I just don't get all the Harley digs... (electric, biker, riding)

[Sayantsi]

Originally Posted by himain

I don't think fat guys on small bikes is attractive.

There you have it - get fat, get a Harley!

I too find fat people on sports bike grossly amusing. We got some nice weather here this weekend and I was out enjoying it when I saw some 300+ dude on a sport bike - I thought I was at the circus, but if he enjoys riding, more power to him. Personally, I'd lose the weight before I got a bigger bike to fit my growing proportions though.

[mateo45]

Originally Posted by Sayantsi

There you have it - get fat, get a Harley!

Must be why they call 'em Hawgs and Fat Boys (the bikes, I mean...)!

[Deep_Vee]

I'll preface this with the fact that I do not own a Harley...

First, current Harleys are some of the highest quality, most reliable bikes on the road. The myth of Harley's breaking down all the time is based on issues years (even decades) ago. These digs are based on ignorance.

Harley’s are fantastic bikes that bring enjoyment to millions of riders around the world. Harley as a company is a marketing juggernaut that has successfully built a brand that might be unrivaled in the world.

I personally see nothing wrong with Harleys as bikes, as well as the entire cruiser segment. When I see someone riding a cruiser…I wave. Sometimes they wave back, sometimes they don’t. For the most part, all are folks that enjoy riding – and I have that in common with them, and therefore get along just fine.

That said, the Harley “BRAND” drives me nuts. The Stickers, T-shirts, coffee cups, etc. I’m all for Merchandising, but it has become so over marketed, that it has become a joke to me. There is a Harley Dealership in downtown Seattle, in the heart of the tourist area. It does not sell or service bikes, it is a souvenir shop…that seems a bit much to me.

That branding has created the Harley “Image”. In my opinion, that “image” is the reason for the Harley bashing. I laugh every time I see a large group of “rugged, non-conforming individuals” dressed EXACTLY the same. It’s like a uniform. Yes, there are other “images” in riding as well, the Sportbikers in the multicolored leathers (or shorts and flip-flops), the BMW guys in the Aerostitch suits, etc. But the cruiser “image” (it’s not even Harley any more really) is by far the most prevalent, and therefore the easiest to mock.

The real downside, is that all of these contrived “images” have become almost religion to some. It’s really just stereotypes run wild.

But, back to the original question, it isn’t just Harley bashing. Anyone who rides feels that they are “bashed” by other riders…and in my experience, they probably are... Last week I was informed by a VTX rider that my Tiger is a "Pu$$y bike"...oh well.

[mikeyyc]

Originally Posted by Deep_Vee

But, back to the original question, it isn’t just Harley bashing. Anyone who rides feels that they are “bashed” by other riders…and in my experience, they probably are... Last week I was informed by a VTX rider that my Tiger is a "Pu$$y bike"...oh well.

Well a tigger is a kitty. Did you at least get the orange one?

Second, just lead captain barcalounger on a gravel road, and you won't much worry about him again.

[Deep_Vee]

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

Well a tigger is a kitty. Did you at least get the orange one?

Second, just lead captain barcalounger on a gravel road, and you won't much worry about him again.

White...by far the fastest color :-)

I can't lead my VTX buddy on a gravel road, don't you know that the Tiger is a wannabe ADV bike...it can't handle off pavement (according to the GS guys on ADVRider at least...). See, you can't get away from the bashing....(it does fine on nice gravel roads BTW)...

[Sage of Sagle]

Originally Posted by Deep_Vee

First, current Harleys are some of the highest quality, most reliable bikes on the road. The myth of Harley's breaking down all the time is based on issues years (even decades) ago. These digs are based on ignorance.

Deep Vee,

You may not want to shout "ignorance!" so readily. Let's take a look at some brands that are easily more reliable than Harley, scoring very high marks for reliability according to Motorcycle News Magazine's tests over the past 20 years:

Honda
BMW
Kawasaki
Suzuki
Yamaha
Aprilia
KTM
Triumph
Ducati (2003-up)
Polaris/Victory
MV Agusta
Moto Guzzi

I will grant you that the ones at the end of the above list are LESS above the current 2009 Harleys than the brands at the top of the list...

Let's look at brands that are comparable or less reliable than Harley:

Bimota
Royal Enfield
Vertemati
Ducati (up to 2002)

Harley sells about 320,000 units globally, and the others combined at around 1.3 million.

I have had extensive experience seeing Harley engines pushed to their limits in Buell motorcycles on the racetrack, and quite a bit more seeing most of the other brands in extensive racetrack use. And the amount of reliability issues with the Harley engine is just too huge to overlook.

