Motorcycles

Harleys are cheap these days. Perhaps that's why I've noticed friendlier Harley riders lately.

 

They're still slightly more expensive than the Japanese V-twin knock-offs that were introduced to compete with the Harley's. It's the V-Twin design that makes for a sleek motorcycle as opposed to having to wrap one's legs around a four cylinder that lends appeal the the Harley. Harley's are narrow when compared to a Gold Wing for example which makes them a sleeker looking and riding motorcycle. When I talk with other brand V-twins such as Vulcan owners they mention price as being the deciding factor over buying a Harley which is why I mention that price is probably the predominate reason most purchase other brands of motorcycles. Certainly the improvements in Harley's to incorporate EFI and all electronic ignition systems was long overdue but with those changes today's Harley is an excellent motorcycle.

Yes, there is some "snobbery" in riding a Harley. They are an American made motorcycle (yes, with some parts made overseas) that has been around for over 100 years. A person that owns a Harley does become a "member" of this club and we like the handle of being "bikers" as opposed to being "motorcyclists" which is applied to all other motorcycle owners. It doesn't make us "better" than others but it does make us a part of a group with a long and varied history from the flat track racers of the past to the 1%'s with their checkered history. 100 years of history comes with the title to a Harley. It doesn't make us better but it does make us different.

BTW - For those that enjoy motorcycle history there is an attempt to make a documentary on the Penton Motorcycle and John Penton. They are seeking help in funding this project and if anyone is interested check it out.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects...ory-narrated-by-lyle-lovett?play=1&ref=search

 

Hooters in Louisville had Bike Night { Tuesday's } and I used to go once a
month or about 3 times per summer.Mostly the harley guys went out of their way to
make sure and park as close or right next to other Harley.
Some Harley riders seem pretty universal.But most are flat-out Bike Bigots.
Doesn't sit well with me.I like to converse with Motorcyclist not Harley types.
I think Harley types are about the most stupid bike owners out there.
The smartest Bike guy I know owns a Ducati Dealer.He also sells KTM,and Triumph
and Suzuki.Far & away the Biggest Motorcycle (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*) I ever met owns a Harley
dealership.He upgraded in a major way about 8 years ago.With a huge beautiful bldg.
from the piece of crap almost pawn shop he had before.But he made a lot of
enemies at his old small shop,But obvioulsy did profit.He used to have new models hidden back
in his wharehouse and he'd size potential buyers up and decided on the fly if he should
show them a new model.I heard him outright LIE about available bikes he had.His showroom
was small and only had enough room for about 10 bikes plus all his Harley line of clothes
and accessories.He did manage to have a couple really HOT Biker chicks on hand as
salespeople.

 

Things have changed for Harley's that's for sure.Used to be in the Louisville area a new Harley
was basically $4,ooo over list.Dealers could ask that and get it.That was back when the switch
was made to their new tooled bikes with TC88 engines.Up until 10 years ago Harleys
were still not meeting demand.Then almsot within a years time they did.In fact Harley even
started discounting models.I saw previously unsold models { mostly V-rods } from the year
before going for $1500 less.of course Harley sticks you with dealer prep & Freight {destination}
which runs around $400-500.

 

I guess there's no need to redefine the term " Ignorant ".Thinking a Name like " Harley "
is all it takes.Then explain the " Harley " name and it's bikes when AMC owned them.
Or just their last model { the leaky 80 Evo }.The first run of V-rods had a great engine but
has squirrely handling and too forward controls.
Vulcan's never were much of a Bike.I got back into biking in 1998 and liked what I read about
the Kawasaki Nomad with a vulcan V-twin and nice hardbags.Those hardbage however
were side opening { not good }.I kept the bike a few months and traded in for a real
winner the Valykrie Tourer.That Nomad which got a Cycle World rating as best Cruiser at the
time was a crock.The bike handled real sloppy and had No power.
I give Willie G credit for sticking to his mantra of his cruisers maintaining a certain rake
I believe 34 degree and somewhat stylish trail.And his overall philosophy of Tank design
and the stupid invention of the word " SOFT TAIL ".
To prove how stupid Harley prospective buyers are,I used to quiz them on what they meant
when insisitng they want a " soft tail " I'd say most had no real idea what a " soft tail " means.
Throw in the word Swingarm and ask them if they would rather have a soft tail with a swingarm.

 

Not sure why all the hate for Harley's? I guess it is kind of like the Apple vs. PC battle. Yes, Apple computers are more expensive, but you get what you pay for, a great machine. I think it is the same with Harley, you know what you are getting. Oddly enough, in both situations there are those who hate the brands and do their best to tear them down.

I know many Harley riders who aren't biker turds, they aren't gangsters, they just love the machines. Plain and simple.

I also see that nowadays you have all sorts of people riding Harley's and customs and all sorts of bikes, I think the typical stereotype of deteriorating.

 

You know why Harley riders hold their hand low while waving to other riders? To catch the parts that fall off their bike.

 

Look at it this way.

You can buy a top of the line foreign touring bike in the Kawasaki Concours 14 and pay around $16K
or the H-D equivalent and pay around $28K

It's a no-brainer, while H-D's do hold their value, they are simply over-priced compared to Japanese motorcycles.

