Nothing else is a Harley
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Heart of Georgia
Nothing else is a Harley
That extra long thread about Yamaha's whizz bang new touring bike got me thinking about why I ride a Harley. It hasn't always been so. I've owned eleven motorcycles over the past 40 years (6 Yamahas, 5 Hondas and 1 Harley) so I do have some knowledge of metric bikes. I'm also a boater. I bought my first boat 17 years ago. So far all my boats have had Mercs hanging off the back of them but I have no particular loyalty to Mercury Marine. In fact, Yamaha probably makes a better outboard than they do and I would love to own one if the price was right. We boaters tend to be more loyal to the boat than the motor. I'm more partial to Starcraft than I am to Crestliner but I run a Merc because that's what Starcraft Marine hung on the transom. But motorcycles are a different animal. My Harley moves me like nothing else ever did. Is it better than a Honda or Yamaha? Far from it. Better in some ways and not as good in other ways. Is it faster? Nope. More reliable? Hardly (though I have no complaints). All I know is nothing else is a Harley Davidson and no motorcycle I've ever owned puts a smile on my face like it does. Hard to explain. I'm on two wheels. I'm in the wind. Why does it matter what brand I'm riding? I don't know. It's not so much the brand as it is the experience. Nothing else is a Harley. Can you relate?
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Jun 13, 2017, 08:33 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
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From: Earth
Nothing else is a Harley. Nothing else is a KTM. Nothing else is a BMW. Nothing else is a Ducati...
They each bring something unique and special to the table.
They each bring something unique and special to the table.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: St. Louis, MO
Last year or so, I was considering adding a second bike. I was looking at either a KTM Adventure or BMW GS1200. Decided, I'll stick to my regular old dirtbike for off road use. So I never got very far and never bought one. Just picked up my second Harley today (fourth overall Harley I've owned). So I guess I kind of agree. I don't have issues with the other manufacturers, but I haven't liked any of their models enough recently to put my money down to own one. I'd have no problem riding them if given the chance, but the last four bikes I've bought have all been HD.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Heart of Georgia
No argument there but for me it's more intangible. It has less to do with legend and Americana than with the bike itself. After so many years of riding metrics, the first time I rode a Harley I just had to have it. Now I just can't get enough of riding it. It's like an addiction. What is it about this machine that lights my fire the way it does?
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Back in '04, bought a Kawasaki 1500 Nomad...'cause I couldn't afford a Harley, and this looked pretty close and sounded "pretty good" with aftermarket pipes.
The Kawasaki's drive shaft went tit's up at 8K miles. Had it repaired and sold it.
Bought my first new Harley...'06 Heritage Softail. Couldn't believe the difference. The Kawasaki was a heavy, poorly balanced, clunky POS which sounded like shyt compared to the HD. Haven't found a better V-twin since.
The Kawasaki's drive shaft went tit's up at 8K miles. Had it repaired and sold it.
Bought my first new Harley...'06 Heritage Softail. Couldn't believe the difference. The Kawasaki was a heavy, poorly balanced, clunky POS which sounded like shyt compared to the HD. Haven't found a better V-twin since.
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Outstanding HDF Member
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From: Earth
Nothing else is a Harley. Nothing else is a KTM. Nothing else is a BMW. Nothing else is a Ducati...
They each bring something unique and special to the table.
They each bring something unique and special to the table.
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Huntington Beach, CA
I don't know quite what Harley has, but part of it is the way that Harleys are made out of steel and metal. My old Honda was mostly plastic, like the plastic turn indicator nacelles, which broke off very easily. Harleys are steel. Harleys are basic American manufacturing and engineering emphasizing durability and power. No Japanese bike is that or does that. Love my Harley and as long as I ride I will ride a Harley.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Heart of Georgia
I'm 59 and don't have any qualms about riding a fast bike at my age. Never rode a Hayabusa but one of my Yamahas was a VMax. It was a lot of fun and I wouldn't be afraid to ride one still today but it never made me feel the way my Harley does.