Posted by Armand on April 16, 2000 at 22:32:13:
In Reply to: Re: How did they do it? posted by Hogryder on April 13, 2000 at 22:55:11:
You`re right about those HD people being great in
discovering where the market is or will be soon.
Have a look at the Buell Blast now. Over at the
thumper mailing list there was much talk about it
being not a "real" bike and it more being like a
scooter. And yes, that is what itīs supposed to
be: a bike virtually maintenance free that doesnīt
require much skills in riding - just plain fun
without having to get your fingers dirty. The new
BMW F 650 is the same concept and even does more
features of a scooter: The tank is a fake, you put
in petrol somewhere under the seat, it even
doesnīt have a choke so any idiot can start it on
any weather condition and I wouldnīt be surprised
if it was delivered with an automatic transmission
within one or two years.
Thatīs the coming market of the young people.
If I take a look at my teenage kids and their
friends, they`re morre hooked on scooters than on
motorcycles, and so the line between a scooter
and a "real" motorbike will vanish. Itīs what
young folks want, and we old farts will be a
minority on the market sooner or later. HD folks
recognized this early and - just to be on the sure
side released it as a Buell so the name of HD
wonīt get any scratches if the bikeīs a flop.
Just face it folks: the thing is not about
building "good" bikes (whatever that may be) but
having an eye on the market and be VERY good on
marketing.