Harley "new" image
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 1
From: Oak Park, IL
Wow! This thread is so... deep!
I don't know how I can add substantially to it except to say this: the Harley we have now is our first Harley. There are some very disappointing things about it and about the Company and it's dealerships. The thing is... I've never owned any costly thing that didn't disappoint in one way or another.
On the other hand, the things that disappoint me about the Harley are things that ought not to be! The loud tranny (5th gear sucks), the too-low gearing, the excessive heat and lack of power, the embarrassingly loud shifting (when metrics are so quiet!), the poor ergonomics, the weak frame, the inadequate suspension, etc.
These are the the things that disappoint me about the Company (do they even read these threads? do they even care?). But you know, I somehow can't find it in me to be disappointed in the bike. I love this bike. It has become more a part of me than any bike I've ever owned before.
I'm at a loss to explain this phenomenon, but I think it's the thing that keeps the Company from going belly up.
We just love our darn bikes so much in spite of the crap the MOCO shoves our way that we continue to buy them.
It's the price of admission into something larger and more important than any other bike manufacturer can come up with. It's the heritage of a thing bigger than we are.
In that, it's a double-edged sword. It's a beautiful thing we're trapped by, in a strange kind of way. Kind of like a mistress, or a lover.
I don't know how I can add substantially to it except to say this: the Harley we have now is our first Harley. There are some very disappointing things about it and about the Company and it's dealerships. The thing is... I've never owned any costly thing that didn't disappoint in one way or another.
On the other hand, the things that disappoint me about the Harley are things that ought not to be! The loud tranny (5th gear sucks), the too-low gearing, the excessive heat and lack of power, the embarrassingly loud shifting (when metrics are so quiet!), the poor ergonomics, the weak frame, the inadequate suspension, etc.
These are the the things that disappoint me about the Company (do they even read these threads? do they even care?). But you know, I somehow can't find it in me to be disappointed in the bike. I love this bike. It has become more a part of me than any bike I've ever owned before.
I'm at a loss to explain this phenomenon, but I think it's the thing that keeps the Company from going belly up.
We just love our darn bikes so much in spite of the crap the MOCO shoves our way that we continue to buy them.
It's the price of admission into something larger and more important than any other bike manufacturer can come up with. It's the heritage of a thing bigger than we are.
In that, it's a double-edged sword. It's a beautiful thing we're trapped by, in a strange kind of way. Kind of like a mistress, or a lover.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Oklahoma
Well... I was going to type a rant of sorts, but instead, simply:
Those that don't like their dealer: Find another one or work on it yourself.
Those that don't like the bikes: Sell it and get the bike of your choice and be done with it. Save your HD whining for Oprah.
If there's not enough of us left that like the bikes to keep them in business... then we'll deal with that when it gets here. There's more than enough HD's and parts out there to keep me on an HD for the rest of my life. After I'm outta' here... it really won't matter to me, will it?
Those that don't like their dealer: Find another one or work on it yourself.
Those that don't like the bikes: Sell it and get the bike of your choice and be done with it. Save your HD whining for Oprah.
If there's not enough of us left that like the bikes to keep them in business... then we'll deal with that when it gets here. There's more than enough HD's and parts out there to keep me on an HD for the rest of my life. After I'm outta' here... it really won't matter to me, will it?
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 619
Likes: 9
From: Auburn, GA
Werd. I don't mean anything personal here, but, you (EGlideKid) bought the king of touring bikes yet you're pulling it around on a custom trailer. I mean, damn, dude, what was the point?
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Nevada Foothills near Jackson Ca
Times change. I've owned allot of bikes over the last 36 years. I got my son a freebie, a Yamaha 750 to learn the street on. After a year or so he got his license and started burning up the roads. He's 20 now and when I came home a couple of times I would find him hanging all over my new sporty.Ok I let him ride it a few times and pretty soon I couldn't get him off it. Well now he owns a 2008 1200N Nightsteer and he feels pretty cool ridin that scooty around town.I'm just glad he made that decision to be low and slow.Allot of kids are getting killed and injured on those damn crotch rockets up here in the FootHills around Jackson Ca. I think he's the first youngster Iv'e been around interested in Harley . Well Lets Motor-On !!!! GS
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
I am so confused.......This is a HD thread - right?
Cannot be overpriced because we all bought 1.
Cannot be "underpowered" or we would not ride them to Alaska and the Keys.
Cannot be "low" performance: 2-up, fully loaded, there are few cars that can beat me. If you want to go 150mph+ then yea, you need a Hayabusa....but isn't that like saying your Sportster was terrible in the Motocross race?
