Thread: Shall I say? --What's so Special about Harleys

I'm asking this not from a sarcastic angle but from an honest, wet behind the ears angle. Never have owned a bike so I know nothing. Don't want to start a great war with millions dead in its wake (a lot of blood,oil, and leather there) but just want to know. I had a friend whose dad knew a lot about bikes and car/bike mechanics in general (he rebuilt a totaled Porsche 944 for ex) and he was definitely a bike guy --but he thought Harleys were poorly engineered, oil leaking. pieces of --well I won't say (gotta kiss my mother with this mouth) --- so what is it? - the charm, the name, the engine sound, the history, the prestige, ??? what? -what I say.


Justin

I don't know??
My father used to pal around with the Hells Angels when they would ride through town and all I ever saw him ride was a huge BMW motorcycle.

Originally Posted by JMS

I don't know??
My father used to pal around with the Hells Angels when they would ride through town and all I ever saw him ride was a huge BMW motorcycle.

Now that's a story Mark ---- paling around with the Hells Angels ---


Justin

Well what can I say! My father was a wild man when he wasn't living off the land like a mountain man or working on some horse ranch some where, he was paling around with the Hells Angels. In fact my first pair of boots originally belonged to my fathers close friend DC who belonged to the Angels and when he died I got the boots via my father.
My father is 66 now and he has mellowed just a little. Up until 4 years ago he was breaking wild horses in Nevada. He is now in washington state training horses on his ranch/mountain home!!

Very interesting Mark ---- what can I say -- he must have some stories to tell.


Justin

the special thing about Harley's? marketing... they have sold a "lifestyle" that alot of people have bought in to. if you doubt me, look at all the Harleys for sale that are 4 and 5 years old with less than 2,000 miles on em. heck, I know where ther is a fatboy that hasn't had 500 miles put on it the past 6 years...

Sonny Barger himself said that if the Angles wanted bikes that were better the woulda got hondas....

the bike in the Wild Ones movie that started the outlaw biker bs was a Norton, not a Harley..

all that being said, I have been in love with Harleys since I was 8 years old, but when I went to buy a new bike I couldn't find a Harley I loved.

I bought the other American made bike, Victory. if I had more money I would have a Harley to go with my Kingpin, but I would never have a Harley as my only bike.

They developed a bad reputation when they were bought out a while back and haven't completely recovered. They hold their value well and are very "American". I've not riden one but haven't heard great things about the ride.

I think though from an ownership standpoint if you told a guy that wanted a Harley to get a Honda it would be like telling a guy that wanted a Hummer to get a Volkswagon instead.

My friend that is pricing Harleys last week was very excited that they have finally made a clutch only twice as hard to pull in than a Honda's. I wasn't that impressed myself.

I've been riding motorcycles for almost 20 years and I just don't understand the appeal of Harleys. It's one of the few brands I can never imaging buying.

I cant say I like harley's in general, For a start I don't know enough about them to say that.
I can say that I like the sportster it has everything I want from a bike.
Its tough as nails, reliable, inexpensive, parts are widely available and well priced and its different, over-here you don't see that many around.
The sportster is well suited to our road/weather conditions.
It just fits me and my needs
Love it

I've heard people say that there's something special about how Ferraris and Porsches sound -- the engine noise that is ----maybe this can be said about Harleys?

The old Porsche 911 (when it was air cooled and had considerable oversteer) was supposedly a mean machine to handle and could get away from you --- it wasn't tamed really ---- maybe this is a little of the appeal of the Harley?


Justin