Ahhhhh, life’s lil cycles of the roller coasteristic rise & fall of everything. The bubble is filling again and sometime in the future will be another big pop like in 08 & several other times. Funny how stuff works as we humans desperately feel the need to have more & more & more stuff, mostly stuff we don’t really need but stuff we wanted in that impulsive moment so in the cart it goes & three days after getting it, in a closet and forgotten it goes until it’s time for a yard sale or making a goodwill trip. Very soon every household will have to have 2 very good incomes just to survive, food, toys & vaca’s will be an unreachable pleasure due to everyone being house poor. Most will spend 50%- 75% of their income just for a place to call home.

 

Ahhhhh, life's lil cycles of the roller coasteristic rise & fall of everything. The bubble is filling again and sometime in the future will be another big pop like in 08 & several other times. Funny how stuff works as we humans desperately feel the need to have more & more & more stuff, mostly stuff we don't really need but stuff we wanted in that impulsive moment so in the cart it goes & three days after getting it, in a closet and forgotten it goes until it's time for a yard sale or making a goodwill trip. Very soon every household will have to have 2 very good incomes just to survive, food, toys & vaca's will be an unreachable pleasure due to everyone being house poor. Most will spend 50%- 75% of their income just for a place to call home.

So true. Not fair to these younger kids today renting because they can't buy because they can't qualify. my son has been ready to buy for 3 yrs now and then this ! The housing market booms. He's a patient soul and keeps saving. By the time the market drops he may be able to pay cash for a home. Funny how so many going into retirement or somewhere after retirement are liquidating and just renting. Traveling and living life. With insurance and home repair costs the way they are who can sustain to live a good retirement life but the wealthy? We own our 2 homes and the battle to keep them is just as hard as when we first bought them. If we were into retirement ages we would do just as many are doing. Liquidate. Buy a small home base and travel. Another thought is what Half Crazy does. A beautiful 5th wheel and change your scenery every so often. Either way I don't want to be married to a house in the beginning of my retirement. I'm gone with Vic's on board.

 

Curious if today this poll would change.

 

After the first stimulus checks went out do you know what the most purchased item was in the US? An Iphone! I kid you not. Unfortunately most Americans are not smart with money and the land owners and landlords are aware of this. People refusing to go back to work because of government handouts fuels this buying obsession. Trillions of dollars that were just printed is causing the worst inflation. Money that was printed to give to the non workers.

Who's surprised? Not me. We're entering an inflationary time the likes we have never seen. I noticed that food is skyrocketing as well. We went to Costco yesterday and saw pork ribs at $5.49 a pound! Last year it was $2.99 a pound. Cars as well. Sad thing is that the fiscally irresponsible are not even aware of it except the price for rent and housing.

The federal government is letting in hundreds of thousands of immigrants to fill the jobs the American people have refused to return to because of the handouts. They only have themselves to blame. They are about to be the "new" poor class.

 

After the first stimulus checks went out do you know what the most purchased item was in the US? An Iphone! I kid you not. Unfortunately most Americans are not smart with money and the land owners and landlords are aware of this. People refusing to go back to work because of government handouts fuels this buying obsession. Trillions of dollars that were just printed is causing the worst inflation. Money that was printed to give to the non workers.

Who's surprised? Not me. We're entering an inflationary time the likes we have never seen. I noticed that food is skyrocketing as well. We went to Costco yesterday and saw pork ribs at $5.49 a pound! Last year it was $2.99 a pound. Cars as well. Sad thing is that the fiscally irresponsible are not even aware of it except the price for rent and housing.

The federal government is letting in hundreds of thousands of immigrants to fill the jobs the American people have refused to return to because of the handouts. They only have themselves to blame. They are about to be the "new" poor class.

Wow! Impressive to say the least and I feel you are 100% right. We are chomping at the bit as homeowners to liquidate and run but have nowhere to run to. That's when you know the economy is screwed up when you have money and it's useless because it's not real money.

