What the Harley Guys Really Think

[TheEmerald Eyes]

I was looking for the some more information on the Fury and ended up in the HD forum where they were babbling about their Suppiriotity.

"I agree the chopper (http://www.hdforums.com/forum/#) boat has sailed. I thought it was going to transition to Baggers and Bobbers, and it did for about 6 months before the economy tanked.

If you want to see a touring bike clone, look at Kawasaki's Voyager for 2009, I did a doubletake when I saw the picture in the 12/2008 MotorCyclist (http://www.hdforums.com/forum/#) magazine.

Honda has been making cruisers (http://www.hdforums.com/forum/#) for over 20 years now. They are not stealing market share from HD IMHO. They are marketing a variety of cruising bikes to people who are looking for something affordable, or of a different design, that being water cooled and shaft driven.

Not that Honda has not made mistakes along the way. Anyone remember the RUNE? Huge bike, huge motor, huge price tag. Huge mistake.

Honda needs to stick to what they make best.. The VTX line, Gold Wings, entry level bikes (Rebel 250), and shaft drive/water cooled cruisers. Oh ya the sport bikes (http://www.hdforums.com/forum/#) are OK but the Blackbird won't get near a ZX-14 or a Busa

Harley needs to copy Honda and make a water cooled V twin or V4 shaft drive FLHT model. Imagine no cylinder shut down for heat issues, imagine not having to pay a fortune to pull the swing arm to change the drive belt, Imagine a bike that runs right from the factory that meets EPA requirements. Imagine if they put the VROD motor in a touring frame.

Don't get me wrong I like my Harley, but I'd need to see something different than what I am riding now for me to consider getting a new one. Otherwise I figure my 03 is good for another 75K before I have to rebuild it
__________________
2003 FLHTPI.... keeping the dream alive
2002 Kawi ZRX 1200 R
1985 Kawi GPz 550"


Most of the people I know ride Harleys and they seem to like my bike. But it was still nice to see a Harley guy say this to other Harley guys IMO.

[lordoss]

Yeah I bumped into that forum yesterday looking for info about the fury too. Some very staunch HD riders there my young friend. I also found it interesting that as soon as someone was out of line with their thinking they jumped on them quite viciously.

Nothing like diversity of opinion to help the heard move forward. Reminds me of an email I got years ago about some monkeys and a cage.


Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the bananas. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all the monkeys with cold water.

After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result – again all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water. This continues until pretty soon whenever another monkey tries to climb the stairs all the other monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now put away the cold water. Remove one of the monkeys from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey will see the banana will attempt to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror all the of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt, and attack, he knows that if he climbs the stairs he will be assaulted.

Next remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with new one. The newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Like wise replace third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth and a fifth. Every time a new monkey takes to the stairs it is attacked. The monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

After replacing all the original monkeys none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the bananas. Why not? Because as far as they know that’s the way we’ve always done it around here.

[TheEmerald Eyes]

lol, That's pretty funny. I like that.

[Rated X]

Aussi! Aussi! Aussi! Oi! Oi! Oi!

[VTX1300cnME]

Yeah I bumped into that forum yesterday looking for info about the fury too. Some very staunch HD riders there my young friend. I also found it interesting that as soon as someone was out of line with their thinking they jumped on them quite viciously.

Nothing like diversity of opinion to help the heard move forward. Reminds me of an email I got years ago about some monkeys and a cage.

That just about sums it up. . . funny.

I asked a friend of mine that rides a street glide why he bought that (with it's 20K price tag) he said, that's what my parentshave always ridden. I thought, ok, but why did you get the SG? To me, "Because that's what my parents have" isn't a good reason.

[Yoidaho]

Emerald eyes aren't you suppose to be doing your homework
to get your grades up?
Or are you doing a term paper on the motorcycle market?
Just curious ~M :lol: :p

[KeyWasted]

I was looking for the some more information on the Fury and ended up in the HD forum where they were babbling about their Suppiriotity.

"I agree the chopper (http://www.hdforums.com/forum/#) boat has sailed. I thought it was going to transition to Baggers and Bobbers, and it did for about 6 months before the economy tanked.

If you want to see a touring bike clone, look at Kawasaki's Voyager for 2009, I did a doubletake when I saw the picture in the 12/2008 MotorCyclist (http://www.hdforums.com/forum/#) magazine.

Honda has been making cruisers (http://www.hdforums.com/forum/#) for over 20 years now. They are not stealing market share from HD IMHO. They are marketing a variety of cruising bikes to people who are looking for something affordable, or of a different design, that being water cooled and shaft driven.

Not that Honda has not made mistakes along the way. Anyone remember the RUNE? Huge bike, huge motor, huge price tag. Huge mistake.

Honda needs to stick to what they make best.. The VTX line, Gold Wings, entry level bikes (Rebel 250), and shaft drive/water cooled cruisers. Oh ya the sport bikes (http://www.hdforums.com/forum/#) are OK but the Blackbird won't get near a ZX-14 or a Busa

Harley needs to copy Honda and make a water cooled V twin or V4 shaft drive FLHT model. Imagine no cylinder shut down for heat issues, imagine not having to pay a fortune to pull the swing arm to change the drive belt, Imagine a bike that runs right from the factory that meets EPA requirements. Imagine if they put the VROD motor in a touring frame.

Don't get me wrong I like my Harley, but I'd need to see something different than what I am riding now for me to consider getting a new one. Otherwise I figure my 03 is good for another 75K before I have to rebuild it
__________________
2003 FLHTPI.... keeping the dream alive
2002 Kawi ZRX 1200 R
1985 Kawi GPz 550"


Most of the people I know ride Harleys and they seem to like my bike. But it was still nice to see a Harley guy say this to other Harley guys IMO.

I thought you had an X?

[RaQueMan]

I think I work with those monkeys!!!

[lordoss]

the other thing (putting on my amateur psychology hat) is that people don't like to be wrong or feel stupid. If you say something that even implies that they have made a wrong decision (especially if it's blatently obvious) they get upset because they feel as though you are personally attacking them. We all do it. For example if someone tells you that the t-shirt your wearing looks as though a pig threw up on it you would get angry as they are passing judgement upon your taste of clothing.

Me? I just love bikes in all shapes and sizes.

I love motorcycles and I love riding. Like many of you, what first drew me to bikes was not just the experience of riding, but the feeling that I'd become part of a special community--a brotherhood, really. Nothing calms me more than a long ride down the interstate, waving to the members of my beloved clan. Except when I pass Harley guys. I hate Harley guys. Hate, hate, hate. When they pass me on the highway, you know what I do? I don't wave. With their little tassle handlebars and the studded luggage and the half-helmets--God, they drive me crazy.

You know who else I hate? BMW guys. Oh, I do hate those guys. I don't wave at them, either. They think they're so great, sitting all upright, with their 180-degree German engines. God, I hate them. They're almost as bad as those old bastards on their touring motorcycles. You know what I call those bikes? "Two-wheeled couches!" Get it? Because they're so big. They drive around like they've got all day. Appreciate the scenery somewhere else Grampa, and while you're at it, I'm not waving to you.

Ducati guys--I don't wave at them either. Why don't they spend a little more money on their bikes? "You can have it in any color you want, as long as it's red." Aren't you cool! Like they even know what a desmo-whatever engine is anyway. Try finding the battery you Italian-wannabe racers! I never, ever wave at those guys.

Suzuki guys aren't much better, which is why I never wave at them, either. They always have those stupid helmets sitting on top of their stupid heads, and God forbid they should wear any safety gear. They make me so mad. Sometimes they'll speed by and look over at me and you know what I do? I don't wave. I just keep on going. Please, don't get me started on Kawasaki guys. Ninjas? What are you, twelve years old? Team Green my ass. I never wave at Kawasaki guys.

I ride a Honda, and I'll only wave at Honda guys, but even then, I'll never wave at a guy in full leathers. Never, never, never. Yeah, like you're going to get your knee down on the New York thruway. Nice crotch, by the way. Guys in full leathers will never get a wave from me, and by the way, neither will the guys in two-piece leathers. And I'll tell you who else I'm not waving at -- those guys with the helmets with the loud paintjobs. Four pounds of paint on a two pound helmet - like I'm going to wave back to that! I'll also never wave at someone with a mirrored visor, or helmet stickers, or racing gloves, or hiking boots.

To me, motorcycling is a like a family, a close-knit brotherhood of people who ride Hondas, wear jeans and a leather jacket (not Vanson) with regular gloves and a solid-color helmet with a clear visor, no stickers, no racing gloves and regular boots (not Timberlands). And isn't that what really makes riding so special?

http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/images/r1forum/statusicon/user_offline.gif

[FR33K]

Wow! If you want to laugh at some dweebs, you have to read the responses to that thread on the HD forum.

L O L @ the fanboiz :grin:


I wonder how some of them ever measure up to their bikes :P

[TheEmerald Eyes]

I do ride an X. I'm sorry didn't make that more clear. The quoted part is from the HD forum.

