Is this the beginning of the end for Harley?

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I guess in the end HD is the ONLY American motorcycle manufacturer to survive out of the 150 brands that have been started in the US since 1900. Yes Indian is back again... and victory is with us, but the rest have been gone for decades. They must have some business sense.
 
Triumph first started making motorcycles in 1902.

I'll have to rent a HD cruiser next year for a few hours if they rent to M2s and see how it is.

I'm skeptical though. Why are these vehicles always garaged? I never see cruisers used as commuters. It's always standard seating position and sport bikes that appear to get used regularly for commuting that I see outside.
 
Kool said:
What I want to know is why toshison, Jason Bourne and rbjeepthing are even on this site? Hopefully to interject some reasonable sane commentary instead of the hate crapola from the throngs of Gixxers gone wild here....lol. It's very cool to see we have rational level headed NORMAL motorcycle riders here........
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Thanks?...lol.
 
Jason Bourne said:
Ireally can't explain it. It's not about going fast for everyone. It's just about being on two wheels. If you're completely disinterested in cruisers thenyou're not there yet and perhaps you never will be. Nothing wrong with that. Ifwe all liked the same thing we would all own the same bike!

Maybe this movie would help explain:
http://whyweridefilm.com/screenings-videos.html
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I get the appeal about not going fast and just enjoying the ride, my confusion is why cruisers are better at the "not going fast" stuff than any other type of bike? That was my question. I just don't see a single upside to cruisers, other than style.
 
fastar1 said:
I get the appeal about not going fast and just enjoying the ride, my confusion is why cruisers are better at the "not going fast" stuff than any other type of bike? That was my question. I just don't see a single upside to cruisers, other than style.
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Perhaps cruisers aren't urging you to do anything wild. On a sport bike it's impossible to resist :)
 
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These are my two bikes, 2010 gsxr 600 & 2000 dyna fxdx. Love my sport bike, but its just not practical for me anymore! The Harley is hands down more comfortable, and has way more torque. To me that is more fun now( comfort & torque) then ripping wheelies and wide open runs up and down the highway(I mean closed course). For me to ride anywhere it's an hour atleast. Now I'd rather enjoy the ride then try to invent new stretches, because my damn knees are killing and my back starting to tighten up. I love all motorcycles from scooters to ducati and even custom choppers and bobbers, I don't really get all the hate about any brands. We are all different people with different wants and needs, and there's a bike built to suit everyone!!
 
Jenkins said:
URL=http://s164.photobucket.com/user/joeys323ci/media/null-1.jpg.html]
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These are my two bikes, 2010 gsxr 600 & 2000 dyna fxdx. Love my sport bike, but its just not practical for me anymore! The Harley is hands down more comfortable, and has way more torque. To me that is more fun now( comfort & torque) then ripping wheelies and wide open runs up and down the highway(I mean closed course). For me to ride anywhere it's an hour atleast. Now I'd rather enjoy the ride then try to invent new stretches, because my damn knees are killing and my back starting to tighten up. I love all motorcycles from scooters to ducati and even custom choppers and bobbers, I don't really get all the hate about any brands. We are all different people with different wants and needs, and there's a bike built to suit everyone!!
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There ya go...as simple as that.
 
fastar1 said:
I just don't see a single upside to cruisers, other than style.
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Momentum in general terms and specifically large quantities of mass moment of inertia only achieved by 60lbs. "mag" wheels.
 
fastar1 said:
Dunno 'bout that, but I'd say they enjoy the performance aspect twice as much.
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Would you rather drive a Lambo then in a Chromed out SUV?

That's the difference..
 
Matthew.Tremayne said:
Would you rather drive a Lambo then in a Chromed out SUV?

That's the difference..
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That's an excellent analogy. SUVs are just like cruisers; they don't excel at anything (except in some cases off-roading, towing). AFAIK, just like cruisers people buy them for the lifestyle statement they make (if they don't tow or off-road with them). I'm asking people to explain to me if this is wrong, what is it about cruisers that I'm missing?
 
Matthew.Tremayne said:
Would you rather drive a Lambo then in a Chromed out SUV?

That's the difference..
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fastar1 said:
That's an excellent analogy. SUVs are just like cruisers; they don't excel at anything (except in some cases off-roading, towing). AFAIK, just like cruisers people buy them for the lifestyle statement they make (if they don't tow or off-road with them). I'm asking people to explain to me if this is wrong, what is it about cruisers that I'm missing?
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Agreed that is a good analogy. Proves the point an SS is impractical for day to day use...lol
 
rbjeepthing said:
Agreed that is a good analogy. Proves the point an SS is impractical for day to day use...lol
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Absolutely. An SS rider who doesn't exploit the benefits of the bike is also a poser.
Now back to the question; what are the benefits of a cruiser?
 
fastar1 said:
Absolutely. An SS rider who doesn't exploit the benefits of the bike is also a poser.
Now back to the question; what are the benefits of a cruiser?
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Generally speaking, because you can always find the odd exception:

- more comfortable (for rider and passenger).
- better able to travel/tour than an SS
- better gas mileage
- better tank range
- using the bike for what it was intended to do (cruising), as opposed to buying a sportbike and only using 10% of its potential
- lower insurance
- but most importantly, some people like the looks, lifestyle, image of a cruiser, just like others buy SSs for exactly the same reason

Just because performance is your personal criteria for value, doesn't mean it is for others.
 
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Why does everybody keep coming back to SS bikes? They are great for performance, that's obvious. Dirt bikes are great off road. Dual sport are great for mixed surfaces. Tourers are best for range, comfort, features, storage...

The question is simply "what are the benefits of cruisers?" i.e. where do they uniquely excel at anything?
 
fastar1 said:
Why does everybody keep coming back to SS bikes? They are great for performance, that's obvious. Dirt bikes are great off road. Dual sport are great for mixed surfaces. Tourers are best for range, comfort, features, storage...

The question is simply "what are the benefits of cruisers?" i.e. where do they uniquely excel at anything?
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This thread is being flogged to death............ Cruisers don't have to be good at anything other than in the minds of the people who buy them and ride them day to day, and there seem to be a lot of people who do this. I think they feel good and feel they look good (or bad....) on the cruiser. I've never owned one and have no interest in owning one so I really don't know. Most people on this site gravitate to other types of bikes and either wouldn't understand or agree with the appeal as expressed by cruisers owners.
 
Take the standard universal bike that used to be most common. Every technical change required to convert that into the accepted form of a cruiser would be a technical change that diminishes function. What would motivate somebody to do that?
 
Probably the same reason women still wear high heels. Not great to walk in, but make the calves look nice.
 
fastar1 said:
Why does everybody keep coming back to SS bikes? They are great for performance, that's obvious. Dirt bikes are great off road. Dual sport are great for mixed surfaces. Tourers are best for range, comfort, features, storage...

The question is simply "what are the benefits of cruisers?" i.e. where do they uniquely excel at anything?
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Back when we had a big cruiser, it excelled at being able to carry my groceries in the truck, no other bags required. We could lock two helmets in the truck and jackets in the side cases and not look like bikers at a movie.
It had a great radio you could hear clearly.
When it poured rain I could stay reasonably dry behind the windscreen with leg shields.
I had good lighting and was easy for cars to see, being as big as a civic
I could pull a small trailer when camping, with no effort. Loaded.
My tires lasted 25,000k

My mom would get on the back and go for lunch.
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