i have to say Harley really does a hell of a lot to bring in customers. at the show this weekend i was and am always amazed at the show Harley puts on. they have a wide glide with the front end fixed to the floor, the back wheel on rollers.
they invite newbies to learn how to operate a motorcycle, they have the person sit on the bike and explain how everything works, then walk them through actual operation, real time. i tell ya all you see is grins on the people, mostly women too!
second they demo how to pick a bike up when it tips over, again mostly women. thing is it takes away alot of the intimidation factor right there and plants a seed in the persons head, "maybe... yes, i can do this!"
last thing i noticed was a Fat Boy sitting there, again with the front on a stand holding it upright but no handlebars. im like what the??...
then i see a dealer walking back to it with a handlebar assbly, he just dropped it in place, and had the guy sit on the bike. behind him was a rack with diff bar/bends to try out right there.
i tell you, to own a Harley has never been on my radar, but they sure do a great job at drawing people in and making them feel comfortable. you just have to respect that.
BMW is pretty good at it too. they practically force you to take a test ride when you step into a dealer. we have one here that i stopped at (because, get this, there was a Super Duke up on the sidewalk...).
so i was talking to the KTM owner, a mechanic there, and then wandered in side to look at the then new S1000RR. next thing i know the dealer was offering me a helmet, gloves and a jacket, from a whole wall of demo gear.
15 minutes later im tooling out for a 1/2hr ride!
KTM could take a huge lesson here, and i dont understand their rational. i still get maybe 8 out of 10 people thinking KTM only makes dirt bikes!
and god help you if you want to see one in the flesh, here i have to drive 200miles or more to get to a dealer, and youd better call ahead because most deal only in off road stuff.