 

Looks like this thread just got political.

 

Let's keep that from happening. The title says:
"The demise of motorcycle sales". We all know it's because nobody has any damn money and if they do they're not spending it on toys. We just keep going around and around and around on these threads about motorcycle sales and about why why why. Truth is myself and those I ride with don't care about motorcycle sales. We won't be around to see it all end if it does. Personally IDK because I gots mines and I'm keepin em'

 

I think it has a lot to do with the price of these new motorcycles. I'm likely to never be in the market to drop the amount of coin they are asking for these new bikes. It just makes more sense to me to continue to buy used and enjoy them and fix them.

 

I say run to your safe space! LOL

 

 

Still looks like you are trying to make this a political thread. Don't you have any other place to spew that crap? Intolerance is forcing your views on others who may have different views. Keep spreading your hate and you will get this thread shut down. Just like the others.

 

Oh yea my poll answer is to remember the grease or some women will make blubbin sounds as they slide down & yes I’d buy another polaranus product

 

After the first stimulus checks went out do you know what the most purchased item was in the US? An Iphone! I kid you not. Unfortunately most Americans are not smart with money and the land owners and landlords are aware of this. People refusing to go back to work because of government handouts fuels this buying obsession. Trillions of dollars that were just printed is causing the worst inflation. Money that was printed to give to the non workers.

Who's surprised? Not me. We're entering an inflationary time the likes we have never seen. I noticed that food is skyrocketing as well. We went to Costco yesterday and saw pork ribs at $5.49 a pound! Last year it was $2.99 a pound. Cars as well. Sad thing is that the fiscally irresponsible are not even aware of it except the price for rent and housing.

The federal government is letting in hundreds of thousands of immigrants to fill the jobs the American people have refused to return to because of the handouts. They only have themselves to blame. They are about to be the "new" poor class.

No new iPhone for me, used my stupid free money for GUNS, AMMO and ALCOHOL, LMAO. Eventually the free money, which isn't really free, is going to run out and people who are depending on it will come to realize, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

 

aint happened in fifty years!!!! aint that right bujiboy!?????

 

After the first stimulus checks went out do you know what the most purchased item was in the US? An Iphone! I kid you not. Unfortunately most Americans are not smart with money and the land owners and landlords are aware of this. People refusing to go back to work because of government handouts fuels this buying obsession. Trillions of dollars that were just printed is causing the worst inflation. Money that was printed to give to the non workers.

Who's surprised? Not me. We're entering an inflationary time the likes we have never seen. I noticed that food is skyrocketing as well. We went to Costco yesterday and saw pork ribs at $5.49 a pound! Last year it was $2.99 a pound. Cars as well. Sad thing is that the fiscally irresponsible are not even aware of it except the price for rent and housing.

The federal government is letting in hundreds of thousands of immigrants to fill the jobs the American people have refused to return to because of the handouts. They only have themselves to blame. They are about to be the "new" poor class.

 

After the first stimulus checks went out do you know what the most purchased item was in the US? An Iphone! I kid you not. Unfortunately most Americans are not smart with money and the land owners and landlords are aware of this. People refusing to go back to work because of government handouts fuels this buying obsession. Trillions of dollars that were just printed is causing the worst inflation. Money that was printed to give to the non workers.

Who's surprised? Not me. We're entering an inflationary time the likes we have never seen. I noticed that food is skyrocketing as well. We went to Costco yesterday and saw pork ribs at $5.49 a pound! Last year it was $2.99 a pound. Cars as well. Sad thing is that the fiscally irresponsible are not even aware of it except the price for rent and housing.

The federal government is letting in hundreds of thousands of immigrants to fill the jobs the American people have refused to return to because of the handouts. They only have themselves to blame. They are about to be the "new" poor class.

Ain"t nothing to worry about,,this is just more Repeat of History

 

I just keep “ riding“,,havn”t missed any meals either!

