Old, slow, overweight and cumbersome, would be my reasoning

[Gob]

- Harley-Davidson Inc's (HOG.N) shares skidded to a more than one-year low after the motorcycle maker cut its full-year shipments forecast as demand weakens among its aging baby-boomer customers and fewer millennials take to motorcycling.

The Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker also said it would need to cut production in second half of 2017, resulting in hourly workforce reductions at some of its U.S. plants.

Harley's shares were down 9 percent at $47.17 in late morning trading on Tuesday.

While demand for new models has waned, the company has also taken a hit from used motorcycles being sold off by aging customers.

For the full year, Harley said it expects to ship 241,000 to 246,000 motorcycles, compared with 262,221 a year earlier. The company had previously forecast shipments to be flat to modestly down. That's a far cry from the nearly 350,000 it shipped a year about a decade ago.

"We are downgrading Harley-Davidson to 'market-perform' based on increased conviction that motorcycle demand in the United States is in the throes of secular erosion," Bernstein analyst David Beckel said.

Beckel noted that the "Generation Y" - those born in the 1980s and early 1990s - was adopting motorcycling at a far lower rate than prior generations.

[Econoline]

Everyone in Wisconsin is just exhausted from all the winning. Give 'em some time to rest. They'll be back later.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Old, slow, overweight and cumbersome, would be my reason

Yeah, but what about the Harleys?

[Bicycle Bill]

Old, slow, overweight and cumbersome, would be my reason

Sometimes "old, slow, overweight, and cumbersome" isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Here's a Boeing B-52 — which first flew back in 1952, before many of us were born — getting a drink from a KC-10 aerial tanker — a military adaptation of the Douglas DC-10 jetliner, which first took to the skies in 1970.  Both types of aircraft are still seeing service with the USAF; in fact, plans currently call from the B-52s to remain operational well into the 2040s.


And we shouldn't be surprised that Douglas is represented here as well.  After all, their famed DC-3 (a/k/a C-47/Dakota/"Gooney Bird") first lifted off in the mid-1930s, and although the last example rolled off the Boeing production line in 1950 there are still some 2000 of the venerable tail-draggers in use today by various airlines and other flying services around the world.

DC-3 / registration C-GPNR, still in active service with Buffalo Airways of Canada

-"BB"-

[Jarlaxle]

My next bike will probably be a Sportster Roadser.

[Burning Petard]

I'd rather have a Buell. But they are gone. snailgate

[dales]

[BoSoxGal]

Giant!

[Jarlaxle]

I'd rather have a Buell. But they are gone. snailgate

No interest...I want a standard.

Though...the Sporty Roadster has the hotter engine from Buell.

[Gob]

My next ride, (if Hen allows me to have another bike...)

[Jarlaxle]

My back hurts LOOKING at that.

[ex-khobar Andy]

"We are downgrading Harley-Davidson to 'market-perform' based on increased conviction that motorcycle demand in the United States is in the throes of secular erosion," Bernstein analyst David Beckel said.

WTF is 'secular erosion?' I asked Mr Google and the only reference was to the original Harley Davidson story. I know what secular means and I know what erosion means, so I can only surmise that it means that the irreligious among us are wearing away and hence not buying their bikes. Which may be true. I have a few motorcycling friends but I think that the ones with Harleys are all at least 65 and presumably, like the rest of us, bits are falling off and not being replaced. I couldn't tell you how often they go to church because I never see them there.

[Gob]

Probably meant to mean that die-hard Harley fans are wising up to the fact that the bikes are old, slow, overweight and cumbersome.

[Joe Guy]

WTF is 'secular erosion?'

Maybe it's the worship of the Harley that's eroding.

[Bicycle Bill]

But dammitall, man, they're made in 'MURICA !!!
Trump should be riding to their rescue to "save these jobs and Make America Great Again®" any day now !!!

-"BB"-

[RayThom]

This discussion reminded me of this article from a few months back.

Introducing the all new 'rice burning' Hog:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/23/busi ... uring.html

[MGMcAnick]

You mean, you mean...

Someone besides BMW makes a motorcycle?

Wow, who knew?

Seriously, BMW riders tend to skew older too. Most of the guys in the local club, not to be confused with a gang, are past 60.

I think I can safely say that I know no one under 30 who rides a Harley or a BMW. They ALL ride Japanese bikes. The theory of MANY used Harleys being dumped on the market may be correct. I went to a BIG motorcycle auction in Dallas in April. The company does four around the country every month. See http://www.npauctions.com/ContentPage.aspx?cp=HP Of 1600+ used bikes, well over half were HDs. They were selling in four auction "rings", and still had three long rows of Harleys to go when everything else was done. I don't think HDs account for over half the bikes sold in this country.

[Big RR]

is it possible the Harleys last longer, which is why there are more used ones for sale?

I have a friend who rode an older Harley for years because he said the newer ones were underpowered (even less than his 20 year old bike). He did say he wants to see how the new engine they are introducing works out because it is supposed to deliver a lot more horsepower.

[Jarlaxle]

You mean, you mean...

Someone besides BMW makes a motorcycle?

Wow, who knew?

Seriously, BMW riders tend to skew older too. Most of the guys in the local club, not to be confused with a gang, are past 60.

I think I can safely say that I know no one under 30 who rides a Harley or a BMW. They ALL ride Japanese bikes. The theory of MANY used Harleys being dumped on the market may be correct. I went to a BIG motorcycle auction in Dallas in April. The company does four around the country every month. See http://www.npauctions.com/ContentPage.aspx?cp=HP Of 1600+ used bikes, well over half were HDs. They were selling in four auction "rings", and still had three long rows of Harleys to go when everything else was done. I don't think HDs account for over half the bikes sold in this country.

Between 45 and 48% last I saw. (Probably 2015.)

[Jarlaxle]

is it possible the Harleys last longer, which is why there are more used ones for sale?

I have a friend who rode an older Harley for years because he said the newer ones were underpowered (even less than his 20 year old bike). He did say he wants to see how the new engine they are introducing works out because it is supposed to deliver a lot more horsepower.

They're easier to keep running. Many older Japanese bikes are hard to get parts for. Harleys and BMWs are much easier.