Today, I rode a Harley

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gta750 said:
Some really...and I do mean really strange replies in this thread. I wouldn't describe myself as being huge into cruisers, though I can most definitely appreciate them and respect them for being bikes that appeal to riders looking for less speed and more comfort. Or who are just simply not into the sport bike experience. What I do NOT and I repeat DO NOT understand is people who say that Harleys ARE the best cruisers. That is a joke. AN absolute joke. Go see these "criminals" these "hardcore" cruiser types... And they aren't and don't ride Harleys. Harleys aren't the be all and end all. Custom bikes, small shops, etc is what the more hardcore like. They hate the typical Harley that every middle aged guy could or does own.

Beyond that, as a mass produced bike, again to claim Harleys are the best.. Is comical. They are NO where near as reliable as many other cruisers. Why do people support anything that is unreliable compared to the competition. Because its american? Well then grab your hunting rifle and pick up and move down to the deep south with other like minded "folk"... Companies that DESERVE customers to praise them like a religion are companies that come out with a consistently improving product at a good price for what they are offering... Are Harleys overpriced? Most would say yes. But what is funny is how unreliable they are. How expensive they can be to repair... Etc. How if you ripped those badges off a Harley and off a bunch of other cruisers and had guys specifically into cruisers try them all out, even for months or years... I bet none would choose the Harley... Or very few at least. I remember talking to a tow truck driver buddy. Hell of a nice guy. Mid 40s. Definitely looked like your biker type. Anyways point being he's ridden all his life. Owned countless Harleys.. And a few years back bought a kawi cruiser (Vulcan? If memory serves me right). And he said it is netter in every way then the Harley. Now one mans opinion or course. Who knows. But the funny part is he said he doesn't like taking the kawi out with group rides, or with buddies, or to bike shows, because people judge him off it compared to the Harley.

To that I say you grown 40's men... What is wrong with you. Grow up. If you life the cruising lifestyle that's the "lifestyle"... Don't mistake " cruiser" and the lifestyle with being a "Harley" lifestyle. It isn't. You aren't in some special crowd. You are one of the many who chose to overlook better bikes at lower price points so you can feel special. I'm sure their are exceptions. But most of the time that is the case... Don't fool yourself. You are no different then that guy rolling around in his range rover... Or his hundred thousand dollar car thinking he's the sh*t, the difference lies in that at least that ********* actually got something a bit more for his money. Wether performance, or luxury, at very least that vehicle came with many things that set it apart from a vehicle that although nice is half the price... All you got were badges reading Harley Davidson.
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Holy **** dude, switch to decaf.
 
gta750 said:
Some really...and I do mean really strange replies in this thread. I wouldn't describe myself as being huge into cruisers, though I can most definitely appreciate them and respect them for being bikes that appeal to riders looking for less speed and more comfort. Or who are just simply not into the sport bike experience. What I do NOT and I repeat DO NOT understand is people who say that Harleys ARE the best cruisers. That is a joke. AN absolute joke. Go see these "criminals" these "hardcore" cruiser types... And they aren't and don't ride Harleys. Harleys aren't the be all and end all. Custom bikes, small shops, etc is what the more hardcore like. They hate the typical Harley that every middle aged guy could or does own.

Beyond that, as a mass produced bike, again to claim Harleys are the best.. Is comical. They are NO where near as reliable as many other cruisers. Why do people support anything that is unreliable compared to the competition. Because its american? Well then grab your hunting rifle and pick up and move down to the deep south with other like minded "folk"... Companies that DESERVE customers to praise them like a religion are companies that come out with a consistently improving product at a good price for what they are offering... Are Harleys overpriced? Most would say yes. But what is funny is how unreliable they are. How expensive they can be to repair... Etc. How if you ripped those badges off a Harley and off a bunch of other cruisers and had guys specifically into cruisers try them all out, even for months or years... I bet none would choose the Harley... Or very few at least. I remember talking to a tow truck driver buddy. Hell of a nice guy. Mid 40s. Definitely looked like your biker type. Anyways point being he's ridden all his life. Owned countless Harleys.. And a few years back bought a kawi cruiser (Vulcan? If memory serves me right). And he said it is netter in every way then the Harley. Now one mans opinion or course. Who knows. But the funny part is he said he doesn't like taking the kawi out with group rides, or with buddies, or to bike shows, because people judge him off it compared to the Harley.

To that I say you grown 40's men... What is wrong with you. Grow up. If you life the cruising lifestyle that's the "lifestyle"... Don't mistake " cruiser" and the lifestyle with being a "Harley" lifestyle. It isn't. You aren't in some special crowd. You are one of the many who chose to overlook better bikes at lower price points so you can feel special. I'm sure their are exceptions. But most of the time that is the case... Don't fool yourself. You are no different then that guy rolling around in his range rover... Or his hundred thousand dollar car thinking he's the sh*t, the difference lies in that at least that ********* actually got something a bit more for his money. Wether performance, or luxury, at very least that vehicle came with many things that set it apart from a vehicle that although nice is half the price... All you got were badges reading Harley Davidson.
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Do you have a short version of this (without all the grammar and spelling mistakes) that I could read?
 
Sunspark said:
I can paraphrase for you: Friends don't let friends buy Harleys.
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Or the counter-point: Friends don't let friends buy Harleys alone.
 
