How Bikers Would Chart Harley’s Course
Reader/riders weigh in on what direction the motorcycle company should go to win over young buyers
By Joseph Weber
For years, Harley-Davidson has thrived on selling its pricey chrome-bedecked hogs to baby boomers. But younger customers often disdain Harley's big, loud touring bikes as granddad's wheels, opting for fast, forward-leaning sport bikes instead. Most even steer clear of Harley's Buell line, which includes sport bikes that Harley carefully keeps separate from its deep-throated heavyweight parent brand. Now, as boomers begin to shift out of their biking years, the Milwaukee bike maker faces a strategic question: Does it change its product line to win over young buyers, or does it just tweak the classic old machines, expecting youngsters to grow into Harleys? Here are some edited thoughts from a few biking fans.
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