Motorcycle industry woes

[Jack B]

This is a good read about the motorcycle industry mostly Indian and HD.
http://moto-emag.com/indian.htm

[LTD]

great read I sure hope Indian makes it big time.

[DIGGER]

Really good article in my opinion.    Lot of truth in the marketing area.     "Masculinity Factor.......never really thought about it but that is exactly what sells Harleys.    Think about it...." Harleys Davidson - Ride the American Iron"  vs  "You Meet The Nicest People On  A Honda"     

I got to hand it to Harley Davidson on their Marketing......all the way down to their clothing line.  It's awesome.

The main reason I have ridden The Honda Valkyrie so long is because I truly think they are the best overall motorcycles made.....not because they are better looking than Harley.....not because of their clothing line.....but because they are the most dependable, functional, gratifying, fun to ride short distance or long distance , with the least amount of down time motorcycle ever made.

Love my Valkyrie.    Plan to ride this one till my riding time is up.

[cookiedough]

Maybe I am not observant, but how many motorcycle commercials are out there on TV today vs. say 20-30 years ago when cycles were selling better?  Not as many I suspect right?

[¿spoom]

The writer should go into politics, where it's easy to sound smart talking to those who know nothing about the subject.
"They're one of the oldest automotive brands" No, they're just an old name. Indian died a long time ago.

(regarding Victory) "So what was the problem? Poor marketing" BS Victory was the answer to a question few people were asking. Victory was just another Yamahondazuki in most people's eyes, and the fact it was made in MN made little difference in a world where young people can't find MN on a map, anyway.

"The Baggers! What a trend and no one is cashing in on it except H-D." BS, make that BS on meth.

and I could go on for an hour, but so could most folks here. 

[¿spoom]

Maybe I am not observant, but how many motorcycle commercials are out there on TV today vs. say 20-30 years ago when cycles were selling better?  Not as many I suspect right?

Good point, with two schools of thought.
A) The market is shrinking, so no amount of huge advertising would have a big enough return.
B) Go for broke and go all in on ads to try and steal the other guys' market. Problem with going all in is you have to be willing to go home if it was a bad bet.

[cookiedough]

we see though vehicle mfgs. or should I say dealerships run ads every commercial it seems like.  Does that pay off? 

worth a shot on cycles as well, something has to be done even though tv commercials am sure are expensive to run.

[¿spoom]

we see though vehicle mfgs. or should I say dealerships run ads every commercial it seems like.  Does that pay off? 

worth a shot on cycles as well, something has to be done even though tv commercials am sure are expensive to run.

Very true, the big difference is the auto market isn't shrinking. Heavy advertising does generate sales, and there is a huge sea full of customers to justify using more and larger nets. The smaller and still shrinking big bike market has left many mfrs. deciding if they even care that much about it-particularly those mfrs. that have (or will) diversify into other products. Studebaker eventually died from many things that could have been cured by throwing money at them. Sadly, the money was purposefully invested in buying up other companies to the point where the board members in charge (who were no longer car guys, anyway ) could truthfully have a meeting where they had all the graphs and spreadsheets they needed to show everything was profitable except cars-so lets get rid of the car division. Polaris has other interests, Honda sells a zillion small bike worldwide, along with everything from airplanes to string trimmers. Harley has the most vested interest in large bikes, and they've blown it overall on those IMHO.

[old2soon]

                  At the dlr I work with in West Plains Mo. you can order a G W but he has NO new one(s) on the floor. The dlr in Rolla Mo. had one new G W on the floor but I have not stopped by in awhile. The W P dlr on the other hand can't seem to keep enough used H/Ds he picks up at auction on the floor. And after lookin at the new PRICES on the Can Am 3 whlrs-let's just say they took my breath away. With prices continuing to only go up and the younger generation Not showing THAT much of an interest in Motorcycling and the folks that actually DO Ride getting older "they"-motorcycle industry as a whole-Really NEEDED to address this years ago.
                 I see younger guys at a P G R Mission once or twice. The real backbone of P G R-here in the Ozarks anywho-are mostly Nam Vets and a sprinkling of Sand Box Vets.

           We as Riders also KNOW this is a Sport you either take to quickly or NOT at all. RIDE SAFE,

[f6john]

The side by side utility and sport market has sucked a lot on air out of the motorcycle market. They are big ticket items and at least around here, they are everywhere. A very popular target for thieves too!

[Big Rig]

Personally...PRICE PRICE and PRICE...tough to justify the cost of a new Harley or Indian full dresser or bagger for as much as a midsized car.

Todays yutes are up to their eyeballs in debt...college debt. When I came out of school, I was in the whole for $20g in college loans, I was able to get a job and pay off my loans within 5 years...

[Alpha Dog]

Well if every bike should look like a Harley bagger ( not my opinion ) then in 2019 Indian just did them one better.

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/indian/indian-motorcycle-announces-updated-chieftain-2019.html

A lot of folks on the Indian and Victory forums are all upset about how much it looks like a Streetglide, however you can still buy the old style with the locomotive fairing in 2019 also.  It is said to also have the best info. center.  I actually see a lot of Victory Cross Country Dna in this new chieftain.  And it has 3 ride modes with the sport mode being you better hang on.  


Now if this dude wants Polaris to sign someone famous to advertise they accomplished this about a month ago when entrepreneur and philanthropist  Adam Sandoval signed a deal with Polaris and they gave him a new 2019 Indian Chieftain Darkhorse.  This is after Harley cancelled his deal with them because he ( I think got in an accident and was injured for 12 weeks ).  Indian has assured him he can also ride other bikes.  He has raised I believe over 300k in the past two years for wounded vets doing motorcycle events and such.

http://adamsandovalrides.com/about/

[Jack B]

WOW it does look more like a HD even the saddle bags and paint.
I didn't love the old fairing but you knew it was a Indian.

[LTD]

The new Indians I think are a great move and they put the headdress back on the smaller fender also good. My buddy is an Indian salesman so Ive been in his dealership a lot and let me tell you Indian quality is off the charts. I like Harley Davidson motorcycles but Im going to say I think INdian is overall a better bike you get more for your money. They deserve to survive will they who knows.

[DIGGER]

The new Indians I think are a great move and they put the headdress back on the smaller fender also good. My buddy is an Indian salesman so Ive been in his dealership a lot and let me tell you Indian quality is off the charts. I like Harley Davidson motorcycles but Im going to say I think INdian is overall a better bike you get more for your money. They deserve to survive will they who knows.

Even though you say their "quality" is off the charts I would still be afraid of buying an Indian motorcycle because of their scarcity of Dealers across the nation.   On road trips over the years several times Ive had problems pop up that I needed to find a dealer.    Honda has a dealer in every town.  Finding a Indian dealer in a pinch might require long distance hauling on the back roads of America.

[LTD]

good point digger I cant deny that.