Another new Harley ?

I simply don't get it... Why Harley are doing this, why BMW did with the 310, and other companies... The guy in a 3rd world country knows that is not a Harley or whatever... Like, what is the point?
 
cvcb said:
I simply don't get it... Why Harley are doing this, why BMW did with the 310, and other companies... The guy in a 3rd world country knows that is not a Harley or whatever... Like, what is the point?
Click to expand...
One word - BRAND.

Companies believe (rightly or wrongly) that their brand has unexploited value in these markets, which in this case is a large MC market. India has punitive duties on imported motorcycles so manufacturing a displacement appropriate model there makes sense.

The question that will be answered is whether the HD (or BMW) brand has enough value to potential buyers in these markets. HD has sold itself as the embodiment of the "American Dream" over the years and while that concept has taken some hits on it own over the recent years it will also be interesting to see if said brand(s) actually do have value to this group of customers.
 
xrljoel said:
One word - BRAND.

Companies believe (rightly or wrongly) that their brand has unexploited value in these markets, which in this case is a large MC market. India has punitive duties on imported motorcycles so manufacturing a displacement appropriate model there makes sense.

The question that will be answered is whether the HD (or BMW) brand has enough value to potential buyers in these markets. HD has sold itself as the embodiment of the "American Dream" over the years and while that concept has taken some hits on it own over the recent years it will also be interesting to see if said brand(s) actually do have value to this group of customers.
Click to expand...
I agree with you. But brand, does not mean squat for some. Granted, the majority of people just don't care...
 
Some places on the planet have importation taxes on vehicle manufatured elsewhere ( like India , which is why Harley built the factory) and limits on CC's that can be manufatured or licensed ( parts of south asia) , so this stuff will keep popping up .
The real global market is not 1800cc cruisers.
 
Billions of people - Majority travel on 2 wheels - Western influence
 
cvcb said:
I simply don't get it... Why Harley are doing this, why BMW did with the 310, and other companies... The guy in a 3rd world country knows that is not a Harley or whatever... Like, what is the point?
Click to expand...
The answer is MONEY!

There is (or they feel there is) a market for a low displacement motorcycle in those markets.

Frankly the western world wants bigger and more powerful because these are TOYS for us.

These are actual transportation for a vast majority of the world.
 
mimico_polak said:
The answer is MONEY!

There is (or they feel there is) a market for a low displacement motorcycle in those markets.

Frankly the western world wants bigger and more powerful because these are TOYS for us.

These are actual transportation for a vast majority of the world.
Click to expand...
Even for NA, 1800cc is far more related to small pp man than being a toy. You can get more than enough power out of a much smaller motor to scare you. People just want to brag that they have the biggest. Rarely is the biggest the best but it is easy to understand and compare.
 
GreyGhost said:
Even for NA, 1800cc is far more related to small pp man than being a toy. You can get more than enough power out of a much smaller motor to scare you. People just want to brag that they have the biggest. Rarely is the biggest the best but it is easy to understand and compare.
Click to expand...
1800cc's pfft......

'Laughs in 'Boss Hoss'

Boss.jpg
 
GreyGhost said:
Even for NA, 1800cc is far more related to small pp man than being a toy. You can get more than enough power out of a much smaller motor to scare you. People just want to brag that they have the biggest. Rarely is the biggest the best but it is easy to understand and compare.
Click to expand...
But you have to completely stupid to brag about big.
And also is not about big or small, it's about proper design. And that's what matters. It's no wonder that, for instance, Honda CG still are made in the third world, since de 70'.
Just bringing back to the topic, if the new Harley was designed for something, I would not say a word. But it's clear that's a generic something, with a bunch of generic parts bolted together, just to sell the brand. And why they subject themselves for that is what I don't get it.
 
I've not had a thrill in the throttle since the 60s with an exception of the two Honda liter in line 4s and the thrill for those got old when a fill up cost $45.
With fuel prices up there IS a market for high mileage low displacement machines that can commute cost effectively....gonna get worse.
At my age it's also nice to have a smaller lighter bike to deal with - population is aging, downsizing is in. 🏍️
Then of course in Ontario ...there is stoooopid cc based insurance.
I can pay $113 a year for rego here which also includes third party liability. $10 for s 350 km fill up ...makes the pension dollars go far.
 
Last edited:
For those who want a big V-twin
Gunbus
 
Priller said:
People getting bent out of shape in another thread about Kawasaki overusing the 'R' on some models, and Boss Hoss calls that comedy show a 'Super Sport'? Aren't there laws about accuracy in labelling?
Click to expand...
I thought the same thing when I saw it...
 
mimico_polak said:
The answer is MONEY!

There is (or they feel there is) a market for a low displacement motorcycle in those markets.

Frankly the western world wants bigger and more powerful because these are TOYS for us.

These are actual transportation for a vast majority of the world.
Click to expand...
I think it's more the business model for bike makers in North America -- I don't think they really want to see small bikes with small prices. The big 3 sell 150cc bikes for around $2000 CAD in a lot of the world, their prices here are more than double for the same bike. There isn't a whole lot of cost difference between a CB150 and CB300, I'm guessing they both cost Honda less than $1000 to make. So selling a CB150 at the world price of $2500 would yield $1500 in profit to share in the supply chain. Selling the CB300 for $7000 probably gets Honda $6000 of profit to share between the manufacturer, Honda Canada and the Dealer.

Should Honda sell a 125 at $2500, they worry it cannibalizes the sale of a 300. Honda tried this for a few years (07-'11?) selling CBR125s at over 3x the world price. I believe they were successful, thousands of bikes were sold, and they became a staple in learner schools -- but they canceled the program. I'm guessing the cheaper CBR125 in Canada bikes made it hard to sell the more profitable 250s.
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom