Who Hates Harley Davidson?

The only thing that pisses me off about Harley is the politics the company has played and the fallout from it.

They were getting their butt kicked, sales-wise, from Japan bikes so they complained to Congress. Congress imposed that ridiculous foreign bike tariff in the 80s and because of that, my Honda costs more money.

Free market my a$$.

 

I am not a Harley apologist but to their credit they did request the tariff to be lifted early when they had (financially) gotten back on their feet.

I still would not own one........

 

Well ..... now i am just a honda guy all the way , i sold my Harley today. and i have more to sale, i only need three bikes .

and on the wave thing , i dont wave unless its someone i know them or they wave first , and sometimes i dont even wave at all ?

 

Not yet!

But we are getting close

BZ:biggrin:

 

I did/said something disgusting Saturday morning while stopped at fivebucks inbetween jobs. I pulled up on my VFR and there were three HD guys standing around their bikes drinking coffee and smoking cigs. Anyway, they were all giving me the stink eye. Did I mention that I was in my EMT uniform?
As I walked by, I nodded and gave a 'lil grin. What happened next, I saw comming a mile away. The biggest poser of the three said, "What are you riding that "murder" cycle for?" In my head I punched him right in the mouth and said 1st VTEC Battalion, 6th Generation Militia...BITCH..... But instead, I said, "One day I get a REAL bike, but for now I still like to go fast" They all laughed, and I mumbled yeah that's right you fuck'n homos.
On the way out, I noticed one of them ashing his cigarette and the dumb ass flicked his cherry right onto the sleve of his pleather jacket. Then as he said, "oh shit, oh shit while trying to brush it off, he dropped his damn coffee. I wish he would have spilled it all over his bike or better yet all over one of his buddies bikes. Unfortunately, not this time, it just splashed down onto the ground. Regardless it was hard not to LMFAO.


.02 on the wave. I wave to everybody and I mean everybody. Seldom does another rider beat me to the wave. I see two wheels I'm waving, if they don't wave back they don't wave back. (which is very rare in LA, even for HD guys) However, if I wave and (this part is key) make eye contact and they still don't wave back then I wave again except I don't use all of my fingers.

 

er, I doubt it. This is like a swedish message to Harley crowd.

View attachment 2426
On their way South on 95. Note the NJ Plates....

View attachment 2427

the one NJ tag says "Escape" in lic-tagese.

Taken on my cell phone after they passed me in the left of four lanes , I risked my safety and the safety of those around me to bring you these images.

Funny, do you ever see a BMW on a trailer? I used to think that RUBS would be attracted to this status symbol, but they all seem to go for the HD bike, then buy the BMW car/SUV

 

Your sacrifice will not go unrewarded my brother:first: !

Soldier on in our Harley hatred:wink:

BZ

 

There are plenty of comments regarding h-d making quite decent boat mooring weights...:ballchain:


I lost an extra 50cc's from my first '88 VFR thanks to them. Poxy "protection laws" for their ironwork.

 

I have to weigh in, all my friends ride Harleys and one Big Dog (A truly useless machine). I chose the bright red Honda and am often made fun of because mine was one quarter of the Harley's price. In their eyes, I'm cheap. I laugh though, because we went riding and I received more comments on my bike then they did on theirs.....Who says there is no kharma.:biggrin:

The truth is I despise the noise and lack of performance. I hear complaints about the VFR's weight, but a Harley is an anvil with tires. Yes there is the V-Rod and yes there is the Buell, but lets face it, Harley's backbone is that Indian-ripoff, 1000 lb, sluggish, chrome laden tribute to the 1950's:tape:. I've test rode a Harley the best I can say is "It didn't totally suck, it's still a motorcycle." Harley/Davidson is like Coke when it comes to marketing however. They have convinced a generation that they don't just need a motorcycle, the need a Harley. For that, I give them due props.

The image aspect of the bike I find very troubling. As adults we try to discourage the youth from joining or emulating gangs. We are constantly telling them to pull up their baggy pants, quit talking and acting like thugs etc.... Yet we have dentists, lawyers and accountants wearing colors and leathers essentially trying to imitate one percenters and looking like they belong in an outlaw biker gang (or a gay rights parade ). It's a bit hypocritical I think.

My friend with the Big Dog dresses like a Hell's Angel when in fact he's far from it. Its like Halloween to him, he loves the facade. He wants Ma and Pa America to think he's Brando!!! It's as if he throws a leg over the bike and he's an instant Badass!!! Riding to him, and my other friends, means riding his Chrome-mobile from biker bars to Hooter's then back, here in Dallas (since the Big Dog is essentially a midieval torture rack on two wheels, he can only go a max of 70 miles at a time). Coincidently, they drink at each and every stop. Personally, I decided my first ride with them will be my last. Ironically they say I'm insane because I want to tour the country on my VFR.

I think that its a sickness that needs to be studied. These folks are delusional. I was so pissed off after the ride I wanted to knock them all out, then commit them into a Psych Ward. :frusty:

P.S. Wave score tally

Honda 1 for 1
Kawasaki 2 for 3
Triumph 1 for 1
Yamaha 2 for 2
BMW 1 for 1
Suzuki 1 for 1
and Harley 5 for 11

 

Well said Dr....enjoyed the read.

 

Harley Hater.

Hate. When I was on vacation in Hawaii I had my first opportunity to ride one. Not only did I not enjoy it but as I was touring the Island the only other riders that would acknowledge me while passing were sportbike riders! I found this put a huge grin on my face.

 

Yea I have heard all the jokes & here's one of my favorites -

buy a Harley, buy the best
ride a mile & walk the rest


But as you complain about HD's people, on Suzuki forums are saying the same Sheeit about Honda's, & even Honda goldwing or ST1300 Forum/sites whine on how anyone can tourer or sport tour on such a uncomfortable VFR, kawi owners to Suzuki or Honda, & no doubt HD forums ripping on the crotch rockets/tin machines from Japan.
BMW forums looking down on Ducati's & as well as everyone else, Ducati owners snubbing there noses @ other sportbike makes.


You all forget about the universal of all?

That's the word "Motorcycles", that is the freedom to do what we like & not be trashed by Cagers & stupid unfair laws.

On bikes, one mans junk may be another mans pearl, but it's still a M/C & that's what counts.

Another thing to remember, & I have that member that has the sick daughter that I hope to god gets better !
HD group riders hands down dig deep in there pockets & rally more Money for charitable children's organizations than any other Car & M/C organization PERIOD !

I've been on those rides & seen the faces of those kids that got a toy, donation in $$$, & there smiling faces to get a chance to sit on a Bike.
Some I met had even passed B-4 I saw them again the next fund raiser.

So a biker is a asshole, have a facade he's a bad ass or really is, that dick doesn't bother me, because I run into those dicks who ride "ALL" makes of bikes & you all can agree on that unless you never left your house & your just a Key pad motorcyclist.

Maybe you all better take a step back & look @ yourself's B-4 criticizing others that do what they like when it comes to M/C riders & riding.

The only universal thing we motorcycle riders have in common is "SQUIDS".
& we need to get them to where there gear, get proper training, & quite doing stupid stuff to F@ck it up for the rest of us


My buck fifty, because it seams that .02 cents is to cheap of advice on this forum

 

man i dont even know where to start on this. ive always had a special place for HD in my heart (ok maybe that was my toilet) due to the whole tariff issue i learned about when learning about my own bike.

harley davidson and most (i cant say all) HD riders are just crap. i honestly dont even consider them real riders, and youre right, it IS annoying when you do something so simple as waving at them to show respect for the fact at theyre even riding, but rarely does their ungloved hand reach out from their ungeared body, as for some retarded reason, they think theyre better than you cause they dont look like a "power ranger".

anybody i meet these days that knows ANYTHING about bikes and enjoys actually RIDING their bikes instead of putting around town trying to look cool despises HD and everything theyve ever stood for.

ill take my 20 yr old little bike thats worth less than 2 grand, and put every aspect (aesthetics included) against any HD any day of the week, and still come out with the cooler wheels.

hope to see ya on the roads sometime Dr1071. ride safe, yall!

 

Anyone else confused by Taz's comments ?

 

WOW I cannot believe this thread is still going. I try not to hate anything. I generally have respect for anything on two wheels that WORKS. As far as Harley bikes go they are not for me. I was at a HD Dealership last Sept. and checked them with an open mind. HD has made some much needed improvements on their bikes (addition of Bembro brakes), but much more attention is still needed. Harleys are not a true American product - the parts are from all over and you do need non-metric and metric tools to work on them (which is why you will end up doing more wrenching than riding). The AMF days of Harley were the worst, but the only real thing HD has done since the is create the VRod. I am a VFR rider, but I do like crusiers. I still have my old Goldwing, and I also like the Valkyrie and the Rune. All three of those bikes are expensive , but are much better made (they also seems to hold their value much better than Harleys). I also like the Kawi 2000 a lot which is kinda what a Harley should be - Belt Drive, Rear Disc brakes, pretty chrome, good clearence, not too loud with great low speed handling and great cornering. I could also say the same things about GoldWings, Valkyries and Rune bikes (The Yamaha Raider is another good example except is has a small gas tank for a bike that size). Why are the so called imported knockoffs better bikes? I am an Army vet and I love America, HD is an example of another ripoff American product suffering from Corporate greed. Why make a better bike when you have people buying whatever if it looks pretty. Yes they are pretty and if you are into show bikes then maybe a Harley is what you could use. HD should give you free tools and catalogs with every Harley purchase. So the bottom line for me is that Harleys cost a lot and keep on costing (like being in a shower except is it money running out of the shower head), Harley is great at marketing and a majority of Harley owners are ahole wanna be badasses with money to waste so they can pose and pretend (no wonder they are so angry lol). With all that said my opinion is that Harley owners are not very bright - so if someone is any idiot why should I get mad at them.

 

When you get older, you will start to look at Harley's, its an age thing. Some young guys just have old souls.

 

yeah im gonna have to raise the big red BS flag on this comment. all the guys i know who are in their 40s and 50's riding make fun of harley just the same, and ride off on their ST's, FJR's, and goldwings.

age doesnt have anything to do with taste dude. learn that you just can't fix stupid.

 

If age does not have anything to do with it, then why are guys in their 40s and 50s riding STs, FJRs, and goldwings? Instead of still riding more "Sport oriented" machines. Age is a definite part of taste.

A lot of what you ride when you get older is based on what you rode when you were younger. If you grew up riding Japanese bikes, then you will probably favor them as you move along through your Motorcycle journey.

But, almost every motorcycle has something, and once you have owned 20+ bikes, you might find yourself in a Harley showroom looking at them. I know I did, and came away with a Buell - still it has a HD motor.

 

Look, the fact we can all sit around and expound on the problems with the universe, i.e. Harley Davidson in this case, is a testament to the fact life must be pretty good for us. Taz, I'm sure I speak for most, if not all the people on this forum when I say our hearts and prayers are with Mark's little girl and the rest of the family. The kindness and charity that all people have shown will not be overlooked or forgotten.

I, however,don't want to discourage healthy discussions and disagreements. It makes us human and best of all...free. We are free men....Don't tread on us!!!!! (O.K. that was a bit dramatic) Point is, I love to hear opinions, especially those that disagree with me. I like the fact we all are a bit partial to the VFR, but I also like the fact we are different and from different backgrounds.

P.S. Chris, I'm just east of you in Garland. If you ever want to ride, let's do it:vtr2:

 

I just sold my Heritage Classic. Love the bike, even though it is all that everyone says (underpowered, overweight). I'm selling it for three reasons. First, I don't have enough time to ride both it and my VFR. Second, I would rather see someone else ride it than have it rot away in my garage. Third, I too am tired of the attitudes of so many of the HD riders out there who seem to feel they have to project that 1%er attitude. I love to ride, period. I don't care what you ride.