"When are you gonna upgrade to a Harley?  

So , What ability does a "HARLEY" have that other bikes don't have ?

"We have always done it that way" has been the downfall of many successful businesses. HD is no exception, apparently. They have recognized their target market is saturated, and have chosen to remove the "Black Leather" blinders. Congratulations. Now give us some good looking bikes with good performance at good prices, and offer them in some other color besides wrinkle wall black.

MM strikes a point ,HD sold bikes to the baby boomers ,the largest market the country has ever seen , but we are all to old to be riding a bike that heavy. Where most companies are missing the boat is that the bikes that may be have the motor size and weight  to appeal to us are styled like "ninjas" rather than something with all day comfort. I don't know if I'd buy a Triumph , but they are closer to the style of bike I would consider, there are others.

I never understood the "Harleys are the only real bikes" syndrome, and I still don't.

I have no idea what the market for Guzzi motorcycles is.

At least here in Colorado, the used Harley market is iffy to say the least.  When I bought my S40 back in October 2016, I was also looking at 2007 or newer Harley Sportsters. Asking prices were $4000 and up, many well above Blue Book values. Some of those bikes are still for sale now. I was very interested in a 2015 Sportster 48 with low mileage, the owner wanted $11,500 for it. That bike is still on the market, now for $9000.

The 2007 Sportster I bought in August 2017 was exactly what I wanted ("Low" model, pearl white color, FI and rubber mounts, very low mileage). The asking price was $4250, but I bought it well under $4000.  I now see similar bikes for $3500 or even lower. The prices will go up this Spring, I assume, but I feel it will be a buyers market.

There does not seem to be much of a market for S40 bikes either. I see them on Craigslist, usually from $2500 to $3500, and they seem to sit there for a long time. I read on this forum about people getting newer S40s for $1000 or less, but the only ones I have seen locally for that kind of money were wrecks.

PS: I am a lot closer to my 70th birthday than my 69th, and I am only 5' 3" tall, but I am not ready for lighter bikes or a three wheeler yet!

JLC wrote:

"PS: I am a lot closer to my 70th birthday than my 69th, and I am only 5' 3" tall, but I am not ready for lighter bikes or a three wheeler yet! "

Yup. I agree, I'm  taller than you, but not by a lot (5' 6") and I just turned 70. My Sportster is an '04,  one of the first of the rubbermounts, so it's pretty porky. Honestly though  the only time the weight is a problem is when I'm shoving it around inside the garage. The S40 feels like a little dirt bike doing that. When riding, I'm perfectly happy on either one.

I've never had a lot of interest in the bigger HDs but I've always been fond of Sportsters. However last fall I went to an open house at one of the local Harley dealers when they rolled out the new 2018 softail line. I have to hand it to HD. Those are some very nice bikes, and beneath the surface - they still look like traditional HD cruisers mostly, they are actually quite different from the previous models. They weren't doing demo rides that day so I didn't get to ride one.

I especially liked the 2018 Street Bob. Sitting on it and tipping it from side to side it felt lighter and less top heavy than my Sportster, even though it actually weighs a good bit more. The ergos were great for someone my size. Even the stock bars. which HD calls mini-apes, felt good. I's probably a good thing that I didn't get a test ride. Might have turned into an expensive day


https://www.cycleworld.com/2018-harley-davidson-softail-street-bob#page-2

I get that HDs aren't for everyone. They are what they are. I am somewhat amused by some of the knee-jerk hatred, and, some of the uninformed, criticism of the brand though.. The newer Harley's are very much modern motorcycles, with a lot of modern technology hidden underneath the styling.

In fact, because the new Harleys are modern motorcycles, not antiquated, neanderthal POS relics of ans earlier age is, ironically, the reason I'll probably hang on to my carbureted, air cooled, Sporty, with a cable operated throttle and clutch, and practically no electronics, except for the self cancelling turn signals, which I would be happy to do without.

Harley built the bikes that their customers demanded. And in the 1990's & 2000's they couldn't build enough of them. They were so in touch with the core customer that they forgot about the rest of the market (actually, they had an opportunity with other micro-segments of the markets but never developed the Buell brand to its potential).

Now they are scrambling (almost a pun) to find a new niche market where they can find future-proof growth. A smart move...just a decade too late.

I think Harley will survive this change in demographic, but they will be a fraction of its former self for a long time. At least with electric bikes the nick-name "The Motor Company" will be technically correct.