I’m an American, and the Harley-Davidson is the quintessential American Motorcycle. If I was an Englishman, I’d ride a Triumph or a Norton. If I were Japanese I’d ride a Honda or a Suzuki. If I were Italian I’d ride a Ducati or a Guzzi.

My grandfather rode and repaired Harley-Davidsons out of his shop back in the ‘20’s, so I’m just carrying on a family tradition.

 

I built a model of one about 60 years ago. Still have it - see pic. More recently I thought, what the hell, I can buy a real one.

 

Neighbor's daughters BF had a hard tail casket tanked Harley in her garage I used to hand him tools and watch.
I did ride my buddies mini bike but parents said no for me having one. Got older and a 75CC dirtbike my friend had was one with clutch. .Learned and rode it occasionally. Got stick shift car in high school and every summer or nice day my friend up the street had an on off 175 Yamaha and his dad had a triple 250 Kawasaki. I rode his he rode has fathers bike.

Get out of college get first job. Had GF 2 years behind me at school in VT, 1/2 hr from Canada and I was southern NY. Buy 1983 Kawasaki GPZ 750 and rode with friends decided time to get license. Before I just kept getting permits and they would expire. GF lived in FL. But when school started I wanted to visit her and see old friends back at college.. I get out of work when she gets back to school and Friday night I make a banzai run up to VT. 6hrs ride with gas stops. Man as you go through the middle of no where there are lots of deer and racoon that run out in front of you. Learned to scan the woods and stay close to the car in front of me unless they were going too slow. Did that through some of the winter as long as no snow on the road or snow predicted. Did that every other weekend unless it snowed or salt on the road.
During spring break my coworker also rode. We decide we are taking our first vacation to FL and riding there. So after work we start riding and a snow storm hit in NC but we kept riding. It really wasn't sticking much but big pucker factor on bridges. Rode through the night all the next day and it got dark again. We almost fell asleep on the bikes but a tractor trailer passed us on Rte 95. We were riding at 40 mph. Basically eyes open but nothing registers. It was over 30 hrs when we stopped in Boca.No doze, caffeine and gas stops only. On way back we took two days to get back. Kept riding that bike until 2006 or 2007.Had a ton of miles on it. Every coastal state from FL to ME. Sold it as most of my buddies quit riding and cell phones changed everything.

Move to VA meet a gent and we start talking bikes. I said I think I'm done. He said you should try a cruiser and that he would bring his by some time. Never thought he would show. Forgot what it was and I got 20 ft or less and I was hooked. Wanted 1000CC min as my bike was a little lacking with GF and backpacks. Wanted low miles and used. FJ's, Ninjas, Concourse. But all had miles on them. Go to a dealership and sit on a ZX14. It felt nice and I kept looking in the paper and ebay. During winter one comes up on ebay. I contact him with questions and said I'll bid. Chickened out at last min. Who needs almost 200HP for a bike. He calls me after and says why. I told him. he says You'll love it. Gave me a discount and said he would deliver from Richmond VA. 2yrs old 1026 miles. He took the flu shot and it messed him up so no more riding for now. Lost depth perception as a machinist. You lose fingers that way.

Then one day my friend tells me about a Ducati that is coming into the dealership. One day it shows up. I go outside expecting an elbows on knees race bike but it's a Cruiser. Knew nothing about it. Cool looking. Go inside look at completed auctions on ebay and get a value. Go back out side to get miles. I think it was 30!!! One year old and 30 miles. Ebay says if Carbon Fiber $15-17 with ave miles. Go inside and ask manager what is happening with this one. He says we found a guy in Richmond, dealership that will give us $10k for it. Then just like last time someone said I will give you that right now and he says ok. That was me again. Bike two.

I have taken rides to NY and back in a day on the ZX14 to NY a few times and then I take a trip to Jackson Hole on the ZX14. 6 k miles in two weeks. Bear ran in front of me, Rode through a hail storm and a chunk of ice cracked my face shield and rocked my head back. Keep riding and 15 hrs later from start I hit Ferguson MO just as the riots broke out. I was wondering why everyone was looking at me. Next day I asked cousins, who lived there, where a bike shop is so I can get a new shield. It's a Harley Dealer. Guy goes in back and says I think we have a tinted shield. I said I would go walk around. Middle of the store is a fully restored Knuckle, maybe a pan head head with springer and foot clutch stick shift restored in read. Stunning. Continue on my trip had a 1 foot encounter with a buffalo on my bike and had a great time.

