For the love of Harley's
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 228
Likes: 41
From: Kent, England
For the love of Harley's
There's a lot of interesting and passionate debate around the new 2018 models on the forum at the moment but what is it that attracts us to the brand in the first place?
For me it's the nakedness of the design and that lovely unique exhaust sound.
Before I bought mine whenever a Harley rode past I just had to turn my head and look and smile or if in the car I had to lower the window to absorb the sound and always dreamt of owning such a beast one day.
Then I remembered reading an article written in a bike magazine a while back from the owner of a new touring bike (it was a Jap bike but can't remember the make or model) on a tour through Spain who had pulled into a roadside cafe.
Walking towards the cafe was a father and son, the young boy broke away from his father and ran towards the cafe shouting bike bike!
The owner of the new gleaming bike smiled as the lad ran towards him only to be disappointed as he ran straight past and stopped at the old Harley parked further down the road!
Says it all I reckon, but what is it about a Harley that attracted the young boy to it so much that he ignored the gleaming Jap bike?
For me it's the nakedness of the design and that lovely unique exhaust sound.
Before I bought mine whenever a Harley rode past I just had to turn my head and look and smile or if in the car I had to lower the window to absorb the sound and always dreamt of owning such a beast one day.
Then I remembered reading an article written in a bike magazine a while back from the owner of a new touring bike (it was a Jap bike but can't remember the make or model) on a tour through Spain who had pulled into a roadside cafe.
Walking towards the cafe was a father and son, the young boy broke away from his father and ran towards the cafe shouting bike bike!
The owner of the new gleaming bike smiled as the lad ran towards him only to be disappointed as he ran straight past and stopped at the old Harley parked further down the road!
Says it all I reckon, but what is it about a Harley that attracted the young boy to it so much that he ignored the gleaming Jap bike?
It's Not What You Ride, It's The Fact That You Ride, That Is Why We Are Here
I have owned a Motorcycles since 1970, I was always interested in Bikes & Cars
from the age of 10. Now that I am in my 70s and still love Bikes & Old Cars, but
when growing up Cars were for transportation. Bike set you free form the norm,
after coming home from Vietnam I was a long way from normal. I have had both
Street Bikes & Dirt Bikes, and enjoyed the Freedom I get when riding. Harley was
my American dream, my first Harley was a LowRider. The wife & I went everywhere
on it, I was in my mid 50s than. The wife's bad knees keep her from riding anymore.
I ride my Glide solo, in a few week I plan to do a lap of Nevada with a riding buddy.
I happen to like 2018 Softails, I eyeing a new LowRider.
John
I have owned a Motorcycles since 1970, I was always interested in Bikes & Cars
from the age of 10. Now that I am in my 70s and still love Bikes & Old Cars, but
when growing up Cars were for transportation. Bike set you free form the norm,
after coming home from Vietnam I was a long way from normal. I have had both
Street Bikes & Dirt Bikes, and enjoyed the Freedom I get when riding. Harley was
my American dream, my first Harley was a LowRider. The wife & I went everywhere
on it, I was in my mid 50s than. The wife's bad knees keep her from riding anymore.
I ride my Glide solo, in a few week I plan to do a lap of Nevada with a riding buddy.
I happen to like 2018 Softails, I eyeing a new LowRider.
John
Last edited by OldPhat; Sep 10, 2017 at 12:18 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 695
From: Huntington Beach, CA
I rode Hondas during the 70s and 80s and then abandoned riding due to the pressures of career-building, marriage, and family.
Three years ago (now going on 4) I got back into riding. When I did, I did a lot of on-line reading, and saw that Harley had made one heckuva comeback as from the way things were when I had been riding before. It was an iconic brand that once was tainted with a bad reliability reputation back in the day. But my research on-line was almost all positive.
When I went to the dealer, I was immediately hooked. The bikes had an incredible fit-and-finish, and were obviously built like tanks -- all steel or metal, unlike my Hondas, which had been half plastic. I love the solid, powerful ride of my Fat Boy. I like the way Harleys sit low, unlike many metrics, so that guys my height (5'7") can flat-foot the bike and so forth. I have been riding Harleys ever since and I will never abandon the brand. I also really like the sense of community that you get with riding -- Harleys are more than just a commodity, which is what most metrics seem to be.
Three years ago (now going on 4) I got back into riding. When I did, I did a lot of on-line reading, and saw that Harley had made one heckuva comeback as from the way things were when I had been riding before. It was an iconic brand that once was tainted with a bad reliability reputation back in the day. But my research on-line was almost all positive.
When I went to the dealer, I was immediately hooked. The bikes had an incredible fit-and-finish, and were obviously built like tanks -- all steel or metal, unlike my Hondas, which had been half plastic. I love the solid, powerful ride of my Fat Boy. I like the way Harleys sit low, unlike many metrics, so that guys my height (5'7") can flat-foot the bike and so forth. I have been riding Harleys ever since and I will never abandon the brand. I also really like the sense of community that you get with riding -- Harleys are more than just a commodity, which is what most metrics seem to be.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 4,578
Likes: 11,816
From: 3rd stone from the sun
I love the nostalgic look of HD's and of course the exhaust note and the TORQUE they possess . Built like a tank and dont have the plastic fantastic look of the imitators.
The young kids tell me, meh, they look like old man bikes,lol. I do understand we baby boomers are the reason the Moco has survived and with our group diminishing ,the young (not all) are not interested in them and for this newer generation why would they want to ride something they cant take selfies
on!! Most dont know how to drive a manual and with UBER/LYFT theyre not even buying cars as well. With the Moco trying to morph their sales to this age group I know in time we will be in history books as some strange group of people who clung to their antique type motorcycles. At least I knew the joy of riding these fine machines all thru my life from a young punk to an older patriot.
The young kids tell me, meh, they look like old man bikes,lol. I do understand we baby boomers are the reason the Moco has survived and with our group diminishing ,the young (not all) are not interested in them and for this newer generation why would they want to ride something they cant take selfies
on!! Most dont know how to drive a manual and with UBER/LYFT theyre not even buying cars as well. With the Moco trying to morph their sales to this age group I know in time we will be in history books as some strange group of people who clung to their antique type motorcycles. At least I knew the joy of riding these fine machines all thru my life from a young punk to an older patriot.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
charliegriefer
General Harley Davidson Chat
87
Sep 20, 2018 08:47 AM
parabellum_9x19
General Harley Davidson Chat
81
Aug 22, 2011 04:32 PM
Screamer
General Harley Davidson Chat
46
May 19, 2006 12:58 AM