Keep up with traffic? -I could keep up with traffic on a bicycle! in this town. There is not a Honda 250 that couldn't keep up with city traffic anywhere, and there is not a Harley that can't keep up with highway traffic.
We liked everything about our Yamaha because it was what it was and met what we expected it to be. (V-Star 1100)
We like everything about our Harley because it meets everything we expected it to be. (we did add cruise )The fact that there are things it won't do is irrelevant-the wife's truck won't hold 4 people-but we knew that when we bought it-why bitch about it?
We had 5 to choose from- Goldwing, Victory Vision, Yamaha Venture, BMW RT whatever, and HD ElectraGlide.
So what was the issue again?
[/IMG]
Cannot be overpriced because we all bought 1.
Cannot be "underpowered" or we would not ride them to Alaska and the Keys.
Cannot be "low" performance: 2-up, fully loaded, there are few cars that can beat me. If you want to go 150mph+ then yea, you need a Hayabusa....but isn't that like saying your Sportster was terrible in the Motocross race?
Keep up with traffic? -I could keep up with traffic on a bicycle! in this town. There is not a Honda 250 that couldn't keep up with city traffic anywhere, and there is not a Harley that can't keep up with highway traffic.
We liked everything about our Yamaha because it was what it was and met what we expected it to be. (V-Star 1100)
We like everything about our Harley because it meets everything we expected it to be. (we did add cruise )The fact that there are things it won't do is irrelevant-the wife's truck won't hold 4 people-but we knew that when we bought it-why bitch about it?
We had 5 to choose from- Goldwing, Victory Vision, Yamaha Venture, BMW RT whatever, and HD ElectraGlide.
So what was the issue again?
[/IMG]
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,929
Likes: 8
Wow! This thread is so... deep!
I don't know how I can add substantially to it except to say this: the Harley we have now is our first Harley. There are some very disappointing things about it and about the Company and it's dealerships. The thing is... I've never owned any costly thing that didn't disappoint in one way or another.
On the other hand, the things that disappoint me about the Harley are things that ought not to be! The loud tranny (5th gear sucks), the too-low gearing, the excessive heat and lack of power, the embarrassingly loud shifting (when metrics are so quiet!), the poor ergonomics, the weak frame, the inadequate suspension, etc.
These are the the things that disappoint me about the Company (do they even read these threads? do they even care?). But you know, I somehow can't find it in me to be disappointed in the bike. I love this bike. It has become more a part of me than any bike I've ever owned before.
I'm at a loss to explain this phenomenon, but I think it's the thing that keeps the Company from going belly up.
We just love our darn bikes so much in spite of the crap the MOCO shoves our way that we continue to buy them.
It's the price of admission into something larger and more important than any other bike manufacturer can come up with. It's the heritage of a thing bigger than we are.
In that, it's a double-edged sword. It's a beautiful thing we're trapped by, in a strange kind of way. Kind of like a mistress, or a lover.
I don't know how I can add substantially to it except to say this: the Harley we have now is our first Harley. There are some very disappointing things about it and about the Company and it's dealerships. The thing is... I've never owned any costly thing that didn't disappoint in one way or another.
On the other hand, the things that disappoint me about the Harley are things that ought not to be! The loud tranny (5th gear sucks), the too-low gearing, the excessive heat and lack of power, the embarrassingly loud shifting (when metrics are so quiet!), the poor ergonomics, the weak frame, the inadequate suspension, etc.
These are the the things that disappoint me about the Company (do they even read these threads? do they even care?). But you know, I somehow can't find it in me to be disappointed in the bike. I love this bike. It has become more a part of me than any bike I've ever owned before.
I'm at a loss to explain this phenomenon, but I think it's the thing that keeps the Company from going belly up.
We just love our darn bikes so much in spite of the crap the MOCO shoves our way that we continue to buy them.
It's the price of admission into something larger and more important than any other bike manufacturer can come up with. It's the heritage of a thing bigger than we are.
In that, it's a double-edged sword. It's a beautiful thing we're trapped by, in a strange kind of way. Kind of like a mistress, or a lover.
So much so, that hubby had a hard time trading in his Heritage softail for his Street Glide, because there was simply nothing wrong with it (it was only 7 yrs old...and still ran like it was new). He just thought he wanted a cruiser. He loves his SG but he still really misses his Heritage.
We like our bikes, not for the image ... but for what we use them for. A good, dependable, sturdy motorcycle. We love to travel by motorcycle and when we are on a road trip, we trust our lives to them. They go like snot when they need to, they cruise along comfortably when they need to. They pretty mush have carried our sorry butts coast to coast in 2 countries, not to mention the miles we drove in Mexico. Now if ever there was a place you need to depend on your scoot, that's the place. I would never say Harley Davidson's are substandard...by any stretch. They do fine by me.
