Topic: Oh My God!!..... It's a Honda!!

[Magpie]

My standard reply to that comment when I'm on my CB750 or ST1100 is " You know you're right, I should be riding slower!"
Sometimes it takes awhile to sink in.
Cheers,
Cliff.

[Bob Wessner]

As a point of clarification, I have nothing against Harleys. I wouldn't mind a vintage, or older Sportster for instance. I would be trying to convey some message to the young lady who thought they were somehow superior.

[angeldeville]

They are good bikes for what they are. Personally I would rather ride a harley than one of the japanese cursier knock offs (star, volusia, VTX, etc..). What sells a harley is nostalgia.

I agree, none of the japanese knock offs come close IMNSHO, even the EVO and Twin Cam, have sort of a mass produced look to the squared cylinders, they look to "refined" to me. I love the look of the rounded cast cylinders on the shovelhead, pan head, and knuckles.  I hope to run across a project worthy Duo-Glide, and bob the hell out of it.

[Andoo]

I think the chopper world is starting to take more vintage cues and stray away from the fat tire revolution.

I wouldn’t mind having a vintage Harley or a vintage styled chopper.

 

[burmashave]

To be honest, I thnk that few females understand the coolness of an SOHC/4, and it's often the case that if you own a really cool vehicle that many won't understand why it's cool.  That said, I take more stock in the compliments I've gotten during the few forays I've had on my 750K.  A few guys have stopped me to ask about it, and they say the same thing (wistfully), "Man, I had one of those back in the '70's, and I loved it."  I've also seen a few guys turning their heads to catch a glance, and I doubt that's because of my buff physique.   Those compliments vastly outweigh what I hear from most women and some men, "My [insert relationship here] has a Harley."

[USN20]

Well, I own a early H-D Superglide along with my CB750 and I enjoy both of them. My experience is that more folks like the Honda more, whether they know anything about bikes or not. Probably because nothing else on the market looks or sounds like the old CB750. Old Honda's are cool. Period. 


< Rant on >
 
The most ignorant of all is the new generation of Harley riders, most of them cannot properly identify my Shovelhead, but they will tell me how much better their new bikes are! Morons. There is a difference between Harley's and real Harley-Davidson's. 

< Rant off >

[WJL75]

I grew up around Harleys and I don't like the new "chopper" craze where every bike looks the same.  How many times can someone paint skulls on a tank?  I like older Harleys, hate imaitation Harleys, and love cafe racers (old Hondas, Nortons, Triumphs and the like). 

I took took a safty course a few years ago, and this guy in his 40's (drives a bmw with money to burn) has already bought his new Harley DynaGlide at 16,000+ and all the gear to match is next to me.  I respect that he wants to ride, but he has no appreciation for the bike, and will most likey never even change the oil himself.  I for one, would not want that large of a bike to be my first, but that IS the new Harley owner, inexperienced and money to waste. IMO

[dusterdude]

Well, I own a early H-D Superglide along with my CB750 and I enjoy both of them. My experience is that more folks like the Honda more, whether they know anything about bikes or not. Probably because nothing else on the market looks or sounds like the old CB750. Old Honda's are cool. Period. 


< Rant on >
 
The most ignorant of all is the new generation of Harley riders, most of them cannot properly identify my Shovelhead, but they will tell me how much better their new bikes are! Morons. There is a difference between Harley's and real Harley-Davidson's. 

< Rant off >

damn right!!!

[Nate]

I don't specifically Hate or dislike Harley's I just dislike the culture surrounding it these days. I see so many of them trailered here and there by doctors lawyers and the like behind their $100k+ winnebagos. Owning a Harley isn't about riding anymore it's about saying "hey look at me i'm cool i have a harley". By comparison SOHC4 and in general older and rat bike riders are all about the ride. Not often are you passed by a SOHC or older bike rider without getting the wave. The probably 100+ Harleys i've passed in my riding excursions, only two Harley riders have ever waved at me. Both were older gentlemen in their 60's or older, they come from a different time and culture than the new harley order.

Also, Harley suffers the same problem that most domestically made products endure. Overpricing. Partially from the fact that they have to pay employees more money here than in 2nd and 3rd world countries, and from the fact that the culture will pay the price to get the status.

Just my .02 cents

[Rhonda750F]

I have a story that's pretty funny about a Harley guy turned Jap enthusiast in the course of a few well timed events.

