All the sh!t talk about Harley Davidison

[louemc]

I want a Harley cuz:

I don't have the need for speed on the straights or hang low in the twisties...

I just wanna ride and not worried about breaking any traffic laws which is (for me) difficult to control myself on a sportbike or even supermoto...

I just wanna enjoy the scenery...

I just ride for me and don't care what others think about what I ride or who I am...

I have a small peepee and the bigger the Harley makes up for it...

thank you..

I can relate, That's why I bought my first Harley. To slow me down.

But then...I had to start making changes....Engine performance and Suspension and brakes and Wheels.

It got so crazy, because it just starts feeding on it's self, and you can't quit.

 

[V4]

but again, not all cruisers are built the same and there's some things I can't quite give up no matter how much I should...

 

[sc186]

What advancement in technology are you referring to? The tattoo needle?

Technology that trivializes your claim of HD's "shitty, uncomfortable, oily, leaky, slow shovels/pans" by way of better casting and machining processes, dampning measures such as "rubber mounted bullshit" and the reliance on lighter, stronger alloys thus eliminating every single one of your old world selling points for HD. I'd call that progress, and I do believe anybody else not stuck on some trip because they were there, man would have to agree.

Here, I'll quote you for posterity. Remember that? You said that.

I can tell you with absolute certainty that these guys say that HD has become pussified beyond recognition and "hate" the new era of tattoos and Dyna Glides. They would rather take their shitty, uncomfortable, oily, leaky, slow shovels/pans over rubber mounted bullshit if they could still ride, and THAT is the true spirit of the culture which cannot be resold. Too bad many people cannot see that.

Hey look. You said this too.....No modernization???? Care to qualify that statement?

There is no modernization of HD, you along with some HD owners in this thread completely missed that point and took offense where none was intended, but I understand the need to flex the penor. You said it yourself -

I do believe it is YOU that has missed the mark on your assesment but since reading comprehension doesnt seem to be one of your strong points, feel free to rebute yourself for sake of argument. It's no skin off my ass whether you like HD, what HD represents(to you) or what you feel about my logic. I just find it humerous that for the sake of defending some BS biker culture of yesterday, you vector in on completely off tangent, unrelated BS.

 

[JakesKTM]

But then...I had to start making changes....Engine performance and Suspension and brakes and Wheels.[/B].

 

[JakesKTM]

Hey look. You said this too.....No modernization???? Care to qualify that statement?

Yes...that was my "salty mouthbreathing" father that said that when he purchased his Vulcan after we had a long discussion about how fixing oil leaks and reducing vibration really isn't technological advancement.

I do believe it is YOU that has missed the mark on your assesment but since reading comprehension doesnt seem to be one of your strong points, feel free to rebute yourself for sake of argument. It's no skin off my ass whether you like HD, what HD represents(to you) or what you feel about my logic. I just find it humerous that for the sake of defending some BS biker culture of yesterday, you vector in on completely off tangent, unrelated BS

What you missed was the illustrated biker culture of the past as the selling point of HD dimwitty. But I expect you to distance yourself from the salty mouthbreathers as if you are better for buying the "new technology." ....masked as the "old biker culture."

It truly is transparent. Good luck with that.

 

[louemc]

How come You used small letters for the wheels? They were Performance Machine wheels in the Spun Aluminum design used by Flat Trackers.

The front brakes were Performance machine as well with full floating disks.

 

[Ironbutt]

Would I care what some judgmental pussy fgt thought of what I rode? Not a chance.

I like HD.. Used to have one.. Still work on them.

The bikes are fun.. If you know and appreciate the history it's kind of a neat thing to ride one, specially the older ones.

It's way too easy to get caught up in the hype though.. I appreciate the craftsmanship of the motorcycle.. not the look or style of it. I could give a shit about looks. Will it start, can I ride it will I have to work on it before during and after I ride it?

 

[JakesKTM]

How come You used small letters for the wheels? They were Performance Machine wheels in the Spun Aluminum design used by Flat Trackers.

The front brakes were Performance machine as well with full floating disks.

I didn't scroll all the way over in my bold?

I'm really messing with you guys. It's so easy to get the HD owners ruffled.

 

[louemc]

I didn't scroll all the way over in my bold?

I'm really messing with you guys. It's so easy to get the HD owners ruffled.

OK that explains that B, I wondered where the [/B] came from.

