So if we are all out there riding, did Honda make a serious mistake?

[Cruzen]

Under another post
 
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,20494.0.html

I asked the question So do all the Valk Riders just talk about riding or do they actually ride??

The reason I posted the initial question was initiated by a conversation my lady and I had with several NON riders in Durango.  These long term Durango residents and I were sitting on Main Street watching the parade of 300 plus bikes move slowly down the street, noise abatement law was suspended for this event, and one of the guys commented about all the Harleys in the parade.  He then asked what we rode.  I told him we were on our Valkyrie and he asked what that was so I explained.  He then wondered why there were few metrics in the parade and figured that except for the Goldwings, the metrics were not as reliable as the Hardleys.  I did not attempt to argue that point when there was so much evidence, all the Harleys in the parade, against any rational argument.

According to local Arizona metric dealers they claim that for a period of three years from 2005 to 2008, the sales figures they have access to lead them to believe that more metrics including sport bikes were sold in the US than Hardleys.  If that is the case, why are there so many more Hardleys “on the roads” than metrics.  This past year during the 2010 Arizona Bike Week Rally on one late afternoon we counted all the bikes in the parking lot and found for every metric, including sport bikes, there were about 32 Harleys or Harley based choppers.  That day, of the 1532 plus or minus bikes we counted ( some were going and some coming during the process ) only four were Valks which I photographed. 

I have been involved in classic and muscle car groups for over 40 years and no matter what car event, if it is an open event, meaning it is not sponsored by or affiliated with any particular brand, I can guarantee that there will be more Chevy powered cars than any other brand.  Not all will be Chevy vehicles.  In fact you will see many hot rodded Ford coupes and roadsters etc with more Chevy engines than Ford motors.  In addition you will see at least ten times more 55-57 Chevy’s than Fords from the same period.  However when you get into the 1980 and newer vehicles that changes.  There are many more third and fourth generation Mustangs in the shows than Camaro’s or Firebirds. This shows the trends in the hobby. 

Based on observing that sort of change in the automotive hobby, I am wondering if this is the sort of trend we may see in the future with respect to Metrics vs. Harleys on the road.  If so, did Honda make a serious mistake in dropping its line of multi cylinder bikes like the Valks and Magna.  Were they not selling enough of them in the 1990’s to make a profit? The Honda 1300CC Fury is nice but it came out about three years after the chopper craze peaked.  Now the “bagger” craze is underway and what does Honda have to compete with that.  The Goldwing is a super bike but WAY too big and heavy.  Maybe it’s time for a modified Valk??  Would Honda listen to the American dealers if such a bike was requested/demanded and what would it take for Honda to build such a bike.

[fudgie]

There are motorcycle owners and motorcycle riders.
There are RUB's and bikers.
I hear all the excuses out in SD every year. Its never HD vs Metric, its always ride vs trailer. Its a fashion show and beauty pagent. You know which people ride and those that didnt, esp the women. I'd rather check out a saddle tramp then a trailer queen.

[Westernbiker]

There are motorcycle owners and motorcycle riders.
There are RUB's and bikers.
I hear all the excuses out in SD every year. Its never HD vs Metric, its always ride vs trailer. Its a fashion show and beauty pagent. You know which people ride and those that didnt, esp the women. I'd rather check out a saddle tramp then a trailer queen.

 

[BamaDrifter64]

Man, I don't mean this as a slam...but you need to get out and just ride some.

All this wondering and worrying you're doing can't be doing you good....riding will take care of that.

Things are what they are - enjoy your Valk and fuggid bout it!   

Dave

[G-Man]

The reason there are more Harley-Davidsons on the road is because all the other makes actually made it back home!    

[Bagger John - #3785]

I ride to work every day, and unless whatever I'm shopping for is too big to fit in or on a bike I'll run errands with them as well.

Don't do many organized rallies - and none of the area poker runs - but if I can go on a weekend ride I'm gone.

[Duckwheat]

Hardleys like to ride in parades. They feel reasonably confident it will make it to the end of the route without maintenance.

I have never wanted to ride in a parade.

When I lived in Evergreen, Colorado all the Harleys would come out of Denver and park in front of the Little Bear about a 35 mile ride. You can actually go somewhere on a Valk.

I think there is definitely a need to be seen among Hardley folks that I have not expereinced personally or among other Valk rider.

I am with the other guy. If you have all of life's mysteries figured out and your down to thinking about this. You need a new hobby.

DW

[NITRO]

I teach a high school econ class and was surprised to read in the text book (in a section discussing imports, exports, etc.) that the US imports approximately 60% of all motorcycles sold in the country. The book is a few years old, but I still didn't expect that.

