Why are Harley Davidson motorcycles so expecive?

Question

I like HD motorcycles but they are so outrageously expencive. Some people say because they are made in the USA and since the labour costs here are much higher then abroad the company has to offer their products with a higher price tag. That is not necessarily true though since a lot of the parts are not even American and are just asembled here. So... what's the deal - why the price of a Harley is equal or even higher in many cases than the price of a car?!?

Answer 1

Effective Marketing and Strategic Management!- definately NOT worth the price, but the commmand a vast harley cult that is brainwashed into not only paying the price of a vacation home for a bike, but spending hard earned cash on all the "offical licensed" junk made in CHina! Harley played out a gamble in creating demand by putting buyers on a "waiting list"... the gamble paid off and demand went up. So you could say the price is so high thanks to the invisible hand.

Answer 2

Supply and Demand, owning a Harley is a yuppie fad like tattoo's. Everybody has to have one most have to have more than one. Owning a Harley is a status symbol for the yuppie crowd, they go out buy the bike, get some clothes and show up at events and pretend they are bikers.

For the rest of us it is a life style, I've been riding Harley's since the 70's, been tattooed since the 80's. But for those who know there is not a better bike made, if you haven't rode a Harley then you have no idea what I'm talking about.

Answer 3

To the people who continue to bash Harley Davidson. First I would bet that you have never rode one, it would probably also be a good bet that you don't even have any kind of motorcycle. I would also bet that you would not the nuts to go up to someone on a Harley and tell him it's a boat anchor or a piece of crap. It is probably also a good bet that when it comes to motorcycles you wouldn't know the difference between a Moped and a Honda, a Scooter or a Iron Horse, and you probably don't know that a Harley does not break down, does not leak oil, and its not 1920 technology. But one thing you can bet on is my Harley will be running 20 years from now. And 20 years from now you'll still be stupid...

Answer 4

Because Harleys are in demand. The sound, feel, looks of a Harley all scream motorcycle at you. It's also obvious that other manufacturers are aware of this as they keep trying to copy Harley style and design. They just end up as copies. A Harley is the real thing and you pay more for an original than a copy. That's true about everything in life. Why would motorcycles be any different?

Answer 5

YES HD DID IN FACT MAKE A 125cc Two Stroke! Google it, do your homework, get your facts before answering a question! Idiots! The design for the single cylinder engine was taken from Germany after WWII. We got it, Russia got it, and so did the Brits. BSA lugheads! Anyway, I happen to know where there is a 1951 HARLEY DAVIDSON 125cc is for sell that RUNS!!!!! However, does need a battery. BTW they made the 125cc 3hp engine for over a decade! They as in HARLEY DAVIDSON!

Answer 6

Did you ever notice how Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and all the other Japanese bikes copy the style and for the last couple of years try so hard to emulate Harley. Take a good look at what a Honda looked like 30 years ago and what a Harley looked like 30 years ago. Then take a look at the new Honda and Harley and I'm sure you will see the answer. When you are the premier bike builder in the world and all others are copying you, you can pretty much set whatever price you want. Plus checkout the resale value of a ten year old Harley and then a ten year Honda of similar engine size.

Answer 7

Right on HD Rider! All you M Fers that bash harley get up the stones and show up at a Harley Event and start your bashing. Hell I would love to met up with ya!

To answer the question: Supply and Demand it's that simple.

Answer 8

You ride one of the Harley wanna be rice burners then ride a Harley, you will know immediately.

Look at bikes in general of all years and consider this. After you've owned the bike for 10 years, what would you rather it be, a 10 year old rice burner or a 10 year old Harley. That is, if the rice burner even runs any more.

Answer 9

Harleys are not purchased because they perform, are high tech, or assembled better, and definitly not crafted like a Ferrari (WTF; Faerrari wins races) and the harley is no longer American. You rarely hear people say they like them for performance, reliability, or low maintenance.

If you would like to get the same feeling you get from buying a Harley here is my recommendation and it wont cost ya 20K.

Buy a used weed eater from a pawn shop. It will leak oil, run poorly, parts will fall off, and you can sell it for about what you paid for it; then brag about it.

You can get into a used weed eater for $40. if you want you can get a couple other guys around the hood, get patches made and drink together, for more realism. you can put a chrome exhause heat child on your weed eater too for a custom look.

I would like to see Harley get back in the game, get back on the track, and win some races. that would be great but they will need to steal some Suzuki technology to do that.

Answer 10

Because every middle aged tool thinks hes gonna be a bad *** when he is buying one. Lets look at the facts. They are 1920 technology with 2007 prices. for example air cooled single piston caliper cable clutch on brake disc front and rear, the same tractor motor they have had for the last 100 years the only reason it is better is because the metallurgy has vastly improved. they have no development costs and they handle for crap the same crap has been on them for years. While at the Jan. bike show I over heard some Harley guys talking "you want to look at the new Harley's" "nope it the same sh** they always have just a different color"