Today, I rode a Harley

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Matthew.Tremayne said:
If HD is "keeping it simple" and reusing old technology, why are they so expensive? Dated products should be cheaper, shouldn't they?

Also, to the person who said there is a chick who is 4 foot tall and 90 pounds that rides a Harley, I want picture proof... Are you sure it wasn't a Honda Grom or a 50ccmini bike? Does she have ape hangars and just stand on the seat? :lmao:
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In terms of price tag, keep in mind HD are assembled in North America by union workers. While they maybe heavy, they don't compromise on materials and craft. The fenders are metal along with most other parts that are typically plastic. The paint is first class.

Tons of petite women ride Iron 883s or Sportster Super Lo, Fatboy Lo to a Heritage Soft Tail or even touring machines. The low seat height of most models, wide pull back bars of some, make for a fairly balanced and easy to maneuver machine. Just not that fun for backing up.

I've seen folks struggle maneuvering their SS bikes in the parking lot too.


I'm not on the bandwagon but, I do try to keep an unbiased view point.

HD isn't for everyone. Even for this fella, I don't fit in like most. But, I'm not riding for a life style. I still get a kick out of the surprise people get when they find out I ride a HD. To each their own.
 
Nakkers, this is the first I have heard of the "lo" series. One reason I avoided the fat boy was that my short legs made it uncomfortable. This may be worth a look in the future. Btw, that doesn't look like a HD in your avatar ?
Edit: Although it is a small pic, and my eyes aren't what they used to be


Sent from my Nokia Lumia 625 Windows Phone using Tapatalk
 
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Joe Bass said:
Nakkers, this is the first I have heard of the "lo" series. One reason I avoided the fat boy was that my short legs made it uncomfortable. This may be worth a look in the future. Btw, that doesn't look like a HD in your avatar ?
Edit: Although it is a small pic, and my eyes aren't what they used to be


Sent from my Nokia Lumia 625 Windows Phone using Tapatalk
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Hi Joe,

Avatar is a 2001 Sporster 1200 C. Great bike for around town.

A Fat Boy Lo seat height is around 24" or so.

I'm not a soft tail fella but, a lot of folks love em.

I'm just waiting for the next opportunity to present itself. Likely going to keep my eyes open for a Dyna Switchback. I change my mind far too often. lol
 
nakkers said:
Hi Joe,

Avatar is a 2001 Sporster 1200 C. Great bike for around town.

A Fat Boy Lo seat height is around 24" or so.

I'm not a soft tail fella but, a lot of folks love em.

I'm just waiting for the next opportunity to present itself. Likely going to keep my eyes open for a Dyna Switchback. I change my mind far too often. lol
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24" seat height - that's what I'm talking about!
 
DJM said:
XZN are high torque, strip-resistant fasteners and an acceptable application for that caliper. If you haven't seen these cap screws before you lead a sheltered life because they are everywhere and have been for decades. Cars, airplanes, tractors,, heavy equipment, air compressors, hydraulics etc all use them. If I had a choice my bike would use these over easily-stripped Allen or Philips fasteners
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You just highlighted the reason they use them - because they want to use cheap fasteners but don't want people complaining when they strip them out.

Japanese and even Italian motorcycles use good quality fasteners so they don't need to use 12-pts to keep from stripping.


twinswin said:
Ahhh, the eternal question. Why, can't a young, inexperienced, sport-bike rider appreciate or "get" Harleys? I make the brave assumptions you are young, a sport bike rider, and inexperienced which I'll qualify as either lacking time in the saddle, or experience with other types of mounts.

There's only one answer: you are either not "ready", or not the "type".

Not ready for a Harley, i.e. too young/inexperienced; or not the type, i.e. think all motorcycles are about bang for buck spec sheets or "lap times", to appreciate all the qualities HD offers, including pride of ownership.
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You have this backward - inexperienced ********** buy HDs, but then later realize they are crap and move on to bikes that you need experience to appreciate.

And there's nothing wrong with that other than maybe trying to question why HD is the world's best selling motorcycle: 250,000 buyers of new HD motorcycles per year, and one can only guess at how many are sold in the used market, simply can't all be stupid people. They "get" what you don't.
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Honda sells the most motorcycles, by a large margin - not HD.


nakkers said:
In terms of price tag, keep in mind HD are assembled in North America by union workers. While they maybe heavy, they don't compromise on materials and craft. The fenders are metal along with most other parts that are typically plastic. The paint is first class.
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IMO this is pretty much ******** in its purest form.

my mother has been buying HDs for several years - primarily because they are the only bike that are low enough without a lowering kit for her to ride....each and every one of them has problems related to cheaping out on design, materials, and quality control.

failed bearings, electrical problems, accessory fastening issues...and on the last two bikes, very ****** fuel mapping and no torque at low rpm despite having a massive, under-square engine.

they're unreliable pieces of **** that cost about 3x what they should for the materials and worksmanship you're getting. I don't care if US union lackeys put the chinese parts together, it's still not worth it.

