Who Hates Harley Davidson?

Discussion in 'Anything Goes' started by Bubba Zanetti, Jan 31, 2008.

  1. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    Some people just like to mow grass. I see this a lot on weekends riding out in the countryside. They will be on a riding lawn mower just cutting grass, acres of it on a small mower. One guy mowed the shoulder of a small road for about a mile in each direction I noticed. It can be therapeutic I guess but just not for me. I prefer it when the don't spray the cuttings all over the road. There oughta be a law. In the case above, somebody doesn't have much to do. It's just not cool at least it won't be in my way!! Back to Hardlys, I cringe when I'm at The Gap Store and a dozen of them leave to "slay the Dragon". If I want to go, I just wait about 15 minutes for them to move on and get the wrecks over with.
     
  2. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    This thread is too funny to let it die.

    Was at a stop light the other day and there sits a "tough guy bad ass" on a Hardley with a back tire wider than the one on my Tacoma and ape hangers. All of about 70 HP might have been going to that tire. It couldn't turn a corner to get out of it's own way. It's the tire man, the tire has a MAJOR part of making the rider a bad dude. I'd rather just be a dude on a VFR staying out of sight of any cage. Oh, that's right, nobody can see me or kill me that way, LOL
     
  3. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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  4. scottbott

    scottbott Member

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    I thought that was great, what a cool old man to have
     
  5. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    I didn't know that Aquaman rode bikes!
     
  6. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    Just a little story: I was fired at the Harley store as a cost cutting measure. It's no big deal since everyone else on the management staff was let go too. I couple of days ago I ordered a Shinko 009 rear tire for my 2000 M2 Cyclone Buell to replace the totally worn out Michelin that is currently installed. Just for grins I took the wheel by the Harley-Davidson shop where I used to work. It has been less than 6 months since I worked there. A lot of the people I worked with are gone but I still know most of the guys in service. I ask "how much to mount and balance a tire?" The service writer looked kind of sheepish and said "it will cost a minimum of one hour shop time ($120). That is the policy now." I was shocked. I went down the street to the Kawasaki/Yamaha shop. They actually acted interested in my business. They carried the wheel in for me, they mounted and balanced the wheel while I waited and the bill was $32.50. What I find striking about this is the Harley shop's total lack of interest in a few dollars in their drawer and what it feels like to be turned away as a customer. Harley bills itself as a working class brand and a lot of working guys (and girls) do their own repair work and buy tires online. I guess they are going to run them off now. The message I got loud and clear was "we only want people with lots of money and we only want to do "real" motorcycle work." Harley has huge problems.
     
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  7. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    I do not want H-D to fail but at this point I don't have much hope. The faithful core customer doesn't want them to build anything but a big cube air cooled v-twin. The Motor Company is dabbling in electric tiddler bikes for the urban hipster and high end electrics for the well heeled eccentric. I even saw a "woke" Harley ad featuring a rider with a rainbow flag! Imagine how that plays with the install base. Their best selling bike is the low profit Sportster last redesigned in the 1980s. To top it all off their best customers hate everything they make until they quit making it.
     
  8. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Yeh, the "blue collar" so called worker has no chance at affording a HD bike. It has been like that for a long long time. Amazing how you have these knuckle dragger hoodlums that insist on riding old shovel, knuckle head bikes and think anything new is crap (probably true) Its amazing dynamic the whole motorcycle industry really. Would make for a great Phd graduate work - The antique stuff is neat, I like the lines and such, I hate heavy non turning motorcycles so, an HD is not in my future. If I was gona really tour somewhere I would get a used Concours. Regarding your tire conumdrum; I have gone to old shops where I used to work and used their tyre machines for free - I was thinking about getting a gen-mar tyre machine but in all honesty would probably be better off buying a new air compressor down the road ( got my eye on a Quincy) with some tyre irons and a bead breaker you can do ok too. Anyway, Peace and love, btw there is a truck stop 4 miles down the road from me and on Sundays they have a cruise scene there with music etc. Mostly cruiser types, it does'nt stop me from stopping by, I take my old 91 and its one of the older bikes in the parking lot.
     
  9. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    I was at a local touristy town taking a pee stop along with a gaggle of Harley riders standing around smoking. They decided to leave and one of the females (?) tried to hop on what looked like at least a $30K Harley, all decked out in the latest Harley approved garb. The bike fell on her and she couldn't get up with the 900 pound machine on her. Her pals ran and pulled the Harley off of her. I just shook my head. Everyone that has had a bike has dropped one but I have to wonder what training and experience she has. Just sayin'.....
     
  10. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Shameful
    HD= $100+ when you walk in the door.
    Even for an ex employee
    That really blows


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  11. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    I was just shocked. Still am.
     
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  12. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    H-D and there legion of followers have been trying desperately to recreate the Knucklehead since its inception.
     
  13. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    They've managed that already, just check out the owners.
     
  14. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Like I’ve said, once the boomer generation is gone , so is HD


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  15. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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  16. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    Sure would like to know the details on that. What really happened.
     
  17. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Very sad to see this, Harley riders or not


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  18. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    Very sad.
     
  19. scottbott

    scottbott Member

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    terrible news for everyone concerned
     
  20. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    I posted this yesterday, not so much about H-D riders as Marine verterans.
     
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