Harley "new" image
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
harley sponsors an event called wild ride. its a joint venture between them and emerica (a skate shoe company). basically it is a bunch of pro skaters riding around the country to different spots on harleys.
ive skateboarded for 20 years and recently bought my first harley. i can say that riding a motorcycle is a lot like skateboarding for me, in that it takes all your concentration and totally clears your mind. i think them reaching out to skateboarders and other types of like minded people is a good thing.
ive skateboarded for 20 years and recently bought my first harley. i can say that riding a motorcycle is a lot like skateboarding for me, in that it takes all your concentration and totally clears your mind. i think them reaching out to skateboarders and other types of like minded people is a good thing.
I think it's fantastic. As long as they don't mess up the product trying to cater to that demographic.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 1
From: Oak Park, IL
In my house HD has skipped a 1/2 generation. My oldest is in her early 30s, rode a lot with me when she was little, and now doesn't really get it anymore. My youngest is 19 and has the bug, she came home from college one day when the sun was melting the snow a little and declared it was a good day for me to take her out, too bad the garage door wouldn't open! Oh ya, the "little" one is into snowboarding too.
Harley is a funny animal. It has always been exactly what it is today, an open canvas. What makes it so popular is the fact that you can do so much with it.
To our young hot rod friend, please do a google search on HD Drag Racing Records. HD has been setting the bar for a very long time. True they are not optimal out the door, again, they are a blank canvas, but the fact is you can take that same bike and make it a wild chop, a touring machine, or a world class dragster, it is up to you to be creative. If you just want to buy a prebuilt whatever, then HD is not really the bike for you.
Harley is a funny animal. It has always been exactly what it is today, an open canvas. What makes it so popular is the fact that you can do so much with it.
To our young hot rod friend, please do a google search on HD Drag Racing Records. HD has been setting the bar for a very long time. True they are not optimal out the door, again, they are a blank canvas, but the fact is you can take that same bike and make it a wild chop, a touring machine, or a world class dragster, it is up to you to be creative. If you just want to buy a prebuilt whatever, then HD is not really the bike for you.
Last edited by DoomBuggy; Feb 27, 2009 at 07:51 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 771
Likes: 2
Actually, I'm going to trade off mine for a supermoto, probably a KTM. The Sporty's ok, but compared to most SM's I've ridden it's fun factor and get up and go is just ...meh. The first time I rode one I realized what riding was about. Harley's quickly becoming the Buick of cycles to me.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: CT
I'm all for Harley making headway in all types of rides for all types of riders. Why not?.They're far to smart to diminish their core base. They didn't get to be the biggest by making dumb moves. The fact that they make a bike that attracts the youth does nothing to my going to a dealers and salivating over a brand new Ultra or someone else glassy-eyed over a SG or Sportster. There's an **** for every seat. The youth of today will be the old fart like me and, they'll probably be looking at the Ultra years from now. Cultivate the youth and keep the base.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 46,845
Likes: 22,534
From: Land of the Free, Home of Jack Daniel's
I keep hearing that arguement. My question is ... Who do you think determines what the going price should be? ... and Who determines WHAT is too much?
The reality is ... they charge what the market will bare...Just a simple fundamental of economics. Technically, WE (the puchasing public) collectively are the ones that determine pricing.
The reality is ... they charge what the market will bare...Just a simple fundamental of economics. Technically, WE (the puchasing public) collectively are the ones that determine pricing.
They don't work on their bikes, take em to dealer, Ran the price up!
Go on.....shields up!!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 6
From: Simpson County Kentucky
Now, I for one, disagree with YOUR comments.
Of all the choices we have to spend our play time ... Speaking for myself, of course ... I choose Harley's over all else. Why? Because ... I like'em ... Everything about 'em. Don't find them "Underpowered" ... at all. As a matter of fact, I don't care much for sport bikes, or ones that are all powered up and supped to the nuts ... never did .. THAT is MY personal choice.
Doesn't mean they don't go like snot ... I just don't care for them...Doesn't even mean I think Harleys are superior to everything else on the market. The simple fact is ... Harley is what I not only choose to spend my time and money on ... but it has become a passion ... it has affected my way of life...in a possitive way.
As a matter of fact, our Harley's often "out perform" the other bikes we travel with. (I ride a Fat Boy and Hubby rides a Street Glide)...Both of our bikes have better gas mileage and less mechanical difficulties on the road...If that's what is meant by 'performance'. They fire up on the first attempt, run very smoothly, and are as dependable as can be ... at least so far. My bike is an 2002 ... and completely stock. I have only had 'er in the shop to replace a small fuel hose (inside the gas tank, that had a small hole)...other than that, not even a 'hic-up". She purrs like a kitten ... a really BIG kitten! She has been good to me, and I have ridden her coast to coast in both Canada and the U.S. and as far south as Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
I'm not sure where you were going with your comments ... They were argumentative and insulting to put it plainly. I just don't think you 'get' what Harley Davidson means to the majority of members here. Have you ever heard the expression ... "If I have to explain .... yada yada yada"
I'm sure you know the rest.
Of all the choices we have to spend our play time ... Speaking for myself, of course ... I choose Harley's over all else. Why? Because ... I like'em ... Everything about 'em. Don't find them "Underpowered" ... at all. As a matter of fact, I don't care much for sport bikes, or ones that are all powered up and supped to the nuts ... never did .. THAT is MY personal choice.
Doesn't mean they don't go like snot ... I just don't care for them...Doesn't even mean I think Harleys are superior to everything else on the market. The simple fact is ... Harley is what I not only choose to spend my time and money on ... but it has become a passion ... it has affected my way of life...in a possitive way.
As a matter of fact, our Harley's often "out perform" the other bikes we travel with. (I ride a Fat Boy and Hubby rides a Street Glide)...Both of our bikes have better gas mileage and less mechanical difficulties on the road...If that's what is meant by 'performance'. They fire up on the first attempt, run very smoothly, and are as dependable as can be ... at least so far. My bike is an 2002 ... and completely stock. I have only had 'er in the shop to replace a small fuel hose (inside the gas tank, that had a small hole)...other than that, not even a 'hic-up". She purrs like a kitten ... a really BIG kitten! She has been good to me, and I have ridden her coast to coast in both Canada and the U.S. and as far south as Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
I'm not sure where you were going with your comments ... They were argumentative and insulting to put it plainly. I just don't think you 'get' what Harley Davidson means to the majority of members here. Have you ever heard the expression ... "If I have to explain .... yada yada yada"
I'm sure you know the rest.
I do like sportbikes and will always have one simply because of what they do best and that is perform in areas the Harley, including that pumped up XR1200, couldn't hang with a 600cc sport touring bike if its life depended on it, will never do. I use my 1200 Roadster for putzing around the backroads at relatively slow speeds just sucking up the scenary but this doesn't mean I don't think Harley could get it's head out of its butt and build the bike with modern alloys and materials regardless of how much money they saved in production or the profits that could be made on the flip side of that. I have 1 Harley and 2 Yamaha street bikes that I enjoy and not one of them has been any trouble at all and this would include something as simple as a hose although I will say the headlamp and indicators went out on the Sporty just before it went out of warranty.
You buy what you want and you folks ride what you want but don't forget, Harley has had horrible luck with the 96" as have many owners that have had to fix some of their problems on their own. Fact is, the heat problem is so bad Harley had to shut down one cylinder (rear) at idle or parade. Now that a great fix. Oh, I know, we have been building 95" engines for years with no problems but Harley can't build an underpowerd 96" without including this butt ugly heat shield on the rear tube to keep the rider's leg from frying.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,500
Likes: 0
From: Brunswick, OH
My only beef with HD so far, is the crummy suspension and brakes. IMO, there's just no reason why they can't use some better components for the premium price they charge. But again, as someone else pointed out, it's the markets fault; Harley has realized that they don't have to put good suspension and brakes on their bike to sell them for top dollar. Which I suppose is why they quit making the nice adjustable bits from the FXDX.
I also do agree the engines are behind the times performance wise. And I do think they could catch up somewhat without losing the feel and soul that attracts people to Harleys in the first place. But, I knew that going in, and so far I haven't been disappointed with the engine at all, and I don't even have the 96".
I also do agree the engines are behind the times performance wise. And I do think they could catch up somewhat without losing the feel and soul that attracts people to Harleys in the first place. But, I knew that going in, and so far I haven't been disappointed with the engine at all, and I don't even have the 96".