Whats up with the blind alligance to Harley Davidson and everyother bike it crap thing?
Whats up with the blind alligance to Harley Davidson and everyother bike it crap thing?
Like why cant Harley riders appreciate things like good engineering or technology and not just loud pipes and heavy *** chrome?
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July 17th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Why are these type of questions asked? Are non Harley riders upset that everyone isn't impressed with their techno-bike? Are they that self-centered? Okay, ooooo, your bike is cool. Happy now.
July 17th, 2009 at 7:33 am
While I still consider myself a Honda fan (I love the XL/XR series dual sports bikes) what I hate the most is how Honda (along with every other import motorcycle company out there) has does nothing but to help add to the Harley image. I started off with Hondas in the late 70's with a used 1975 MT250 that I worked all summer mowing yards to save up enough money to buy it. Then I got my hands on a 1974 XL350 that I got from my dad (he bought it brand new from the local Honda dealer). Back then a Honda was a Honda and a Harley was a Harley and they were easy to tell apart just by looking at them. And when Honda came out with the V45/V65 Magna series I was in love. It had a touch of the cruiser look but it was still clearly an import bike. But that lasted only a few years. Around 1985 Honda redesigned them to look a lot more like an air cooled Harley and they have gone down hill ever since. Over the years Honda has even gone as far as adding fake air cooling fins on water cooled engines along with changing the cranks on their Shadow series engines to a common crank pin for the connecting rods to try and imitate that "Harley sound". That was when I started to change my opinion on Hondas (and other import bikes for that matter). They were going out of their way to imitate that Harley image while at the same time saying that their bikes were better then Harleys. I liked Hondas because they had their own look but now it's getting harder and harder to tell a Honda from a Harley. If Harleys are so bad why do import motorcycle companies continue to do everything they can to mimic them? All they have done is give a lot of import riders a goal to reach for. What it did was to tell them that If Harleys are great enough to warrant copying them then they must be worth owning. Why have a copy when you can own the real thing, right? Thanks for nothing Honda. I want a Honda that is a Honda, not a Harley look alike.
Also, as I mentioned I used to have an attitude against Harleys but that changed when I got the chance to work on them. Having worked on Hondas and Yamahas for years I was used to having to have a lot of special tools to do much of the work on these engines. But when I started working on Harleys I found that they were so easy to work on and did not need that much as far as special tools. And almost all the major work to be done on a Harley engine could be done with the engine in the frame. That's something you can't say about almost all of the import bike engines. Yes, the engine design has roots that go back to the stone age but that is part of what makes them so easy to work on. If it works why change it?
While Harleys might not be able to take a corner as fast as a sport bike without dragging an exhaust pipe or primary cover on the ground the point is not everyone is out to play John Q. Racer. And if you've ever tried to ride 400 to 600 miles in a day on either you would easily see the pro's of one over the other.
When the day is done it all comes down to personal choice and what you like. So why keep bashing one bike over another when we could be out riding instead?
July 17th, 2009 at 7:33 am
July 17th, 2009 at 7:33 am
I don't ride Harley because it is a sport bike. I ride Harley because it is not a sport bike. I ride it because it suits me to ride it.
My loyalty isn't blind, it comes from my own personal experience. I typically ride 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year, in all kinds of weather. My average ride is 200 miles or more per ride. On my harley, that ride is comfortable and enjoyable.
I rarely need to go more than 80 miles per hour, but my harley is perfectly capable of maintaining that speed all day, and at less than 3500rpm. My gas mileage is typically 38-45 mpg, depending on riding speed and traffic. If i need to pass a vehicle at 50 or 60 mph, I don't have to drop a gear, or two. I only have to twist the throttle, and the torque from the 106 inch V-twin engine pulls me quickly and evenly to 70 or 80, plenty of speed to pass any slower moving vehicle. The same goes if I need to pass an 18 wheeler doing 70, I only need to twist the throttle, and the bike easily speeds up to 80 or 90, with no downshift and no hassle.
The lean angle of my bike is hardly knee dragging, but then again, if you ride a sport bike, the chances are you rarely, if ever lean that far either. If you are obeying the speed limits, or even close to them, then again there is no need for those lean angles.
Maintenance and reliability? I will put my bike up against yours in those categories any day of the week. For the last 7000 miles, my bike has needed only an oil change, has never failed to start, and has done everything I have asked of it, including a climb up a steep muddy hill where mine was the ONLY bike at the top of the hill! (by the way, that 7000 miles was racked up in less than 6 months. How many miles have you ridden lately?)
In closing, I love my ride at least as much as you love yours, the only difference is, I didn't come on yahoo answers and trash your preffered style of motorcycle just because I was bored and wanted to taunt some harley riders.
My advice? If its a nice day where you are at, why aren't you out riding your bike, instead of sitting at your computer trashing other peoples choice of lifestyle?
Come to think of it, thats a great idea! maybe I'll see ya out there! I'll be sure and wave as you zip by me!
July 17th, 2009 at 7:33 am
July 17th, 2009 at 7:33 am
I ride a Harley, because that's the bike I like. Harley makes the bikes, Harley riders want them to make. Harley technology, has all way been up to date. Buy Harley riders for the most part, don't want to have the latest whizzbang, forced on them by the manufacture. If it's not broke, don't fix it. If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand.
Like Biker Bob said. It seems most Harley riders, don't feel the juvenile need. To go from, 0 to 60 in 0.1 nanoseconds. Or race down a twisty road, faster than the speed of sound. I like a low loud rumble, much more than a just as loud scream. By the way, I like chrome, but not to much. If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.
My Harley, handles just fine thank you. If you ran a NASCAR race car, on the same track as a F1 race car. The stock car, is very poor handling indeed. But if you ran the stock car, up against a regular street car. The stock car handles great. Let me let you in on a secret, Handling is completely subjective. What you don't like, I do. But if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.
I don't have, the juvenile need to stand out in a crowd at a stop light. However I do know, that my Harley. Stands out, anywhere more than most. Because it's a Harley.
July 17th, 2009 at 7:33 am
July 17th, 2009 at 7:33 am
July 17th, 2009 at 7:34 am
But on a serious note, why do you care what I ride.
Just go out and ride what you like, and I will ride what I like. And when I pass you going down the road I will drop a hand, and I would hope you would do the same.
And for you club guys out there, I understand and I know that you are wishing me well in your mind.
July 17th, 2009 at 7:34 am
July 17th, 2009 at 7:34 am
What I do see is a LOT of people dumping on Harley Davidson and their riders.
July 17th, 2009 at 7:34 am
July 17th, 2009 at 7:34 am
if we had to explain
You wouldnt understand!
July 17th, 2009 at 7:34 am
EDIT: This whole buy American thing is BS. Don't get me wrong, I like Harley's alot. Hate to drop this on ya' but Harley's ain't all American. What about all the factories here in the US that give Americans jobs assembling these foreign cars and bikes? What about all the dealerships that give Americans jobs?