If you say Harley people rightly or wrongly think weekend pirate village people. I'm 41 and at the younger end of the UK bike community. The training and insurance costs limit new riders to sucessful 30-45 year olds. These guys (and they are mostly male) want usable bikes with features that match their cars. BMW GS's etc. match a sort of continued gap year mentality so sell well. The Italian lifestyle, street fighter, video game in real life nakeds like the Monster do well and lead on to the classic styles. What I see very little of here is leather body warmers and beards on the under 55's. Sports bikes are becoming rare as we have wall to wall speed cameras and renting at a track is cheaper than insurance for the road. People also like to switch types, a Japanese naked followed by an Italian classic followed by a German adventure bike because the new style is part of the buying experience almost like getting a new haircut to go with new clothes.

I wonder where Harley go next as they do seem to be one trick pony in this regard? Do they think 33 year old lawyers and accountants are suddenly going to decide Dennis Hopper, 70 mile range and apehangers are cool? I'd be thinking of getting that engine into something that looks more like a Vincent and wouldn't look out of place parked outside an Italian coffee shop. If they toned down the biker gang think I think they could have their cake and eat it.

Andy