Harley 2021 model reveal - Thoughts?

[R-Rated]

I know there are a few Harley enthusiasts lurking around the site. So, did you watch the virtual reveal of the 2021 bikes?

Did you see something you liked or disliked? Was there something missing?

For me, I am scratching my head about the cast and spoke wheels on the Road Glide Special. They appear to come directly from the adventure bikes like BMW so I am excited to see Harley enter the Road Glide into a cross country rally

The other thing that I found odd was the pics of the CVO Limited shows no CB antenna. So now one of the most expensive bikes will cost you another grand to have technology that was out last year.

It is nice to see Harley start paying attention to the speaker systems on the touring bikes. Should be interesting what Rockford Fosgate came up with.

Finally, the "snake venom" color shift paint from Green to Purple - I vaguely recall seeing this being popular a few years ago?

No mention of the company going back to cable activated clutches and no fully liquid cooled engines yet. In fact the Pan America will not be released until next month.

 

[UncleL]

Nothing interesting for me to be honest

 

[LoneWolfer]

I just started watching it and I am annoyed by the voice over.

 

[LoneWolfer]

Oh yay, cowboys riding CVOs!

 

[LoneWolfer]

The VP of Styling & Design Brad Richards used the word Artisanal to describe the detailing of the CVO line of bikes. I am fast forwarding on mute now.

 

[LoneWolfer]

I turned the sound back on for the Road Glide and immediatly muted it again when the guy said "This thing is a classic by the time you hit second gear." ugggghhhh so lame.

 

[LoneWolfer]

Couldn't they find someone who looked at least a little comfortable on this road sofa?

 

[LoneWolfer]

Oh and the Styling manager Kelly Slank has fun colors in her hair so she is totally the best at choosing colors that will actually sell to a new generation of bikers because the Boomers are aging out and dying off. Wait, HD wants a grand for those fugly paint schemes? I'll take that in black please.

 

[LoneWolfer]

Oh look, like a half hour in, after talking about diversity of the 2021 HD color pallate, they have someone who doesn't visually identify as white in the launch video. Then that spirals into Harley's fashion stance which from this video is lets take a field trip to Cycle Gear, find out where they buy their stuff, then slap our logo on that stuff.

 

[LoneWolfer]

The Great Grand kids of William A. Davidson remind me of a famous brother and sister duo sporting the last name Targaryen!

 

[LoneWolfer]

So, at the end, the only part I gave a crap about is the Pan America and they barely talked or showed it. Also, its interesting that they didn't mention the Sportster line or the new high performance custom model or the eBicycles. This event was a waste of my time.

 

[R-Rated]

Oh yay, cowboys riding CVOs!

The 1990's beat them to it...

 

[R-Rated]

Oh look, like a half hour in, after talking about diversity of the 2021 HD color pallate, they have someone who doesn't visually identify as white in the launch video. Then that spirals into Harley's fashion stance which from this video is lets take a field trip to Cycle Gear, find out where they buy their stuff, then slap our logo on that stuff.

Hey, the boutique makes the real money!

 

[R-Rated]

So, at the end, the only part I gave a crap about is the Pan America and they barely talked or showed it. Also, its interesting that they didn't mention the Sportster line or the new high performance custom model or the eBicycles. This event was a waste of my time.

I got the same feeling overall. They delayed the real change for the company by another month. I hope the Pan America really does bring fresh life to the company but from the comments online over on H-D Facebook feed, it seems we are seeing more of the same song and dance to the tune of "oooh look! Shiney things with colors!".

 

[R-Rated]

Couldn't they find someone who looked at least a little comfortable on this road sofa?

View attachment 5534

I think he just squeezed out a fart and had to do that lift and release the cheeks move.

 

[R-Rated]

Oh and the Styling manager Kelly Slank has fun colors in her hair so she is totally the best at choosing colors that will actually sell to a new generation of bikers because the Boomers are aging out and dying off. Wait, HD wants a grand for those fugly paint schemes? I'll take that in black please.

I cannot comment on the hair. I got disqualified years ago...


Come to me with bald styles and I will speak out -

 

[R-Rated]

I turned the sound back on for the Road Glide and immediatly muted it again when the guy said "This thing is a classic by the time you hit second gear." ugggghhhh so lame.

I wonder if the cut scene was "by the time you hit rain, you are wondering why you can't close the vents on the fairing anymore..."

 

[R-Rated]

The VP of Styling & Design Brad Richards used the word Artisanal to describe the detailing of the CVO line of bikes. I am fast forwarding on mute now.

The marketing person was like, "We need to reach the 20 something demographic"

The VP chimed in, "I heard they like artisanal things from organic stores."

Everyone in the room nodding in unison.

 

[HippoDrone]

Couldn't they find someone who looked at least a little comfortable on this road sofa?

View attachment 5534

Considering how much HD put into the merch and clothing so buyers can engulf themselves in HD branded clothing, you would have thought that they would have actually had them wearing clothing that fits, and looks good. Neither jackets look to fit properly, and the riders helmet, def doesn't look to be a fantastic fit either.

 

[R-Rated]

I just started watching it and I am annoyed by the voice over.

Considering how much HD put into the merch and clothing so buyers can engulf themselves in HD branded clothing, you would have thought that they would have actually had them wearing clothing that fits, and looks good. Neither jackets look to fit properly, and the riders helmet, def doesn't look to be a fantastic fit either.

I have only found a couple of H-D branded items over the years that were actually road worthy and fit nice.

Everything else looks like it came out of the hamper.
I am still waiting for them to catch up with DGR level styling so I can look presentable at the post pandemic office.