It's catch 22. Little interest by potential customers - even less interest by dealers - bad feedback from existing customers regarding dealers (and perhaps product??) - which stifled interest from new customers - which in turn killed the sales potential of the brand. Hence my thoughts on an independent dealer network.
You make a good counterpoint there, Thanassis.
However, I wonder if Erik's initial decision to go with the Harley dealer network instead of going it alone, or maybe even sharing the independent dealership network with other so-called "cult" or smaller volume motorcycle brands like say Aprila or even Triumph, was based mostly upon not only his close ties to H-D from his film's very beginning(seeing as how his whole original idea was to make an "American Sportbike" using H-D powerplants), but ALSO because the Harley dealer network was and is just about the most extensive out there also, and thus might've felt he'd reach the most number of potential customers that way.
Not to mention that there's always more than a few folks out there who will shy away from purchasing the more "esoteric" brands out there because of their thoughts about the distance their dealer would be from their home when any maintenance would be required.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