The Harley kept bothering me. Would love to get Fatboy. Look in the paper and after a bit I give up. Then one day a meet this lady and her daughter. On a test drive and I ask are you trading a vehicle in. I say we even take in ATV's and motorcycles. She says we have a bike we are selling. Oh no!!! Ok what type? Don't say Harley. Yep Harley. What type? has seating for two and leather bags. Thinking Softail. What year and how many miles. She says we are close to the house we'll just show you. What color. Don't say red. Yep it's red. Go there husband show me a Harley Heritage Softail Classic in really nice shape. I said how many miles. He pushes the button. 463!! What year. 1997!! I said does it start and drive and he said he just had it brought to a shop last year to have it checked. It didn't start. His dad won it in a contest. He passed not long after and then he kept moving it every time they moved. Kept saying he would learn to ride but never did. I said let me get back to you and a week later I own bike three. I did fluids tires forks and dumped high octane gas in it. Broke it in slow and love it.

Love all of them. Recently I had a guy come up to me and he says he has 3 or 4 Triumphs that he wants to sell. One is a 60's chopper. Afraid to call. Someone help me. Anyone in VA want to go check them out with me?? Guy at Starbucks also has interest. That's how I got here. Almost bought a yellow Twin Cam with 19,5 miles on it. It too is available. I think he is a little high on price.

 

I wanted to look like a BADASS so I bought me an HD and joined an MC Club.

 

TLDR. Suggest you 1) use paragraphs 2) edit/revise before posting.

 

lololol!!!! Best answer!!!!! Ding ding ding!!!!!! Love it!!!!

 

Because there are two types of people.... those that own a Harley and those that want one. I've had plenty of other bikes but it seems that everyone strives to finally own that Harley... Love mine and working on them.

Steve

 

As a young boy I always wanted to have a motorcycle and fly. I was fortunate to have both opportunities.

First bikes were Suzuki's dirt bikes to GS750 the first year it came out. Also had a Norton commando (great sound, nice ride, lot's of mtce). Finally had enough scratch to get a brand new 1977 FXE, loved that bike and sold it cheap to a good friend (marriage and children brings a heightened level of responsibility). Airplanes had become my priority and joy then.

Then during the fatherhood years a riding hiatus and another Norton. Blew the engine on that one, con rod right through the case.

Then an old 82 goldwing okay but meh. All I could afford then

Next came a BMW K1100, nice performance and reliable. Second hand again but affordable.

A big used Yamaha V4 venture tour bike came next. Nice machine, good power, heavy and reliable as all get out and low purchase cost.

Now I have a 2010 Ultra which I enjoy and a 2005 goldwing (actually an American built machine) which I would like to sell.

The other bikes were okay but there is nothing like having a Harley, no words to describe but it stirs the blood. I like the HD sound (closest to a radial engine which is my Beethoven ode to joy).

 

I was 4 in 1962, my Brother was 24, had a full dresser in pearl white. He taught me how to get on, keep my feet on the boards, lean with the bike, keep my mouth shut and enjoy the ride. That was it. 62' Honda 50, '71 Honda CB350 with TT pipes, '71 Yamaha 125 enduro, Husqvarna CR125, Maico radial head 400, Yamaha RD 400..chrome yellow/black..cast aluminum wheels..with chambers that "got on the pipe" at about 8K, AMF Sportster, '85 Yamaha YZ 490 rebuilt from the ground up with a '91 WR500 tranny. Now a 2016 FLHP from Skully at Daytona HD. Can't get away from the big bore dirt bikes, Husqvarna 701 Supermoto is in sight next year.

 

Why a Harley? Romance. I read biker mags when waiting for a haircut back in the 80s. Military base barber. Always had a romantic vision of the bikes. So when I got my MC endorsement on my license I went straight to the Harley dealer.

Why do I keep coming back? Non-issue for me. This is my first Harley. It may be my last. I'm not the type that is loyal to brand. I like my ride. I may never get rid of it. Or, I might get tired of it next year. I might sell it and buy a Side by Side UTV...or a boat.