classic. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
As an Indian, Triumph and Honda owner, this just breaks my little heart
Truth! Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
That got me singing: "Don't break my heart, my achy breaky heart..."
Stillwater is a small College town. Surprised they could pull a store like this. The state has 4 million people and 9 dealerships! This economy is cooking!
Agreed, my friend. Thanks for watching.