 

[sc186]

Yes...that was my "salty mouthbreathing" father that said that when he purchased his Vulcan after we had a long discussion about how fixing oil leaks and reducing vibration really isn't technological advancement.




What you missed was the illustrated biker culture of the past as the selling point of HD dimwitty. But I expect you to distance yourself from the salty mouthbreathers as if you are better for buying the "new technology." ....masked as the "old biker culture."

It truly is transparent. Good luck with that.

Sounds like our fathers are a lot alike. And you're right, fixing oil leaks and vibration issues arent by-and-of themselves technological advancements. Yet they wouldnt have been possible without modernization. You see where im going with this?

I didnt miss anything about HD's marketing approach. I'm well aware of what the layman associates with HD. I know what some dentist is after when he buys an HD. I just dont give a fuck and im not sure why you're so vested in it either.

As for your personal assesment of my bike purchase, you couldnt be any further from the truth. If you really must know, I chose my current boat anchor because it struck me like no other bikes at the time. I rode one and the fun factor was all I needed. Its got a shit load of torque, it turns great for what it is, it stops great. I also wanted a bike to ride with my father while he was in extremely poor health and wanted nothing more than for him and I to ride together. I'm far from an elitist and am probably more of a redneck than most people on this board, so, try again.

 

[High-Side]

I want a Harley cuz:
I have a small peepee and the bigger the Harley makes up for it...

Or you could buy a Corvette.

 

[LongGoneJohn]

I just picked up a brand new street glide. Couldn't be happier.

The "smile per mile" factor of it is unlike any bike I've owned, including my trackbike, dirt bikes, street bikes or supermotos.

 

[ST Guy]

I can relate, That's why I bought my first Harley. To slow me down.

But then...I had to start making changes....Engine performance and Suspension and brakes and Wheels.

It got so crazy, because it just starts feeding on it's self, and you can't quit.

That's why I won't ever buy a Harley. I can't figure out why they can't make one with decent performance, and suspension that works, and brakes that will stop you. Especially with what they charge. I thought Harley was finally heading in a good direction with Buell, even though it still needed work. But then Harley blew it again.

 

[Var]

Performance vs pricepoint is terrible. Other than that I'd ride one nowadays. I'm more open to the thought of cruisers, Harley or Star, although it would have to be my second or even 3rd bike. Cruisers are novelty items for the most part. Aside from the baggers who ride cross country, they are mostly just recreational toys. That's why they are purposely built as antiquated as they are. It's just cool to have one and ride it around now and again. I think it's perfectly ok to criticize harleys whether you are teasing or really hating on them. It's understandable. Then again if you think they are god's gift to man you are delusional.

I think if you own/ride/love/hate/want or you have any thought whatsoever about Harleys, you should be realistic and realize what they are.
Antiquated
overpriced
fun to ride

 

[Moto4Fun]

I can't believe people still criticize HD based on performance arguments. NEWS FLASH - not all motorcycles are intended to accelerate fast, turn sharp, and brake in short distances. If the performance/advancement argument were worthy; it would be equally applicable to most cruisers, Bonneville, SUVs, Minivans, Trucks, etc.

Sub-culture - everyone of us is a part of one. If you ride and post on Barf, you are part of something that unifies you with a larger group of people doing something similar.

I don't get the gear criticism. Is it the excessive use of leather, or the lack of gear that forms the basis of the argument. Last time I checked, half of you dumbasses where tenni-shoes, jeans, and ICON vests when you ride your motorcycle. What is the right uniform? Can one still be an individual while wearing the perfect gear?

Have any of you toured the HD manufacturing facilities? While the bikes may lend themselves to older technology, the manufacturing processes in Milwaukee are rather progressive. Maybe in some effort to create a business to make money, they put their resources not into developing technology that their target market would not be able to appreciate, but into improving profit margins. Face it, they sell a product that people want, at a price people will pay. Some people are still willing to pay a premium for American products.

I support the OP, you can't knock it till you've tried it. If you can't appreciate an HD for what it is, then you are closed minded. Because it is not an argument thay has a right answer. There is no better or best bike without defining a criteria for comparison.

I don't own a Harley. I have never ridden a Harley. I wear bandanas from time to time. I wear jeans and white t-shirts. I ride in groups, I rev my engine in front of the coffee shop because I love the echo of the V twin off the big glass windows and rattling coffee cups. If you don't like the street noise, kiss my ass and go inside.

Old school bikers wouldn't use the word "pussified".