 

I know this is “the demise of motorcycles” thread but the whole covid thing created higher sales of everything, boats, bikes, cars, trucks, houses, I mean literally everything is selling like ice in hell, am pretty sure I saw our towns homeless guy driving a new 3/4 ton crew cab 4wd diesel denali trim truck the other day, maybe not, it was dark, I was half drunk & had poked myself in the eye but he did get a new “cabin” tent & some new shoes “jordans” I think, point is low income people can not say their being held back due to lack of jobs because almost every single company is hiring & anyone who wants to work, can work. I was never much of a current events kinda guy but since covid made life a lil better I started listening a lot more. We went to 11 different states during 2020, all for leisure except two round trips to TVS in Iowa, those were for my mental health. Is great time to sell stuff as full blown retail is the going rate, we’re enjoying this up cycle, use ur money wisely & watch it grow like a mofo, get out and ride today

 

I know this is "the demise of motorcycles" thread but the whole covid thing created higher sales of everything, boats, bikes, cars, trucks, houses, I mean literally everything is selling like ice in hell, am pretty sure I saw our towns homeless guy driving a new 3/4 ton crew cab 4wd diesel denali trim truck the other day, maybe not, it was dark, I was half drunk & had poked myself in the eye but he did get a new "cabin" tent & some new shoes "jordans" I think, point is low income people can not say their being held back due to lack of jobs because almost every single company is hiring & anyone who wants to work, can work. I was never much of a current events kinda guy but since covid made life a lil better I started listening a lot more. We went to 11 different states during 2020, all for leisure except two round trips to TVS in Iowa, those were for my mental health. Is great time to sell stuff as full blown retail is the going rate, we're enjoying this up cycle, use ur money wisely & watch it grow like a mofo, get out and ride today

Anything interesting done to your bike while atTVS ?

 

A good good YouTube about HD, i learned something

 

He's a character but explains things well. Entertaining to say the least.

 

Good short ish thought provoking clip, they make good, useful & well written content

 

1v...unbelievable...i found this thread long ago before i was a member here...i too had noticed the trend and had brought the subject up many times among the folks i know that ride, at the time it was all sportbike riders...the consensus was two fold, prices and millennials, and not always in that order...i found this thread before i owned the victory just googling "what happened to motorcycle sales"...that's it...i didn't put it into the vog's search engine this morning, i just ran into it looking around in here...

dealerships used to have two rows of sport bikes, now many of them don't have one bike, forget a row of anything...lots of those side by side gotta buy a trailer to haul it some where like a boat things...they're not motorcycle dealerships that also sell water bugs and snowmobiles, they're "powersports emporiums" and bikes just are not a priority anymore for the reasons you listed...

so i'll say this...a honda cbr1000rr in 2004 was $10,900, the 2021 is $16,500 and the sp is $28,500...2021 yamaha r1 is $17,400...and the r1m is $28,000 and some change...guess i can't blame some of the younger generation for not getting into sport bikes but used cruisers are dirt cheap EVERYWHERE...i'm not a yamaha cruiser fan (lousy suspension) but there is a 2006 roadstar (1700cc not fuel injected until 2008) with 26k or 28k with ultimate seats on it for $2500 and it's nice (no it's not mine) on cl right now with plenty of company...

v1,,,to your original point, i didn't own a bike until i was in my late 40"s and now i have two and am looking for a 3rd and wish to hell i lived somewhere i could ride every day of the year...maybe the younguns will get their heads out of the video games and into life soon...my 7 year old grandson is on his second bike, yeah it's grandpa...zing of the road...

 

Funny how a short time ago we all complained about MC pricing and the fact that younger riders are just not interested in what we ride or our lifestyle. Fast forward to today and as zing pow mentioned the show room floors are empty. Not because of sales. Prices are higher than ever and trade ins are worth more. Atleast in the auto world. I always said ….. if you want to make something popular ….. take it away.

