Rant: "Harley, you're only paying for the name"
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,167
Likes: 7
From: FL & SoCal
Been there, done that.
I feel your pain....I've dealt with the same kinds of comments because I own a Harley....two of them for that matter. I remember when I bought my first Harley back in 2005. I had no intention of getting a Harley until a friend of mine suggested that I check them out. I had looked at every bike from Honda, Yamaha, Victory to Suzuki. Just for fun, I went to the Harley dealer and man was it ever FUN! It was love at first site. Not only that, but every bike I just rattled off could not compare to any Harley, from Sportster to a top of the line Ultra Classic. Harley was mostly steel and iron and had that "in your face, but oh so classy" styling. I know there not water-cooled and back in '05 FI was an option, not standard but they definitely were nicer than anything I had seen...So nice I bought one...and then two...and...and...many more to come.
I had no preconception of buying a Harley; in fact I was aggressively looking at metric bikes that would pacify my taste for a cruiser and save me some money. After looking all day, we ended up at the Harley dealership and there was no comparison to the beauty and awe of a Heritage.
This last week two more friends bought bikes (Yamaha Raider & Victory Eightball). As I was ooooing and awwwwing over their bikes, another close friend (has a VTX1300) comes out of the blue and announces that, You are only paying for the name when you buy a Harley.
I have never thrown out that I have a Harley, because I did not buy it to belong to a fraternal or elite group of riders, I just wanted a beautiful and comfortable bike to ride and it happened to end up being a Harley.
I did not have an intelligent comeback, other than, You know, I have never swung my Harley d!ck around, but I can take it out and start swinging it if you like!
I guess it just felt like a hit me below the belt when a close friend (of 18 years) would try to belittle and embarrass me like that.
RANT OVER.
Feel free to share any similar stories, but I dont want this to become a metric vs. Harley thread (because I dont think anything is wrong with metric bikes)
This last week two more friends bought bikes (Yamaha Raider & Victory Eightball). As I was ooooing and awwwwing over their bikes, another close friend (has a VTX1300) comes out of the blue and announces that, You are only paying for the name when you buy a Harley.
I have never thrown out that I have a Harley, because I did not buy it to belong to a fraternal or elite group of riders, I just wanted a beautiful and comfortable bike to ride and it happened to end up being a Harley.
I did not have an intelligent comeback, other than, You know, I have never swung my Harley d!ck around, but I can take it out and start swinging it if you like!
I guess it just felt like a hit me below the belt when a close friend (of 18 years) would try to belittle and embarrass me like that.
RANT OVER.
Feel free to share any similar stories, but I dont want this to become a metric vs. Harley thread (because I dont think anything is wrong with metric bikes)
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,280
Likes: 3
From: Portland Oregon
you are in a different class now brother...enjoy it... you will hear more put downs from your buddies til they get themselves a harley too...oh by the way welcome to the family
Last edited by 57RebelRocker; Jan 13, 2009 at 07:47 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 11
From: The Lone Star State
You know, you never hear someone riding a harley say "well, I didn't buy a metric because..., yet you always hear guys on metrics justifying why they didn't buy a harley. I wonder why...
And price can't be the factor b/c the eightball and vegas cost a lot too.
And price can't be the factor b/c the eightball and vegas cost a lot too.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
it aint bike unless its a harley, they can lie to them selfs all they want!!!
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
after dh got his harley..we decided to get me a bike. i looked at alot of them..honda, yamaha, ..etc thinking "a less expensive bike" was good enough for me...until i walked into a harley dealership! and this is coming from someone who really doesn't know alot about bikes..but i can tell ya...my eyes weren't deceiving me..there's something really special about a harley. i absolutely love my deluxe and am so fortunate to have her. but i wouldn't dream of making any comments degrading someone else's ride. to each his own. especially a friend.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 1
From: Haney, British Columbia
He can say what he likes, but deep down he really wishes he had one. So much in fact I wouldn't be surprised if sometime in the near future he asks you if he can take it around the block. If you agree to that, he'll most likely never put down a Harley again. He'll soon be shopping around for his own Heritage.
- JM2˘
- JM2˘