[Bo Bo]

As Yoidaho inquired, shouldn't you be working on school assignments? You do want to ride again in April, right? Amusing post, though, my Brother rides a Road King, and I get invited to ride with their local HOG chapter sometimes. I've met some interesting people on bikes. ;)

[Hardway]

Properly maintain your VTX and don't abuse it and you will get 200,000 miles or more before you have to break down the engine. That's the advantage of a well made water cooled engine. Heat and looser tolerances are enemies to an engine. You don't have to be concerned about these enemies with your engine.

[Tombstone]

As Yoidaho inquired, shouldn't you be working on school assignments? You do want to ride again in April, right? Amusing post, though, my Brother rides a Road King, and I get invited to ride with their local HOG chapter sometimes. I've met some interesting people on bikes. ;)

The last HOG chapter ride I attended as an invited guest, I was one of a handful of Metric bikes...we were summarily told to get to the rear of the pack and to stay back there. I put on my lid, bid them all adieu, and spent the rest of the day riding solo. Ride safe, ride often. :cool:

[BUSHHAWG]

The last HOG chapter ride I attended as an invited guest, I was one of a handful of Metric bikes...we were summarily told to get to the rear of the pack and to stay back there. I put on my lid, bid them all adieu, and spent the rest of the day riding solo. Ride safe, ride often. :cool:


I was also invited to ride with the local HOG chapter. I of course was the youngest person there.(28 years old) There were a couple of older ladies on Heritage softtail trikes, and a few geezer glides (no offense). I tried to fall in the rear and putt along with them but when we got up in the hills around Mena, AR, I had to go. I was bored to death, I had the girlfriend on the back and we fell out and passed everyone on a hill in a passing lane and went and enjoyed the twisties and beautiful day. Nice folks, just not my kind of crowd. I am not a speed demon but I cant handle slowing down for all the curves and just creeping along, arguing where to eat lunch at every stop!

[KeyWasted]

I do ride an X. I'm sorry didn't make that more clear. The quoted part is from the HD forum.

My mistake.:oops:

Your mistake=childeren?:oops::lol:

[Joey Vegas]

some harley people know the score, its just very few of them.

[Rated X]

I have also ridden with Harley guys and been told to ride in the back of the pack. My reply was so you need a metric back there to pick up all the pieces that vibrate off! yea I know I'm a smart a$$.
Ed

[Quietrider]

I have also ridden with Harley guys and been told to ride in the back of the pack. My reply was so you need a metric back there to pick up all the pieces that vibrate off! yea I know I'm a smart a$$.
Ed


And you still rode with them anyway:yikes:. I would much rather ride by myself than to be with those jackasses and would have told them in some not so nice language.

[shadango]

IMHO We only perpetuate this by caring at all what anyone says.

Just like the bully in class, if yu show weakness, they will exploit it.

Worrying about what yuppie HD guys say is giving them exactly what they are looking to do......get a reaction.

We have some of those types here too....those who say how great the VTX is and how the HD sucks.....

What a waste of energy.

Real riders know the score and dont care what you ride...its THAT you ride.

All bikes are beautful.....and ALL bikes can and do break regardless of brand.

Who cares what anyone else says about your ride, whatever that ride is?

Having numerous threads pop up on this topic all the time just makes the HD guys look right.....like we are all a bunch of "wannabes" who are looking to fit in with THEM....like we value their opinions.

Jesus, we are cutting and pasting quotes from HD boards as fooder for this forum?

Its assinine.

I dont care who likes what I ride. I dont even care if my wife likes it or not.....She does, and thats great, but would I get rid of it if she didnt like the bike? Doubtful.

Riding is a solitary endeavor. I ride for ME.

So why would I care about what a bunch of HD ridin' swingin' dicks think?

[Rated X]

And you still rode with them anyway:yikes:. I would much rather ride by myself than to be with those jackasses and would have told them in some not so nice language.

Oh sure I will still ride with them. It's just a little ribbing, believe me I get my shots in.
Ed

[Frybie]

I think I work with those monkeys!!!
Got bad news for you, You don't work with those Monkeys, I DO!!

Wave post== guess he dont wave at anyone ay?
think he would wave at the mirror?

Out of 15 bikes, (12 Harleys) and 2 scooters, My bike is the only Metric one in the bunch, and we've ALL gone out riding TOGETHER, and wave at ALL other bikes on the road.:doorag:

But they all have parked their bikes for the winter, My bike is sitting on the Company parking lot, ALONE :dontknow:

I like riding in a responsible group, but riding alone doesn't make me feel lonely.
Ride on!:thumbup:

[black hills]

All the HD guys I know are great, they give me little crap about my bike (as I do to them) and we all have a laugh. At the end of the day nobody cares what the other guy rides.
My favorite story is the die hard HD guy who's son kept begging him to tide his ZX-11. After many Jap-crap comments the old mine finally took it for a ride. The next week he bought one!! He still has his harley but rarely rides it, his comment was "with bikes like these on the market why would anyone ride a Harley?"