The new bikes sales I’m seeing around me is higher end and mostly touring. The buyers are middle aged and somewhat successful either in business or inheritance. The crazy money spent on a Harley Davidson lately from 2 friends I ride with ( both well over $30k ) has me wondering just how good these new HD’s are. Of course their answer to the question why Is …“ This is my last bike “

Sure they’re nice and shiny and new and they are way better than they ever have been. Then there’s the little things that bug me. Cheap audio, lousy handle bars, lousy seat, crap exhaust and performance. Sure I get that these are all subjective items that some would just leave alone and ride the dam $30,000 bike but then there’s those that can’t. They have to make it theres and that’s the fun of it all. Then there’s the CVO lineup ?

Shouldn’t all this be part of a check list and you order the bike with those upgrades you checked off ? Why pay over $40k then remove hard parts ????
Example: 14” bars or 17” bars. Pipe choices and tune options. Real High powered sound systems ( not Chinese junk ). Seat choices and windshield height based on the individual rider.
Why would I spend $45,000 to $50,000 on a Harley Davidson CVO and remove these parts to hang on my garage wall then proceed to purchase the better ( for me ) parts to enjoy the bike. If HD simply treated the CVO buyer to a check list for their bike and delivered it with those items on it then more average Joe’s may line up to the table. Less junk on the wall or in the trash and a bike you feel you didn’t Fk’d over on too much. Still I won’t spend even $30k on a motorcycle ever. Not when there’s so many good ones out there for a fraction of that cost. Some just gotta have it yet I see all too often the remorse and the old saying. “ what was I thinking !!!! “

 

Funny how a short time ago we all complained about MC pricing and the fact that younger riders are just not interested in what we ride or our lifestyle. Fast forward to today and as zing pow mentioned the show room floors are empty. Not because of sales. Prices are higher than ever and trade ins are worth more. Atleast in the auto world. I always said ….. if you want to make something popular ….. take it away.

The new bikes sales I'm seeing around me is higher end and mostly touring. The buyers are middle aged and somewhat successful either in business or inheritance. The crazy money spent on a Harley Davidson lately from 2 friends I ride with ( both well over $30k ) has me wondering just how good these new HD's are. Of course their answer to the question why Is …" This is my last bike "

Sure they're nice and shiny and new and they are way better than they ever have been. Then there's the little things that bug me. Cheap audio, lousy handle bars, lousy seat, crap exhaust and performance. Sure I get that these are all subjective items that some would just leave alone and ride the dam $30,000 bike but then there's those that can't. They have to make it theres and that's the fun of it all. Then there's the CVO lineup ?

Shouldn't all this be part of a check list and you order the bike with those upgrades you checked off ? Why pay over $40k then remove hard parts ????
Example: 14" bars or 17" bars. Pipe choices and tune options. Real High powered sound systems ( not Chinese junk ). Seat choices and windshield height based on the individual rider.
Why would I spend $45,000 to $50,000 on a Harley Davidson CVO and remove these parts to hang on my garage wall then proceed to purchase the better ( for me ) parts to enjoy the bike. If HD simply treated the CVO buyer to a check list for their bike and delivered it with those items on it then more average Joe's may line up to the table. Less junk on the wall or in the trash and a bike you feel you didn't Fk'd over on too much. Still I won't spend even $30k on a motorcycle ever. Not when there's so many good ones out there for a fraction of that cost. Some just gotta have it yet I see all too often the remorse and the old saying. " what was I thinking !!!! "

@slickvic ...spot on... first of all I LOVE all motorcycles...that being said, with #23 and 24 in my possession and both VICTORIES, I've looked at HD every time I was ready for a new bike, never bought used till this CCT. First was, only a couple models felt comfortable, THEN when saw what it would take, ON TOP OF POSTED PRICE, to make it road comfy and run better, well let's say I started out with NO wrinkles...left with many, only wife could cure. I did have a 1989 Sportster, good for chicks, but not comfortable for any ride over 40 miles, sold after a month...it was stock, only motorcycle I didn't do anything to.