My buddy was hell bent on getting a motorcycle.  At the time, he was in his mid 20's.  He was pretty positive he was going to buy a harley because he's a bigger guy and was more comfortable on a standard. Well he had cash in hand, enough to buy a harley, and one day calls me and say hey Paul come with me to buy a bike.  Cool, I liked the idea of where this was going.  It was going to be a big fat spending spree.  So we headed up to the Harley dealer.  As we were walking to the front door, we see a group of 20+ full dressers rumbling towards us.  I noticed they were all brand new and the leathers of most of the riders were not even broken in.  I chuckled to my self and muttered something like "f@ckin' Yuppies."  As I finished this though, the "leader of the pack" slows down and puts his foot down and dumps his stupid bike.  I almost lost it!  My first reaction was to help him pick it up.  As I got close to him and his buddies he looks around and yells out to them "don't touch it!  I turn around and headed back towards the store.  I figured he had enough friends to help him out.  What a chump!
So were in the store 45 minutes pass by with not even a recognition of our existence.  My buddy knew which bike he wanted he just needed a sales person to give commission to.  1 hour passes my buddies pissed.  He yells out you just lost yourself a #$%*ing customer!  Then finally someone assists us.  My buddy asked how much for the nighttrain or something I forget what he was looking at.  Sales person gives him the price he then he said you just lost a nice commission #$%* I'm taking my business to Honda east!
So we storm out of there with a feeling that they think their better than us or something.  Laughing our asses off when we see the wounded Dresser and wannabe bikers paying their respects to a fallen comrad. Bunch of lame ass chumps!
We head to Honda East he picks out a Hyabusa, tells the sales person of the events that transpired we all crack up while loading his new bike on his truck.

The whole experience was priceless.

[Jv550]

"Also, Harley suffers the same problem that most domestically made products endure. Overpricing. Partially from the fact that they have to pay employees more money here than in 2nd and 3rd world countries, and from the fact that the culture will pay the price to get the status."
Maybe, but aren't most of the parts on new Harleys made overseas anyway?

Harley's become less of a bike manufacturer and more of a merchandising scheme. Harely T-shirts, Harley cigarettes, overpriced Harley jackets, helmets, playing cards, truck decals, bandanas, sunglasses, beach towels - they're trading on their past to sell phony lifestyle accesories to people who want tough makeovers. And you know all that stuff's made in China...

[dusterdude]

"Also, Harley suffers the same problem that most domestically made products endure. Overpricing. Partially from the fact that they have to pay employees more money here than in 2nd and 3rd world countries, and from the fact that the culture will pay the price to get the status."
Maybe, but aren't most of the parts on new Harleys made overseas anyway?

Harley's become less of a bike manufacturer and more of a merchandising scheme. Harely T-shirts, Harley cigarettes, overpriced Harley jackets, helmets, playing cards, truck decals, bandanas, sunglasses, beach towels - they're trading on their past to sell phony lifestyle accesories to people who want tough makeovers. And you know all that stuff's made in China...

true,but how many of us honda "enthusiasts" wear honda t-shtirts or have honda tattoos.not many i bet.

[burmashave]

Harley's become less of a bike manufacturer and more of a merchandising scheme. Harely T-shirts, Harley cigarettes, overpriced Harley jackets, helmets, playing cards, truck decals, bandanas, sunglasses, beach towels - they're trading on their past to sell phony lifestyle accesories to people who want tough makeovers. And you know all that stuff's made in China...

'Tis true.  Our Harley dealer has a bit of space dedicated to bikes, and two to three times as much for merchandise.  My Honda dealership has some merchandise, but it's all crammed away to make room for bikes.  Check out the Harley merchandise catalog; it's huge, with everthing from leathers to dog toys.  Their bike catalog is a little, brochure-type thing.

By the way, the merchandise catalog has special, authentic "Harley models" who model the Harley wear, and  each has his own bio.

[angeldeville]

true,but how many of us honda "enthusiasts" wear honda t-shtirts or have honda tattoos.not many i bet.

[Nate]

True they do seem to spend alot more space getting you to strap on chrome and whatnot to your brand new bike.

[WJL75]

True they do seem to spend alot more space getting you to strap on chrome and whatnot to your brand new bike.

Chrome should only be used in moderation.  How much bolt on chrome can a bike have?...

[cleveland]

I live in Milwaukee and my dad was a member of a large "motorcycle club" when I was a kid.  Harley only, as I am sure you can imagine.  There were bikes all over our yard every weekend until I was 10 years old.  Not one of them had a push button start.  My dad used to say, "Son, a real man will kick start his bike, or walk.  Only a puss would use an electric start." (I thought it was so cool when I saw my CB750 with a kick start  ) They would build bikes, drink beer, and cuss.  They were the essence of masculinity.  None of them made over 30k a year and they always had oil under their finger nails.  If someone spoke to them in a disrespectful manor, they would kick some ass.  This is what the yuppies think they are buying, masculinity.  They think it will make them tough or cool.  They hope to make the neighbor jealous and his wife moist.  They want to purchase "cool" because they didn't have it when they were young.  Sadly, cool is not something for sale.  You either have it, or you don't.  You might learn it with time, but no amount of money can buy it for you.  

