What's wrong with Harleys? - Page 28 - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

omegajim · 09-30-2008, 11:49 PM

me, just me, if I have to "buy in" to be part of a culture, maybe I don't belong there.

I think Groucho said it best "if they'll let me be a member, I don't want to join."

What is fundamentally wrong with Harley Davidson?

Very little, they are slowly moving into the liquid cooled age, something that I would think would be a big plus in the south. With the heat in summer and all.

Harley may not be a world beater, but, I reply, they have a clear vision of who they are and what they represent.

Name another marquee that can say that.

JmalB · 10-01-2008, 05:16 AM

Triumph... Ducati... MV Agusta... Boss Hoss...

KD57 · 10-01-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omegajim

Very little, they are slowly moving into the liquid cooled age, something that I would think would be a big plus in the south. With the heat in summer and all.

I dunno, I was in a long slow parade of bikes down south, it was 104F, the only ones that didn't pull off from overheating, were the Harleys. I don't understand how they keep running.

omegajim · 10-01-2008, 02:06 PM

oh, somebody threw down the "boss hoss" card.

That, sir, is not a motorcycle.

It is an abomination of "just because you can build it, you should." concept.

Putting a full sized car engine on a bike frame, good idea.

Did I catch this right, MV Agusta just got bought?

**intimid8er** · 10-01-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omegajim

Did I catch this right, MV Agusta just got bought?

Yes. By A.I.G..

omegajim · 10-01-2008, 02:17 PM

I thought I heard that Polaris bought them; but I only browsed the article.

AIG doesn't have $5 in it's back pocket, it has been selling all sorts of stuff to "recapitalize" itself.

Fancy speak for "oh cr*p, we are broke, we need to sell something."

Tracking AIG stock, just under $4, thinking of buying, let it ride to $8 and dump.

frostbitevinnie · 10-01-2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickster

Shouldn't that be Mrs frostbite's line?

"V" does stand for Vinnie, right.

tricker · 10-01-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JmalB

Boss Hoss...

riiiiiight.... you just had to didn't you..

JmalB · 10-02-2008, 05:09 AM

Just proving a point. I noticed the others weren't rebuffed...

And ironically enough, I though MV Agusta was bought by H-D. Or was that Aprilia?

Cactusjack · 10-08-2008, 06:37 PM

I have nothing against HD's, many of my friends ride them and they are cool and don't think less of me or my Nomad because it didn't come from Milwaukee. Here's my theory - anyone who pays thousands more for something just because it's a certain brand or image is not ever going to admit they made a bad decision. Therefore, they make others feel inferior about their choice of motorcycle in order to bolster their own self-esteem.

omegajim · 10-09-2008, 12:12 AM

all I will add at this point - synthetic oil does wonders for the air cooled engine.

Rickster · 10-09-2008, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cactusjack

I have nothing against HD's, many of my friends ride them and they are cool and don't think less of me or my Nomad because it didn't come from Milwaukee. Here's my theory - anyone who pays thousands more for something just because it's a certain brand or image is not ever going to admit they made a bad decision. Therefore, they make others feel inferior about their choice of motorcycle in order to bolster their own self-esteem.

OK, so that's how you feel about people that own Harleys, but the subject here is "what's wrong with Harley's", not the people that own them.

If you talk this way about your "friends", it must really be nasty when you talk about people you don't like.

Have you ever owned, or even ridden a HD?

Also, any head Doctor will tell you that nobody else can make you feel anything, doesn't matter if it's good, bad, or indifferent, so if you feel inferior, it's just your own choice to do so.

**intimid8er** · 10-09-2008, 02:33 PM

Currently, (right now) on hold at the Harley shop....(Service of course.).

"You can wear any old clothes when you ride a bike, but you need to wear MOTOR Clothes when you ride a HARLEY!".....

