Doug’s Dime: Why Are Harley Sales Down?

While sales volume for Harley-Davidson is down to 132,535 motorcycles last year, down from the sales peak of 344,000 bikes in 2006, the company has managed to face unfavorable demographic and economic headwinds relatively well. Despite an aging fandom and the kind of interest rates and gas prices that make one reconsider spending $46,000 on a bike, globally, sales are up four percent so far this year. With new models designed for the European market, as well as three-wheeled “trikes” that are squarely aimed at the affluent but older Harley-Davidson faithful that perhaps has lost a bit too much dexterity to manage a two-wheeled motorcycle, Harley has defied expectations. John Keilman, The Wall Street Journal