I had saved this to read later but your thread has prompted me to read it now.
Why America's Favorite Motorcycle Company Is In a Serious Slide
Nothing really new there.
Look - the answer is simple. And it's not just HD. Despite our obvious bias on here - Big cruisers are NOT selling well.
I am taken by the fact that almost all my mates here are downsizing.
And most were not riding HUGE bikes to start with. I don't know why but there it is.
I can't remember when I last saw a "wing" out and about. More and more it's "adventure" and "cafe-racer". HD had these in the form of Buell and killed them off.
The difference is that other marques have recognised it and aimed elsewhere HD seems (here anyway) very unwilling to do so.
And what always amuses me is that the press thinks we care. Nobody got so worried when Triumph nearly died, or Guzzi.
Actually I think a lot of bikers back then thought - That'll teach them to listen".
It's purely a "Made in USA" knee jerk. Make what we (the grand collective) need or die.
If Honda decided next week that they would make no more large bikes - would the world bleat? - Would Honda worry?
As of 2020 - I think large bike sales in Europe WILL slump. Most commuter type bikes will soon have to be electric (or hybrid) to be viable.
Edited - I do think sometimes - "OK, if the R3 is dead - what would I buy?". And the answer is pretty much always - "I don't know". But pretty strong likelihood it would be sub 1000cc. More sporty.