Harley Davidson vs Kawasaki
Harley Davidson vs Kawasaki: Harley Davidson costs $193K to $2.9M to open; Kawasaki costs $72K to $1.0M. Harley Davidson has 69 units, Kawasaki has 20. SBA loan history: Harley Davidson = 53 loans (5.7% default); Kawasaki = 17 loans (11.8% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Harley Davidson vs Kawasaki: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Kawasaki requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($72K vs $193K for Harley Davidson), a 170% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Harley Davidson operates 69 units to Kawasaki's 20, roughly 3× the system size. Kawasaki has been operating 148 years (founded 1878) versus 123 for Harley Davidson (founded 1903), a 25-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Harley Davidson has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 53 7(a) approvals compared with 17 for Kawasaki. Harley Davidson's peak SBA year was 2021 (18 loans); Kawasaki's peak was 2021 (8 loans). Kawasaki's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in CA. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Harley Davidson deals is $1.6M vs $705K for Kawasaki, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 5.7% for Harley Davidson and 11.8% for Kawasaki, Harley Davidson has the cleaner SBA loss record by 6.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 38 (Fair) for Harley Davidson and 32 (Fair) for Kawasaki, giving Harley Davidson the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 38/100 | 32/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 53 | 17 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 5.7% | 11.8% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $193K to $2.9M | $72K to $1.0M |
Franchise Fee | N/A | N/A |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 69 | 20 |
Franchised Units | 69 | 20 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1903 | 1878 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | CHICO, CA | RED BLUFF, CA |
Category | Motorcycle, ATV, | Motorcycle, ATV, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Harley Davidson or Kawasaki?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Harley Davidson: $193K starting · Kawasaki: $72K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Harley Davidson
Harley Davidson: 53 SBA loans · Kawasaki: 17 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Harley Davidson
Harley Davidson: 5.7% · Kawasaki: 11.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Harley Davidson: 69 units · Kawasaki: 20 units
More lender financing options
Harley Davidson
Harley Davidson: 43 unique lenders · Kawasaki: 17 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Harley Davidson vs Kawasaki: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Harley Davidson and Kawasaki is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $72K to $2.9M.
Harley Davidson has 53 SBA loans on record and Kawasaki has 17. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Harley Davidson vs Kawasaki, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Harley Davidson or Kawasaki?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Harley Davidson or Kawasaki?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
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