The_Marl said:
I don't ride a Harley but not everyone rides to go low in corners or hit 100 in first gear. For some of us its about the look of the bike, and yeah maybe a bit of cool factor as well.
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About the cool factor.. harleys are cool as helll.. they have ALOT of torque.. About cornering yes they are a bit hard to corner only because they weight about a TON but that factor makes it more challening/fun to corner. Slow? Ugly? I cant really say that since I have the night rod special. Its crazy fast (125HP) and in my opinion, the best looking bike ever made :cool:. Check out the H-D Breakout also one of the sexiest harleys
I know you guys (everyone on GTA motorcycle) really arn't fans of harley.. So im prepared for everyone ganging up on me.
 
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DJM said:
Relax, you're just not ready yet. I went from decades of SS to a Sportster 1200, love it, have ground the pegs to ****, don't plan on changing it for a while but if I ever do will probably look at a Breakout or V-Rod.
And I wear a full-face...
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BTW I'm fit, handsome and no tats.

Nice finally someone like me who wears full face on harleys. Also got no tatoos.
CHEERS :cool:
 
I own a Harley because it's just plain better. It never breaks down, if it does I get parts the same day (not sitting out half the riding season because parts are on back order) and any job on a Harley can be done in one afternoon or less. I used to own a Yamaha. I won't ever own one again. I like sport bikes, I might buy a Honda Repsol or something to add to my collection, but for now my Harley is king.

 
I've had lots of different bikes over the years and they've all had their good and bad points. Last two have been Harleys because that's what I wanted and I could afford them. Currently thinking of going back to a Triumph (Thruxton).
Never understood the hate-on so many riders of other brands have for Harleys. I've almost never heard Harley riders badmouth another bike. Not saying it doesn't happen - a-holes aren't brand specific - but for the most part it just doesn't come up. Nobody cares or even notices.
You spend your money your way and I'll spend mine my way.
 
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I often wonder if Harley Davidson would ever consider building a normal motorcycle. They could use most of the big v twin technology but just rearrange it to normal proportions. Maybe they've done market research? No HD rider wants a normal bike? Hard to believe.
 
I have a 4 year old R6 with 25,000 on it and it runs like the day I bought it. Not sure what you mean.....

Grew up liking Honda's, dad sold Honda's... grew up boating... anybody who bought a PWC or Jetboat other than Bombardier (or Kawasaki if you go back far enough) was a fool... Waverunner sucked. Then Yamaha started making Jet boats... they are kick ***. Guess who no longer makes Jet boats... Bombardier.

I did not have any brand affinity to Yamaha 10 years ago. Rossi going to Yamaha changed that and I started to consider their bikes. Then the current gen R6 came out and it was a great track bike out of the box. I would love to buy an F-150 and a Yamaha Jetboat, though... Yamaha is making awesome products at the moment. Why do you not like them?? Maybe you are older than me?? My dad still thinks Yamaha stuff is garbage, I think.... he's 60



Roadghost said:
I own a Harley because it's just plain better. It never breaks down, if it does I get parts the same day (not sitting out half the riding season because parts are on back order) and any job on a Harley can be done in one afternoon or less. I used to own a Yamaha. I won't ever own one again. I like sport bikes, I might buy a Honda Repsol or something to add to my collection, but for now my Harley is king.
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inreb said:
I often wonder if Harley Davidson would ever consider building a normal motorcycle. They could use most of the big v twin technology but just rearrange it to normal proportions. Maybe they've done market research? No HD rider wants a normal bike? Hard to believe.
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Yeah, they tried that when they bought out Eric Buell and then shut his wing of the company down. :)
 
Roadghost said:
I own a Harley because it's just plain better. It never breaks down, if it does I get parts the same day (not sitting out half the riding season because parts are on back order) and any job on a Harley can be done in one afternoon or less. I used to own a Yamaha. I won't ever own one again. I like sport bikes, I might buy a Honda Repsol or something to add to my collection, but for now my Harley is king.

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They get those parts shipped over from china and india fast!
 
SweetOnion said:
Yeah, they tried that when they bought out Eric Buell and then shut his wing of the company down. :)
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I said normal. There has to be a sweet spot between 52in wheelbase/22 deg. fork rake and 67in wheelbase/35 deg. fork rake. How about a big v twin built around the physical proportions of, say, a FJR1300. No fairing, just standard. At a minimum that would move the HD to 50% function/50% form, maybe better. But maybe there is no market for proper seat height and footpegs underneath in that crowd? After all, that whole scene was built on rebellion not clear thinking.
 
Just a reminder.... in Canada Harley is an import. Harley riders here are riding an import, just like pretty much every other bike brand. Sometimes people forget this.

I guess a Can-Am Spyder would be our only non-import option (if BRP actually makes them here???).

Not a judgement on quality and characteristics one way or another, it is just a comment I here regularly from the Harley crowd that they will "not ride an import."
 
inreb said:
They could use most of the big v twin technology
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SweetOnion said:
True... Those Buell's were never called such a thing.

Maybe the XR1200 is their best chance at a normal bike?
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I said big v twin because no self respecting Harleyist should have to stoop to that level(XR1200). Come on. lol it's a lost cause. Potato Potato:(
 
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backmarkerducati said:
Just a reminder.... in Canada Harley is an import. Harley riders here are riding an import, just like pretty much every other bike brand. Sometimes people forget this.

I guess a Can-Am Spyder would be our only non-import option (if BRP actually makes them here???).

Not a judgement on quality and characteristics one way or another, it is just a comment I here regularly from the Harley crowd that they will "not ride an import."
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When Honda made Goldwings in the states there was more US content in a Goldwing than in a HD big twin.
 
"the harley wobble" nuff said. now the buell...... with a little geometry change, probably the best handling bike i ever raced.
 
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