As simple as it sounds, I do get this question quite often… Why buy a Harley? Harley Davidson Motor Company has been in operation since 1903. They have come a long way in creating the standard for the motorcycle industry. Due to its success, more and more competitors have jumped in to take a piece of the pie. We have seen the resurrection of Indian motorcycles, the birth of sports bikes, dual purpose motorcycles, you name it.
The truth of the matter is that most of these companies have gone way ahead in making their product more advance in technology and more appealing to the younger crowd. This past year, Harley Davidson created new models to keep up with the competition, including the birth of the electric motorcycle, the LiveWire Motorcycle.
I’ve been curious and test ride a couple of them. Triumph, BMW, Honda, Indian, Yamaha. All of them are great bikes. BMW’s and Triumph are way ahead in technology while Yamaha and Honda are more attractive in price. But, why Harley then?
Harley Davidson is the most iconic brand in the motorcycle industry. It has created a loyalty within their customer base hard to overcome by any of its competitors. I have never seen a logo of BMW or any brand of motorcycle tattooed to the skin of a customer. Talk about commitment!
No motorcycle dealer or distributor come close to the service the Harley Davidson dealers offer to its fan base. They pamper clients as they walk through their door. It doesn’t matter if you are coming to buy a new motorcycle, service your bike, purchase some souvenirs. They treat you as family as you come to the door. Once you are in their data base, they go out of the ordinary to keep you informed in extracurricular activities, special sale events, gatherings, motorcycle runs. As you purchase your first motorcycle, you become a part of a family called H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group). Extracurricular activities are planned, friends are made. The quantity of dealership across the United States is unmatched. As a result, touring bikers can rely with great support while traveling nationwide. It is like having a family relative anywhere you go.
At the end, it has to come down to the final product and Harley Davidson have been making great motorcycles since their birth in a shack in Milwaukee. They have been pushing the envelope by creating a reliable and unique motorcycle. The engine that revolutionized an era, the sound that defined generations…. It has been about not just the ride, but a way of life.