SF Harley Closing

[stratslingr77]

I think the majority of motors departments in U.S. police departments would argue otherwise.

I'm willing to bet that's more about money (Harley offering better deals to agencies than other mfgs.) and image than actual performance.

 

[Kornholio]

100,000sf store
5000sf for buttless chaps and leather bandanas

And yes, I know they are

Good!

I wouldn’t think of HD being the ideal urban commuter. You do see them, but not in large numbers.

Leave California...it's mostly Harley-Davidson touring bikes here.

I'm willing to bet that's more about money (Harley offering better deals to agencies than other mfgs.) and image than actual performance.

Chattanooga ditched HD. When I asked why when I saw them picking up their new R1250RT-P units at the BMW dealer, the sergeant and lieutenant told me the HDs were more expensive to purchase and required more maintenance which cost the department more money. It was apparently cheaper for them to buy and maintain the RT-P bikes instead so they made the decision to switch.

 

[FLH03RIDER]

As for the "Sportster", it ain't your 'ol Evo motor scooter anymore.
Three models for 2024, the Sportster S, the Nightster Special and the Nightster.
Motor is the Rev-Max 1250T (like the motor in Pan America @ 150HP) the with 121HP in the "S", and 91HP in the Nightster models.
Price: $17K, $13.5K, and $12K

Now the "S" has some potential but needs some help and the Company certainly didn't ask me for input on the styling!
Get rid of that 17" fat front wheel/tire (leave the Fats" for the Glide models), put the "Special 19" wheel" on it with dual disc's, leave the 16" rear.
Dump the forward controls and go with the Nightster mid controls.
And that "cantilevered" taillight / license plate POS, put a center mounted license / taillight on a "bobbed" rear fender!
Man, sometimes the Company can fugly up what could be a looking scooter!

 

[Pushrod]

Every time I look at Harleys it's always a near miss for me.

Just too many compromises to accept while trying to justify the retail price. If I calculate the price to erase the compromises, then the total is in the neighborhood of just having a custom bike made to my specs.

If only HD hadn't cut the throat of Buell early on, I'd be a badge rider. But alas, market research aced me out of that marque. Shame about the dealer closing, tho.

 

[Kornholio]

I tend to feel that way about my Wrangler...but I still bought it.

 

[Grissom]

San Francisco Harley-Davidson closes abruptly after 110 years

Without warning, the 110-year-old dealership, which had survived two world wars, the Great Depression, and a pandemic, shuttered its doors.

missionlocal.org

More info..

 

[BillSmith]

The Perkins family were unique to the Harley Davidson franchise network. The South San Francisco shop was an edifice that memorialized the patriarch, Dudley and chronicled his history, that of the franchise and Harley Davidson motorcycles over multiple generations.

My brief interactions with Tom won me over. On one occasion, I had bounced my heat shields off* and had new ones shipped, the easiest way they could be attached would be to spot weld them to brackets. Shop said, "No can do. Would ruin the chrome."

Tom heard the interaction and asked me if I cared if there were some weld spots. When I said a few dots would give it character, he told the crew to set up his welding gear and told me to come back later. Sure enough, he tacked the shields on with minimal darkened dots. Solid work.

Franchise shops are infamous for being 'bolt on only' with OEM parts. Not at Dudley Perkins. Sad to see the remanent of that go but...probably for the best.

*Yeah, parts fall off a Harley. Especially when a Sportster is put to a spirited pace on the Isle of 9.

 

[Lucytriple]

Kern County HA all arrested . . . probably unrelated. No really.

 

[Norton Margie]

Harley has been slowly sliding down since 2006. Aside from the Pan America adventure bike, they have very little to appeal to people under 45 years of age. What is selling these days is inexpensive commuter bikes, adventure bikes and general purpose riders

 

[Holeshot]

I'll bite...why not?

The location doesn't work with the big box HD store design/ attraction. Big parking lots where events can happen and large store boxes with a feeling similar to Bass Pro, etc.

