"What is that, a Victory?"
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,908
Likes: 29,889
From: PNW
That's your opinion.
I submit that the same argument used against Harleys can be used against Ducs - for a lot less money you can get similar performance out of a Japanese variant. Same with BMW.
So the Harley owner thinks his bike is actually worth the price he paid - otherwise he wouldn't have bought it. So does the Ducati owner. So does the BMW owner.
And the owners of the Japanese variants, like a Yamaha Stratoliner Harley wannabe bike, will tell themselves that they got a better value....
.....until they can afford the real thing.
I submit that the same argument used against Harleys can be used against Ducs - for a lot less money you can get similar performance out of a Japanese variant. Same with BMW.
So the Harley owner thinks his bike is actually worth the price he paid - otherwise he wouldn't have bought it. So does the Ducati owner. So does the BMW owner.
And the owners of the Japanese variants, like a Yamaha Stratoliner Harley wannabe bike, will tell themselves that they got a better value....
.....until they can afford the real thing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 35,239
Likes: 19,070
From: 40.2444° N, 75.6419° W
That's your opinion.
I submit that the same argument used against Harleys can be used against Ducs - for a lot less money you can get similar performance out of a Japanese variant. Same with BMW.
So the Harley owner thinks his bike is actually worth the price he paid - otherwise he wouldn't have bought it. So does the Ducati owner. So does the BMW owner.
And the owners of the Japanese variants, like a Yamaha Stratoliner Harley wannabe bike, will tell themselves that they got a better value....
.....until they can afford the real thing.
I submit that the same argument used against Harleys can be used against Ducs - for a lot less money you can get similar performance out of a Japanese variant. Same with BMW.
So the Harley owner thinks his bike is actually worth the price he paid - otherwise he wouldn't have bought it. So does the Ducati owner. So does the BMW owner.
And the owners of the Japanese variants, like a Yamaha Stratoliner Harley wannabe bike, will tell themselves that they got a better value....
.....until they can afford the real thing.
Last edited by Super Glidester; Apr 6, 2015 at 01:52 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 1,305
From: Jayhawk Country
That's your opinion.
I submit that the same argument used against Harleys can be used against Ducs - for a lot less money you can get similar performance out of a Japanese variant. Same with BMW.
So the Harley owner thinks his bike is actually worth the price he paid - otherwise he wouldn't have bought it. So does the Ducati owner. So does the BMW owner.
And the owners of the Japanese variants, like a Yamaha Stratoliner Harley wannabe bike, will tell themselves that they got a better value....
.....until they can afford the real thing.
I submit that the same argument used against Harleys can be used against Ducs - for a lot less money you can get similar performance out of a Japanese variant. Same with BMW.
So the Harley owner thinks his bike is actually worth the price he paid - otherwise he wouldn't have bought it. So does the Ducati owner. So does the BMW owner.
And the owners of the Japanese variants, like a Yamaha Stratoliner Harley wannabe bike, will tell themselves that they got a better value....
.....until they can afford the real thing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,908
Likes: 29,889
From: PNW
If someone chooses to ride a Stratoliner, or any other Japanese V-Twin, I really could care less. Not a thing wrong with them. People should ride exactly what they like. But you can't deny that those bikes are trying to emulate the Harley Davidson.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 1,305
From: Jayhawk Country
Well I may have put my foot in my mouth. I assumed the 2007 Strat was a past bike before the Harley above it. My bad if I'm wrong and I was not intending to insult your financial situation. I was speaking in general on the usual progression. It's usually a less expensive cruiser and the Harley is something to aspire to.
If someone chooses to ride a Stratoliner, or any other Japanese V-Twin, I really could care less. Not a thing wrong with them. People should ride exactly what they like. But you can't deny that those bikes are trying to emulate the Harley Davidson.
If someone chooses to ride a Stratoliner, or any other Japanese V-Twin, I really could care less. Not a thing wrong with them. People should ride exactly what they like. But you can't deny that those bikes are trying to emulate the Harley Davidson.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,004
From: Charleston, SC
Having owned a duc, yeah. I don't think so. And they certainly don't hold their value any better than a Harley either.
Dry clutch though. Yeah... that's something.
Dry clutch though. Yeah... that's something.
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I usually hear the Japanese variant owners talking about the size of the engine. They are usually a few cc's bigger than the Harley. The Jap variant owners around my area all have to state how they have a "bigger " engine to justify their purchase decision. No matter how they justify it, its not a Harley and I think they know it. Harley owners don't have to justify anything, the bike speaks for itself.
I made all sorts of excuses why I bought it and not a Harley except for the truth that I simply couldn't afford the Harley I wanted so I settled. I actually loved the way the bike rode and handled but it was not powerful.
NOw if someone came up asking me the way they did with the OP my first response would be:
"No, it's a Harley. What do you ride?"
cause I used to get that alot.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,908
Likes: 29,889
From: PNW
Ok.....I have the old classics because I think they're cool and frankly, they're not very good at anything but that.
As far as bike cost/value, etc - there really isn't a huge difference in price between a Harley, a BMW, a Goldwing, a Concours, etc. They're all expensive. It's the used market where you see the biggest difference because Harleys hold their value a little more rthan most other brands.