OK, serious side, I totaled my 2014 CC 8-BALL...at 10mph, and was looking at a new Gold Wing. When wife got involved, she made the statement "why would you not get another VICTORY, you bragged so much about what we had". She was right, "YES HONEY" was my response. I started looking, others should do just for info. VICTORIES are keeping their value, after 2 months looking, I finally found a 2016 CCT with low mileage and great price...6954 miles for $10,000. I drove 750 miles to get it 2 days after seeing. I did see one, a 2014 CC 8-BALL, that caught my eye at $7900...with 216,000 miles on it!!

AND another bonus, even though VICTORIES run great stock, it only takes under $2000 to get them...what I call PERFECT...to really run GREAT:icon_thumleft: (I've beaten a V-ROD with almost $4000 in motor, boy was he pissed)

I added a few "personal" comforts...and still under $4000, again both bikes. Looking back, I figure between my 2016 CCT and 2016 VEGAS, YES motor work done and a few add-ons for both...I have about $24,000 in TWO bikes, way less than the HD Heritage I was looking at and after add-ons was going to be around $28,000. AND, my 2014 CC 8-BALL had 72,000 HARD miles on it, ONLY having to put tires on and VICTORY OIL changes. Still had spark plugs in that KevinX put in when motor work done at 1000 miles!

 

trading in is not an option for most but used "by owner" prices would make a crusty used car manager blush...book plus $2K everywhere on sport bikes...most dealerships don't even have a used inventory save the one year old auction repos...zing of the wild frontier...

 

Victory is the sport bike riders cruiser!....with a few tasteful mods!

 

svk...and there isn't a pole barn big enough...i'll see your vrod and raise an rc51 and zx12r...but yeah, my daily rider is the v92c...zp...

 

Funny how a short time ago we all complained about MC pricing and the fact that younger riders are just not interested in what we ride or our lifestyle. Fast forward to today and as zing pow mentioned the show room floors are empty. Not because of sales. Prices are higher than ever and trade ins are worth more. Atleast in the auto world. I always said ….. if you want to make something popular ….. take it away.

The new bikes sales I'm seeing around me is higher end and mostly touring. The buyers are middle aged and somewhat successful either in business or inheritance. The crazy money spent on a Harley Davidson lately from 2 friends I ride with ( both well over $30k ) has me wondering just how good these new HD's are. Of course their answer to the question why Is …" This is my last bike "

Sure they're nice and shiny and new and they are way better than they ever have been. Then there's the little things that bug me. Cheap audio, lousy handle bars, lousy seat, crap exhaust and performance. Sure I get that these are all subjective items that some would just leave alone and ride the dam $30,000 bike but then there's those that can't. They have to make it theres and that's the fun of it all. Then there's the CVO lineup ?

Shouldn't all this be part of a check list and you order the bike with those upgrades you checked off ? Why pay over $40k then remove hard parts ????
Example: 14" bars or 17" bars. Pipe choices and tune options. Real High powered sound systems ( not Chinese junk ). Seat choices and windshield height based on the individual rider.
Why would I spend $45,000 to $50,000 on a Harley Davidson CVO and remove these parts to hang on my garage wall then proceed to purchase the better ( for me ) parts to enjoy the bike. If HD simply treated the CVO buyer to a check list for their bike and delivered it with those items on it then more average Joe's may line up to the table. Less junk on the wall or in the trash and a bike you feel you didn't Fk'd over on too much. Still I won't spend even $30k on a motorcycle ever. Not when there's so many good ones out there for a fraction of that cost. Some just gotta have it yet I see all too often the remorse and the old saying. " what was I thinking !!!! "

ya buy a harley its assumed ya have to spend 2 to 3 k dollars to get it to perform and ride right. the bars and seats are the worst.

 

svk...and there isn't a pole barn big enough...i'll see your vrod and raise an rc51 and zx12r...but yeah, my daily rider is the v92c...zp...

