[Jeff Higgins]

Harley's troubles do not originate with its motorcycle division. Its financial troubles are entirely stemming from its finance division. They over-extended themselves on very shaky loans, just like everyone else.

That, and there is some bitterness amongst us faithful. They bent me over, and bent me over good on my last new bike purchase in 2000. Several grand over MSRP. Hundreds of thousands of us are in the same boat, and we are bitter. I would dearly love to be able to talk the CFO (otherwise known as "wife") into another new bike purchase, just so I could go back to the same dealer and bend them over but good.

Problem is, it wouldn't be worth it. Nothing they sell today is significantly better, or much different at all, from my 2000 Road King. Seems one has to go in two decade leaps to see any significant changes in Harleys. Besides, it's been the most reliable new vehicle I have ever owned; car, truck, or bike. Over 100,000 miles on it now with no more than routine maintenance. I'm afraid the next one might not be as good.

And yes, the used market is saturated. Values have plummeted on used H-D's. It's no trouble at all to find low milage examples of any model they make, and for significantly less than new. It hasn't always been this way. When I bought my Road King, used ones were actually selling for over MSRP on new ones, because they could. Folks could avoid the six month to one year wait. Today, used ones sit for months as their owners slowly wake up to reality and drop the prices. It's a whole different game today. They have made their own bed...