 

[frozenduc]

As the thread gets pissier I'll have to throw in my .02 likely fanning the fire with the 'Well whadya expect from a HD' responses.

Preface,
My first bike was a panhead chop I built from parts when I was 17 and man was I cool. Since selling that Chiropractor's dream, a bagger. Then a sportster. Fast forward 40 years and I've ridden umpteen bikes 500,000 miles. Yet every 5 years or so I get the curious nostalgic bug bite and I ride a Harley.

A couple years ago I was on an escape the cold jaunt to Vegas. Aah, warm weather! The casino dealio gets boring after a half day so I left wifey to squander the future and rented a new Vrod. C'mon, a low bike with all that rake and it wiggles and weaves in a straight line at 65. Junk. Instead of a whole day I took it back in 2 hours.

So this week I'm at a Memorial day party and a friend has this 2000 mile 08 Road King. Tastefully spritzed in a nice charcoal with small bags and the fairing. A nice non cluttered chromeless classic look. Take it out he says.
The first thing I noticed is that there is a whopping 1" of rear suspension travel as it bangs and clanks over small bumps at 30 mph. WTF... Next is that insideous heel toe shifter designed to beat hell out of the gears. I actually got it to shift smoothly by using it as a 'normal' shifter with the toe lift. Rev,, throttle off,, count to four for that bulldozer sized flywheel to scrub off, lift.

Then the eye opener. Where are the brakes for chrissakes? Pull, pull, and not much happens. I guess ya just gotta be mashin on that giant rubber brake pedal that looks like it came out of a '56 Olds.

Engine? It just seems that that 50 hp 45 degree lump isn't happy at any speed. It's always laboring. Highly entertaining though to watch it jumping around below 15 mph. Just like a Cummins it doesn't matter if it's wfo or at half throttle. Same power output.

So this thing has a CD player that was on when I started out. Never figured out how to turn it off. Annoyingly it kept jumping from track to track.

Handling:
I wish it was a night ride as the sparks from everything grinding against the pavement must have been spectacular. And I wasn't in any kind of hurry.

So what does it do well? It trundles in a straight line at 50 while the $$$ CD player frickin skips tracks. And I hate Country.

So I got my nostalgia dose. And as a prosaic writer once said, you can never go home. I brought it back and reflected that it was actually an unsafe thing to ride. The scariest part is that it won't stop. That alone spooks me. Then the fact that they won't turn to avoid something are the two most valuable traits of a motorcycle. Now don't get huffy here, I wasn't trying to be a superbike champion on this thing. I never got it above 60 and the whole ride was on nice country roads.

Maybe I'll ride another in 5 years but the older I get the more I value modern design. My goldwing has a coating of dust on it and only comes out when the wifely unit and I go to dinner on it. I spend my time on the sportbikes, being a modern machine that actually works in the responsive manner bikes were intended. The only prob with the crotch rockets is that you can't carry anything bigger than a pack of Marlboros and there is no weather protection.

 

[frozenduc]

Dbl post sry.

 

[T-1 Thunder]

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation."

Herbert Spencer

So awesome. I've just recently tried living life like that.
Gotta say, I see myself on a HD when the kids are off to college and I'm retired and cruising the awesome scenery of our states. wait, wrong glasses... there we go.

 

[K-dog]

Thanks... I will. Tell me why owning a HD is different from all the other bikes you've owned and ridden?

I don't recall where I said that.

I'm curious. I've ridden a DWG and a 1200 Sporty and was fine up until the point I had to brake or turn, then I felt pretty uneasy. If I were riding a straight line, empty highway, it would have been a pleasure.

I'm sorry, I hope you can learn to ride better.

So why do you ride an HD while we're bullshittin'...?

because I own it, and it works well for my needs. It didn't cost much either.

Yes...that was my "salty mouthbreathing" father that said that when he purchased his Vulcan after we had a long discussion about how fixing oil leaks and reducing vibration really isn't technological advancement.

So your argument is that 5 of my friends are not a trend, but your father is? I'm interested to know what makes you such the expert you profess to be. (btw, I worded it as such because I still don't care how many bikes you've owned or ridden, but c'mon you want to "bullshit" throw me a bone.)

I'm really messing with you guys. It's so easy to get the HD owners ruffled.

you're just a troll

 

[V4]

Q: why doesn't animal rights groups protest at a harley rally...?

A: cuz it's easier to pick on old ladies wearing fur...

somewhat, this joke relates to this thread...