Don't get me wrong....I'm NOT saying Harleys are crap. I'm just saying that if you compare Harleys to "all the others", resorting to such hyperbole to put Harley in the "some of the highest quality, most reliable..." category is just a huge mis-statement.

I don't think there's anything wrong with someone buying a Harley, knowing that it will be about as reliable as a ducati 916 or older Guzzi...you buy it because you love it. But let's not over-state things to the point where it becomes absurd. I don't think that's constructive.

Here is my closing thought..Harley quality in the older years was SO BAD that people are going to make jokes for a long time to come, and that's just what it is. No sense in being overly defensive about it or resorting to opposite hyperbole.

[muleskinner]

Originally Posted by Sage of Sagle

Deep Vee,

You may not want to shout "ignorance!" so readily. Let's take a look at some brands that are easily more reliable than Harley, scoring very high marks for reliability according to Motorcycle News Magazine's tests over the past 20 years:

Honda
BMW
Kawasaki
Suzuki
Yamaha
Aprilia
KTM
Triumph
Ducati (2003-up)
Polaris/Victory
MV Agusta
Moto Guzzi

I will grant you that the ones at the end of the above list are LESS above the current 2009 Harleys than the brands at the top of the list...

Let's look at brands that are comparable or less reliable than Harley:

Bimota
Royal Enfield
Vertemati
Ducati (up to 2002)

Harley sells about 320,000 units globally, and the others combined at around 1.3 million.

I have had extensive experience seeing Harley engines pushed to their limits in Buell motorcycles on the racetrack, and quite a bit more seeing most of the other brands in extensive racetrack use. And the amount of reliability issues with the Harley engine is just too huge to overlook.

Don't get me wrong....I'm NOT saying Harleys are crap. I'm just saying that if you compare Harleys to "all the others", resorting to such hyperbole to put Harley in the "some of the highest quality, most reliable..." category is just a huge mis-statement.

I don't think there's anything wrong with someone buying a Harley, knowing that it will be about as reliable as a ducati 916 or older Guzzi...you buy it because you love it. But let's not over-state things to the point where it becomes absurd. I don't think that's constructive.

Here is my closing thought..Harley quality in the older years was SO BAD that people are going to make jokes for a long time to come, and that's just what it is. No sense in being overly defensive about it or resorting to opposite hyperbole.

[mikeyyc]

Originally Posted by Deep_Vee

White...by far the fastest color :-)

I can't lead my VTX buddy on a gravel road, don't you know that the Tiger is a wannabe ADV bike...it can't handle off pavement (according to the GS guys on ADVRider at least...). See, you can't get away from the bashing....(it does fine on nice gravel roads BTW)...

You have a tigger, at least people know what it is. I have a Caponord. There's probably eight guys that know what they are, and six of them own one too.

[Sage of Sagle]

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

You have a tigger, at least people know what it is. I have a Caponord. There's probably eight guys that know what they are, and six of them own one too.

What a great bike! I worked closely with Aprilia USA in their early years in the US market, when either you knew them from their european 250cc grand prix champions or you simply thought the Mille was the only bike they ever made. I can't tell you how many people called it "Uh-prill-luh" 8-9 years ago. I always liked the Pegaso too, but not enough motor for us big boys. I even loved the Futura...crazy looks and all...

[BoydS]

I just found this thread and although I haven't read all of the post, since there are so many, I would like to respond to the OP with my thoughts.

Not sure how to put this, but I'll start stating that I've riden MC since the mid 60's. My first bike was a 1945 EL Harley. My passion for MC started way before I was able to ride one. My grandfather and 2 of my uncles all had MC's. The only large bikes available back in the 30's to the 50's were the Harley's and Indians. They had these bikes because they were cheap transportation.

After WW2 a few ex GI's drank a bit to much beer and started the evolution of the "biker gang". Hollywood elavated this and it eventually became know that anyone riding a MC was a bad guy. I will not go into the history of this event, as it is debatable.

Fast forward to the present time .. 2009. There are several folks out there today that now own the HD, only because it is acceptable by society. In the past several years, many folks have bought these bikes because of their popularity. Ok, maybe they couldn't afford them before, but I think that is not the reason. They bought then today to portray an image of themselves they could never do, unless they owned an icon of the past.

I mean no disrespect for folks that truly love MCs, but I have no tolerance for folks that think they are king of the hill just because they own a HD. Wearing leathers and riding a HD may make them feel like they are the toughest thing on the street and let them live their fantasy, but when they are challenged by someone who is a bit more hardcore ... look out.

My point being is that many of the HD riders today live in the Hollywood world by leaving their desk job to protray a fantasy of a tuff guy. That's the way I see many of them. It's a Halloween world for them, as they go from the neck tie to super cool (in their opinion).