As far a dealerships go, well, HD dealerships are only as good as the people who work there ... not much different than any other retail store. They are all privately owned franchises. Each owner runs their retail store and service department their own way. Some aren't worth even stepping in the door, some provide excellent service. Now having said that, granted, even the ones who have very high standards even disapoint some customers. There are some customers that you just can't please, no matter how hard you try. The moment you paint them all with one brush, you lose your argument...Because simply put, they are not all as bad as you are trying to portray.
If you think otherwise, then we will just have to agree to disagree.
Last edited by bikergirl40; Mar 2, 2009 at 09:27 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,272
Likes: 83
From: Southern California
Here's my take. The new marketing all comes down to one thing.....THE BOTTOM LINE. The demographics of the typical HD buyer is 50+ years of age. They are expensive bikes which appeal to an older generation who largely have the disposable income to afford these bikes. The problem is, HD needs customers for life....someone they can sell more bikes to over their riding lifetime. Someone who only rides between the ages of 50 to 70 stastically wont buy as many bikes as someone between the ages of 30 to 70. HD's have always had the "old man's bike" image because of who typically buys them, but if HD can reach out to and appeal to a younger audience, they can inrease thier sales and the perception at the same. I think some of the newer machines such as the V-rod Muscle and the XR1200 all designed for that younger audience.
Last edited by tda69; Mar 2, 2009 at 09:37 AM.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,272
Likes: 83
From: Southern California
I am so confused.......This is a HD thread - right?
Cannot be overpriced because we all bought 1.
Cannot be "underpowered" or we would not ride them to Alaska and the Keys.
Cannot be "low" performance: 2-up, fully loaded, there are few cars that can beat me. If you want to go 150mph+ then yea, you need a Hayabusa....but isn't that like saying your Sportster was terrible in the Motocross race?
Keep up with traffic? -I could keep up with traffic on a bicycle! in this town. There is not a Honda 250 that couldn't keep up with city traffic anywhere, and there is not a Harley that can't keep up with highway traffic.
We liked everything about our Yamaha because it was what it was and met what we expected it to be. (V-Star 1100)
We like everything about our Harley because it meets everything we expected it to be. (we did add cruise )The fact that there are things it won't do is irrelevant-the wife's truck won't hold 4 people-but we knew that when we bought it-why bitch about it?
We had 5 to choose from- Goldwing, Victory Vision, Yamaha Venture, BMW RT whatever, and HD ElectraGlide.
So what was the issue again?
[/IMG]
Cannot be overpriced because we all bought 1.
Cannot be "underpowered" or we would not ride them to Alaska and the Keys.
Cannot be "low" performance: 2-up, fully loaded, there are few cars that can beat me. If you want to go 150mph+ then yea, you need a Hayabusa....but isn't that like saying your Sportster was terrible in the Motocross race?
Keep up with traffic? -I could keep up with traffic on a bicycle! in this town. There is not a Honda 250 that couldn't keep up with city traffic anywhere, and there is not a Harley that can't keep up with highway traffic.
We liked everything about our Yamaha because it was what it was and met what we expected it to be. (V-Star 1100)
We like everything about our Harley because it meets everything we expected it to be. (we did add cruise )The fact that there are things it won't do is irrelevant-the wife's truck won't hold 4 people-but we knew that when we bought it-why bitch about it?
We had 5 to choose from- Goldwing, Victory Vision, Yamaha Venture, BMW RT whatever, and HD ElectraGlide.
So what was the issue again?
[/IMG]I think his point was a cost versus value argument. Dollar for dollar you get more with metric bikes, making the HD's the most expensive. No new news there. As far as performance is concerned, HD's have been pretty conservative with their engine sizes when compared to some of the 1800cc, 2000cc+ power plants offered by other makers. Stock motors are 96 cu in and Screaming Eagles are 110cu in, which is still less than some of the bigger stock motors from Honda, Yamaha, etc.... So it seems like that's the basis for his comparison. Having said all that, I didn't buy my HD to race other bikes...I bought it for comfort....Touring and appearance. I don't care if a Honda VTX can smoke my Ultra Classic. That's not important to me. I have what I want and that's is what's important to me. Saturday I spent at least 4 hours detailing my bike. I didn't mind...it's a labor of love.
BTW...love your '03. I had an Anniversary Ultra Classic....sadly it was totalled out a couple years ago.
Last edited by tda69; Mar 2, 2009 at 09:52 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 447
Likes: 1
From: Dallas
If skateboarders (as a group) can afford 15k Harleys, more power to them. I think its just a misguided advertizing campain myself to a group that either has no interest or hasnt got the money to afford anything but an 883 anyway.