Who Hates Harley Davidson?

I have a 90 sportster and an 83 vf750f interceptor. I think the topic here is the people on the bikes, not the bikes themselves. The harleys represent a part of our society that at one time was consistent with where us sport bike riders are now. Used to be that riding around on a Harley represented freedom on the road and a degree of comraderee that just isnt there anyone with most harley riders. One kind of Bike Demands respect and cryes to be DRIVEN (Interceptor) while the other is just plain fun to drive (Harley). You don't have to be an a**hole to drive a Harley, but for some reason they sure attract them!

 

It is not the brand of bike I despise as it is the poser operator. If somebody wants to overpay for an "image" then that is their problem. I have a few friends that ride harleys. (But not very good friends, mind you!!) One I let sit on my VFR last summer and he was in shock; and that was sitting still, revving the engine in neutral. Imagine if I'd let him ride it - NOT gonna happen. Again, I couldn't care what they ride, but if they are going for the image and play the poser part, then let them make fools of themselves!! On a side note, and to a lesser degree, ther is the BMW group. Again, not the bike I dislike as it is the pretentious attitude that is so common. If you can't take a joke, well then, you know!!!!

 

Sorry, but I must disagree. "Biker" isn't a term that I associate with myself. You can call me a "motorcycle rider", or "motorcyclist", or "a guy who rides bikes" but don't call me a "Biker". "Biker" is not a person, it's an attitude........a BAD attitude.


Lane

 

OK got to chime in on this one. Last Summer went for a nice ride throught the local back roads, about 600k of mostly twisty roads in the mountains. The interesting thing was at least half the bikes I saw were Harleys. They were having a pretty good time cruising along. There were a few wings and the like and maybe one or two sports bikes on what is a real sportbike road. I was pretty impressed as I sure wouldn't want to ride a Harley on that trip. I guess my rather convoluted point is most riders are OK irrespective of what they ride, we just tend to notice the a-seh--es the most.

If I had unlimited money I would probably own a Harley but I would also own a whole bunch of Jap classics and maybe an Italian or two. Would probably still ride the VFR the most though.

As for the poser comments; in a continent obsessed with image, read Hollywood, its hard to rag too much on these types much as I am tempted. Its not my scene but I don't like Horror Movies either and I wouldn't suggest that those who do are crazy or idiots. Actually I might but hey we all have our little foibles.

 

I may dislike something but hate is kinda over the top for me. I like anything that works and anything that is not a ripoff. Generally, American products are made to be profit making - Harley bikes are an example. The AMF Harley bikes were very bad and only served the purpose of making money. Harley riders are pretty obnixous about owning a Harley, and for some reason the loud pipes are another argument with them (they believe loud pipes save lives - everyone is entitled to their opinion). I perfer not to let someone who is stupid make me look stupid by getting me angry over nothing. The only real good thing about Harley is not their bikes, but their ability to market and sell Harley items and stuff to people who do not even ride a motorcycle. The weird thing about Harley bikes is that people know they are not very reliable and need all sorts of add-ons, but they seem to enjoy getting together and talking about all the known problems the bikes have and how much it cost to fix. Harley riders also invest in other kits they need to finish building the bike (that costs way much more that it is worth). Harley makes bike the way they do because people keep buying them so why change - hard to disagree with that. Some people go for the Harley because of the assumed status, and to look badaxx. There are other Harley riders who are wrenchers and like Harley bikes because the aftermarket parts allow them to customize the bike and make it very original/individual - again nothing to do with riding or performance. Harley bikes are known to be low on horses, not very good handling bikes and have terrible brakes. In the past I would have said Harley bikes are not for me because they suck. In the past few years there have been stories of the lackluster and dwindling sales of Harley bikes. This may be why their bikes have gotten better. I went to a Harley dealership last fall with an open mind (well almost open mind, but not an open pocket) and did learn some things about the bike I did not know. I also found out that Harley has made much needed improvements on the bikes: better suspensions, belt drive, Bembro brakes (rear disc), and they do not leak oil (supposedly). The bikes are still overpriced, but the maintenance schedule is not bad. They are still down on horses, but what UJM crusier does have horses without some modifications. Anyway, I do not like Harley owners who have a crappy attitude and loud pipes, but the new bikes such as the Heritage is a nice overpriced crusier.

