I agree with alot of what has been posted, its a feeling for me, the feel the sound the pride of owning a IAM built bike because I to am a IAM worker. No bike I have ever had give me the feeling of my Harleys. But a feeling is hard to put into words.....I guess I just did, but I don't have the time to go into to all that evertime somebody ask, beside telling them "they would not understand if they have to ask" is better because it gives them the red-*** most of the time.

 

I can't speak for others, but for me, I want what I want. When I wanted a Yamaha XS1100, I got one, nothing else would do. I bought my first Harley in 1983, a shovelhead Wide Glide and I haven't wanted anything but a Harley since. It's what I wanted so I got it. I remember back in the day Ford had an ad showing a parking ticket for a Ford that had been filled out as bing a Mercedes. Even then, I couldn't figure out why in the world someone would buy a car just because it looked like a different car. If you want a car that looks like a Mercedes, save up and buy a Mercedes. I love my Harleys, but if something else comes along that I want more...

 

I could take my Harley, change out most of the chormed metal parts to cheap chromed plastic parts. Put turn signals on rubber coated springs, install ugly mag wheels, seamed gas tanks and anodized aluminum handle bar controls etc...and build them with cheaper foriegn labor, then I could charge less also. Nice bikes and all, but most are not Harley quality.

Just another thought.

 

Good point....every time I see a nice jap bike I end up getting stuck on some cheap *** component and critique the fit and finish.

 

me too

 

Simply put for me is this is Harley Country

 

2009 FLHRC Vivid Black

I got back into riding 5 years ago after being away for more than 25 years. I bought a Honda VT 750 and rode the tires off it. From about the second week I wanted a bigger bike. I seriously looked at all the metrics. One weekend a friend let me ride his Road King and that was all she wrote. He said "You only live once get the best" so I did. No regrets.....

 

recession proof is a wonderful thing.

 

Because few other bikes have as much "smile factor" even if it is just on the inside.

 

Cause chicks dig it!