Heh..heh! Don't know why, but I find that funny.

omegajim · 10-09-2008, 05:58 PM

surprised the moron didn't say "motorbike clothes"

oyrider · 10-09-2008, 06:41 PM

MV was purchased by Harley Davidson. This gives MV some capital to work with and HD a bunch of dealerships in Europe for HD's and Buell's. Maybe some cross pollination of technology?
IMO Harley's mystique comes from post WWII and their owners wishing for something different, so they began "bobbing" or "chopping" their bikes. Creative and low cost. As the look caught on and the bike clubs developed their reputations, Hollywood glorified it in counter-culture movies. Everybody wanted to be anti-establishment and Japan saw a market for that style of bikes. It has taken Japan (and others) a couple of decades to get the "look" right, but they continue to work on it. IF you feel inferior, its because you are riding a copy as opposed to the original. You have no less of a machine, its just a replica of a style created by someone else.
Enjoy what you have. Be a motorcyclist instead of a biker.

omegajim · 10-09-2008, 08:08 PM

the image got built up a lot after WWII, but they also didn't send all of their bikes to the military (like Indian did).

Hence, fourfold

1) guys drove Harley's in the service

2) there were Harley's available for consumer purposes and finally

3) bikes get a bit better mileage than cars; important when you ration gas, and tires for that matter.

4) when the war was over, guys bought the bikes as army surplus.

Elvis · 10-10-2008, 02:21 PM

has any one said that?

omegajim · 10-10-2008, 07:05 PM

I dunno, this thread is 28 pages and counting.

always amazed that Indian (whose was nearly the same size as Harley going into the war) put all of its' production for wartime purposes.

Which, when combined with gas rationing took Indian out of a market that people suddenly found bikes very useful.

sort of like bikes finding their popularity today.

Rickster · 10-10-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elvis

has any one said that?

Yes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but than of course most everything made today is better.

Elvis · 10-11-2008, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickster

Yes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but than of course most everything made today is better.

Here we go again, back to square one, so what's wrong with Harleys?

09-30-2008, 11:49 PM	#541 (permalink)
omegajim M-J.Com Lifetime Achievement Award Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 1980 Yamaha XS850 Location: Washington County, WI Posts: 6,544	me, just me, if I have to "buy in" to be part of a culture, maybe I don't belong there. I think Groucho said it best "if they'll let me be a member, I don't want to join." What is fundamentally wrong with Harley Davidson? Very little, they are slowly moving into the liquid cooled age, something that I would think would be a big plus in the south. With the heat in summer and all. Harley may not be a world beater, but, I reply, they have a clear vision of who they are and what they represent. Name another marquee that can say that. __________________ "FREE TIBET!"* With purchase of one Tibet of equal or greater value.

10-01-2008, 02:06 PM	#544 (permalink)
omegajim M-J.Com Lifetime Achievement Award Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 1980 Yamaha XS850 Location: Washington County, WI Posts: 6,544	oh, somebody threw down the "boss hoss" card. That, sir, is not a motorcycle. It is an abomination of "just because you can build it, you should." concept. Putting a full sized car engine on a bike frame, good idea. Did I catch this right, MV Agusta just got bought? __________________ "FREE TIBET!"* With purchase of one Tibet of equal or greater value.

10-01-2008, 02:17 PM	#546 (permalink)
omegajim M-J.Com Lifetime Achievement Award Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 1980 Yamaha XS850 Location: Washington County, WI Posts: 6,544	I thought I heard that Polaris bought them; but I only browsed the article. AIG doesn't have $5 in it's back pocket, it has been selling all sorts of stuff to "recapitalize" itself. Fancy speak for "oh crp, we are broke, we need to sell something." Tracking AIG stock, just under $4, thinking of buying, let it ride to $8 and dump. __________________ "FREE TIBET!" With purchase of one Tibet of equal or greater value.