 

The H-D cult of personality sometimes shows its slip. I once called one of those seedy motorcycle garages with the familiar leather, skull, and flames motif on the advert and asked if they worked on all motorcycles. The service 'tech' response was, "No, we only work on American-made V-Twins" (delivered with a surly tone). So I said, "great! can I get my Kawasaki Mean Streak in this week?"
Needless to say, the line fell silent.

The bikes themselves are engineered with Briggs and Stratton technology. It's the people swept up in the image and who have bought into the commercialized dream of highway pirate-bad boy. Ahhhh-livin' the dream...

Of particular interest to me is the fact that, despite the market protectionism of the '80's (hence the gelded VF700F), the younger generation of American riders eschew H-D as a passe relic with which they have no connection. H-D recently had to pause their production line due to lack of sales.

 

I have a 67 sportster chopper and meny honda's. i like them all, i think it not the bike but the people that ride them.

 

The riders, yes, the bikes I could care less

It's more of their attitude towards all other riders that gets me. If you're not riding a hog, you anin't but hog crap.

Goes back to the old joke, what's the difference between a Harley & a Hoover? The position of the dirt bag....

 

That's pretty funny! But whenever my HD friends say I'm riding a "crotch-rocket" - a VFR is a crotchrocket? - I just laugh and tell them that my crotch gets to the destination a long time before theirs does . . . .

 

Wanna make a Harley owner grimace? Mention when Harley was owned by AMF! *lmao* No Harley rider wanted the IMAGE of owning a bike that a bowling ball company made! Personally, I think quality was at its peak when AMF owned them.

I heard mention a few pages back about Harleys being more stable in higher winds. DUH! When the bike weighs in anywhere from 700 to over 1,000 pounds you have the laws of physics on your side (.. an object in motion will , blah, blah, blah.. an object traveling in a straight line will contnue unless acted upon, blah, blah, blah...). Full fairing bikes always have a hard time in crosswinds. My 1982 Yamaha Seca 650 Turbo handles better in crosswinds than my VFR for the mere fact that it lets more air through the sides (not quite a fully encased engine compartment.)

Actually, I rode it to work during hurricane Francis 3 years ago, in 60-70mph winds and had no problem staying on the road. Yeah, people say that was nuts, but I tell you it wasn't that crazed. I got to work (23 miles) while some of my co-workers in cars were skipping work on that day! Yes, I am a die-hard, hardcore rider.

I am sure owners of the early model, less faired VFRs will tell you they handle much better in crosswinds than todays fully faired VFRs.

To get even more off track - I do not think this is a good started bike. Very throttle jumpy and too heavy for a noob. I would however like to see Honda come out with a 250 or 450 version to attract new riders. The 250 Nighthawk is a POS. All the noobs buy 250 Ninjas instead. Honda's losing the beginner, in my opinion.

 

I'm not a big harley fan either,I looked at buell's about 5 yrs ago when i got my 1st bike,I went to a buell website and i could'nt believe how many of the buell owners on the site had oil leaks after a few thousand miles,And some even had to have valve adjustments done on bikes with less then 5000 miles on them-More then once!! That's unbeliveable!

 

That's a whole world of karma crap. I ride with a 2002 FatBoy a lot. I can't help it my b/f has no taste <j/k>. Seriously, he is disabled and if it wasn't for the Fat Boy, he couldn't ride. He can't get my bike out of first gear anymore. :love:

 

Wow this issue seems much larger in the states..In canda all riders wave at all others. Does not mean there not slightly elitest though but still.

 

I have no problem with any bike :biggrin:

sheeit I own or owned Nortons, Triumphs, BSA's & even the best of those were a bigger oil leaker or maintenance minded than even my Knucklehead Harley.

