A really dumb question: will harley ever make a sport bike?

Question

lets say that harley is running out of business, and they are not selling enough bikes because sport bikes are starting to be more popular. do you think if this ever happens will harley change their concept and make sport bikes?

Answer 1

they've tried that, with eric buell...

doesn't work

that's why buell switched to rotax

Answer 2

When you are the number One motor cycle manufacturer in the USA, you have no worries.

Answer 3

If you want a performance bike, you will  have to go else where

Answer 4

Not so much dumb as not well thought out.  However, to answer your question, they don't need to make sport bikes.  Because of their lock down on motorcycle making here in the US, they have signed (secret) agreements with all other bike companies.  The agreement basically states that whatever Motorcycles are imported or made here in the US that is not HD, HD gets a cut of the $.  So as long as ANY bike is sold here, HD will profit by it.

Answer 5

They have....are....will in the future....anyway, the only "dumb" part of ur question is suggesting HD would possibly go out of business (even hypothetically).  Don't see that happening.....ever.

Answer 6

i agree weith Jay P.... vrods and night rods specials are of a different breed

Answer 7

I would say probably not. But I didnt think KTM would make a sport quad. Im sure it will come sometime in the future

Answer 8

Um... VROD!

But you miss the point, with all the other manufacturers making crotch rockets and they all look identical except for the plastic and colors, why would Harley want too? but then again, for all of you that think Harleys are not a good bike....why do ALL the others try to make metric copies of them???

Answer 9

There's Buell, a company owned by Harley ( the new 1125R looks to be quite impressive but that engine is made by Rotax, not Harley ).

There's also the V-Rod.  It's not quite a sport bike but it is still a showcase as to what Harley can do ( outside of the air-cooled V-engines they put into all of their other models ).

Answer 10

Well, recent news suggests that Harley Davidson and MV Agusta are ready to merge.  MV Agusta is a smallish manufacturer of sport bikes.  So, once the merger goes through, then technically they will make a sport bike.

Answer 11

I hope not. The one thing that sets them apart is the fact that they don't try to do what every other manufacturer is already doing. Didn't they just buy MV though? There was some talk of them buying Ducati but I guess they passed on that for whatever reason. I read an interview with the CEO of Ducati and he was behind it 100%. That is the more sensible choice, just buy a company that has already done the R&D. There are already a lot of great sport bikes on the market so what's the point in starting from scratch?

Answer 12

they do make a sport bike the buell's. unlike what some of these other people say me & some of my friend's have them & love them. They are the best handling bike's made, they don't rev as high as j*p bike's, there not as fast as some of the j*p bike's (mine does 140 fast enf). But they are much torquier they make there power at lower rpm's. Very dependable, a blast to ride, low maintance. by far the coolest looking sport bike!!.      BE COOL RIDE A BUELL!!!!!

Answer 13

Buell used to be considered a crappy sportbike.

The new 1125R is decent. Too bad it uses a Rotax engine-an Austrian company.

The Harley powerplant overheated all the time.

Answer 14

Nope, look at the V-rod, it's a sales flop. People who want a Harley will not buy a j*p bike and people who want a j*p bike will not buy a Harley. This was my first thought as soon as I saw the V-rod. It would be the same with a sport bike.

Answer 15

Harley has done the superbike/race bike before... google the VR1000. As for cafe racers, the XR 750 and XR 1000. For now, however, there's no incentive to leave the market they're in.

Answer 16

well.. the Buell was or is their attempt at a sportsbike but it hasnt gone over too well. The Buell is a low revving bike which does not cut it in a sportsbike. It is also built cheaply and feels cheap when riding, plus they are quite ugly.

Answer 17

Motorcycling is a sport.So in a way all bikes are sport bikes.I'll bet that statement has sportbike riders bristling lol.

Answer 18

They have, it's the Buell.  And if anything it's the other way around.  Way more people buy cruisers to the point that the j*p bikes are the ones who had to adjust their line.  So no, I don't think Harley will ever change what they do best.  And they shouldn't.  If you want an awesome Cafe bike, look at a Suzuki Hayabusa or Honda CBR.

Answer 19

the only thing harley does right is make an over priced oil leaking peice of junk.you would think after 100 + years they would be able to make an engine that doesnt p**s oil everywhere it goes.they make a great looking bike but thats all.for the sport bikes buell tryed but couldnt make it work with harley because harley still isnt sure themselves.