Who here rides a Harley?

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I'll ride with anybody that is safe, I don't care what they ride. I'm blessed with good riding buddy's, including my Dad, and my Step dad. We ride every weekend. We see it all, Life Style guys to Sportbike Kamakaze's. Whatever floats your boat. I started out on Yamaha dirt bikes and never saw a reason to change brands.
2005 Roadstar Warrior
2007 FZ1
2008 FJR1300
1978 GS1000 (my uncle bought new)
 
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: boraticus
grampi:

You have succeeded raising the ire of the sock puppets!

However, in the process, you may have also ruffled the feathers of some legitimate HD riders.

I have a Harley riding brother-in-law who bad mouths anything non Harley. He's got the hair, the beard, the 12" wallet with 36" chain, the a$$less pants, sleeveless shirts, fingerless gloves and of course the mandatory rottweiler. You know the kind. The quintessential, legend in his own mind, wannabe bad boy. Certainly not the sharpest tool in the shed. His Harley looks like a Shriner's Circus reject.

I ride mostly vintage Yamahas, all over 30 years old. You know, the "J-p cr-p" that will fall apart and be in the junk yard before it's three years old. Well, they're still here, still running and capable of embarrassing all but the quickest HDs.

My big, modern bike is a 2003 Valkyrie. Did I say that it's an American made bike?


Your description of today's Easy Rider wanna-bes is spot on. That's the part of Harley owners I just don't undstand. I hear the Harley guys in this thread saying what does it matter what brand someone else rides. Well, it doesn't, but where then does their holier-than-thou attitude come from? If it doesn't matter to them that someone else rides a metric, than why are we looked down upon by Harley riders? They're being hypocrits by talking out of both sides of their mouth at the same time. BTW, it would take a seriously souped up Harley to take any of your metrics (unless you include the V-Rod, which of course really isn't a Harley, its a Porsch).


Those old Yamahas are amazing bikes for their age. They've go enough jump to scare the bejeezus out of you, will haul to 110+ mph (if you have the nerve) and will cut through curves beyond what you'd think possible for such old machines. These are tiny little 350 and 400 cc two stroke machines, with six speed transmissions that shift slicker than many new bikes. The red RD400 is a '76, the yellow RD350 is a '74. Both run great and a not showing any signs of slowing down any time soon. Here's a pic:

dscf2510.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Originally Posted By: mpvue
if you have to ask, there's no way you would ever understand.


This has to be the lamest, most overused comment when talking about the "mystique" of a Harley.

37.gif


And I am glad to see that Victory is finally pointing out that the emperor has no clothes.

I guess you chose not to read my follow up comment. some things can't be explained in a logical spreadsheet sort of way. either you like it or you don't.
Jeep guys say the same thing (me, I don't get why they choose a jacked up, noisy, drafty gas pig for a commuter, but hey, it's their CHOICE)
in the bicycle world, it's always campagnolo vs shimano. most dudes don't understand why would you use that heavy campy stuff when shimano works so much better, etc.
for me, a HD is a simple, steel framed traditional bike. If I had one, it wouldn't get used a lot (because, seriously, no one NEEDS a motorcycle) but it would be a toy. it doesn't have to be the most refined, latest technology gizmo. it would be a RELEASE from the everyday.
like w/ music. everyday you might listen to your ipod or a CD. but once in a while, you put a record on the turntable. why?
or you tinker w/ the carb jet settings on your leaky hot rod.
why?
or you fix the broken sashes on the original windows in your old home when new vinyl replacements are so much easier.
why?
you run copper pipes in your home and sweat the connections instead of running PVC.
why?
for a motorcycle, I don't need to latest and greatest. for me, a motorcycle should be a stripped down, single seat, V-twin, spoked wheel, steel framed runabout escape from the everyday .

I shouldn't need to explain that to anybody.
 
Originally Posted By: cfromc
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: cfromc
grampi, face it, you originally posted this just to be a troll. You didn't really ask to learn something, did you? You asked to start a Harley bashing thread because you don't like them. People have given numerous reasons, which you quickly turned on them, for example:
"People who say this don't know the answer themselves."
"So it is a cult thing? People who buy Harleys just want to be part of the herd?"
Most of post 1702532, including: "Certainly not all Harley owners are like this, but a lot of them are. I'd just as soon spit on these people as give them the time of day.", "If you want to be just another cow in the herd, buy a Harley. If you want to be unique, buy something else."
"snobby Harley owners"
Face it, grampi, you are just a troll here

RonH, you sound like a troll that has 'issues'. "I'd have hunting season all year on Harleys and have a shotgun aiming at the street if I had my way." Are you going to start shooting Mack trucks later because they are too loud? You better wear ear protection because those shotguns are loud. Can I shoot you for shooting the shotgun because it hurts my ears?


This discussion isn't at all about the fact that I don't like Harleys; it's all about my inability to understand the huge attraction to the brand, and why so many Harley owners seem to cop "the attitude." I don't have it. I'm friendly to ALL riders regardless of what they ride, that is until I get the attitude from someone. Then all bets are off. And talking about this certainly doesn't make me a troll.


There we disagree. You had your mind made up when you posted. You posted a question guaranteed to put a lot of people on one side of the fence or the other. You received several legitimate answers to your question then you responded with a bashing thread with your "spit on them" comment, calling the V-Rod a Porche, your next paragraph about how they are cookie-cutter bikes, everyone has one, yadda yadda, how Victory is better (which I disagree with), your comment about Harleys leaving people stranded, how they're overpriced, and finally your comment about Harley riders just being another cow in the herd.

You don't like Harleys and most of their riders, we get it. Don't pretend that your original post was just so you could learn the reasons why other people like the brand.

I've ridden or owned every Japanese brand, I've ridden a Victory, I choose to own Harleys. But I don't feel any need to start a thread with the intention of bashing any other brand or their owners.


Again, my "spit" comment was directed towards Harley owners who have "the attitude." So I'm guessing you either condone that type of behavior by Harley owners, or you're one of them.

The V-Rod is a Porsch with a Harley badge on it.

What's your definition of something that's cookie-cutter? When 90% of the bikes you see on the road are Harleys, and 90% of those bikes have bags and a fairing, that's pretty much the exact definition of cookie-cutter.

I never said Harleys will leave you stranded, I said metrics won't leave you stranded. As usual you twist everything around to fit your argument.

Harleys are overpriced.

A lot of people buy Harleys for the sole purpose of feeling like they fit in (I.E. they want to be part of the herd).

I don't see where I said anything that isn't true. You just like spinning eveything I say so you can make your argument, but then again why would a Harley guy like you be interested in facts?
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: cfromc
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
It's too bad they stopped making the Valkyrie in '03. It was nice they assembled it here using imported parts from Japan.


I don't think you wanna go there. Harley has a higher content of parts made in China than any other make. So for those of you who think you're getting American iron when you buy a Harley, you'd better think again.


grampi, I'd be interested to learn more about the parts content of different motorcycle brands. Please provide your source. Does the source also indicate the US-made content of parts?


I'll see if I can find it. Someone posted it on the Victory web site a while back.
 
Originally Posted By: boraticus

Owning a Harley nowadays is like having a promiscuous woman for a wife.


Ok...so why is that all bad.?....
crackmeup2.gif
Seriously...I usually find that the Harley bashers are just people with low self esteem who project their self depricating poor self image onto others. They usually feel that everyone who buys a motorcycle does so to improve their self image. Not the case. Sorry guys, it's YOU not us. BUt not to worry there are plenty of therapists that can help you with your self perceived inadequecies.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: PT1
Originally Posted By: boraticus

Owning a Harley nowadays is like having a promiscuous woman for a wife.


