Curious as to why Harley dealers sponsor so many events, but rarely (at least in this area)do other dealers such as Yamaha and Suzuki sponsor events. Is it just a better marketing plan by Harley? Is it because there are more HD's on the road, and they would not attend an event put on by Yamaha or Suzuki? As stated just curious not looking to start any brand bashing.
I went to West Coast Thunder this weekend, 7500 to 10,000 bike there mostly Harley. If this event had been put on by Yamaha would there have been as many bikes, even though it was not about the bikes, but honoring Veterans? I talked to a salesman there and he said that he sold 11 bikes the previous years event, seems to me Yamaha could learn something from this.

I think it comes down to brand loyality and the whole HD culture that they created....good marketing!

Yep. Been a major complaint of mine for years. HD does sell a "lifestyle" and like it or not, that lifestyle sells a LOT of bikes. Other manufacturers just don't get it. They're interested in selling the one bike right now, without thinking of how to bring in more customers. I believe there's a lot of ppl that buy HD so they can attend all of the various events and feel a sense of community.

It could be done, but they would have to be "Sneeky" about it. IE.. don't use the Yami or Suzuki names, just call it a Bike Event or Motorcycle Rally, or Fund raiser. Our local Yamaha dealer does small events, but your right, the BIG ones are normally sponsored by HD and typically start or finish at the HD dealer.

Come on YAMAHA, we're behind you!! We are loyal to you! Others will be too if you ask!

Chicken or the egg. Volume of sales are drastically different, at least with in a specific market group. Yamaha sells a lot of bikes, but when you look at dirt, sport and cruisers they are different market groups and events are attended by different folks. HD events are a narrow line of folks.. but very high volume. Might be one of the reasons. jmo

Javawave is right on. Yamaha full line and more, HD virtually one line. They did a masterful marketing ploy of sucking people in to the lifestyle which was fiction to begin with.
Our local dealer does some events but we are tucked out of the way up here in Napa. The two events done this last year in conjunction with our Star Touring club drew about 100 each time. We have a local shop that does an interesting thing. they put a giant sign up in their front window if they are going riding. So you will drive by and see a sign that says "riding sunday at 10" and they do draw pretty well. I suspect they get a few customers by doing that.

One of the toy runs this year was put on by one of the local Star Touring chapters. I estimate we had well over 1,500 bikes there (all kinds).

I do agree though that many of the rides are sponsored by a HD dealership. The yami dealers down here also sell suzuki's, honda's, kawi's, Can-Am spyder's, quads, boats, jet skis, sport bikes, dirt bikes, and scooters. The cruiser market to them is not as popular as quads (not even close). I think that's part of it. If a rally starts, ends or is in the middle of one of the multi-line dealers like this, it may scare some of their customers away. I see them co-sponsor events (with HD dealerships), but they rarely start, end or stop there.

I would really like to know what percentage of Yami motors does the Star line contribute to sales and would also like to know in the cruiser world, how big is HDs market share and Star's?

I haven't found any reports that break Star out of Yamaha for US sales. The best figures I have found are from 2006. It includes all motorcycle sales.. a motorcycle being any motorcycle over 51cc. so this includes dirt bikes..Dual purpose bikes.. sport bikes.. cruisers and touring bikes... are as follows

Estimates of market share for 2006, the latest year for which numbers are available, show Honda in the lead with 24% of the market, followed by Harley-Davidson with 22.6%, Yamaha at 15.9%, Suzuki at 11.8%, Kawasaki at 9.1%, KTM at 1.7%, BMW with 1.2% and "Other" at 13.7%.

Just my impression of the bikes I see would say that for Yamaha and Suzuki both dirt, bikes and sport bikes make up a huge portion of their sales.


Update: as of 2006 49% of all bikes OVER 650cc sold in the US were HD. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, BMW and so on made up the other 51% and this includes sport bikes. I would venture to say the star line is a very small percentage of US sales overall. jmo

thanks for those stats JW.Those stats back up my theory,my roadstar is unique,they are a rare breed, with only a very small percentage of ownership nationwide.spud.
btw Harley does have an excellent marketing program!!

Also the HD dealers have a line item in their budgets for "Events/Promotions" that comes directly from the % of sales from the previous year. Corporate HD cuts a check for each dealer and they have the events for their customers and everyone else to enjoy. Yamaha does have "Star Days" but its nothing like a HD event and it moves to another region of the US each year. I doubt you'll ever see events from Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki or any other manufacturer compair to a HD event. And besides, how do you really think they get the money for the events ?

Maybe because their bikes cost double of what we paid!!