Who Hates Harley Davidson?

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

  1. Lgn001

    Lgn001 Member

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    Forgot to include on my previous post; I have an old friend who swears by Harleys. He had a really clean chopped Sportster, then a mildly modded ABCDE something or the other, and now has an FGHIJKL something or the other with hard bags and air adjustable suspension. When we have ridden together (me on my SV650), it did seem to confuse others. More than once, a metric rider would wave, and then kind of pull their hand back quickly, like they weren't sure what the appropriate thing to do was. Harley-esque riders ignored us completely; nothing new there. Stopping anywhere that there were other bikes also seemed to knock a few folks off balance. All in all, a good time!
     
  2. BJ Sim

    BJ Sim New Member

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    No I don't hate the bikes. I've ridden them for years as my dad has three. They are what they are... cruisers. If you kinda sorta want to get there in a kinda sorta comfortable way, but "look cool" doing it then yeah they're alright.

    Yes I hate most of the riders. Going up to bike week in NH it's 85% Harleys and if you ride a sport bike or anything 'they' think is sport bike then you're looked down upon. A motorcyclist is a motorcyclist, don't look down at me... look down on the poor slobs in the cages. But no they're bad riders (slow I guess makes safe) and rude. The HD advertisers have made common Americans believe their bike is what you need to "look cool" while riding a motorcycle and anything else is beneath you.
     
  3. KrautBurner

    KrautBurner New Member

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    I like harleys (just not "typical" (elitest) harley riders)

    I only wish I could afford a harley :rolleyes:
     
  4. PorscheBob

    PorscheBob New Member

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    Bubba, your question is divisive. Are you asking who hates Harley...the motorcycle?

    Or are you asking who hates the Harley riders? Maybe pity might be a good word to use.

    In 1976 I bought a used Harley and being a slow learner, bought a new '77 a year later.
    Comiing home from the dealership a footpeg fell off and the next day the electrical system crapped out.

    The first two months the dealer had the bike more days than I did.

    When you ride this brand you kinda feel bad-ass. I finally got rid of the HD and was glad to get back to motorcycles that had some performance.

    What I find interesting is when looking through the "CycleTrader" magazine ads you will find many pages of HDs for sale that have less than 2,000 miles on them.

    That tells me a lot of newbies fell for the HD propaganda.

    People that buy Harleys, in my opinion, are like the same folks that bought
    "pet rocks" many years ago.....$ucker$.
     
  5. JTC

    JTC New Member

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    Hot YOUNG girls go for rockets. I don't need or want some OLD Harley hag. At least that's what I see down here in SOCAL. I agree with pretty much everything already listed in the other threads.
    Stock HDs are ugly, they don't do anything for me.
    I'll admit, I do like alot of the custom choppers out there but but I can have every Honda that I've ever dreamed about for 60k.
    As for the HD rider:
    they don't wave or wave back (majority)
    they stink
    they are sloppy drunks
    their chicks are old and tweaker looking
    where are they Mon. thru Fri.? (mostly weekend whorerriors)

    (should have been #1)
    ASS-LESS CHAPS (i guess you gotta be an asshole and act tuff when everybody's always asking if you are one of the village people.)
     
  6. John451

    John451 Member

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    Like KrautBurner I like HD's just not some of the wanker riders they attract unlike him don't aspire to own one instead of a VFR though looks wise and money permitting for multiple bikes would go for a chopper looking one ( Wide Glide ? ) for cruising around :cool:

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Bubba Zanetti

    Bubba Zanetti Member

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    Spoken like a true scholar and gentlemen!

    Well put Lgn001! And Yes, your suspiscions are correct!

    BZ
     
  8. Bubba Zanetti

    Bubba Zanetti Member

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    Bob:

    I meant the question to be more open ended than divisive.

    I wanted to hear what irks riders most, the bike or the attitude. I thought if I narrowed my question down it would skew the results.

    By the way thanks for sharing your Harley story and your pet rock analogy had me laughing too:biggrin:

    BZ
     
  9. Faith7

    Faith7 New Member

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    It was a joke KC-10FE, the thread was getting a little hot and I was just playing derstuka a little bit. I generally like the lighter side of things-hence that would be a typical response from me.
     
  10. Bubba Zanetti

    Bubba Zanetti Member

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    One more thing to add to why the bikes suck and I am going to dump some cold reality right now on the idea that Harleys are more comfortable becasue they are crusiers.

    That is incorrect. Many Harley models have very little suspension and are set up for the cool riding look (i.e. arms extented all the way forward and spine bent like a cresent moon).

    Now we all know the VFR doesn't have the best stock susupension, but I can ride up 1-2 hours before I need a break. So when I have been asked by the Harley crowd how can I ride that sportbike longer than a half hour? The reply is simple: "It's called ergonomics, you should look it up sometime. How long do you guys ride before a break?"

    Harley morons: "Oh, I can ride an hour max before then I am dying for a break...maybe a half-hour max for me...yeah me too"

    I rest my case your honor!

    BZ
     
  11. Lgn001

    Lgn001 Member

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    You know, that WOULD explain the bad attitudes and the uncivilized behavior...
     
  12. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    you have to be careful. the subject of harleys really boils kc-10s blood. I don't know anything else that gets him going as much.

    this is a problem I can agree with. as I mentioned earlier, I grew up with harleys. it was not uncommon to wake up on a weekend with bikers passed out all over the house. my yard would be filled with bikes. so here here is my dilemma, I was always on the other side of the biker image. I was a biker kid and I was treated as a biker. nowadays, I don't ride a harley because I feel like a poser. And like your friend, when my harley had a problem, the dealer told me to get it to him and he'd fix it. I had a tow-truck haul it in which cost me about $125. When it got there, I got a call from him informing me that they don't work on old harleys. funny he didn't mention that on the phone. That sucked! He did help me find a mech who did and eventually I got it fixed, but I was afraid to ride it fearing something else would break. I sold it (not losing any money mind you) and then saved the money until I found my next bike, a fire engine red 1998 VFR that I have since put around 20000 miles on with very few problems ( and the ones I had were all my fault not mechanical failures )

    One more note on this long winded post, I was sitting in a bar and grill one afternoon grabbing a bite and a member of a local biker club (the Molochs) came in and we started chatting. He asked what I ride, I asked what he rode etc. Anyway, he was pleasant and invited me to drop by their clubhouse sometime to hangout. I said I didn't know what kind of reception I'd get on a Honda. He implied that it was no big deal and that I should come on by.
     
  13. VFR02rider

    VFR02rider New Member

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    I must be the minority here. I love em. In fact I own one. I also own a Buell. Every crowd has its a**holes including this one. I think its funny that so many people on here would say some of the things said. Why would you really let someone or something so insignificant get under your skin? I purchased my VFR just recently. I am sure that i will be given some crap about riding an import but its like i told my wife when she asked me why i wanted to buy a Honda. I ride for myself and only for myself. I bought it because i love motorcycles (all kinds). I bought this because its a truly great machine. I dont care what people think or what people say. Maybe that comes with maturity as I have recently hit the 40 mark. Im guessing that my VFR probably has more American made parts and work put into it than most of the HDs out there on the road today. Somebody also said that HDs were good at nothing. Ummm, you may want to check out what most of the Top Fuel motorcycle drag riders are running and winning on these days. My bikes are totally different. I have the HD Road Glide that i can pack my wife on the back, put our stuff in our saddlebags, be gone for hours or days riding, listening to tunes and enjoying each others company. It gives us something in common that we are both passionate about. We generally ride by ourselves or maybe with 1 other. We dont normally do the poker run or the bike night type of things and dont have the so called HD attitude. I do know guys that have went and spent 20 grand on a bike and ride it 1500 miles all year. Its a waste but thats their choice and we all have the freedom to make a choice. Now I have the VFR that i can pack up my bags and head out, find some curvy roads, actually carry some stuff with me, and jump on the gas when the urge hits me. Next time you think something bad remember we are all riders and most of us ride for one reason. We love to ride. Its not about how much we spent, the barnd we ride, how much leather we have, or how bada** we think we are. Peace!
     
  14. VFRWolf

    VFRWolf New Member

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    I never liked the cost for older technology, other then that, I could care less.
     
  15. Faith7

    Faith7 New Member

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    reg I like a good laugh and I knew the bombs would start raining down on me. Just a little note-all the guys here are helpful and love the personalities on this site. This is what America is all about-love it.
     
  16. Lgn001

    Lgn001 Member

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    Yeah, it is kinda funny how a lot of bikers are just bikers. My pal who I posted about a bit earlier in this string (the one who swears by Harleys) really liked riding my SV650. What he thought was the most bizarre thing about it was how light and responsive it was, and how often he had to shift, which made us both laugh. Made me think about my old Norton, which really only needed second or third for most twisties...

    Anyway, my point is that he prefers Harley, I prefer Japanese. We've been friends a long time, and the choice of bikes just doesn't seem to matter too much.
     
  17. lear 31a

    lear 31a New Member

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    Love the Machine hate the moron!

    We have Bike Night around Fayetteville AR on Thursday evenings, It's really fun to watch the Yuppy execs come flying into town from their gated communities decked out in the garb of their alter ego bad-ass biker, POSERS!
    My dad used to ride/race Harleys in the 30's and 40's around the midwest. I have always enjoyed looking at photos of him and his buds back in the day with the high leather boots and the military hats. They were the pre-Brando bikers that just enjoyed the machine and the freedom it provided, it has changed. With that I will have the conclude with this, I love the machine and the history, but can give a crap about the what it now represents.
     
  18. Nungboy

    Nungboy New Member

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    Ah, you see, there three very different issues here. #1: The quality of the bikes. #2: The generalized "attitude" of the average rider. #3: The ability of a company to market an image and sell a product. ALL advertising does this to a degree. But, we all need to buy basic things...food, clothing, health care, and utlitlies/serices. It is when it comes to non-essential things like designer products ("special" water, soda pop, fancy name brand stuff) that the 'sizzle' becomes more important than the product. We live in a society that 'spins' the image of everything. One can over-generalize about any of these areas and get into trouble. I know some great people that ride Harleys. I know some jerks that ride Hondas. I buy some designer products. I disdain most designer products that are over-imaged, over-priced and over-advertised. I try to be even and open-minded in my opinions but I know I am very opinionated on many subjects. This is America and we do have choices...thank goodness! All of this is just like the old adage about art, we all may have a hard time describing 'good' art and 'bad' art, bad junk products, etc...BUT we KNOW both when we see it, right? I know what i like! I know what I do not like! (And by the way, I WANT to buy good American products...I wish just wish there were more to consider. Some of the finest things I own are American-made.)
     
  19. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

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    The people with the attitude.....

    I like to say "all bikes are cool". If a HD guys gives me the attitude that's my standard line.

    But occasionally..
    Once in a while I run into a big Harley group, my guess 100+ riders. They have a lead rider who runs ahead and blocks all traffic through intersections and traffic lights - just like a funeral. That gets my juices up! F-bombs to ALL those guys/gals!

    MD

    BTW the bikes..
    Bike wise Harley is a great story, but every time I've ridden one, I couldnt wait to get off the damn thing. My Valkyrie beats any Harley cruiser ride any day. Dont hate 'em, but dont like 'em.
    -------------------------------------------------
     
  20. OKCVFR

    OKCVFR New Member

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    Love ya man!
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