Harley has been slowly sliding down since 2006. Aside from the Pan America adventure bike, they have very little to appeal to people under 45 years of age. What is selling these days is inexpensive commuter bikes, adventure bikes and general purpose riders

This is the opposite of what we've been seeing in our customer base for HD. Indian is still struggling to win over die hard HD'ers and the PA is a great bike, but not one traditional ( and new) HD riders are considering. Most of our customers are from 20 to over 50 and they're riding baggers, Lowriders, and Dyna's. CVO's are desired too. HD is selling bikes, but like the entire industry: high finance rates are hurting the industry. Still...HD customers don't bat an eye at $25K bikes nor adding $4K of suspension bits...yet.

 

[Pushrod]

Kern County HA all arrested . . . probably unrelated. No really.

I googled it. Yup. Frosting on the cake was the line '. . . .and charged with elder abuse.'

Somehow ironic and fitting for this crowd of a curmudgeon M/C clique.

 

[VicTim]

Kern County HA all arrested . . . probably unrelated. No really.

I read that they busted the whole club. According to the article about six arrested and four of them patch members. I doubt that's the whole chapter, you probably need more than 4 guys to make up a chapter (Bakersfield if I remember correctly). My , I'm not a journalist.

 

[Kornholio]

The location doesn't work with the big box HD store design/ attraction. Big parking lots where events can happen and large store boxes with a feeling similar to Bass Pro, etc.

Is that a requirement for a location to work, though? I've seen plenty of HD dealers out this way that are in small locations without large parking areas too and they're definitely not in urban areas.

Having a store called San Francisco Harley-Davidson located anywhere but actually in San Francisco is about is dumb to me as the Angel's calling themselves the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

 

[tzrider]

Is that a requirement for a location to work, though? I've seen plenty of HD dealers out this way that are in small locations without large parking areas too and they're definitely not in urban areas.

Having a store called San Francisco Harley-Davidson located anywhere but actually in San Francisco is about is dumb to me as the Angel's calling themselves the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

I’m not sure anyone suggested doing that, but since you mention it, we could set up a San Francisco Harley Davidson in West Palm Beach and see how fast it goes out of business.

 

[FLH03RIDER]

I’m not sure anyone suggested doing that, but since you mention it, we could set up a San Francisco Harley Davidson in West Palm Beach and see how fast it goes out of business.

Hey, it could work. After all, the San Francisco Outlet Mall / Stores are located in Pleasanton!

 

[Grissom]

and the San Francisco 49's are in Santa Clara

 

[ramses355]

or San Francisco Mercedes Benz being in...... South San Francisco

 

[Kornholio]

I’m not sure anyone suggested doing that, but since you mention it, we could set up a San Francisco Harley Davidson in West Palm Beach and see how fast it goes out of business.

You're right, no one did. I didn't either. I just said it was dumb.

Hey, it could work. After all, the San Francisco Outlet Mall / Stores are located in Pleasanton!

Which is also dumb but likely done just because no one is going to bat an eye if it's named the Livermore or Tri-Valley Outlets.

 

[ob1ventura]

I'm not into Harleys, but it still sucks to see a Moto shop closing --especially one that's been around for 100 years!

https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/sf-harley-davidson-dealership-closes-after-over-100-years/

That sucks. Always treated very well there by the owner, parts and service departments

 

[Holeshot]

Is that a requirement for a location to work, though? I've seen plenty of HD dealers out this way that are in small locations without large parking areas too and they're definitely not in urban areas.

Having a store called San Francisco Harley-Davidson located anywhere but actually in San Francisco is about is dumb to me as the Angel's calling themselves the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Like the Aspen Institute being headquartered in DC...

You know this already I'm pretty sure: the look and feel of OEM dealerships is put upon the dealership by the manufacturer...and the req's keep getting more and more costly and demanding. HD has been one of the brands that's pushed for the big box model.