New Harley

[Jeff Higgins]

Yes, this will be in production in time for the 2020 model year. 975cc DOHC four valve water cooled sport bike. An adventure touring bike is supposedly in the works as well, but no firm production date.

[BeyGon]

I think the first one looks hot. but then I had a 77 Café Racer so that's something I like.

[LakeCleElum]

Good to see the diversity. I was at the HD Museum a year ago and saw the Nova V4. It was the AMF project started 42 years ago:

https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2016/09/19/harley-davidsons-project-nova-look-might/

[Brando]

Finally some modern style. Maybe modern performance too?

[911boost]

Cue the typical nagative comments in 5,4,3,2,1.....

[slow&rusty]

Financially they are having a hard time, I wonder if other motorcycle manufacturers are as well? Are motorcycle sales down?

Either way I hope they can turn things around with their new model line up

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I like the second bike a lot. but with street tires for around town. It has a great rough, chunky look, proportions are excellent. Looks comfortable. Could be a good urban assault vehicle.

First bike seems extremely tall (maybe just angle?) and is just a Harley version of a Jap sport bike. Seems awfully derivative, not fresh or interesting.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

An adventure touring bike is supposedly in the works as well, but no firm production date.

Here's what I don't get. Does the second bike with no production date just need market testing to give it a green light? I understand why cars take so long to produce from concept to manufacturing. A bike should take under a year. 3 months for design. 2 months to build a few. 2 months to market test. 3 months to finalize production. 2 months to prepare for release. Maybe add 6 months in there for fluff.

But bike is just a frame with stuff added to it. That with over 100 years of experience building motorcycles and knowing the market, I can't see how it takes a lot of time to release a new bike.

Other than market testing and acceptance and finalization. But if you don't have a good idea of what the market wants before building a few early concepts, just go home.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Not nearly enough shiny bits stuck on it for the intended chromosexual crowd.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I just got a chubby.

[Noah930]

^^^^^ That cafe'd bike is somewhat promising. But what type of motor are they putting in it? The biggest problem with Buell was the dog of the Harley motor they put into it. Felt like an Autopia car off idle, and then just when the fun started at about 5K on the tach, it ended soon after at 7K. Compared to Japanese bikes (that's the market competition) that rev to the moon. (Or even Ducatis that get halfway there.)

[BeyGon]

975cc DOHC four valve water cooled

[herr_oberst]

I wonder where they'll build it? Milwaukee or overseas?

[cockerpunk]

they are also making an electric bike.



maybe it can save them. giving up the software engineers who think they are hard asses and the wanna-be boomers is a good business move. young people want sport bikes and touring bikes made by the Japanese today, not annoying Harleys.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I just got a chubby.

No disrespect, I've got to ask, what about this cartoon of a bike do you like? Exhaust alone makes me chuckle.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

It just looks so goofy like a manga illustrator created a version of a muffler.

That's the whole bike. A manga illustrator looked at a Harley and then a jap sport bike and mixed the two together.

I don't see it appealing to anyone under 50. 50+, definitely.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I'm 50 but never grew up.

[JavaBrewer]

Kudos to HD for trying. Neither bike do anything for me...and I'm 55!

[Chocaholic]

I see two bikes that are mimicking genres already late in their lifecycle. No shortage of sport style bikes and the ADV market is pretty saturated too. BMW owns it with literally every manufacturer with an offering accept HD. So, can success be found by being the last one to the dance in a declining market?

Had hoped HD would flex its muscle (no pun intended) with an innovative offering to drive a market leadership position. This looks like they prefer to follow, by a significant distance. Hopefully I’m wrong but HD needs to hire some innovative people and ask the finance guys to bite their tongues for a while. To reap rewards one must take commensurate risks.

[911boost]

Cockerdouche chimed in as always, no surprise there.