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

[cleveland]

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.........?

Funny you say that, because most Honda riders in Milwaukee that I have spoken to love BMWs.

[Dennis]

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

I don't usually comment on these  threads, but .....

this is really taking it a little too far.

[Terry in Australia]

Well I still like Harleys, and I like the newer ones much more than the older ones, for that matter. The new "Evo" engines are beautifully built compared to the old "shovels", these were the bikes that gave HD a bad name in the first place, particularly those"AMF" bikes built in the late 1970's, before Ronny Raygun saved HD from the axe by putting tariffs on imported bikes. (that's why Honda build some of their bikes in the US)

Whether or not you like them or hate them is unimportant, my point is that they are very good bikes, I've owned one, and will happily have another. Sure, the "yuppies" like 'em, but yuppies like anything that that they think will draw attention to their obvious success in the corporate world, equal numbers of them also ride Ducatis, GSXR's, Fireblades etc, not to mention drive Porsches and BMW's. That should not deter you from buying a Harley though, unless you are worried about your own self-image?

Why don't the japs have a huge catalogue of shiny things to accessorise their "cruisers"? (Harley Clones) Well the problem here is that most people think that their efforts to date are just poor imitations of HD's (and I couldn't agree more) so don't buy their bikes, therefore there's no market for Jap bike "bling". Don't worry, just like the japs have been trying to get back some HD's "Market Share" over the last 20+ years, if they could make a buck out of "bling", do you honestly think they wouldn't? Cheers, Terry.

[HITMAN]

I'm pretty much open minded with brands.  Old HD's and new ones are in a generic sense the same to me besides the adaptation of fuel injection, many of which I have ridden including my bros 04 Road King I 'borrow' occasionally.

My best encounter with a group of HD's riders was two guys walk over to look at my CBR1100XX, 'that looks pretty quick' one says.  Instead of blurting out 'DUH!!!'  I rolled with it.  The other starts talking about blah blah cylinder kit and whatever carb setup and ignition and boasts an impressive 90 something HP, sarcastically his friend asks me what my numbers are.  I pulled out my last dyno out of my tank bag that read my last upgrades to 149HP, there was a long pause and his friend says 'huh, thats more than yours!'.  He stomped off...   

1. Honda      $11,000
2. Upgrades  $2300
3. Bling        $900

Base price of an HD  $20K

Honda Superiority, PRICELESS!!!

[74cb750]

Huh....stomping off...
that's probably 3 times more Horses than my CB550..

[Ratfink]

I just love this topic.   

[Uncle Ernie]

Several times people have walked over to one of my bikes... "Indian, huh?"............"Who makes that- Harley?"

Here in the mountains we have a saying about people like that woman;
Never try to teach a pig to sing.  It wastes you time and annoys the pig.

[92t0rider]

This is probably more a testament of how little the fellow really knew... but I had my bike on a trailer with the emblems off (still 'fixing' her) and the guy drives by, then circles again and finally asks if it was a Triumph.

 

I wish.

But he didnt seem all that concerned when I said it was in fact a Honda.

Made me feel pretty good at least.

[Jonesy]

Whether or not you like them or hate them is unimportant, my point is that they are very good bikes, I've owned one, and will happily have another. Sure, the "yuppies" like 'em, but yuppies like anything that that they think will draw attention to their obvious success in the corporate world, equal numbers of them also ride Ducatis, GSXR's, Fireblades etc, not to mention drive Porsches and BMW's. That should not deter you from buying a Harley though, unless you are worried about your own self-image?

This is only coming from my own personal experience, but I think the main reason why Harley is the big lightning rod here is because of how extended (or over-extended) their marketing arm has become. True, any bike brand markets it's own "dress-up" accessories, and the aftermarket has more to offer on top of that, and that's fine. People will want to add a few things here and there to make the bike (or car, boat, whatever) more thier own and since not everyone has the ability to build their own add-on stuff, this market for extras serves them. Folks who are proud of their ride will want to wear clothing that sports the marque.

But Harley takes it 3 steps too far. I've never been able to walk into a Ducati dealer and buy a kitty litter scoop with the Ducati logo on it. The local Triumph dealer has a small section for accessories and apparel, but the local Harley dealer has TWICE the amount of floor space for clothing, accessories, etc. than they do for the actual bikes! I have never witnessed any other motorcycle brand operate in this way. It works well for them and God bless 'em. Last I heard, Harley-Davidson was supposed to be a motorcycle company.. oh, wait- they are a lifestyle company.

