What's wrong with Harleys?

[warhoop63]

The Howdie Wave, Most HD riders don't wave back, might have something to with that superior attitude.

I'm not sure where you live but where I live "WE" Harley riders wave at all bikers. I own a Harley because I like the bike. I have had the experience of not being waved back at by BMWs, and some others. For me as long as you are on two wheels you are a biker. Its the love of riding for me. I know people who own Harleys who are "brand snobs" I don't hold them in very high regard. They are also the ones who normally ride to the bar, or a 150 poker run and call that riding, thats not riding. One other thing that some Harley, and Victory owners share is the "American" aspect of patriotism. Many vets, firemen, LEOs own Harleys and their cages are american also. For some of us that is also a reason to own a Harley. In this day and age no large ticket vehicle is "all american". But at the end of the bottom line at the company the money we spend on our Harleys stays here in an American corparation. That can't be said about metrics no matter where they are assembled. And one last word. Riding should be about the spirit of freedom. No matter what brand you ride, its because we ride that gives that sence of freedom. What we ride has nothing to do with that feeling and to argue brands really takes the freedom out of it.

Live to be free, ride what you like, live and let live. Biker snobs of any kind have no understanding of that philosophy.

[tallannie]

Warhoop has got it. It is the snobbery about the brand that can be offensive...and that is a personal trait...not about the bike.
Annie (did anyone see me test ride that Road King?)

Originally Posted by warhoop63

I'm not sure where you live but where I live "WE" Harley riders wave at all bikers. I own a Harley because I like the bike. I have had the experience of not being waved back at by BMWs, and some others. For me as long as you are on two wheels you are a biker. Its the love of riding for me. I know people who own Harleys who are "brand snobs" I don't hold them in very high regard. They are also the ones who normally ride to the bar, or a 150 poker run and call that riding, thats not riding. One other thing that some Harley, and Victory owners share is the "American" aspect of patriotism. Many vets, firemen, LEOs own Harleys and their cages are american also. For some of us that is also a reason to own a Harley. In this day and age no large ticket vehicle is "all american". But at the end of the bottom line at the company the money we spend on our Harleys stays here in an American corparation. That can't be said about metrics no matter where they are assembled. And one last word. Riding should be about the spirit of freedom. No matter what brand you ride, its because we ride that gives that sence of freedom. What we ride has nothing to do with that feeling and to argue brands really takes the freedom out of it.

Live to be free, ride what you like, live and let live. Biker snobs of any kind have no understanding of that philosophy.

[warhoop63]

Originally Posted by Rockhead

I like Harley’s just fine but can’t afford a 20k bike. I could use that extra 13k for some other toys. If it makes them feel good that they have an expensive bike so be it. If money wasn’t an issue id probably own one or two.

I do like the Harley commercial were all these guys are striking out on their dates. Then you see a Harley parked out front of a house with a bra hanging from the handle bars with a trail of cloths to the front door.

I have found this to be true! Like they say..."Chrome will get you laid, but it won't get you home." So stay at her place.

Peace Hoop...

[warhoop63]

One last thing from me on this thread. I find it interesting to see so many posts about Harleys by owners of other brands. Love em or hate em Harleys turn heads, and get you talking.

Peace Hoop

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by warhoop63

Riding should be about the spirit of freedom. No matter what brand you ride, its because we ride that gives that sense of freedom. What we ride has nothing to do with that feeling and to argue brands really takes the freedom out of it.

Live to be free, ride what you like, live and let live. Biker snobs of any kind have no understanding of that philosophy.

Warhoop! Man, you nailed it.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by tallannie

(did anyone see me test ride that Road King?)

Annie, you gotta tell a bit more about that. Did you get one?

[tallannie]

Naw... I didnt get it. Saw a one year old FLHRC (or some such jargon) touring model Road King with the 96 cu engine.......returned from the rental fleet with 14,000 Miles apparently put on in only a couple long touring rentals...or so they say. Anyway it is red, my fav color and in beautiful shape and still under warranty...it is not ALL chrome and studs, etc and so I had a sense I could, uh, stand having it in my garage.. My C50 has been wonderful but I am too darn big for the frame size...so I always keep an eye out lately. I went back last weekend and test rode it...they allow you to go a small loop out onto a freeway for 2 offramps and back....and you can do it as many loops as you want. The ride is wonderful, what can I say?... as good as my C50... lot more power of course... the seat was broken in well and very comfy. They want $18,000 for it... so it is pretty hard to justify....but now I have at least ridden a Harley. Who knows, if my ship comes in again, maybe that is a bike I might buy.

Originally Posted by Elvis

Annie, you gotta tell a bit more about that. Did you get one?

[Elvis]

Top of the morning Annie,

That was prompt! I'm going to a demo ride next Sunday myself. Will try to test ride a Street Bob and now that my wife put a Low Rider on my mind, will attempt to get on one of those also. You might like to monitor this thread.

I sensed earlier a bigger bike was coming your way. Start a "Road King Fund" at home and you're gonna have to make some room for that beast in your garage. [Penny saved money earned, that's how we got our twins]

"It won't be long before my ship comes in
Gonna sail right out of Colorado
Catch a ride on a warm trade wind
Where no one knows
She'll find me waitin' when my ship comes in
Gonna board and go whichever way the wind blows...
I'll be off to find myself once again
And where no one knows
When my ship comes in

It won't be long before my ship comes in
Where no one knows
She'll find me waitin' when my ship comes in
Where no one knows"

Cheers,

Don't know how is he "Gonna sail right out of Colorado"

Originally Posted by tallannie

Naw... I didnt get it. Saw a one year old FLHRC (or some such jargon) touring model Road King with the 96 cu engine.......returned from the rental fleet with 14,000 Miles apparently put on in only a couple long touring rentals...or so they say. Anyway it is red, my fav color and in beautiful shape and still under warranty...it is not ALL chrome and studs, etc and so I had a sense I could, uh, stand having it in my garage.. My C50 has been wonderful but I am too darn big for the frame size...so I always keep an eye out lately. I went back last weekend and test rode it...they allow you to go a small loop out onto a freeway for 2 offramps and back....and you can do it as many loops as you want. The ride is wonderful, what can I say?... as good as my C50... lot more power of course... the seat was broken in well and very comfy. They want $18,000 for it... so it is pretty hard to justify....but now I have at least ridden a Harley. Who knows, if my ship comes in again, maybe that is a bike I might buy.

[Rickster]

Don't know how is he "Gonna sail right out of Colorado"

That would be after Calli falls off into the ocean.

Annie. $18,000 is way to much for that bike, here in my part of the country you can buy that bike brand new for $16,500.

[tallannie]

Ok went back this yesterday and rode a softail heritage custom. What a different bike than the Road King. Road King shakes like a it has Parkinson's disease at any low rpm condition....I thought all Harley's did that....but, no... this second ride was glass smooth at low rpms...apparently has counterbalancers. Anyway, they want $19,000 for that 2008 with 9000 miles...LOL. Really nice bike.
Forgot to tell you that I had fun with the sales manager. I sign a lot of contracts and so I refused to sign the release for the test ride when I saw it... Worse than a car purchase i swear....I started to walk out....and he chased me back...LOL.... we haggled over language finally and I removed the language that released them from liability in case there was a problem traceable to THEIR negligence or poor repair or maintenance. I was OK accept design flaws or my own incompetence....... but really ! Anyway I stared em down and he struck the lines I wanted and initialed it before I signed.
Yes I have checked now on cycle trader and even the dealers there want much less than this for new bikes...at dealerships that are smaller maybe? or farther from big population centers??

[Rickster]

I don't think it the dealer size, I've been to at least 50 different HD dealerships across the country and all of them were pretty much the same size, at least as far as showroom floor space.

For some reason unknown to me, we almost always have some of the lowest prices for new Harley's, in most cases, even lower than Milwaukee.

Good catch on that release form, I wonder if that's something just your local dealer does, I've never had to sign any forms for a test ride.

[omegajim]

prolly because you're in St. Paul and the riding season is what, 6 weeks?

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by tallannie

Ok went back this yesterday and rode a softail heritage custom.

They are sweet, a lil pricey for me though.

Me and my wife went to the local HD store yesterday also. Thought they were open till 6 and we got there 10 before 5. It was a quick visit

I think I like the Low Rider more and more.

[cardude720]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

my friend bought a brand new 08 (maybe 07) vrod (the model with the midpegs). He bought it in august and he has 1100 miles on it. It's already leaking oil!

[omegajim]

good to know they haven't drifted from tradition.

[cardude720]

haha yea, i think that answers the quesiton "what's wrong with harleys?".... wouldn't you say?

[omegajim]

it's much more fundamental than that; it's what's wrong with "american manufacturing."

we build it (anything) to a standard that's "good enough."

and usually, things work fine; however, now and then, you have the odd quirk.

I will write of this minor leak as a quirk in either the gasket, the torque used to tighten the mating parts, or even the order in which they were fastened.

you would not believe how much all of these things vary, and how small amounts of variation when in the right combination leads to annoying quirks.

The most likely result, the bolts need a small amount of tightening or replace a gasket.

But you wouldn't think this kind of thing would be bad so soon.

[4dtvman]

I really don't think there is very much wrong with HD expect that lately there look that they come from a cookie cutter. Dam they all look the same. The market is flooded with them.

Just came back from NH, white mount region and they were coming out of the wood works. I had a bunch of people ( average joe) that told me that my Honda VTX looked good, and the HD guys would walk by and look at the corner of there eyes at and say nothing.

But I really hate about HD is some of the guys who ride them. With there HD high priced gear. To remind them selfs how much they paid for that thing that there riding.

I was on the second floor of a resturant called Horse fethers where the table next to us where the owners of 2 new HD Classic's ( nice looking bikes) But one guy had every piece of clothing that HD makes (not in the US) check the tags. He keep getting up and checking his bike to make sure no new dust had fallen on it. And to show everyone he was the owner of that new shinning HD that the bank owns.

Maybe we should change the name of this thread to " Why we hate HD owners"

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by 4dtvman

I really don't think there is very much wrong with HD expect that lately there look that they come from a cookie cutter. Dam they all look the same. The market is flooded with them.

Just came back from NH, white mount region and they were coming out of the wood works. I had a bunch of people ( average joe) that told me that my Honda VTX looked good, and the HD guys would walk by and look at the corner of there eyes at and say nothing.

But I really hate about HD is some of the guys who ride them. With there HD high priced gear. To remind them selfs how much they paid for that thing that there riding.

I was on the second floor of a resturant called Horse fethers where the table next to us where the owners of 2 new HD Classic's ( nice looking bikes) But one guy had every piece of clothing that HD makes (not in the US) check the tags. He keep getting up and checking his bike to make sure no new dust had fallen on it. And to show everyone he was the owner of that new shinning HD that the bank owns.

Maybe we should change the name of this thread to " Why we hate HD owners"

First of all, do you own your bikes outright, or does the bank own yours too?

Second, as you said his bike was brand new, I'll bet you checked on yours a time or two the first few times you parked it someplace.

Third, what's wrong with wearing Harley gear? Can you "honestly" say you don't own a Harley T-shirt or two? Plenty of na-sayers do.

Fourth, the average joe that told you your Honda looks good, probably thought it was a Harley, they sure went a long way to try and make it look like one.

All your rant really sounds like is jealousy.

As for "CARDUDE720" get a life dude, one V Rod leaking oil proves nothing, it would be like me arguing all white dudes are gay because I saw one with orange pig tails.

[4dtvman]

Originally Posted by Rickster

First of all, do you own your bikes outright, or does the bank own yours too?

Second, as you said his bike was brand new, I'll bet you checked on yours a time or two the first few times you parked it someplace.

Third, what's wrong with wearing Harley gear? Can you "honestly" say you don't own a Harley T-shirt or two? Plenty of na-sayers do.

Fourth, the average joe that told you your Honda looks good, probably thought it was a Harley, they sure went a long way to try and make it look like one.

All your rant really sounds like is jealousy.

As for "CARDUDE720" get a life dude, one V Rod leaking oil proves nothing, it would be like me arguing all white dudes are gay because I saw one with orange pig tails.

I own both of my bikes. I would NEVER borrow money to buy a toy. I own my house for the past 18 years. I had a 5 year mortage. I don't owe any money on credit cards expect what I charge for the month. Credit can real get you into trouble if you don't believe me look at what's happening.

I would never make a seen getting up from my table every 5 min to check on my bike that I don't owen the bank.

I don't own a HD shirt, I don't own a Suzuki shirt or a Honda shirt.

I don't think my bike looks like a HD might sound like one because of a single pin engine and the Cobra pipes that I have. The engine that HD took Honda to court for. And what does a HD look like do they have the patten on looks now.

A bike has 2 wheels a motor a tank and a seat. Or did HD make there bikes look like an Indian many years ago. Remenber.

As I said I don't hate the bike just some of the guys that ride them.