They started putting that 3rd wheel on them in 1932.

 

Where there old people in 1932?

 

I see it as branching out, to sway more people to buy a Harley. If they had stuck with dressers in the 50s, they be long gone.

 

Im sorry you feel that way but it was a necessity to find ways to cut cost to bring them into production. How many of the metrics at that price point have them ? I work at the Harley plant in Kansas city that builds the new street models, Im glad harley is reaching out to other markets to expand their customer base it keeps me employed ! People dont realize what it takes to bring a new model into production all the factors that goes into it.

 

Actually we build them in Kansas city for the north American market and rhe India plant builds for their market, but I agree they will sell more of them over there.

 

Federal law mandated the change so that the Sporty would be the same as the Jap bikes. Originally it was right shift like the Brit bikes from 1957 till 1976.

 

That would be confusing as hell to shift on the right and brake on the left! Imagine the chaos if the clutch and front brake levers were swapped, too!

My brother used to have a '73 Moto Guzzi. The shift pattern was upside down - up once for 1st, and down to shift through the rest of the gears. I don't know if all Guzzi's were like that or if his had a linkage put together wrong. I do know that I almost high-sided twice on that bike going around corners and shifting up a gear or two instead of downshifting!

 

As others have said I think the reason the directionals aren't self-canceling is money. Most low end metrics aren't self-canceling either. Also, I think HD is being smart. Get the younger crowd on a Harley from the start.

 

I saw a 500 at the dealership the other day. The jiffy stand doesn't lock in place when down. It was very easy to roll the bike forward & off the stand.

 

I think it`s a smart move on harley`s part to bring to market a bike that`s similar to the competition. Most harley riders are loyal brand owners. Once a harley always a harley for life. Here`s their chance to attract a whole younger generation of potentially loyal harley owners.