I finally got her to install a lowering kit on her Yamaha - she loves it, and is now thinking of selling her HD and never buying another one.
 
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That's beautiful. Touched a nerve. Raw emotion. Doesn't get any more real than that. The voice guy, he could do light beer and cute ute commercials.
 
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Black does not show dirt or weakness. White is for contrast.
 
I generally stay out of the the whole World vs. H-D thing; always degenerates into a bunch of juvenile name-calling and is as predictable as the sunrise. But I'm curious about something; this is for BOTH sides: are you as obsessed with all other aspects of other people's lives as you are with what kind of bike somebody else is riding?
I get that we're passionate about our bikes but the H-D/non-H-D thing always goes to great lengths. I think only religion and politics generate more heated posts.
Do you also rip on people for wearing the "wrong" shoes? Reading the wrong book? Car? Food? Hair? Pet? Underwear? Music? Anything else that doesn't affect you, doesn't cost you money, is none of your business but offends your sensibilities? Do you honestly believe that your internet rant is going to make that Honda rider buy a Harley or the Harley rider buy a Yamaha?
I'm honestly curious about the motivations at play here.
 
CanadianBiker said:
I generally stay out of the the whole World vs. H-D thing; always degenerates into a bunch of juvenile name-calling and is as predictable as the sunrise. But I'm curious about something; this is for BOTH sides: are you as obsessed with all other aspects of other people's lives as you are with what kind of bike somebody else is riding?
I get that we're passionate about our bikes but the H-D/non-H-D thing always goes to great lengths. I think only religion and politics generate more heated posts.
Do you also rip on people for wearing the "wrong" shoes? Reading the wrong book? Car? Food? Hair? Pet? Underwear? Music? Anything else that doesn't affect you, doesn't cost you money, is none of your business but offends your sensibilities? Do you honestly believe that your internet rant is going to make that Honda rider buy a Harley or the Harley rider buy a Yamaha?
I'm honestly curious about the motivations at play here.
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Actually I have successfully rescued a couple friends and one family member from the HD sucker scam; they listened to idiots talking about quality and reliability and didn't realize HD offers neither of those things.

Let them ride one of my bikes and they realized there is no need to pay that much for garbage.

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That said, HD does offer a few models even a staunch hater such as myself would ride, if they were priced appropriately - one of them is the FXDXT (no longer made), the other is the XR1200 (no longer sold in NA).

The sound and feel when you put a nice exhaust (not straight pipes) on there and have them tuned up (fuel injection piggyback or carb jetting) is nice - it's the motorcycle equivalent of driving an old classic pickup truck; it has an extra factor that isn't made up of performance or statistics.

My issue is when *** clowns come on here or other boards, or in person, and start telling me my "metric" bike isn't going to last, or otherwise implying they are getting something extra for their money.

Sorry, but you're not, and you shouldn't be surprised when the rest of us denounce you for getting suckered. The price of HD bikes is primarily profit.
 
I definitely judge shoes, books and music. Cars too, especially women's cars.

I think the negative reaction to HD is aimed at the blind, cult-like adoration of the brand, moreso than at the bikes themselves.

You really want to steer clear of grown-up women who drive 15yo Tercels.
 
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And business associates who wear cheap, black, pseudoleather squared-toe abominations.

And people who read fiction and non-fiction that uses 150pt titles on the cover and were picked up within 10 feet of the entrance at Indigo.
 
k193 said:
Actually I have successfully rescued a couple friends and one family member from the HD sucker scam; they listened to idiots talking about quality and reliability and didn't realize HD offers neither of those things.

Let them ride one of my bikes and they realized there is no need to pay that much for garbage.
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Ah, so it's a philanthropic mission. Good to know.