[valkmc]

I read once that Honda actually sells more units than HD, but thats everything they sell, sport bikes, tourers, cruisers etc. It may even include ATVs. HD only sells cruisers so the comparison is like comparing apples and oranges. Still since 1976 I have always had a Honda, 400 super sport, CB 750f, shadow 1100 (before they made them look like HDs) and now the Valk. I have owned many other bikes during the same time but have always kept a Honda in the garage.  Reliability says it all, in all those years I have never been left on the side of the road, I have limped home several times but have always made it.

[highcountry]

I found this on the internet; I believe that the stats are for 2007:

Motorcycles sold:

Harley-Davidson 28%
Honda 25%
Yamaha 17%
Suzuki 13%
Kawasaki 11%
KTM  2%
BMW 1%
Triumph 1%
Ducati 1%

http://knol.google.com/k/the-u-s-motorcycle-market#U%282E%29S%282E%29_Motorcycle_Market

[..]

There are motorcycle owners and motorcycle riders.
There are RUB's and bikers.
I hear all the excuses out in SD every year. Its never HD vs Metric, its always ride vs trailer. Its a fashion show and beauty pagent. You know which people ride and those that didnt, esp the women. I'd rather check out a saddle tramp then a trailer queen.

Well put Fudgie.

There are those who ride and those who don't. Brand names don't come into it.

I have ridden more saddle tramps than I have trailer queens. Thankfully.

Come on, get yer minds out of the gutter.

[valkmc]

I found this on the internet; I believe that the stats are for 2007:

Motorcycles sold:

Harley-Davidson 28%
Honda 25%
Yamaha 17%
Suzuki 13%
Kawasaki 11%
KTM  2%
BMW 1%
Triumph 1%
Ducati 1%

http://knol.google.com/k/the-u-s-motorcycle-market#U%282E%29S%282E%29_Motorcycle_Market

These are United States sales figures from 2007, world wide Honda out sells HD. That is most likely because 60%+ of motorcycles sold out side the US are 250cc or less. I looked for Current US sales figures but could not find them, HD may still out sell Honda here, but not world wide.j

[Kendall]

Hey Cruzen..  at bike week what were the colors of the valks you got the pics of?   Just curious if it was my white interstate or the wifes Purple and white ?  we ride around 15 to 20,000 a year. Good thing these Valks last along time

[BudMan]

The ONLY bike I have now that has NEVER stranded me is my 48 Harley.
In fact I have NEVER had a Harley strand me.

[Jabba]

Harley Owners are more prone to go out to be part of a group, like a rally, IMO.  Metric riders are more likely to be riding, or feel like they don't want to be part of the group, because they DON'T have a HD. 

JOMO.  YOMV.

Jabba

[Garland]

I ride almost everyday. I enjoy riding on rare occasion with one or two friends, but I never really got into that group ride thing. Mucho slow, extra stops, crazy time at stops, etc. Maybe I just ain't a people person, I don't know. Mostly I want to have fun and not get killed in the process.

The majority of the folks I run across who own motorcycles make every excuse they can think of for not riding-too hot, too cold, too wet, too far, too anything. I ride unless I can't.

[Walküre]

I ride almost everyday. I enjoy riding on rare occasion with one or two friends, but I never really got into that group ride thing. Mucho slow, extra stops, crazy time at stops, etc. Maybe I just ain't a people person, I don't know. Mostly I want to have fun and not get killed in the process.

The majority of the folks I run across who own motorcycles make every excuse they can think of for not riding-too hot, too cold, too wet, too far, too anything. I ride unless I can't.

Well said...I don't ride in groups, either, unless it's a group of 4 or 5 good friends. And I don't have the need to "parade". I don't care WHO likes my bike, other than myself.

I DO wonder, when the HD riders say that THEY are the independent, individualists. And then they all look the same, dress the same, even down to the HD BVD's. And most of their "bike shops" have turned into "clothing boutiques".

I dress how I want - comfortably, and safe. I go where I want. I ride as I want - safely.

I think another thing to look at, is the time of day. I ride home at midnight, and hardly EVER see a HD - I see a lot of bikes, but at that time of night, they are usually metrics. I imagine the HD is home, safely tucked in for the week. I also notice that if the weather is threatening, all I see are metrics. And also, when I DO see HD's, they seem to be in packs, of 4 or 5, or even 20 or 30. Eagles hunt alone, Hyena's hunt in packs...   

I've ridden all kinds of bikes. I like all kinds of bikes. After the wife's Skirtster, I'll never own another HD.

Remember these? Had a pair of them, years ago...

[Cruzen]

Hey Cruzen..  at bike week what were the colors of the valks you got the pics of?   Just curious if it was my white interstate or the wifes Purple and white ?  we ride around 15 to 20,000 a year. Good thing these Valks last along time

The Valks I photographed one day at this years AZ bike week were a:
Blue and White AZ plate P70? With black hard bags
Yellow & Black Standard with New Mexico plate
Black Tourer with AZ plate Valk6
Yellow and Black Standard with studded seat and soft saddle bags White plate 75763 from ??

We also saw a purple and White with AZ plate but it was too dark to photograph that bike