Ok...so why is that all bad.?....
crackmeup2.gif
Seriously...I usually find that the Harley bashers are just people with low self esteem who project their self depricating poor self image onto others. They usually feel that everyone who buys a motorcycle does so to improve their self image. Not the case. Sorry guys, it's YOU not us. BUt not to worry there are plenty of therapists that can help you with your self perceived inadequecies.


Don't give me that self rightious us-Harley-riders-are-the-victims-here-and-the-flaming-only-flows-from-metric-riders-to-us garbage. The flaming flows a lot more from the Harley owners to the metric owners than the other way around.
 
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: PT1
Originally Posted By: boraticus

Owning a Harley nowadays is like having a promiscuous woman for a wife.


Ok...so why is that all bad.?....
crackmeup2.gif
Seriously...I usually find that the Harley bashers are just people with low self esteem who project their self depricating poor self image onto others. They usually feel that everyone who buys a motorcycle does so to improve their self image. Not the case. Sorry guys, it's YOU not us. BUt not to worry there are plenty of therapists that can help you with your self perceived inadequecies.




Don't give me that self rightious us-Harley-riders-are-the-victims-here-and-the-flaming-only-flows-from-metric-riders-to-us garbage. The flaming flows a lot more from the Harley owners to the metric owners than the other way around.


Right about now in a normal discussion of this nature, a Harley rider will resort to something like the following: "I beat you up cuz ya doesn't lik ma Haley Dividsin .
 
So guys, Hows the Harley bashing going this morning? You know I think I got you figured out.Bored one day you rented wild hogs and after watching it several times said, I'm gonna buy a bike. So your friends let you ride their Harley's and you were set to buy.But once at the dealer your wives wouldn't let you do it. So after thinking a while, you went to the suzuki and honda stores and bought their best Harley lookalike bike and said to yourself s no one will know the difference. But at the first bike night you went to with your biker costume on, no one would talk to you or even compliment you on your bike.At that moment you learned whats special about a Harley. At that point you dedicated your life to telling the world how bad Harley's are, and that your choice was the only right one.Even now nobody wave's to you when you go out, and women won't even talk to you because of your brand X bike.So you found a website that will let you speak your mind with hate and poison your message. I hope you never run into the Del Fuego's, they might just ty you up with duc't tape and steal your women, but leave your bikes because Harley look a likes have no value, but you guys already know that. Have a great day.,,
 
I ride a [censored] bike. I wave at any one on two wheels. Most Harley riders wave back, some dont. Doesnt bother me if they daont wave back.

We are all taking risks out there
 
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
So guys, Hows the Harley bashing going this morning? You know I think I got you figured out.Bored one day you rented wild hogs and after watching it several times said, I'm gonna buy a bike. So your friends let you ride their Harley's and you were set to buy.But once at the dealer your wives wouldn't let you do it. So after thinking a while, you went to the suzuki and honda stores and bought their best Harley lookalike bike and said to yourself s no one will know the difference. But at the first bike night you went to with your biker costume on, no one would talk to you or even compliment you on your bike.At that moment you learned whats special about a Harley. At that point you dedicated your life to telling the world how bad Harley's are, and that your choice was the only right one.Even now nobody wave's to you when you go out, and women won't even talk to you because of your brand X bike.So you found a website that will let you speak your mind with hate and poison your message. I hope you never run into the Del Fuego's, they might just ty you up with duc't tape and steal your women, but leave your bikes because Harley look a likes have no value, but you guys already know that. Have a great day.,,


Sorry to burst your bubble, but I've been riding motorcycles for almost 40 years. And just for the record, I can EASILY afford a brand new Harley AND all the hop-up mods that would be necessary to make it as quick as the metrics. I chose a bike other than a Harley because there are better choices out there.
 
