It’s like the Harley in the coal mine. Sales of the U.S.-made bikes are down in the States, but up in Canada, mirroring the economic conditions of the two countries.
American retail sales of new H-D motorcycles dropped 14.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006.
Canadian sales, however, were up 46 per cent for the quarter, meaning Deeley Harley-Davidson sold 605 more motorcycles in the October – December period than they did in the same three months of 2006.
U.S. motorcycle purchases are down because of fears that the American economy is about to nose dive. Big bike purchases south of the border dropped nine per cent overall for the fourth quarter.
Europe, Japan, and Canada all show improved Harley sales for the year.
