Harley Davidson and BMW both make a lot of expensive motorcycles.
HD is seeing its marketshare shrink. It still dominates the big bike sales in the US but it's customer demographic is aging and dying off. BMW has a smaller overall market but is seeing growth in big bikes in Europe and Asia and has very strong sales in its large 1250cc bikes.
Lots of differences. BMW caters to a younger more adventurous crowd. HD caters to the over 55year old traditionalists. HD motorcycles biggest sellers are 600, 750 and even 900 pounds when loaded up with cases and accessories. BMW's biggest 1250cc retail sales bikes come in about 475 pounds unloaded and 550# with cases and accessories.
HD bikes are best suited for highway and byway travel. BMW bikes are suited for off road, on road, city and highway travel.
The world changes. BMW was almost broke 15-20 years ago, it is now among the hottests brands with strong growth and a very diversified line of bikes. HD was totally dominating the market just a handful of years ago but has been declining. HD branched out into electric motorcycles, but sold them primarily to their existing customers. HD stopped development of 2 new bikes that would have squarely pitted them against BMW in the Adventure-Touring market and in the Naked Bike market, leaving them with their core bikes and aging customers.
BMW Posts Record Moto Sales in June ==> https://advrider.com/bmw-posts-record-moto-sales-in-june/
H-D Announces Massive Workforce Cuts --> https://advrider.com/harley-davidson-announces-massive-workforce-cuts/
HD is seeing its marketshare shrink. It still dominates the big bike sales in the US but it's customer demographic is aging and dying off. BMW has a smaller overall market but is seeing growth in big bikes in Europe and Asia and has very strong sales in its large 1250cc bikes.
Lots of differences. BMW caters to a younger more adventurous crowd. HD caters to the over 55year old traditionalists. HD motorcycles biggest sellers are 600, 750 and even 900 pounds when loaded up with cases and accessories. BMW's biggest 1250cc retail sales bikes come in about 475 pounds unloaded and 550# with cases and accessories.
HD bikes are best suited for highway and byway travel. BMW bikes are suited for off road, on road, city and highway travel.
The world changes. BMW was almost broke 15-20 years ago, it is now among the hottests brands with strong growth and a very diversified line of bikes. HD was totally dominating the market just a handful of years ago but has been declining. HD branched out into electric motorcycles, but sold them primarily to their existing customers. HD stopped development of 2 new bikes that would have squarely pitted them against BMW in the Adventure-Touring market and in the Naked Bike market, leaving them with their core bikes and aging customers.
BMW Posts Record Moto Sales in June ==> https://advrider.com/bmw-posts-record-moto-sales-in-june/
H-D Announces Massive Workforce Cuts --> https://advrider.com/harley-davidson-announces-massive-workforce-cuts/