 

LOL - I wouldn't know, I don't own a Harley.

 

That happens to be half my point.Harley's are NOT worth what they ask.
$16,ooo used to be the average price of a Harley cruiser { Duece,Fat Boy,Heritage }
10 years ago and many dealers if not most still marked them up $3-4,ooo.
One could easily have gotten a More powerful Japanese cruiser which handled far better
and had better brakes like a VTX1800,Yamaha Warrior or Kawasaki Mean Street.
I'm talkin bigger displacement engines with about 25% More Horsepower for thousands less.
Harley command a higher price for one reason only.Because they can.It's that simple.
But no longer.They have met up with demand and Motorcycle consumers are smarter each passing year.
Realizing there are far better values for the buck and more importantly Better performance
from metrics {Japanese} for thousands { $16,ooo vs. $12,500 } less.
Then to add insult to Motorcycling you got these Harley bullies with their
Cliques as if they are so much better off with their rides.

 

Indeed you are probably right, and I am sure Harley as a company will recognize it, otherwise capitalism will have its way and they will go under. I don't see that as a reason to hate on the company though. I happily pay a premium for my Apple computers because I am comfortable with their machines, they work and don't give me any hell, even though I could probably get a comparative PC for a few hundred less.

I think you have more of a problem with some riders than anything, I guess you can get bad apples in any bunch though.

 

To make sure and snag up any loose change falling from their pants pockets because that's
about all they have left after their Harley purchase.

 

The Concours also happens to be used by many Police Depts. nationwide.
They kinda look ugly but are adept,fast touring models the equivalent of a touring Beemer {BMW}.
Honda has the ST1300 in which I was seriously thinking of buying years ago.

 

Volvos were very well built cars but people didn't generally buy them because they were ugly....... and yes, a BMW is a very nice car but it still isn't a Mercedes.

 

OK then tell us AGAIN Why americans Buy Harley.
I say it is a combination of peer pressure { it's all they hear their friends talk about } PLUS
Machismo.A Guy ain't a real man unless he gets hisself a Hog {Harley}.

 

Last one I had, maybe 8 years ago or more, I sold and told a co-worker. He asked how I could sell it? I said that it was just a bike. He asked is your mother just a Mom?

 

Never have been a fan on Harley Davidson myself. You're paying for a name, not the quality of the bike. Bikes half the cost of a Harley ride better, brake faster, etc.

 

Kinda reminds me on what Sonny Barger said regarding the Altamont Speedway Concert.
The one where the Hells Angels agreed to be security for all the beer they could guzzle.
A Dude { Tall Black Pimp } in the audience pulled a gun and one the Angels quickly
stabbed him to death.
Barger { head of the Angels } was interviewed later and talked as if them Bikes { their
Hogs } are everything to them.People have gotta understand that.Their Hogs are
precious to them.

 

a few of my bikes It's hard to remember them all...


of these last two I still have parts of the 350 RD and a complete CBX but it hasn't ran in years, it just sits there in a corner of my garage gathering dust



now a days I just drive my toyota tundra, I stay dry and warm and no one pushes me out of my lane...

 

I thought about a Harley but after investigating I bought a C50T Suzuki instead.

It had the sissy bar, floorboards, saddlebags, kick shifter, a five year warranty, and it was two thousand dollars less expensive.

The Harley was just a Sporster with a two year warranty, no saddlebags, no sissy bar, no kick shifter, no floorboards.

And also the guy at the Harley place kept calling me bro...I did not like that.

I would still like to have a Harley...if I ever get rich...

 

I never had the Harley urge, oil spitting, vibrators, in my day a group of Harley riders required a pick-up truck to follow behind in case of a breakdown which was routine, they may be more reliable now but that image has stuck with me, my japanese bikes never left me stranded...but still I regret never buying a laverda 750 when i had the chance..

 

I was thinking about those early 70's Yamaha's just a few weeks ago.The 350RD was THE
best 350 bike ever produced.Bar none.It was so special and unique I think it could out zip just about any other
production bike out there.At least up until 90 mph or so.I roomed with a guy in college who had a
350 and almost killed himself on it.
My first Bike I owned all by myself was a 500 Yamaha. But it was a totally different bike having
16 valves and NOT a 2-stroke.

 

yeah the 350 Yamascreamer...a 350cc unicycle it spent so much time on it's rear wheel... it was small/lightweight fast right out of the box...raise the compression do a little porting and polishing work on the cylinders and it was a very scary ride, I junked the bike when the bottom end went but kept my ported cylinders and tuned pipes just in case I come across a 350 carcass that needs a new heart ...new bikes a great but the old 350 always put a smile on my face, after it scared the crap out of me...

I tired finding a good used RD but they become quite scarce around here...

 

Not that way here in Florida. Maybe it was the attitude of those that did not ride Harley

 

It is like the difference between a Toyota and a Cadillac. I know I am doing okay. I own a 2011 Harley Ultra Limited and my wife drives a 2006 Cadillac STS. By the way my wife has never had to work outside the home.