[LimeSqueezr]

It might happen but it not yet...

IF youv'e seen many new bikes on the floor lately IAL that's because lately it's been the middle of the nastiest winter in years for much of the country. That in itself causes some people economic worries and certainly dampens their enthusiasm about buying a motorcycle. It no doubt has allowed some people to pick up Harleys that are a (relatively speaking!) bargain in situations where a dealer or individual was badly needing to generate some cash flow. But all indications are that this spring there will be the usual shortage though maybe not quite as bad since Harley has declared its intent to get production up to a level where nobody will have to wait "more than a year" and some models e.g. Sportsters can already be had at or near MSRP with only a few months wait at most.

Now, if we were to get into a truly lugubrious recession which we're not in yet by any stretch of the imagination, I'm sure all motorcycle sales including Harleys would be affected and yes you would see the kind of deals Harley hasn't had to do since the early 80's.

 

[LimeSqueezr]

Re: Market Barometer?

The scalpers who slap a big "vaseline tax" on top of MSRP have *always* had plenty of bikes --if they ever have to turn away a sucker with money burning his hand because they don't have something on the floor, then they figure they're not slapping on enough. Most offensive are the car dealers who buy them up every year from certain authorized Harley shops who allow it, and whom I suspect are in cahoots with them.

 

[LimeSqueezr]

I'm sure he's talking about what COULD have been billed...

to customers at regular repair prices (except for the fact they weren't obliged to pay it) rather than what those repairs cost out of his own pocket. IF it amounts to that much in that short a time at just one dealership then I think that's a BIG clue who's REALLY going to get "screwed" once EH is totally out of business and the warranties are good for wrapping used cat litter!

 

[LimeSqueezr]

I agree it does seem like a lot...

but I don't know how many units that number was spread over. I'm pretty sure that, especially if translated to retail rates nobody gets for warranty work, there are some large multi-brand dealerships doing more than that annually in repairs. However, I have no idea if any EH dealer ever attained that sort of volume. I doubt it. As Dirksen said "there are lies, there are damn lies, and then there are statistics..." so I'm sure the numbers have been cooked in a way that makes him look like a good guy who's really hurting for his customers (to soften 'em for when he has to say "tough s**t").