10-08-2008, 06:37 PM	#550 (permalink)
Cactusjack Newbie Joined: Jul 2008 Bike: '07 1600 Nomad Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 15	I have nothing against HD's, many of my friends ride them and they are cool and don't think less of me or my Nomad because it didn't come from Milwaukee. Here's my theory - anyone who pays thousands more for something just because it's a certain brand or image is not ever going to admit they made a bad decision. Therefore, they make others feel inferior about their choice of motorcycle in order to bolster their own self-esteem. __________________ CJ (Cactusjack) < Chandler, AZ >

10-09-2008, 12:12 AM	#551 (permalink)
omegajim M-J.Com Lifetime Achievement Award Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 1980 Yamaha XS850 Location: Washington County, WI Posts: 6,544	all I will add at this point - synthetic oil does wonders for the air cooled engine. __________________ "FREE TIBET!"* With purchase of one Tibet of equal or greater value.

10-09-2008, 02:33 PM	#553 (permalink)
intimid8er It's A Conspiracy Joined: May 2005 Bike: '06 XB12X Location: 30 41'47.99" N 83 11'26.54" W Hold My Beer Posts: 10,095	Currently, (right now) on hold at the Harley shop....(Service of course.). "You can wear any old clothes when you ride a bike, but you need to wear MOTOR Clothes when you ride a HARLEY!"..... Heh..heh! Don't know why, but I find that funny. __________________ Song Pick of the Week 12/03 Booker T and the MG's - Green Onions Bonus for Buster The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight I had no idea 20% ABV beer could get me drunk so fast! Last edited by intimid8er; 10-09-2008 at 02:36 PM.

10-09-2008, 05:58 PM	#554 (permalink)
omegajim M-J.Com Lifetime Achievement Award Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 1980 Yamaha XS850 Location: Washington County, WI Posts: 6,544	surprised the moron didn't say "motorbike clothes" __________________ "FREE TIBET!"* With purchase of one Tibet of equal or greater value.

10-09-2008, 06:41 PM	#555 (permalink)
oyrider In Training Joined: May 2007 Bike: 06 M50, 06 Ducati ST3s, 07 Honda cbr600rr Location: SoCal Posts: 134	MV was purchased by Harley Davidson. This gives MV some capital to work with and HD a bunch of dealerships in Europe for HD's and Buell's. Maybe some cross pollination of technology? IMO Harley's mystique comes from post WWII and their owners wishing for something different, so they began "bobbing" or "chopping" their bikes. Creative and low cost. As the look caught on and the bike clubs developed their reputations, Hollywood glorified it in counter-culture movies. Everybody wanted to be anti-establishment and Japan saw a market for that style of bikes. It has taken Japan (and others) a couple of decades to get the "look" right, but they continue to work on it. IF you feel inferior, its because you are riding a copy as opposed to the original. You have no less of a machine, its just a replica of a style created by someone else. Enjoy what you have. Be a motorcyclist instead of a biker.

10-09-2008, 08:08 PM	#556 (permalink)
omegajim M-J.Com Lifetime Achievement Award Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 1980 Yamaha XS850 Location: Washington County, WI Posts: 6,544	the image got built up a lot after WWII, but they also didn't send all of their bikes to the military (like Indian did). Hence, fourfold 1) guys drove Harley's in the service 2) there were Harley's available for consumer purposes and finally 3) bikes get a bit better mileage than cars; important when you ration gas, and tires for that matter. 4) when the war was over, guys bought the bikes as army surplus. __________________ "FREE TIBET!"* With purchase of one Tibet of equal or greater value.

10-10-2008, 02:21 PM	#557 (permalink)
Elvis Fender Buffer Joined: Apr 2007 Bike: '07 Boulevard C50 x2 Location: Wet Coast, Canada Posts: 412	there's nothing wrong with new Harleys has any one said that? __________________ It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.Mark Twain All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie. Bob Dylan *Any fool can know. The point is to understand.* Albert Einstein

10-10-2008, 07:05 PM	#558 (permalink)
omegajim M-J.Com Lifetime Achievement Award Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 1980 Yamaha XS850 Location: Washington County, WI Posts: 6,544	I dunno, this thread is 28 pages and counting. always amazed that Indian (whose was nearly the same size as Harley going into the war) put all of its' production for wartime purposes. Which, when combined with gas rationing took Indian out of a market that people suddenly found bikes very useful. sort of like bikes finding their popularity today. __________________ "FREE TIBET!"* With purchase of one Tibet of equal or greater value.

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