teamhypoxia 0 #51 November 5, 2004 Quote2. Harley wants all market segments. Speaking of marketing... I read somewhere once, that Harley severely under manufactured. This was apparently a conscious decision to keep prices of both new and used bikes up. People would get on two year waiting lists to buy new bikes and when they came in, they could "flip" them for a profit to people who didn't want to wait two years for a new bike. It seems like this is changing. I don't know any of the facts, but it sure seems as if prodution has ramped up, and the availability of new bikes is way up. I wonder how this will affect the used bike market Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyingferret 0 #52 November 5, 2004 That is correct. A buddy of mine bought a bike this year, and the supply/demand/waiting was very different after the 100th anniversary. When I got mine you took what you could, if not the guy behind you wanted it. I think the demand has changed economically more than the production increased. Also, I remember reading numbers that growth as up in foreign markets while slightly down here, as well as the fact that 'merchandise' sales were growing hugely compared to bike sales.-- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #53 November 5, 2004 I thought Harley had their highest number of units sold ever last year? I definitely know that I've read several places that demand is up and growing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyingferret 0 #54 November 5, 2004 I could so turn this into a politic semantics response Oh...so tempting. I said GROWTH, ie the numerb of units grew by 3%, where as in the past it grew by 5%. Similar growth statements are made about the economy sometimes. decreased growth is still a net increase.-- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #55 November 5, 2004 I was referring to " I think the demand has changed economically more than the production increased." Thought you were saying the waiting list isn't as long more because demand for units fell as opposed to production of units increasing. I thought both had risen. Production more so that demand. I'm talking domestically. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyingferret 0 #56 November 5, 2004 Well I have nothing to base it on, but it appears based on friend's buying experiences that the waiting list has dropped to almost nothing depending on the model.-- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #57 November 5, 2004 Yeah...that's true, I think Harley is just really surging as a company. The bad old days are gone for good. Now if they actually made some aftermarket parts that weren't priced twice as much as their competitors, I might actually buy something from them. As it is, I bought my bike used from a private dealer and won't buy any parts from them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #58 November 5, 2004 A few years ago many of the very established Harley Dealers in this area wouldn't sell you a new Harley unless you had one to trade in. I always thought this was a brilliant marketing tactic because it created a good market for used bikes which rewarded their loyal customers and helped the loyal customer sell his old bike. You don't see that anymore. I don't really know why. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
