Gateshead Harley
- Thread starter Doc
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Of the many motorbike dealerships which were on Tyneside a few years ago, there are now so few. What about the Kawasaki dealership in the same premises?
I'm just reporting on Harley in the Harley section.
Without being funny of course.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B4V8i4hyw/ - the dealer says in the comments that the Kawasaki shop will remain open
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We may end up getting our Harley's dealer serviced in the EU whilst on tour.
HD are going down the tubes pretty rapidly; the bikes are too expensive and very limited appeal, they have no starter bikes to attract a new customer base and their current customer base is aging or dying and have no interest in buying the latest offerings. They have a poor reliability record and the current CEO is killing the brand with wokeness. Unless they change course very quickly it will be too late for them, but they are like an ocean going supertanker and it will take a long time for them to change and I don't see any new models in the pipeline that will attract a new generation of Harley owners. The whole HOG thing is a massive, laughable, embarrassing turn off for younger bikers so I just can't see where they are going to find new customers.
I used to live by Westgate Road in Newcastle upon Tyne . There were so many bike shops on the Hill . Every Saturday it was crowded with people pulling wheelies on H1’s up Westgate Road . Sad to hear this . Weirdly my local HD dealer seems to be going from strength to strength and have even started selling Enfields .
I guess they sell Enfields to actually make some money ?
I remember my mate taking me there for the first time.
Unbelievable
Haven’t you noticed Americans are extremely insular and don’t give a fuck about the rest of the world?! They also love Harleys and that will never change. Harley most likely will die in the UK, but not in the US.
I had many Harley friends when living over there and they had one common denominator.………..if Harley didn’t make bikes, they quite simply wouldn’t ride!!
Europeans are different, if Harley were the only company to make bikes WE would still buy them.
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Sad to see them go, they’re a good dealer.
On the bright side, they’re selling merchandise quite cheap now. I just bought an indoor cover for my Fatboy with 30% off
On the bright side, they’re selling merchandise quite cheap now. I just bought an indoor cover for my Fatboy with 30% off
People will still buy into the image the bikes the look.
Non bike People will always look at a Harley parked up. Be nice if the Indian could go the same way but I doubt that will happen because people won't move away from Harley.
I’m wondering if Trumps hike in tariffs ( and the retaliation here and the EU ) has anything to do with these decisions. 
If importing new bikes and especially spare parts prices go skyward then they will rapidly become unaffordable.
If importing new bikes and especially spare parts prices go skyward then they will rapidly become unaffordable.
I’m wondering if Trumps hike in tariffs ( and the retaliation here and the EU ) has anything to do with these decisions.
Many people decided they were unaffordable long before current shenanigans in the USA. HD has set unrealistic sales and stocking targets for years and dealers will have had to suck it up until they got to a point where they could either renegotiate or terminate a franchise they last renewed before interest rate rises reduced buyers' disposable income and raised PCP payments. This dealer probably gave HD notice some months ago based on meagre sales in 2023 and 2024.
Heart 'N' Soul rally!
Link not working for me.
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