See your rc51 and raise you a Munch Mammoth and a Benelli Sei.
Ride fast and take chances!

 

1v...unbelievable...i found this thread long ago before i was a member here...i too had noticed the trend and had brought the subject up many times among the folks i know that ride, at the time it was all sportbike riders...the consensus was two fold, prices and millennials, and not always in that order...i found this thread before i owned the victory just googling "what happened to motorcycle sales"...that's it...i didn't put it into the vog's search engine this morning, i just ran into it looking around in here...

dealerships used to have two rows of sport bikes, now many of them don't have one bike, forget a row of anything...lots of those side by side gotta buy a trailer to haul it some where like a boat things...they're not motorcycle dealerships that also sell water bugs and snowmobiles, they're "powersports emporiums" and bikes just are not a priority anymore for the reasons you listed...

so i'll say this...a honda cbr1000rr in 2004 was $10,900, the 2021 is $16,500 and the sp is $28,500...2021 yamaha r1 is $17,400...and the r1m is $28,000 and some change...guess i can't blame some of the younger generation for not getting into sport bikes but used cruisers are dirt cheap EVERYWHERE...i'm not a yamaha cruiser fan (lousy suspension) but there is a 2006 roadstar (1700cc not fuel injected until 2008) with 26k or 28k with ultimate seats on it for $2500 and it's nice (no it's not mine) on cl right now with plenty of company...

v1,,,to your original point, i didn't own a bike until i was in my late 40"s and now i have two and am looking for a 3rd and wish to hell i lived somewhere i could ride every day of the year...maybe the younguns will get their heads out of the video games and into life soon...my 7 year old grandson is on his second bike, yeah it's grandpa...zing of the road...

Like the Royalstar with the de-tuned V-Max engine.

 

Funny how a short time ago we all complained about MC pricing and the fact that younger riders are just not interested in what we ride or our lifestyle. Fast forward to today and as zing pow mentioned the show room floors are empty. Not because of sales. Prices are higher than ever and trade ins are worth more. Atleast in the auto world. I always said ….. if you want to make something popular ….. take it away.

The new bikes sales I'm seeing around me is higher end and mostly touring. The buyers are middle aged and somewhat successful either in business or inheritance. The crazy money spent on a Harley Davidson lately from 2 friends I ride with ( both well over $30k ) has me wondering just how good these new HD's are. Of course their answer to the question why Is …" This is my last bike "

Sure they're nice and shiny and new and they are way better than they ever have been. Then there's the little things that bug me. Cheap audio, lousy handle bars, lousy seat, crap exhaust and performance. Sure I get that these are all subjective items that some would just leave alone and ride the dam $30,000 bike but then there's those that can't. They have to make it theres and that's the fun of it all. Then there's the CVO lineup ?

Shouldn't all this be part of a check list and you order the bike with those upgrades you checked off ? Why pay over $40k then remove hard parts ????
Example: 14" bars or 17" bars. Pipe choices and tune options. Real High powered sound systems ( not Chinese junk ). Seat choices and windshield height based on the individual rider.
Why would I spend $45,000 to $50,000 on a Harley Davidson CVO and remove these parts to hang on my garage wall then proceed to purchase the better ( for me ) parts to enjoy the bike. If HD simply treated the CVO buyer to a check list for their bike and delivered it with those items on it then more average Joe's may line up to the table. Less junk on the wall or in the trash and a bike you feel you didn't Fk'd over on too much. Still I won't spend even $30k on a motorcycle ever. Not when there's so many good ones out there for a fraction of that cost. Some just gotta have it yet I see all too often the remorse and the old saying. " what was I thinking !!!! "

Remember working for Fletcher's H-D in '79 when they reintroduced the side car. Me and the owner setting it up and him cussing that there was ;"no way anybody was going to pay $10k for a goddamned motorcycle".
My, my, the more things change the more they stay the same.

 

^^^^^^ @VicVisionBulldog ^^^^^^