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k193 said:
Sorry, but you're not, and you shouldn't be surprised when the rest of us denounce you for getting suckered. The price of HD bikes is primarily profit.
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I can understand if somebody actually asks your opinion, just having some trouble with the apparent need to spew unsolicited vitriol, but I'm probably missing something.
Hey, mind if I PM you when I'm ready to buy my next bike? Want to make sure I don't give my money to any of those awful for-profit companies.;)
 
CanadianBiker said:
Anything else that doesn't affect you, doesn't cost you money, is none of your business but offends your sensibilities?
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CanadianBiker, you're nobodys' fool. I'm surprised you posed these questions. How do you figure it's none of my business? As a normal citizen I'm doing my part. I'm reacting to a purposely created stimuli. Look at architecture, industrial design, fashion, art, music, Liberace, etc. Most things created by man have an element designed to create an emotional response. The number 1 reason the video exists is to illicit an emotional response from a potential customer. I could just ignore the video and be on my way. That would be fine except I will be pummelled all summer by people who choose to mimic the video in real life. So then it becomes my business. Making a spectacle of oneself with dooshy behaviour and loud pipes would not pay off in a vacuum, it pays off because there's an audience. I cannot opt out.
 
inreb said:
CanadianBiker, you're nobodys' fool. I'm surprised you posed these questions. How do you figure it's none of my business? As a normal citizen I'm doing my part. I'm reacting to a purposely created stimuli. Look at architecture, industrial design, fashion, art, music, Liberace, etc. Most things created by man have an element designed to create an emotional response. The number 1 reason the video exists is to illicit an emotional response from a potential customer. I could just ignore the video and be on my way. That would be fine except I will be pummelled all summer by people who choose to mimic the video in real life. So then it becomes my business. Making a spectacle of oneself with dooshy behaviour and loud pipes would not pay off in a vacuum, it pays off because there's an audience. I cannot opt out.
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I absolutely agree that D-Bag behaviour which intrudes on others becomes their business. But said D-baggery is not restricted to any one brand. Ask anyone who lives near FOTC. As far as the video goes (I only watched about 15 seconds worth; too emotionally overwhelming), it's a marketing tool, same as any other company makes for its products. Drink this beer, win that girl. Use this deodorant, get that job. Ride this XYZ sportbike, be a champion. If they all ellicit that same level of attention from you, you must be a busy lad.
I dunno, I just don't understand the ire the topic raises. I read these comments and I picture snarling, spittle-flecked lips as the poster hammers his keyboard into jelly in a self-righteous furor of brand-ism. "Fools! They don't know what they're talking about. I must enlighten them and then they will worship at the feet of my all-knowingness!" It's frickin' hilarious.
I honestly, truly, don't care what anyone else rides. I don't think my bike makes me a better person or better rider, I just think it's the right bike for me. Maybe it's an age thing, maybe I'm not "passionate" enough about motorcycles to make everyone think and ride the same way I do.
And yeah, I caught the Liberace thing. ;)
 
CanadianBiker said:
I absolutely agree that D-Bag behaviour which intrudes on others becomes their business. But said D-baggery is not restricted to any one brand. Ask anyone who lives near FOTC. As far as the video goes (I only watched about 15 seconds worth; too emotionally overwhelming), it's a marketing tool, same as any other company makes for its products. Drink this beer, win that girl. Use this deodorant, get that job. Ride this XYZ sportbike, be a champion. If they all ellicit that same level of attention from you, you must be a busy lad.
I dunno, I just don't understand the ire the topic raises. I read these comments and I picture snarling, spittle-flecked lips as the poster hammers his keyboard into jelly in a self-righteous furor of brand-ism. "Fools! They don't know what they're talking about. I must enlighten them and then they will worship at the feet of my all-knowingness!" It's frickin' hilarious.
I honestly, truly, don't care what anyone else rides. I don't think my bike makes me a better person or better rider, I just think it's the right bike for me. Maybe it's an age thing, maybe I'm not "passionate" enough about motorcycles to make everyone think and ride the same way I do.
And yeah, I caught the Liberace thing. ;)
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You're as free to spew your ideas as I am to spew mine.

I have to put up with HD ads, see douchebaggers running straight pipes, and telling me about how good their HDs are, you have to put up with me disagreeing vehemently.

Suggesting you're in some way "above" people who "intrude" on other's business is ridiculous - you're part of the brand vs brand machine, look at your sig pic.
 
CanadianBiker said:
I If they all ellicit that same level of attention from you, you must be a busy lad.
;)
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Ah hah! Caught a spelling error from someone who's a pro
 
k193 said:
You're as free to spew your ideas as I am to spew mine.

I have to put up with HD ads, see douchebaggers running straight pipes, and telling me about how good their HDs are, you have to put up with me disagreeing vehemently.

Suggesting you're in some way "above" people who "intrude" on other's business is ridiculous - you're part of the brand vs brand machine, look at your sig pic.
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Wow, I can not imagine the fight over something important like blondes vs red heads or Betty vs Veronica.
How about people ride motorcycles for different reasons. To each their own as long as they enjoy what there doing. HD riders with straight pipes, sport bikes with unbaffled performance headers, seems to me you can be a D-bag no matter what you ride
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