H-D and other cruisers question

[Hardcore]

Originally posted by PinHead
I like peaches
I could eat em all day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY fucker

[Tarmac]

I've seen plenty of youngsters starting on cruisers. HD's are expensive but if you could find HD's for the same price as sportbikes I bet you even see more youngsters on HD's. I was at Sturgis this Summer and there were all types & ages. The crowd was generally older though and I think that's because you generally have more expendable cash when you're older. It's unbelievable the brand-loyalty of HOG's...never seen anything like it. Sure the sales are down (on everything HD, not just bikes) but down from what? They ain't starving.

Rode a softail & roadking for the two weeks I was out there. I had a blast on those rides. Would I buy one? Dunno, would have to own about 3-4 other bikes first (dirt-bike, track-bike, streetfighter, sport-tourer) but it wouldn't suck owning an HD.

[01YZF6]

Originally posted by LuvDog
I first got on the street in my early 20s.

The first bike I bought was a cruiser... a Suzuki Intruder 800.

If I could have afforded a H-D. I would have bought one.
The other guys I rode with mostly rode cruisers... the ones who didn't care about debt got H-D's.

We were all around the same age 22-24.

Eventually, I sold the cruiser for my ZX6... then a 6R and now my 7R.

I still like H-D and other cruisers and I'll most likely add a Fat Boy to the garage some day.

I hope you're right and the HD craze dies down... maybe the prices will drop.

+1
My first ride was a custom harley chopper when I was 3.....I only rode on it
In HS/College I owned a CBR
When we moved to FL my wife wanted a bike so we bought an '01' Intruder 800........ why?

it was basically a HD knockoff-
low to the ground, easy to handle, comfortable
custom chrome pipes that raised the DB level quite a bit....
more chrome spots here and there
custom soft bags, gel seat, blah blah blah
the best part was it was under $6k almost NEW


12,ooo miles later she wants a sportbike, so it is for sale ! and looks almost as good as the day we bought it....

$3200 takes her away.....

[ancosta]

To answer your original question - I know of one person who bought an 883 sportster as a 1st bike. Everyone else I know started out on older japanesse standards/cruisers or sportbikes.

I predict that the entire motrcycle industry will not have the same level of new rider growth seen in recent years due to a softening economy. (I also believe that more people will start to ride scooters in urban areas as gas prices rise.)

As far as younger people starting out with an HD, I don't think it is common because the bike is very expensive compared to other suitable bikes. But, I think if money was a non-issue, there would be more young people choosing an HD or custom for their first motorcycle.

Originally posted by benVFR

How many people here are in their 20s or 30s and know a significant number of riders who have gotten into the H-D craze as young riders?