As for the people today that give the looks or throw a "that's not a Harley" comment, I just laugh.  Most people are sheep.  

For the record, I don't care if it's a moped or a custom fabricated motorcycle claiming to be a chopper, 2 wheels are 2 wheels.    

  

[Master Ted]

The only Harley I've ever wanted...

[Nate]

I live in Milwaukee and my dad was a member of a large "motorcycle club" when I was a kid.  Harley only, as I am sure you can imagine.  There were bikes all over our yard every weekend until I was 10 years old.  Not one of them had a push button start.  My dad used to say, "Son, a real man will kick start his bike, or walk.  Only a puss would use an electric start." (I thought it was so cool when I saw my CB750 with a kick start  ) They would build bikes, drink beer, and cuss.  They were the essence of masculinity.  None of them made over 30k a year and they always had oil under their finger nails.  If someone spoke to them in a disrespectful manor, they would kick some ass.  This is what the yuppies think they are buying, masculinity.  They think it will make them tough or cool.  They hope to make the neighbor jealous and his wife moist.  They want to purchase "cool" because they didn't have it when they were young.  Sadly, cool is not something for sale.  You either have it, or you don't.  You might learn it with time, but no amount of money can buy it for you.  

As for the people today that give the looks or throw a "that's not a Harley" comment, I just laugh.  Most people are sheep.  

For the record, I don't care if it's a moped or a custom fabricated motorcycle claiming to be a chopper, 2 wheels are 2 wheels.    

  

Here here! Well said.

[scout18]

Screw Harley. I want an Indian. But I sure like my honda.

[burmashave]

I live in Milwaukee and my dad was a member of a large "motorcycle club" when I was a kid.  Harley only, as I am sure you can imagine.  There were bikes all over our yard every weekend until I was 10 years old.  Not one of them had a push button start.  My dad used to say, "Son, a real man will kick start his bike, or walk.  Only a puss would use an electric start." (I thought it was so cool when I saw my CB750 with a kick start  ) They would build bikes, drink beer, and cuss.  They were the essence of masculinity.  None of them made over 30k a year and they always had oil under their finger nails.  If someone spoke to them in a disrespectful manor, they would kick some ass.  This is what the yuppies think they are buying, masculinity.  They think it will make them tough or cool.  They hope to make the neighbor jealous and his wife moist.  They want to purchase "cool" because they didn't have it when they were young.  Sadly, cool is not something for sale.  You either have it, or you don't.  You might learn it with time, but no amount of money can buy it for you. 

I'd say my uncle fits in the same category.  When we were kids, we were told that he had been a member of a motorcycle "club" out west during the 1950's.  He and his mates didn't care that much about appearances, and they built and scavenged their own, instead of buying.  They wanted to ride because it gave them freedom.  They didn't go out of their way to hassle anyone.  In fact, they'd sometimes lend a hand if needed.  On the other hand, woe to the idiot who did hassle them. 

[pete75]

Now if you want a really cool V twin what about....




And 150 mph if your name's Rollie Free - the only guy ever to look cool in Speedos

[6pkrunner]

So she did say beautiful, and then realized it was not a Harly? The last somewhat beautiful Harley I know of is a 1947 Knucklehead. That was about the last good looking Harley.

[anubiscycle]

Try being a Honda owner in Milwaukee.  You get a lot worse than that.  It's worth the hassel though, I hate choppers and Harleys.

This I know first hand everytime I ride here (also in the land of Hardley Functionson). Absolutely no love at bike. But I dont care 

I only fire back if they make a dig. And mentioning another brand is not a dig in my book. I have heard "That looks like it used to be a dirt bike", I say "You look like you used to be skinny"

I figure you can't buy cool. You have to build it (whole or part). My uncle and the rest of the guys and the gals (Women in the Wind - His wife is a club officer) rides with have dug in and worked on thier own stuff. Most of them. Number one reason to have a bike is to ride it. If it is just to impress, we have wasted our money. Because there is always something out there that is more impressive and faster than what we have.

[nickjtc]

Because there is always something out there that is more impressive and faster than what we have.

Absolutely, Tom.

Isn't it interesting how, now matter how much we love or hate HD's (or their riders/owners/trailer-ers), the thread always ends up going on and on and on and on and on.....yawn. Somebody should jump in at page 2 and say "ENOUGH! We all know how we feel. Do we need to do this all over again?"

I wonder if German Honda forums have the same discussions about 'those damned BMW's' and their riders? And the Italians about their Moto Guzzi/Benelli/Laverda/Moto Parilla/Ducati's.........?