Think it parallels what turned so many folks off to the OCC crew. As someone on this board put it, "They'd sell their own underwear!"

[Bob Wessner]

Through September, HD earned $1.2 billion on motorcycle sales this year and;

Revenue from General Merchandise, which consists of MotorClothes? apparel and collectibles, totaled $71.3 million, an increase of $6.7 million or 10.5 percent over the year-ago quarter.

Whatever anyone thinks, they are chuckling on their way to bank.

[DarkRider]

Most of the dealers around here have twice the space for the bikes and have the gear shoved off in the back and not much of a selection...my local honda dealer is worst for this...However...the Harley dealer here actually has a lot of the space devoted to the bikes and the sales area.

[eldar]

The honda dealer here in fargo has about 4X the space for bikes than they do for apparel. The one in Mandan, which was just built for honda has a huge area for bikes. Merch space is much less.

If harley does not be careful, sooner or later, this marketing of their will be their downfall. You can only fide your image for so long without innovating your machines before people leave.

[Terry in Australia]

The honda dealer here in fargo has about 4X the space for bikes than they do for apparel. The one in Mandan, which was just built for honda has a huge area for bikes. Merch space is much less.

If harley does not be careful, sooner or later, this marketing of their will be their downfall. You can only fide your image for so long without innovating your machines before people leave.

Well I hate to disagree with you Eldy, but the attraction for most Harley people is the fact that HD is very slow to make any major changes, and why should they? They don't have any real competition out there, so there is no threat to their revenue. It's not at all like the British bike industry in the 1960's and 1970's when the arrogant Brit manufacturers refused to accept that their 40 year old designs were well past their "use by" dates, even when the jap manufacturers were breathing down their necks. 

Harley have survived (in fact, flourished) for over 100 years while all other American motorcycle manufacturers have come and gone, so they know what Harley buyers want, and that's what they make.

While all the jap manufacturers have tried (and failed) to successfully copy Harleys designs over the years, HD has never reciprocated in kind, or tried to break into the continually changing jap bike "fashion" market, they have no interest in building more plastic crotch rockets, and I agree entirely, God knows that there are too many of them on the road now! Cheers, Terry.  

[eldar]

Well not too many people are going to want to ride 40 year dated machines. At least I wouldnt. I am talking about new bikes that are running on 40 year tech.

[Rocking-M]

Harley's are to expensive, especially when you add in the truck to haul them around with.

[Terry in Australia]

Well not too many people are going to want to ride 40 year dated machines. At least I wouldnt. I am talking about new bikes that are running on 40 year tech.

Ha ha, do some research Eldy, HD's are the most popular bikes in the world right now, so I'm guessing most people actually do want to ride 40+ year old tech!

Here's a link to a site that rates "The Most Popular, The Most Buzz, and The Most Awarded" bikes from 2003, I couldn't find anything more recent, but I doubt if much has changed. Cheers, Terry.

http://www.splise.com/Motorbike/category_2972.html?ref=5

[eldar]

Ok so some people like to ride lesser bikes!

[dusterdude]

sometimes technology aint all its cut out to be,be it a bike or not.

[burmashave]

I think a lot of the point here is that it ain't the bike; it's the rider.  I used to blow cars off the road in my Ford Escort.  I remember being in a large bus in Europe, and the driver pulled moves that I thought were impossible.  He was amazing.  Some people respect a bike.  Why?  I respect riders and drivers and motorheads.  One of the probs with Harleys is that Harleys attract riders for whom I have little respect.  I definitely respect some Harley riders; however, it becomes hard to separate the wheat from the chaff.

[Terry in Australia]

Ok so some people like to ride lesser bikes!

Like K8's Eldy?

[angeldeville]

Ok so some people like to ride lesser bikes!

Like K8's Eldy?

ohh... FIGHT! FIGHT!.......

[dusterdude]

go terry go!!!!

[upperlake04]

As a lad, Terry spent many pleasureable hours in his parents attic...     

[siter81]

HARLEY BASHING?

As the commerical song goes,  I JUST WANNA RIDE 


I will ride about anything with two wheels. (no fat chicks)



Siter81       

[Terry in Australia]

ohh... FIGHT! FIGHT!.......

Ha ha, well considering the distance from North Dakota to Victoria, Australia, the best we can hope for here is a "battle of the wits", but that's a bit unfair on Eldy, as he's pretty much unarmed! (Just gagging Eldy........................)