General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

2 comments yesterday

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 31, 2010 | 08:49 AM
  #11  
dstegjas's Avatar
dstegjas
Tourer
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 474
Likes: 47
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Default

Wow, I'm sure glad I bought a Road King.

I am only kidding of course. In most cases if they don't ride Harleys or at least have one on their wishlist. They probably would have no idea what the different models are. I would just be glad they knew it was a Harley and not a crotch rocket.

Jim
 
Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:00 AM
  #12  
teedubya's Avatar
teedubya
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 892
Likes: 11
From: Northern NY
Default

Sportster is just a familiar name to the non-biking crowd. With all the models and letter designation in the HD line-up how does anyone keep track of them all? FLTCHUCSDHKIGHTSDKJIH? Ya know what I mean? Now revert back to the day when you didn't ride and try to remember what it was like.
 
Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:10 AM
  #13  
bikergirl40's Avatar
bikergirl40
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,929
Likes: 8
Default

I agree. A lot of people haven't got a clue about motorcycles. They may not even know that there are different models. They can only comprehend and associate what they know...which in this case is a sportster. In fact, they may have merely heard the term "Sportster" in association with Harley Davidsons and never even really seen one up close. They just need to be educated.
 
Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:15 AM
  #14  
Big_Al47's Avatar
Big_Al47
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,573
Likes: 113
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

Don't you know by now? Here is what the non-motorcyclists see....

All sportbikes = Ninjas
All cruiser style bikes = Harleys
All bagger type bikes = Goldwings
 
Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:19 AM
  #15  
dragpipe's Avatar
dragpipe
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: cambridge, ontario
Default

well, lets see yer sporty... we'll tell ya if it looks like a W.G.
 
Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:20 AM
  #16  
piggy's Avatar
piggy
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 755
Likes: 5
From: Long Island New York
Default

Seems to me , that was a great opportunity to educate some on THE DIFF models of harley and how proud EACH OWNER IS OF HIS MODEL.
 
Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:23 AM
  #17  
KBFXDLI's Avatar
KBFXDLI
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
Default

I get that more with my LR than I did with my Sportster....I just say "Yeah it's a Sportster". Trying to educate them is really a true waste of time.

But if it really bothers you...just start barking like a dog and urinate on their pantleg....that will get their mind off the Sportster thing.
 
Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:25 AM
  #18  
DMas's Avatar
DMas
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 1
From: Birmingham, AL
Default

Originally Posted by Maimas
If my friend pulled up on a Honda, I would probably ask him if it was a rebel, seeing as that is the only make of a honda MC that I know of. So, I would gather that your Dad and friend do not ride, and probably asked if it was a sportster seeing as it is the make of HD that most people know.
Same here. A buddy of mine rides Hondas - he and his wife each have one. I couldn't tell ya which models they were. So don't be to rough on 'em.
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:27 AM
  #19  
travroc's Avatar
travroc
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 3
From: Inland Empire, So Cal
Default

I could see how someone who does not know much about HD's could confuse your Wide Glide with a Sportster. To many folks there are fat bikes and skinny bikes......all fat bikes are Fat Boys and all skinny bikes are Sportsters. Wouldn't bother me if my Wide Glide was confused with a Sportster. I would just politely educate them and next time they see a Wide Glide, they will say "hey, that is a Wide Glide right? I know someone that has a Wide Glide." Heck, my Wide Glide was confused with my Heritage once by a non-riding friend that see's me riding often.
 
Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:29 AM
  #20  
UnSamnedBob's Avatar
UnSamnedBob
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 160
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Default

A guy at work saw a pic of mine on my desktop and said "whatcha got there, a Sporty". I said nope and before I could correct him he said "Oh it's a Dyna". He rides a Heritage. I guess the rear shocks are misleading or something.
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:52 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE