Sticker Shock

[JTJersey]

Now I'll admit my last Harley purchase was in 1978. A Shovelhead Lowrider. Road it until 2012. Did some personalizing to it and probably complained about the price of things, but since having the '21 Freewheeler I'm actually appalled by what I see.



Average price to expect:

Custom seat - $800

Floorboards - $350

Air Cleaner - $300

Simple luggage rack - $400

Handlebars - $700 !! Installation? - $1000

I understand inflation and niche markets and all that, but so much of this smacks of price gouging. How do you all afford this stuff? Sorry about the rant.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Supply and demand, with the supply chain broken some will settle for what is out there @ inflated prices ( parts) never mind the shop rate to install said parts

I always shop around before buying parts. Figuring in shipping and sales tax is a must for on lime shopping

Swap meets back in the day was a great source for take off parts and NOS parts, not much for M8 bikes yet

 

[Halfnormal]

Handlebars - $700 !! Installation? - $1000

I just purchased a set of Khrome Werks bars for $143.00 on Amazon and only paid $495.00 for installation on my Tri.

 

[Blueraven]

How do you all afford this stuff?

I let others pay for it. The newest bike I’ve ever own was 3 years old.

I bought my 2016 Freewheeler in 2019 and the previous owner had already put about $2K in accessories on it, all of which I would have upgraded myself.

Accessories don’t generally add to a bike’s value but it does often times get it sold quicker.

A new bike is only new until you ride it off the Dealer’s property.

That being said I’m glad others don’t feel the same as me.

 

[JTJersey]

I just purchased a set of Khrome Werks bars for $143.00 on Amazon and only paid $495.00 for installation on my Tri.

Guess I'm moving to Arizona.

 

[rhino 2]

If you can’t afford it you just don’t buy it no dealer puts a gun to somebody’s head And said you have to buy it…. Accessories for motorcycles Aren’t Necessities like pharmaceuticals or food simple as that……

 

[JTJersey]

If you can’t afford it you just don’t buy it no dealer puts a gun to somebody’s head And said you have to buy it…. Accessories for motorcycles Aren’t Necessities like pharmaceuticals or food simple as that……

Yes, I understand that, but it's my nature and probably yours to wrench on our wheels. The market is pricing itself out of existence. Harley is pricing itself out of sales. I really don't know who they think is going to buy this stuff. I have no answer, I'm just really sad to see it happening.

 

[rhino 2]

Yes, I understand that, but it's my nature and probably yours to wrench on our wheels. The market is pricing itself out of existence. Harley is pricing itself out of sales. I really don't know who they think is going to buy this stuff. I have no answer, I'm just really sad to see it happening.

To use a car salespersons vernacular....Theres an Ass for Every seat......

 

[NJtony]

I read that Can Am had a 250 % increase in sales with woman and new riders. Harley needs to do what Can Am is doing . Make a bike like the Spyders or Rykers. Rykers are the entry lever bikes under 13K. If they don't change with the times they will go away like Victory and and struggle like Indian . Just my two cents.

Yes, I understand that, but it's my nature and probably yours to wrench on our wheels. The market is pricing itself out of existence. Harley is pricing itself out of sales. I really don't know who they think is going to buy this stuff. I have no answer, I'm just really sad to see it happening.

 

[Old Road Dog]

The only thing I can say is if theres something you want buy it now. The prices aren't going down at least until after the '24 election. Even then we will look back and call this the good old days.

 

[JTJersey]

I read that Can Am had a 250 % increase in sales with woman and new riders. Harley needs to do what Can Am is doing . Make a bike like the Spyders or Rykers. Rykers are the entry lever bikes under 13K. If they don't change with the times they will go away like Victory and and struggle like Indian . Just my two cents.

Harley tried that in the '80s with the Trihawk. Never went past a few dealer samples.



Tried it again with the Penster in 2006. Never went beyond prototype.



And we can't forget the Harley Forecars of the early 1900's. Quickly discontinued in favor of the Servicars of which we're all descended today.

 

[Old Road Dog]

I was 4 years old. Mom let me out on a beautiful May afternoon. I stood on the corner outside Dads house with my toy tommygun. Across the 4 lane boulevard was a Catholic elementary school- the one I bugged mom to send me to next year. It was predominantly Irish kids there and I was Italian. I learned how to work the stoplight button and crossed the 4 lane to hang out at the school waiting for it to let out. I liked looking at the girls in their plaid skirts. An older kid- probably around seven pushed me and called me a wop and told me to get lost. I broke my tommygun over his head.Then I beat him with the stock. Then I got on top of him and beat him some more. A cop riding by on a Servi-Car stopped and grabbed me by the back of my pants and lifted me in the air. "You want to go to reform school?" He asked. "Yeah!" I said not knowing what it was. Cop:"Where do you live?" Me:"Over there." Cop: "How did you make it across 4 lanes of traffic?" Me: "I walked- your not very smart for a cop-are you?" That kinda set the tone for the rest of my life.

 

[Meesh]

If you can’t afford it you just don’t buy it no dealer puts a gun to somebody’s head And said you have to buy it…. Accessories for motorcycles Aren’t Necessities like pharmaceuticals or food simple as that……

That's exactly it. But HD makes sure we want their parts badly. It's bigger business than the bikes themselves.

For my first Harley, I slowly pecked away at adds, a little every year depending on what I could afford. I got my Freewheeler late last year and I have already spent a bit, but it is more for comfort and protection: heated seat, Heli bars, windscreen, leather fender chaps, heated grips, and the trunk guard. I am very much over the cosmetic changes that I enjoyed previously, like getting as many parts changed over to the "Willie G Skull" design.

The other aspect of HD's business is the clothing and stuff. I remember being in Vegas in the early 2000's and saw an HD shirt I liked, went to buy it and then saw the $70 price tag. I put it back and have not spent money on HD clothing since. I would buy a jacket or helmet or other riding gear from HD if it fit well, but there are a lot of great companies out there making great gear.

 

[priell3]

I wait to buy my H-D branded clothes and accessories until they are on clearance, on sale, and/or I have gift cards.