How much more do you have to pay for a new Harley in Australia than in the U.S.? I can understand the freight cost is more than in the U.S. but what else is added to the price and why? Also, do you pay a premium for all American made bikes or is it just Harley's?

Can of worms this issue

Exchange rate would be a big part of it I would have thought. There you go, the lid is off the worm tin !!

When you do a basic calculation ,,
Example ,,, Aust 2017 Street Glide Special ----- $37,000
USA '' '' '' '' '' '' ''' ------ $24,000 --add 30%,(exchange) = 7,200 = 31,200

Cost for work to be done on international models -------------------------------Say $500 us = 650

Transport costs to Aus in us dollars ----------------------------------------------Say $1000 us = 1300

Miscellaneous cost we forgot --------------------------------------------------Say $ 500 us = 650
--------
Aus $ =33,800

From this basic calculation, (apples to apples), this bike is approx $3,200 Aus, (US $2400), higher than in the US ...

With our smaller market ,,, our higher wage structure ,,, and higher dealer costs than in the US ,, it seems to be around the mark .....

Higher profit margin is expected in Australian retail.

There are import costs but for the amount of bikes AUS HD are bringing in it's minimal.

We pay more because we will.

Apart from exchange rates don't forget actual sales figures. For every HD sold in Australia they would sell 10 or more in the U.S. That goes for just about everything. We just don't have the massive sales figures higher population countries have, so more profit has to be made to survive.

In the U.S, from 1995 or so, to 2005, there was a big supply, vs demand problem. Big demand for Harley's vs very slow and not enough supply. People were willing to pay 10 to 15 thousand over list for any model except Sporsters (2K over list). The dealers of course, took advantage of the situation and became very inventive. Some dealers would not sell you a Harley unless you had a Harley to trade in. Picture this. You walk into a Dealer willing to pay 10K over list with cash in hand and the salesman says no trade in, no sale. OUT!  Other dealers had a lottery system. They'd charge you 1500 bucks to put your name on a list to wait a year to gett a bike. What ever came in, regardless of model or color, take it or leave it. And, the 1500 didn't go towards the bike. It was just for the priviledge of getting a call when a bike came in.

Was it similar in Australia? If your wondering why I'm asking these questions, I'm doing research on a book I'm writing on the free market as it pertains to Harley Davidson. 

the average wage in US is like 30k a year...

exchange rate has to be a factor but not the cause or the price would fluctuate with the market.

when the $AU and the $US were parity, did the new bike price drop to parity with the new bike in the US. NO
there was also a time our AU$ was US$0.50 yet the price was still the same 1/3 higher.

In "real terms" , Harleys are cheaper in Australia than they have ever been

I paid $22900 RIDE AWAY FOR A DYNA CONVERTIBLE IN 1995

Mate of mine just rode a brand new Dyna Fatbob out the showroom for $21,000

21 YEARS LATER !!

One thing missed in the calculations os the GST,
and that is calculated at 10% of ALL the costs for the bike and to get it here.

In 1992 I bought a new Dyna for $20,000 ride way.

Similar bike today is $21k- $23k ride away, today. 

Or maybe even a little less. You sure couldn't get one dollar off the price back in 1992.

1990 when I bought my 1st one. I didn't have a choice of either model or colour back then, and you waited.
I know which one was/is the more affordable.

Retroman,

Which dealer is running out new Fat Bobs at 21K? I'll buy one next week if they can do the same deal.

PM me with the dealership and I'll buy you a carton as a spotters fee if I get the same price.

 

The $21K Fatbob was the very absolute last of the 2016 models. Gloss Black ( not the matt !). Stock bike with no extras.

2 year warranty , 6 months licence

A one off "Hollywood deal"...

Bloke had had me looking at 2012 Fatboys and Fatbobs privately , all around $20 K.

I told him to BUY THAT NOW and he did. 4 weeks on he's delighted , started buying sissy bars etc etc as you do

Right place at the right time. That's good buying.

Guys spare a thought for guys in parts of Asia...a new Softy can cost AUD$60K.

Yeah they are pretty expensive in asia. I saw a CVO Ultra the same color as Mickles at Bangkok Harley for $115,000 aussie.

you have Govt import duties,stamp duty,cost of first rego,dealer delivery charges and blah blah blah.

Wow,I didn't realise Hd's were that expensive in Asia..

Edit: I forrgot this one...the bikes free first service is factored into the cost of your new bike... 

Don't want to tell anyone how to suck eggs ,, but i've bought 6 new bikes in the last 8 years and saved THOUSANDS by waiting and buying the run out model ,, my last one was a 15 lowrider , i bought 2 weeks after the 16 came out .. My mate on the same day bought the 16 model and paid 4 grand more ,,, build date on the bikes was about 3 months apart .

I was really tempted to buy a runout RK a few weeks ago , Peter Stevens were selling them off cheaper than i could off bought 10 years ago , i've decided to wait 12 months and see what the new engines are like , but if they prove good , i will definetly only buy old stock and save THOUSANDS .