New cars: What’s ahead in 2015
October 21, 2014Buy that dream car; you’ve earned it
October 21, 2014
When motorcycle enthusiasts shop for their newest bike, the first thing they look for is style.
Like any trend, styles in the motorcycle industry come and go rather quickly. Remember when choppers ruled the road in the 1960s and 1970s?
Today’s hotter trend is the tri-glide, a three-wheeled bike, which ranges in price from $25,000 to the low $30,000s.
Customers like the roomier ride and seat support over a conventional bike, according to Kim Rodrigue, Bayou Country Harley Davidson marketing coordinator.
“It has been an outstanding seller,” she said. “They have a lot of room and are very comfortable.”
Tri-glides are not only one of the industry’s hottest sellers, the three-wheelers are attracting buyers of all ages.
F&I Manager Dennis Guidry says the look appeals to all generations.
“It has been popular for both the older generation and younger generation because it has a hot rod look to it,” he explained. “It is fun and has an aggressive look and feel to it. I expect to keep seeing more on the road.”
While the road version of the tri-glide offers riders a roomy, stable option for long tours, the street glides sport slightly smaller dimension for getting around town.
“They have a tour model look, but still maintain a sleek and sporty style,” Rodrigue said. “It is really amazing how many street glides we are selling. People really like them.”
Street glides generally sport a bat-wing fairing, versus the road glide’s narrower and longer shark-nose fairing.
The bikes typically cost $20,000 to $26,000.
The most common reason buyers cite for purchasing a street glide, like the road-glide counterpart, is comfort.
“When we are touring and riding afar, there are a lot of straightaways, so it is important to be comfortable.” Rodrigue said.
Like any vehicle, motorcycles can be customized and tricked out with after-market products, which can create a personalized ride.
“Bikes can be dressed the way you want it,” Rodrigue said.
Generally, the first place owners start when upgrading their bikes is with sound.
“They want to hear what they are riding, so a loud muffler is the first thing,” Rodrigue said.
Stage kits designed for tuning produce the desired heavy exhaust they desire. Prices for custom exhaust systems can be as little as $300 or as much as $2,500 depending on the pipes and set-up.
Dane Giroir, assistant parts manager at Bayou Country Harley Davidson, said he’s seen a number of local riders interested in upgrading their Harley’s speaker audio, too.
“Audio is becoming more popular,” he said. “People want to change out the speakers and make (the sound) as loud as they can.”
Being able to listen to music on long rides is crucial, Giroir said.
“In town, you enjoy the scenery,” Rodrigue said. “When you are just cruising, you want music that is not just a little bud in your ear.”
Giroir reasons that killer audio systems serve as entertainment and provide a safety feature.
“Not only is it appealing to the rider, it serves as a safety precaution because people know (riders) are coming down the road,” he explained.
A solid seller among Harley Davidson fans are the custom vehicle operations motorcycles – handcrafted bikes that push the boundaries of style, luxury and performance. The CVOs range in price from $19,000 to $30,000, and include premium accessories and exclusive finishes. Harley Davidson’s 2015 CVOs include a street glide, limited, road glide ultra and softail deluxe model.
“CVOs are always selling,” Guidry said. “They have limited production in certain models every year because they are special editions.”
“All of our CVO’s are ready for the show,” Rodrigue added.
Tri-glides, like this 2015 road model at Bayou Country Harley Davidson in Houma, are the latest craze. “They have a lot of room and are very comfortable,” according to Kim Rodrigue.
