[Jeff Higgins]

Nothing sells in the motoring press quite like an "earth shattering" article about Harley Davidson. No other manufacturer of anything has anywhere near as many people interested in, and talking about their products - who have never owned one.

Of course they are going electric. Those who read past the click bait headline saw that their new German CEO is saying it will take decades - like four or more. No one reading this right now will live long enough to see the end of the ubiquitous HD V-Twin.

It seems as if commentary on their "aging demographic" runs a very close second with regards to the numbers who love to provide their "insight" - who have never been a part of that demographic. Everyone just "knows" - although they have never been there.

As deeply involved in the hot rod Porsche scene as I find myself (and cars in general), I still go to far more motorcycle gatherings than car gatherings, by at least three or four to one. My first hand observations, after being deeply involved in this scene for 46 years, is that their demographic is actually getting younger. Granted, there are still plenty of aging graybeards, but the majority I see are 30 or 40 somethings. We used to call them "Yuppies", I think we call them "Techies" today. H-D is still one of those "prestige" brands they all aspire to, much like Porsche. That's what I see, anyway, first hand.

All things considered, I cannot think of a better engine planform for a motorcycle than the V-Twin. It wins in packaging hands-down, along with numerous other motorcycle specific considerations. There are a broad range of V-Twin designs available today to meet different design and performance objectives, with my Ducati and two Harleys representing polar opposite ends of those spectrums. While they couldn't be more different, both do what they are intended to do, in the real world, on real roads, with aplomb.

So, yeah, I just sit back in amusement at these Pollyanna "Harley is falling" stories. They are starved for attention right now (the whole motorcycle industry is hurting, and hurting badly), so they release a "bombshell" announcement like this. And get everyone who has never owned one talking about them. Masterful...