I’m surprised nobody’s had an answer for this in an hour!

You might say Harley is a victim of its own success. It’s the ultimate niche market. People who ride Harleys don’t want a -motorcycle-, they want a -Harley-. I mean, a Honda rider might get a Suzuki or a Yamaha next time, but a Harley rider wouldn’t consider anything else.

Harley has basically made the same motorcycle for 60-70 years now. Bigger, more refined, etc., but it has to look the same. It’s like one of those car companies that make replicas of 1930s cars, ‘replicars’. Harley is its own ‘repli-bike’.

Years ago Harley’s management realized that their days of making enormous air-cooled V-twin cruisers were numbered. But they were trapped. They couldn’t come out with a water-cooled inline four with shaft drive–who would buy it? Traditional Harley owners wouldn’t want it, and those who ride Japanese bikes wouldn’t want essentially an American copy of a Japanese bike at double the cost.

I think the V-Rod was their first attempt to break out of the mold. It was a real departure for HD, very daring, but you notice they still had to make it -look- like a traditional Harley. From what I hear, market acceptance is less than expected.

So yes, they’re in trouble. In a recession you would expect the most expensive bikes to fall the most in sales, but beyond that I think there are just too many ‘metric’ alternatives to Harley these days, plus Harley is trapped by the market they so carefully created and fed all these years, the brand name they worked so hard to build. Kind of a shame, in a way.

Swissbike Folding Bike 2009 Model Introduction

Go-Ped GSR Sport Gas Powered City Scooter (Gloss Black) $508.98 The Go-Ped GSR Sport combines the powerful GSR40 style chain drive system and the versatility of the original Sport Go-Ped. The gas-powered scooter is equipped with the fuel-efficient and quiet GPL290 engine, which provides a smooth acceleration to reach speeds above 21 miles per hour in stock configuration. The GSR Sport’s patented extra-light heavy-duty frame, cantilevered fork, and gas tank co…

Bicycle Diaries $18.00 A renowned musician and visual artist presents an idiosyncratic behind-the-handlebars view of the world’s cities. Since the early 1980s, David Byrne has been riding a bike as his principal means of transportation in New York City. Two decades ago, he discovered folding bikes and started taking them on tour. Byrne’s choice was made out of convenience rather than political motivation, but the more c…

Stamina 1350 Magnetic Resistance Recumbent Bike $250.00 Stamina Magnetic Recumbent 1350 Exercise Bike. A low – impact cardio workout in the convenience of your home. Smooth ride, compact design. Easy on joints and your home’s space constrictions. Designed to put you in a semi-reclined position to work all the major muscles in your hips, thighs, and buttocks. Adjustable heavy-weighted flywheel resistance and belt-drive train let you pedal smoothly at an…

Rio Brands Deluxe Wonder Wheeler $48.95 This all terrain folding cart with wide detachable wheels, holds a full 48 qt. cooler and up to 4 chairs. It also holds a sturdy mesh bag which stores tons of gear. The patented design rolls easily on all surfaces, including soft beach sand, grass, sidewalks and docks. Fully assembled, no tools required – just snap on the wheels and GO! The cart pops open & locks quickly and folds instantly to fit…

Thule Roadway Hitch Carrier – 2 Bike Protect your paint jobAAAstop hefting bikes onto a conventional bike rack and get them onto your hitch with the Thule Roadway 2-Bike Hitch Carrier. This sturdy steel rack transports up to two bikes with maximum convenience and ease.Product FeaturesBike Capacity: 2Compatibility: 1.25in hitch, 2in hitchLocks Included: noRecommended Use: bike transportationManufacturer Warranty: lifetime…

Thule 835XTR Hull-a-Port Kayak Rack $155.00 Kayaks come in all shapes and sizes. The Thule 835XTR Hull-a-Port kayak rack fits them all. Proven J-style carrier maximizes load bar space for other carriers. Great kayak protection with adjustable foam padding. Easy to transfer from vehicle to vehicle with the best fitting universal mounting system. This carrier can hold one kayak and only needs one person to load and unload. The system will als…

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i would get a non folding because its probably gonna be better quality. thats alot of riding and you want a good bike, not a convient one. remember, its about the actual ride, not the time in between. plus 20 bucks isnt really that much

Pacific Reach Folding Bike 20″ wheels going through Speed Bumps zi8 kodak HD 720p 60fts

MacNeil Foldable Noise Canceling Headphones, Silver/Gray $9.99 Compucessory CCS 55226 Foldable Digital Stereo Headphone 55226 Headphones & Earphones…

Curt Manufacturing 18131 2 Piece Basket Cargo Carrier, Folding Shank $150.76 Curt Basket – style Cargo Carrier. Got a haul? Hitch on some added cargo room in a flash! Powder-coated steel construction. 6″-high sides for added security. 60 x 20 x 2 3/4″. 500-lb. capacity. Order Today! Curt Basket-style Cargo Carrier, 60 x 20 x 6″; folding shank; 2″ receiver…

Rola 59102 Expandable Hitch Tray Cargo Bag $41.95 The Expandable Cargo Bag is perfect for storing luggage, camping equipment, etc. Rainproof construction offers wonderful protection against the weatherZip closureFolds up for easy, compact storageFits cargo carriers up to 60″ x 24″Normal size: 48″ L x 19″ W x 18″ HExpanded size: 48″ L x 19″ W x 22″ H…

Swagman XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack (1.25 and 2-Inch Receiver) $144.19 The XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Rack is designed to make it easy to carry two bikes securely on your car’s hitch with no risk of bike-on-car, or bike-on-bike damage. Thanks to a built-in anti-wobble device, the platform-style rack secures solidly to 2 or 1.25-inch hitches. To load the bikes, simply lift them into the wheel platforms, secure the wheels with the integrated wheel straps, and secure the …

Topeak Alien II 26-Function Bicycle Tool $24.00 Alien Technology allows tool to separate into two pieces for more versatility when making repairs.26-Tool system separates with the press of a buttonChain tool is compatible with single- and multi-speed chains, including 10-speed hollow pin (Not 11-speed compatible)Includes a nylon carrying caseMaterial Construction: Engineering grade plastic frame with hardened steel toolsDimensions: 3.4 x 1.7 x …

Mirrycle MTB Bar End Mountain Bicycle Mirror $9.70 Mounts onto bar end, installation wrench included Wide view convex mirror pivots to any viewing angle…

Razor Ultra Pro Scooter $52.50 Tackle the toughest tricks with the Razor® Ultra Pro scooter. It features an aircraft-grade aluminum deck and a rear fender brake; the rigid down-tube provides durability….

WeeRide Co-Pilot Bike Trailer $69.95 Your child can pedal to help you along, or just coast and enjoy the scenery. Either way it’s fun for both of you. Sturdy construction – just like a regular 20″ bicycle with regular handlebars, seat and pedals. Attaches easily and quickly to almost any bicycle with a seatpost, and folds up for storage when not in use. And it even comes with a safety flag to alert motorists. The Co-Pilot is great fo…

e-Mazing Innovations Black Battery Operated Bicycle $1199 This efficient battery operated bicycle from e-Mazing Innovations features a lightweight design capable of traveling up to 20 miles on a single charge. This bicycle also spotlights an easy, instant pull-up folding design.

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