If I had my old racing XR750 TT bike still I'd run it in the Asphalt only class in SuperMoto & embarrass the modern bikes.

Some say there oil leakers POS & haven't change the tech in 75 plus years, that's all wrong, they haven't been much or if all leakers since AMF no longer owned them.
Only Harley's I've ever seen being a leaker in a shop was blown up from abuse or had 150,000 plus miles on them.

I've ran across more 6th gen clueless M/C owners, BMW owners, & GoldWing owners that were more of an a$$hole owner/riders/& even squids than I've delt with the same in HD owners.

The HD Club I was in LA pulled over & helped other riders of "ANY" type & half of those riders owned other than HD makes also.

I'm sorry, I've owned jap cruisers big & small, goldwings, BMW's, & Ducati's, & for super slabbing you can't beat how comfortable most HD's I've owned.

If your not super slabbing & like the more curvier routes of course the Sport-Touring bike is the way to go.

But remember a-lot of riders don't have that skill or are handicapped (physically & or Mentally) & are happy with just cruising, & I for one don't knock them for that.

As for sales HD knocked Honda off in top seller in '07 & that was no easy feet since Honda has dominated for decades.

as for modern, well they are heavy & slow (so are a lot of M/C riders) but there getting there as demand asks for it:usa2: & the EPA pushes it:frusty:

I tell you what, I'd love to have you say your VFR is faster, better handling, & more comfortable than the new 1125.

Oh but wait that must be imaginary since HD hasn't updated for 75 years (aka Evo motor, V-Rod, new 1125:tongue: & they had 5 different engine sized decade ahead of it's time V-4 engined sportbikes, that was canceled after a survay from Jap/Euro/& USA bike enthusists preferred they stayed with the cruisers for a bike they wanted to buy from HD)

Did you all know that HD makes the fastest production 1/4 mile bike, yes faster than the Hayaugly & the optometrist ugly grilled ZX14.

So if a M/Cist is a a-hole ignore him for being a a-hole not for what he rides !


p.s. I've probably ridden more miles on bikes than about a 3rd on this forum has together, & I have to admit there is a percentage of riders out there of all the bikes that don't wave to me on the road & it belongs to BMW riders not HD riders. Maybe 2 out of a 100 HD riders I cross paths with don't wave & 90% of the ones that wave to me do so b-4 I wave to them.

That reminds me, I have to fix my friends auto wave button on his Goldwing :wink:

 

You bring up an intersting point...if a Harley was the only bike I could ride due to some issue, well I wouldn't quit riding because Harley was my only choice. I enjoy ridding too much.

BZ

 

Taz:

You are one of the few enthusiasts that can boast they way you do. (that's not a troll statement).

Something odd, you say Beemer people are the worst offenders. Most of my fellow RiderCoaches are BMW owners and they seem like the nicest group? But others have said the same thing that they are the most elitist of the MC groups.

I am dreading the day I run into them.

BZ

 

When they make a competitive WSB edition I'll be impressed :biggrin:

Truthfully have nothing against HD's and in the little country dinners their owners always come over for a friendly chat or ask non stupid questions on the VFR where as the BMW owners seem a more aloof group basking in their machines must be obvious to everyone else superiority. :wink:

Mind out of the city and in the country twisties VFR's are like asses in that nearly every group of different bike types whether Tourers or Sports seem to contain at least one of them. :smile:

 

Go to the following website:
http://www.patriotguard.org

Most of these guys ride Harleys. When I showup on my Metric, I do not feel inadequate, and they don't try to make me feel that way. These guys are great, not assholes. True Americans, patriots, apple pie, etc.

Most of them just do not want to ride a Metric bike (especially when they are doing a funeral escort for a US Soldier or Marine).

And while Harley does not make a bike that I lust after, Buell does, and they use HD motors. And while a Buell engine may be an old pushrod, hydraulic valve, they are a blast to ride.