harley "LOOK ALIKE"

[mark10]

how many look alikes are there i know the honda shadow is definitely one - i have mistaken them for a HD from a distance some victorys kinda do, but i find them easier to tell then the shadow what else

[blueridgerider]

Originally Posted by mark10

how many look alikes are there

i know the honda shadow is definitely one - i have mistaken them for a HD from a distance

some victorys kinda do, but i find them easier to tell then the shadow

what else

To the uninitiated - every single cruiser style bike IS a Harley (at least until they actually see the name on it).

That said - seen from the left side without a rider I think the Yamaha V-stars look like a softtail. Of course THAT was their goal.

Kawasaki claimed they made their bikes not with Harley design ideas, but in carrying out what they thought what Indian would have evolved into. I don't know about that, but I do think their bikes are very distinctive.

[MRJ_USN VET]

I read somewhere about HD history in the early years of the company, HD actually shared its designs with the Japanese and that's why so many metric cruisers look like Harleys.

[schumacher]

I think Harley's look like Indians myself

[blueridgerider]

Originally Posted by MRJ_USN VET

I read somewhere about HD history in the early years of the company, HD actually shared its designs with the Japanese and that's why so many metric cruisers look like Harleys.

No, that's not the reason (though they did share some older sesigns). Japan eventually got on it's feet and started making their own designs (hence the UJM - Universal Japanese Motorcycle). The reason so many cruiser designs mimic HD is that HD's began selling again - not just selling but dominating. Sincerest form of flattery is the fact that Japanese companies then started to try and make heavy cruisers cast in HD's pattern.

[themensh]

Yamaha Roadstar has a 'Fatboy" look. There are allot of bikes that resemble
a harley, but then again, allot of bicycles look alike.
Hell...I can't tell one car from another as long as I thinking about it.
"Is that a Kia Sephia or a Toyota Tercel?" (Korean and Japanese cars all look alike)

[KBFXDLI]

Originally Posted by MRJ_USN VET

I read somewhere about HD history in the early years of the company, HD actually shared its designs with the Japanese and that's why so many metric cruisers look like Harleys.

After working in the automotive industry for 30 years and watching the Japanese steal & copy every design idea they can get their skinny mits on...I have a real difficult time believing the boys at the MoCo would share anything with Honda...other than a hunting trip with Dick Cheney.

Now the Japs are pizzed off because the Chinese & Koreans are copying all the designs that they stole from the US Big3 and the Germans....ever notice a Hyundai looks like a Lexus/Toyota which remembles a BMW? My guess is that by 2050 there will be one guy in the world who actually designs anything from scratch and he will have 5000 Asian guys following him around with cameras.

[wdg]

harley and indian not even close

[BigJfxdwg]

They may look like an HD from a distance, a long distance, but they never sound like one. If you think they do you need to listen a little better.

[blueridgerider]

Rikuo Motorcycles - Harley supplied design and tooling. Post WW2 America did lots of rebuilding with the cooperation of American companies.