For a bunch of bikers...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 27,225
Likes: 31,535
From: Florida
To the novice, the new bikes look like a Harley... which is what they're counting on. They retained enough of the looks to be recognizable, but enough advances to appeal to the younger crowd. I don't like em, but as I've said, they weren't designed for me or my age bracket. I'm glad other do, it keeps the company in business
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,056
Likes: 251
From: Connecticut
To the novice, the new bikes look like a Harley... which is what they're counting on. They retained enough of the looks to be recognizable, but enough advances to appeal to the younger crowd. I don't like em, but as I've said, they weren't designed for me or my age bracket. I'm glad other do, it keeps the company in business
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 27,225
Likes: 31,535
From: Florida
I'm not going to go into details. I will say, that without a name under the bike's pic... I don't know which model it is. As I've said, I'm glad people like them and I hope it draws in a new generation... but they aren't for me.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 79
Hardly a novice here and they still look like a Harley to me. Maybe you "experts" can tell us exactly what it is about the 2018's that don't make them look like Harley's. I don't think I've heard anything of substance that backs up what they say, which is pretty much only, "they look like metrics". Go ahead and break it down bike by bike. I'm curious to hear.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,056
Likes: 251
From: Connecticut
So an improved hidden mono shock that replaced two hidden shocks on the old Softail, a hard plastic cover with a similar look of the old one that is now a battery cover (kind of the same set up as the Dyna's), and a swing arm that looks the same as the swing arms on the old Softail's changes Harley's look to the point they are unidentifiable as Harley Davidson's?
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 981
Likes: 182
From: Fairfax County, VA
The haters are making themselves feel better about their rides. Most vocalizing their negative opinion roll a 2000 something model. Unlike the Pan or Shovels, the later models don't emanate the heritage that inspire the Harley icon they claim to be a part of. Their bikes don't even sound 'right', let alone look the part.
They guys that love the purism Harley evolved from seem to have little to say about the new ones. They have watched the iterations come and go but remain true to the original passion and quietly rock their old school Harley roots.
The models of this previous decade have neither the rawness the brand is trying to hold onto, nor the performance of the undeniably superior platform the new models deliver. However, like the older bikes, all share the Harley badge.
I like my 2010 FB but the reality is, I yearn for a kickstart AND envy the advancements of the 2018 rendition - no less a Harley than anything released since the 1980s.
They guys that love the purism Harley evolved from seem to have little to say about the new ones. They have watched the iterations come and go but remain true to the original passion and quietly rock their old school Harley roots.
The models of this previous decade have neither the rawness the brand is trying to hold onto, nor the performance of the undeniably superior platform the new models deliver. However, like the older bikes, all share the Harley badge.
I like my 2010 FB but the reality is, I yearn for a kickstart AND envy the advancements of the 2018 rendition - no less a Harley than anything released since the 1980s.