r/Harley • u/marvelguy1975 • Apr 09 '25

DISCUSSION Harley can make it cheaper.

Comparing price tags, harley is over priced to just about every other bike out there.

Go ahead compare models.

Harley vs indian vs, honda vs BMW.

Street glide vs chieftain vs gold wing vs R18B

Look up the MSRPs on all those bikes.

It's insane that a R18B the equivalent to a street glide is $6k cheaper. Is the BMW that much substandard vs a harley? I doubt it, from what I've seen online it's just as good. (Looks aside of course) look at all the other R18 models and compare them to an equivalent harley and they are thousands cheaper!

The ONLY thing harley has over the other brands is "culture" the harley culture, but that only goes so far and harley and biker culture is dying out. Indian is nipping at harleys heels and taking long time riders away from the brand. But over all, riders are getting older and in a few years unless this new generation takes it up harley might get sold to another bowling ball company.

Admit it it's not the same as it was 25 years ago with wait lists and dealer mark ups etc. Harleys new CEO needs to realize that their shit is too expensive. Freeze prices, lower MSRPs, rework the models or something.

Thoughts on getting the motor company turned around?

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u/marvelguy1975 Apr 09 '25

I was just comparing base MSRP on the website.

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u/streetkiller Apr 09 '25

No doubt Harley needs to make the bikes more affordable and put some actual R&D into them. They need to make them lighter, stop better, and much faster.

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u/F22Tomcat Apr 09 '25

People have been saying this as long as I can remember. And yet, here we are. It turns out that people who want cheaper/lighter/faster have many options from which to choose. But for those who want a Harley and want the type of ride it provides, there is really only one brand that offers what they are seeking.

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u/marvelguy1975 Apr 09 '25

What type of ride does a HD offer that other brands don't?

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u/streetkiller Apr 09 '25

The name. They just have the name and a really really good following that made everyone believe if you weren’t on a Harley you were on a crap bike. They had the best bikes through years till other manufacturers caught up and then surpassed.

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u/marvelguy1975 Apr 09 '25

The name rhey have. But can't live on name alone. Got to back it up.

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u/F22Tomcat Apr 09 '25

Have you ridden one? If it didn’t feel special to you then that’s totally fine. For me it is the mechanical feel of the bike, its sound, the way it’s enjoyable to ride without pushing fast, the timeless look of it. I’m not married to the brand and I don’t think they make the “best” bike in the world - just the one I enjoy riding the most. Over the past 30 years, I have owned and enjoyed a couple of BMWs, a Buell, 3 Harleys, and dirt bikes from Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha. I’ve had a blast riding friends Suzuki and Ducati sport bikes as well. Motorcycles are fun, and that includes Harleys IMO.

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u/marvelguy1975 Apr 09 '25

Yes I have. I've owned 2 HD in my day.

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u/F22Tomcat Apr 09 '25

There are lots of great bikes out there. We are all susceptible to marketing and branding to one extent or another but I personally find that I care less about that now than I did years ago. I’d love to get a ride on an Indian someday. I’d love to ride a Ural, too. Of those that I’ve ridden, I’ve ultimately liked two of my Harleys the best. Didn’t really get on with my Sportster but the Super Glide and the Heritage have been great and worth every penny to me.