Things could be worse, you could be an Indian owner
 

I read complaints here about everything under the sun so after hearing all the negativity I head over to an indian forum and read what issues they might be having.
All they talk about is Harley and they compare everything to a Harley. A couple guys will bag on HD but, the majority of posters sulk with their Brady Bunch station wagons having no after market solutions, slow bikes and their all frantic over the M8 motors.

http://www.indianmotorcycles.net/thr...eat-me.205888/

The suspension sucks, the bike is slow, no aftermarket and when they talk about the ability to beat a stock M8 they all start dreaming about buying a Triumph Rocket or having a stage whatever to beat us.

The introduction of the 114 and 117 is leaving buyers remorse in many threads.
IMO, they'll all be shitting their pants when Polaris dumps Indian because in 30 years they simply can't get past the mid think of building a bike that looks like a Buick and handles like a 1970 cadillac.
Ha! http://www.indianmotorcycles.net/thr...g-twin.206052/

Great post, and accurate. It's human nature to place more value on something you don't have. Negativity is at an all-time high. As I get older I learn to appreciate what I have. I really don't care what everybody else is doing. It's the same on every enthusiast forum. People just love to crap on people for no apparent reason beyond jealousy. It's sad.

We have our problems but what you never read here is anyone comparing our bikes to an Indian.
Those bikes are friggin hideous...It takes some kind of special stupid to design a black bike and put blonde leather with tassels all over it. Oh and don't forget the Chrysler front fender.

" Negativity is at an all-time high.".. Man you can say THAT again. It's everywhere. Sports, politics, entertainment, TV, news, all over. You have to fight it off every day.

Harley ranked 6th, Victory actually beat HD in reliability. Indian, nowhere to be seen. I have a couple friends who ride Vics and they have been flawless. Not a single issue and their are fast too.

We don't have it so bad, trust me.

Dude got schooled on couch racing and the real thing

Polaris picked the wrong one to stick with ........... There was potential with the Victory's especially with design. The Indian is always going to be ugly with their managements mindset!

Very good and honest post. The original true Indian was a bike to have but these new ones are just a makeup of actually. No matter what I love my M8 and am sorry bought it and never will be. It brings a smile to me every time.

I've posted MY thoughts frequently on topics related to Harley, how they do business and their technology. Sure we can find issues and difficulties and varying opinions in every forum or media outlet.

Water cooled bikes have been around for the past 15 years. The ENTIRE engine water cooled. Harley is just starting to realize water cooled engines.
The 107, 114 and 117 .. 1753, 1863, 1917 cc respectively, have also been around for some time.
The new suspension and frames Harley is raving about is also old school and have been used on Yamahas medium size cruisers for some time.

There is really no big "technological breakthrough" in the very recent Harley designs at all.
These few points alone show that its a smoke and mirror game driven by marketing .. and some are drinking the cool aid. These features and technologies arent new. Quite the contrary .. Harley is catching up. They ARE new to Harley ... as usually I do not intend to bash ... these are FACTS.

So in short, I dont think any other manufacturer or specific brand lover needs to be worried about what Harley is putting out and the implications of competition. What we have here is perception with possibly a lack or misunderstanding of whats presented.

Good reads though !

I have never felt the grass is greener on the other side of the fence or that I'm missing out on something from any other cruiser brand. I've poked around on other bikes andh ave always felt like a harley is a well made bike. Nothing cheap or flimsy about them. Can't really speak for the newer stuff, haven't seen it first hand. But the fact is, I'm proud of my bikes and am proud to own them. The only time I will ever see a need to stray from the brand is when I decide to go with something besides a cruiser. Even then I will probably go buell because I know full well how bulletproof their motors are (cranked up sportster).