[kathymc7719]

The last HOG chapter ride I attended as an invited guest, I was one of a handful of Metric bikes...we were summarily told to get to the rear of the pack and to stay back there. I put on my lid, bid them all adieu, and spent the rest of the day riding solo. Ride safe, ride often. :cool:

They wanted you @ the end so you could catch the parts that fall off of the HD's. It is a position of honor & you should have accepted it in the fashion that the invitation was given & then sold their parts back to them @ the end of the ride. :mrgreen:

[Hobbit]

I really need to test ride a HD before I make my comments. All I can say or think is what I see with some HD guys I have ridden with and will again in the future. But for right now, I just don't have it in me to want a classical looking photocopy of a bike from over the past few decades. I think someone posted in another thread pictures of a certain HD model in 1975, 1985, 1995, and today. Whatever model HD it was, the changes are barely noticed.
Anyway, ride safe.:doorag:

[drycreek]

TheEmerald Eyes (http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/member.php?u=38122)
Member

http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/image.php?u=38122&dateline=1228268695 (http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/member.php?u=38122)

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Clinton Arkansas
Posts: 35


http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif What the Harley Guys Really Think
Quote:

Honda has been making cruisers (http://www.hdforums.com/forum/#) for over 20 years now. They are not stealing market share from HD IMHO. They are marketing a variety of cruising bikes to people who are looking for something affordable, or of a different design, that being water cooled and shaft driven.


I was involved in the sales industry for several years. One thing that becomes rapidly apparent is that buyers are not all looking for the same thing!
Equating price to high end/ low end we must understand that there are those that are going to drive a Caddy regardless. ;by the same token you have those that purchase according to financial solvency and need. Therefore there is a line drawn separateing high end buyers from low end buyers. Using this yard stick the Screaming Eagle guys are absolutely high end customers, while the VTX guys are low end buyers, this could be stretched to middle of the road but that is irrellevant to the point that I have to agree with Emerald Eyes.Two different buyers, two different criteria. The motor Scooter phenomena is a feeding frenzy (contemporary economy is hurting everyone) that has made scooter riders out of alot of people that never rode in their lives.
It would appear that in most instances the Harley /Honda sales competetion is in the minds of those that have already spent their cash.

Maybe / maybe not? JMO
Drycreek

[prime45]

I take crap from all my harleys freinds I ride with.Good natured of course.I just tell them that I did some research on the internet on harleys.I tell them that of all the harleys ever made 95% of them are still on the road today.The other 5% actually made it home.Makes for a fun time to hear them babble.Shuts most of them up.LOL.:thumbup:

[drycreek]

Now thats funny, I havent heard that one. Gonna file it, steal it, and call it my own.
good ern
Dry

[Stanky Dawg]

What do the Harley guts think about the XR1200 ?

[drycreek]

XR 1200 Specs
Engine
Air-cooled, Evolution
Displacement
1202cc
Engine Torque
74 ft. lbs / 100 NM @ 3700 rpm
Horsepower
90hp / 67kW @ 7000 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm)
88.9 x 96.8
Fuel System
Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
Compression Ratio
10.0:1
Exhaust System
Upswept, high-volume 2-1-2 straight shot exhaust system finished in satin chrome
Primary Drive
Chain, 57/34 ratio
Final Drive
Belt, 68/28 ratio
Clutch
8-plate, wet
Transmission
5 speed
Brakes, Dia (Front/Rear, mm)
292 dual / 260
Caliper Type
Dual 4-piston, fixed front, single-piston floating rear
Front Fork
43 mm inverted
Rear Shocks
Coil-over; preload dual-adjustable
Suspension Travel (mm)
Front 125/Rear 89
Frame
Mild steel tubular frame; circular sections; cast junctions
Swingarm
Aluminium cast
Length (mm)
2,195
Seat Height (mm)
742
Ground Clearance (mm)
147
Rake at steering head (°) / Trail (mm)
29.3 / 130
Fork Angle (°)
27.8
Wheelbase (mm)
Valentino Rossi
Fuel Capacity (liters)
13.3
Oil Capacity with Filter (liters)
2.8
Dry Weight (kg)
250
Color Options
Vivid Black; Mirage Orange Pearl; Pewter Denim


SUPPOSED TO REALLY SCREAM IF YOU CHANGE THE AIR BOX AND EXHAUST? LOOKS LIKE ALOT OF GO FAST FUN
Dry

[TorqueLover]

Harley guys know how to think ?? :dontknow:

[cannonfl]

The last HOG chapter ride I attended as an invited guest, I was one of a handful of Metric bikes...we were summarily told to get to the rear of the pack and to stay back there. I put on my lid, bid them all adieu, and spent the rest of the day riding solo. Ride safe, ride often. :cool:

Hell yes, my hat's off to you!

I've heard other metric riders tell me the same thing ... I just couldn't believe it. What a bunch of Bozos.

A guy I work with bought a Harley, paid 18 grand and was so darn proud of it. I rode my X up next to it and just smiled. Come on, don't we all do that knowing our machines are so much better when it comes down to it.

[FR33K]

IMHO We only perpetuate this by caring at all what anyone says.

Just like the bully in class, if yu show weakness, they will exploit it.

Worrying about what yuppie HD guys say is giving them exactly what they are looking to do......get a reaction.

We have some of those types here too....those who say how great the VTX is and how the HD sucks.....

What a waste of energy.

Real riders know the score and dont care what you ride...its THAT you ride.

All bikes are beautful.....and ALL bikes can and do break regardless of brand.

Who cares what anyone else says about your ride, whatever that ride is?

Having numerous threads pop up on this topic all the time just makes the HD guys look right.....like we are all a bunch of "wannabes" who are looking to fit in with THEM....like we value their opinions.

Jesus, we are cutting and pasting quotes from HD boards as fooder for this forum?

Its assinine.

I dont care who likes what I ride. I dont even care if my wife likes it or not.....She does, and thats great, but would I get rid of it if she didnt like the bike? Doubtful.

Riding is a solitary endeavor. I ride for ME.

So why would I care about what a bunch of HD ridin' swingin' dicks think?

Hell, I find them funny as hell. I hope their moronic fanboi mentality Never goes away. It's free entertainment :lol:

[racer x]

all hd guys i've ever known have been pretty friendly until they find out your not riding one of theres...i've riden most brands and to be honest they're nothing specail about them to me that is ...to each there own of course.....when i ride with my group every one is welcome and i would never tell anyone how or where to ride in our group.....as long as your riding is'nt dangerous and we're enjoying the fact that we're riding then all is good.....ride safe everyone

[Jimbo]

I get a kick out of all of this. There are JOs on every brand and type of bike, HD has no monopoly on that. Crank it on, stay righteous, screw anybody that don't like it.

[RoadDawg]

As for the HD Vs Metric topic... The real issue here is:

Do you ride a motorcycle or do you ride a brand name? I ride a motorcycle and love it... I don't care what you ride as long as it is a motorcycle... If you ride a brand name then you are a poser and don't deserve to ride anything. Be real... ride what ever motorcycle you wish but don't thumb your nose at someone elses choice and we will get along just fine. That's my attitude and I'm sticking to it... Brand should NEVER be more important than the ride.

8)

Disclaimer: The above statement is made with the caveat that I reserve the right to lampoon others choices in good honest fun at any time I so choose, because it is not MY fault that they foolishly chose something other than a Honda VTX. :-P

[manwithplan46151]

My answer to riding in the back would be something like..... Uhhhh, Sure..If you got the machine to keep me in the back. If not then I will lead you. Im not good at being instructed that I HAVE to do anything any where anytime. That's just me. LOL

[Nicksterdemus]

Road cap'n leads the pack. It may or may not have squat to do w/metric cruiser. If as a guest they don't know your skills or lack of as a rider then they don't want you footpeg to footpeg. Don't be surprised if you heard the same thing riding a hawg. Personally, I try to be the last in line. I wish to avoid the noise and confusion. Besides, I know where I'm going. Just because you have a scoot and rode up doesn't necessarily mean you have anyone's respect as a rider. Even as a guest or a member, the group itself comes first...

...I cant handle slowing down for all the curves and just creeping along, arguing where to eat lunch at every stop!
That's part of the camaraderie, stoppin' every 30-40 minutes. I'm not a fan of that style ridin' myself. As well, any group ride for the most part is gonna be slow to accommodate those that ride slower coz they want or they might be a lesser skilled rider. I can't stand to pull The Talimena Trail grade w/anything in front of me. Especially a loud, luggin', overstrained scoot, but I have sucked it up for the group on occasions. It's nice to slip over to Okieville for a couple of kold longnecks and ease back across the hills...