Harley-Davidson U.S. retail up 3.7 percent in Q3, analyst reports

Retail sales in the U.S. of Harley-Davidson motorcycles are tracking at 3.7 percent compared to the year-ago quarter, “even with a difficult 20.1% comp as Touring/Rushmore retain momentum (against anniversary) and Road Glide reintroduction contributes incrementally,” according to a research note provided to Powersports Business by Wells Fargo Securities analyst Tim Conder.

Conder reports after a meeting with Harley-Davidson Motor Corp. management at a New York dealership that “dealer/consumer reception to all new products has been exceptional.”

Additionally, Conder writes initial “Street sell-through strong in U.S., India and Southern Europe, but shipping ramp has been drawn out due to supply chain issues (now back on planned trajectory). Sportster likely recovering as Street availability increases and consumers begin to take purchase action, cannibalization worries likely overdone. Management stated there is nothing fundamentally wrong with Sportster. Street and Sportster customer differ on price point, ride, engine type, etc. In order to attract the younger demographic, Harley must break perception that riders need to spend $20K to get on a bike. Harley and dealers less concerned about lower margins on Street due to faster trade-up projections.”