Harley-Davidson is bleeding, several dealerships closed in 2020, the product line has been dramatically trimmed. The electric LIVEWIRE didn't set the sales world on fire by bringing NEW customers into dealerships but instead sold to existing aging riders who had an extra $30,000 in their pocket.
But now something else new is coming and, if H-D markets it properly, it will appeal to the riders of the fastest growing class of motorcycles in the world. The ADV-Touring class of riders, those who want a bike that can cross a country, regardless of if there is road under their tires or not. Truth be told, 99% of these buyers take tarmac to Starbucks and never see a mountain pass, but these bikes can take on logging roads, forest trails, and open desert.
BMW GS1250 is the 'king of the hill' in this class of bikes that includes bikes from KTM, Honda, Triumph, Moto-Guzzi, Ducati, Yamaha and others. They look like over-bloated dirt bikes, but at home on the highway. They are tall in the saddle, seat heights are typically 32" or high, ground clearance is high too. Riding position is upright and they turn on a dime, capable of doing figure-8s in a tight parking lot or working its way through trees in the woods. And HARLEY-DAVIDSON finally has a bike that can compete in the growing category instead of clawing for space in its shrinking cruiser category and aging customer base.
https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/harley-davidson-pan-america-tours-europe-and-pre-orders-begin/
Looking at the photos this bike is pre-set for some custom luggage boxes and the mounting frames are already in place. Looks like a rear frame support may need to be added for a top box to hold the helmet. This is the first H-D that really appeals to me, but with the large 1250cc engine carrying so much weight up high I'd bet this is one top-heavy ADV-Touring motorcycle. The brush guards look to be plastic without an aluminum or steel spine to offer real protection, something that if true, will draw criticism. The trend in the ADV-Touring bikes is to grow the engines into the 1100 to 1250cc range for brand's "flagship" models, but there is a larger category in the sub-1000cc range and H-D previously announced they will be offering a lighter version of this same bike... but no date projected. For the long term, an investor in H-D would hope that H-D brings out a 750cc to 900cc range bike as the mass market offering for people who don't want to push around a tall and top heavy nearly 600# motorcycle (with luggage cases set for travel). With a presumed "list price" of roughly $18,000, this is a high price ADV Touring bike, add options and its likely to be selling for roughly $22,000, give or take.
No clue if H-D will offer anything to compete with the quick shift/clutchless shifting options of the BMW GS bikes or the DCT option found on the Honda Africa Twin and NCx series bikes. One would hope they have a selling point that is more than the brand name.
But now something else new is coming and, if H-D markets it properly, it will appeal to the riders of the fastest growing class of motorcycles in the world. The ADV-Touring class of riders, those who want a bike that can cross a country, regardless of if there is road under their tires or not. Truth be told, 99% of these buyers take tarmac to Starbucks and never see a mountain pass, but these bikes can take on logging roads, forest trails, and open desert.
BMW GS1250 is the 'king of the hill' in this class of bikes that includes bikes from KTM, Honda, Triumph, Moto-Guzzi, Ducati, Yamaha and others. They look like over-bloated dirt bikes, but at home on the highway. They are tall in the saddle, seat heights are typically 32" or high, ground clearance is high too. Riding position is upright and they turn on a dime, capable of doing figure-8s in a tight parking lot or working its way through trees in the woods. And HARLEY-DAVIDSON finally has a bike that can compete in the growing category instead of clawing for space in its shrinking cruiser category and aging customer base.
https://www.advpulse.com/adv-news/harley-davidson-pan-america-tours-europe-and-pre-orders-begin/
Looking at the photos this bike is pre-set for some custom luggage boxes and the mounting frames are already in place. Looks like a rear frame support may need to be added for a top box to hold the helmet. This is the first H-D that really appeals to me, but with the large 1250cc engine carrying so much weight up high I'd bet this is one top-heavy ADV-Touring motorcycle. The brush guards look to be plastic without an aluminum or steel spine to offer real protection, something that if true, will draw criticism. The trend in the ADV-Touring bikes is to grow the engines into the 1100 to 1250cc range for brand's "flagship" models, but there is a larger category in the sub-1000cc range and H-D previously announced they will be offering a lighter version of this same bike... but no date projected. For the long term, an investor in H-D would hope that H-D brings out a 750cc to 900cc range bike as the mass market offering for people who don't want to push around a tall and top heavy nearly 600# motorcycle (with luggage cases set for travel). With a presumed "list price" of roughly $18,000, this is a high price ADV Touring bike, add options and its likely to be selling for roughly $22,000, give or take.
No clue if H-D will offer anything to compete with the quick shift/clutchless shifting options of the BMW GS bikes or the DCT option found on the Honda Africa Twin and NCx series bikes. One would hope they have a selling point that is more than the brand name.