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

Are you under 30? Why'd you get a Harley?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 7, 2011 | 09:05 PM
  #1  
MAKER's Avatar
MAKER
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: MA
Default Are you under 30? Why'd you get a Harley?

Settle a bet guys. Are younger riders getting into HD because it's old school cool and tight bikes, or because everyone and their mom has a rocket, and it's just a different personal style- and tight bikes?

Or is it something different altogether?

MAKER
 
Old Jul 7, 2011 | 09:11 PM
  #2  
Account Retired's Avatar
Account Retired
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 714
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City
Default

Personally I grew up around Harleys. I have had 3 rockets, 5-6 old school Jap bikes (Yamaha RD 350s and such) and a dozen different Harleys.

For me, It is all about what you can do with it. You get a rocket, you can change the slip ons, the swing arm, and some cosmetic pieces, but you really cannot make it "your own....."

You get a nice Harley and you can do whatever you want to make it just your style, and custom fit for you.... I am 24 and I will never go back to rockets.

I rode my fatboy home and jumped on my R1 to take it over to the guy that bought it from me's house, and I felt like I was on a motorized bicycle. never again...
 
Old Jul 7, 2011 | 09:11 PM
  #3  
PistonPuller's Avatar
PistonPuller
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,190
Likes: 5
From: Eastern Washington
Default

I was 28 when I got my first one. Here 10 years later I am on my 3rd one. Before I had a gixer1100 and gixer 750. Not sure what is was, but I always wanted a Harley, and when the opportunity came up I bought one.
 
Old Jul 7, 2011 | 09:14 PM
  #4  
matt1080's Avatar
matt1080
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: PA
Default

Well im 30 so I dont know if I qualify. I had my share of metrics before I stopped riding a few years back. When I got back into it I didnt want to speed around like an ahole anymore. I just wanted to cruise and enjoy myself. You know stay in the lane, go the speed limit, take in the scenery. Always loved harleys so thats what I went for. I could of went for a metric copy but why buy something thats trying to copy something so much? Just buy the original.
 
Old Jul 7, 2011 | 09:19 PM
  #5  
Wild Card's Avatar
Wild Card
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
Default

I'm 31, been riding since 18, Harley's only. The bike's have ''soul''
 
Old Jul 7, 2011 | 09:19 PM
  #6  
Sonicgazi's Avatar
Sonicgazi
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Ashland, Ky
Default

I'm 22. I got my Harley because the crotch rocket style just doesn't appeal to me. While I would own and ride one, a Harley will always be the bike I love hands down. The people I've met on my HD are one of a kind and I feel like I'm part of a family. A family that's roots are over a century old. My Grandpa always talked about having blue 1939 Knucklehead back in the 50's and wishing he'd never gotten rid of it. My father had a Harley before I was born. I guess the decision to get a Harley was an easy one. Since I was a child I'd always wanted to have an HD and the dream has come true. I couldn't be happier. There is just something cool about a Harley that other bikes cant come close to recreating. The sound, the feel, the look.
 

Last edited by Sonicgazi; Jul 7, 2011 at 09:28 PM.
Old Jul 7, 2011 | 09:21 PM
  #7  
MAKER's Avatar
MAKER
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: MA
Default

Right, it's the original- that's kind of how I feel. That was just an approx. age, btw lol
 
Old Jul 7, 2011 | 09:22 PM
  #8  
kajunkruzer's Avatar
kajunkruzer
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 1
From: Breaux Bridge, LA
Default

The only reason I got a Streetglide is because I really liked that particular model and no other manufacturers had anything in their touring lines that tickled my fancy. Only Harleys that do anything for me would be either a Streetglide or a Roadglide Ultra. I was pretty satisfied with my big inch(or cc) metric cruiser, but I wanted a true touring bike and HD had exactly what I wanted in the Streetglide. For those of you who wanted the original, you should have gotten an Indian.
 

Last edited by kajunkruzer; Jul 7, 2011 at 09:25 PM.
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 7, 2011 | 09:29 PM
  #9  
MAKER's Avatar
MAKER
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: MA
Default

To me I feel like there's this old school cool to it that still has a validity. Maybe even more so. Back in the day, a biker was a biker you know? Rough an outlaw. Did sheet his way. I think there's a bit of that rebel spirit in the hd that just doesn't live in the rockets. I like that soul idea. There's spirits and history there that I feel like they don't have- **** I want on my side
 
Old Jul 7, 2011 | 09:35 PM
  #10  
TKDKurt's Avatar
TKDKurt
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
Default

Nope....
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:45 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE