I think when you have that "image" to promote, and the fact that all the Davidson kids are out there promoting the "image" you're gonna get the kind of "Image" that attracts a certain demographic.
Harley Davidson has worked hard to promote that lifestyle and image and banking on the fact that it will sell bikes. It will sell bikes, to that narrow demographic of the Harley image seekers, they, in turn, are narrowly focused on that particular machine that promulgates the required image that they choose to project.
And that's the problem....they are running out of new customers. The died in the wool old school customers are getting old and needing trikes to still maintain that lifestyle. I was reading yesterday about several sidecar manufacturers who no longer make sidecars but have switched to trikes which are outselling sidecars ten to one. That should tell you something.
Sure thing, Harley is suffering as the slowly dwindling numbers in the sales department indicate. Sales are being directed to a vastly diverse group of riders which, in turn, dilutes the Harley demographic of riders thereby causing the slump in sales.
Basically, it had to happen. Why Harley didn't see it coming I'll never know, nor, do I really care. I've had exactly two Harleys in my lifetime, both were enjoyable, both sportsters and both a lot of fun. But I'm over the physical discomfort and reliability issues and now prefer my Bonneville for it's ease of maintenance, look, style and cost. Apparently a lot of others feel the same way.