In your first post you wanted to know whats so special about Harley's, I would think after 40 years of riding you would know that by now.And if you were so intrigued by the Harley persona why haven't you purchased one by now? And it's not like there hard to find. Sounds like you just need someone to agree with you and support your purchase. An old saying is you can catch more flys with honey, then you can with vinegar.
 
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
In your first post you wanted to know whats so special about Harley's, I would think after 40 years of riding you would know that by now.And if you were so intrigued by the Harley persona why haven't you purchased one by now? And it's not like there hard to find. Sounds like you just need someone to agree with you and support your purchase. An old saying is you can catch more flys with honey, then you can with vinegar.


I'm not intregued by Harleys. I'm puzzled by all the attraction to them.
 
grampi Don't give me that self rightious us-Harley-riders-are-the-victims-here-and-the-flaming-only-flows-from-metric-riders-to-us garbage. The flaming flows a lot more from the Harley owners to the metric owners than the other way around. [/quote said:
Of all your goofy generalizations, misrepresentations and rhetoric, that one probably takes the cake. Like I said the corresponding opposite to this bashing does not exist, or if it does it would just be a passing comment. There are entire web sites dedicated to your positions on this subject set up by people who feel as you do. You should visit those and feel right at home. The opposite covnersations just don't happen anywhere I go. If I were sitting around with some riding buddies having a beer and tried to start a anti brand x conversation it would result in a lot of funny looks and no conversation of the sort. Why waste the time? What is the point of such a topic? Who cares? I could start a thread on the Suzuki Ardvark but why? I don't have one and I don't care. Pretty much have to go with PT1 on this one. Professional counciling might be in order. Someone / something must have really hurt your feelings.
Click to expand...
 
I took a quick look at this post expecting a troll, and my look confirmed it.

Harley-bashing. Usually rouses up a crowd.

I'll just put in my 2cents worth, since a lot of others have. Firstly, I've ridden a few HDs, and owned one (just one). None of them had any soul I was aware of, they were all loud and had more vibration than I like in a motorcycle. They didn't have any remarkable power or handling. All the chrome was a major pain to keep up with.

I've also come across my fair share of what I term "Harley snobs". Motorcyclists who look down their nose at you if you don't have a Harley. ESPECIALLY if your bike is from Japan, then you're a "ricer" or worse. "Riceburner", "[censored]-[censored]" only comes from the mouths of the hard-core HD snobs. I've even seen internet posts by HD owners who insist that metric owners shouldn't be putting American emblems on their bikes. Apparently the eagle and flag get offended on a Honda....


However, I have also known some good types with Harleys who happen to own the HD because they really enjoy it. I know motorcyclists who own both HDs and metric bikes. The fact that I didn't enjoy having one doesn't mean that its not the perfect bike for other riders. Each to their own. Just check the attitude at the door. The bashing, either way, is a little sickening.
 
Originally Posted By: EagleFTE
grampi Don't give me that self rightious us-Harley-riders-are-the-victims-here-and-the-flaming-only-flows-from-metric-riders-to-us garbage. The flaming flows a lot more from the Harley owners to the metric owners than the other way around. Of all your goofy generalizations said:
While you see the flaming from metric owners on web sites, I see the flaming from Harley owners when I encounter them while I'm out riding. If you don't see it then you're either walking through life with blinders on, you don't own a metric, or you never encounter any Harley owners.
Click to expand...
 
Originally Posted By: VicL

I've also come across my fair share of what I term "Harley snobs". Motorcyclists who look down their nose at you if you don't have a Harley. ESPECIALLY if your bike is from Japan, then you're a "ricer" or worse. "Riceburner", "[censored]-[censored]" only comes from the mouths of the hard-core HD snobs. I've even seen internet posts by HD owners who insist that metric owners shouldn't be putting American emblems on their bikes. Apparently the eagle and flag get offended on a Honda....

I could hardly believe it, the SECOND obnoxious term that is clearly used by some snobs is CENSORED. I'm sure most you can can guess what the term was.
 
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