Topic: So we been picking on Harleys a bit but....

[Rocking-M]

It's been pretty much tongue  and cheek on my part.

Check out this rider,

[Uncle Ernie]

What a day that was!  I was pretty drunk.  We all had a lot of fun.

[ekim98]

Hell of a rider, great job. But it says more for the rider's ability then the bike I think.

[purf_man]

hell I would have got lost inthe first 20 seconds in all those cones!!!

I think he is cheating with casters on the frame.

[ofreen]

Hell of a rider, great job. But it says more for the rider's ability then the bike I think.

Well, it shows that the bike has capability that most people would never give it credit for. 

[UnCrash]

No doubt that man has some excellent riding skills.

You can also tell he's no newbie to riding that kind of bike.

[fastdadd]

defintly some good skill there

[canyon750]

Great skills but Harley's still suck!     I think there's a thread on this site linking to the police officer motorcycle riding competitions that shows the skills of these riders.  It truly is an amazing sight to see what they can do with these heavy bikes. 

[ekim98]

Hell of a rider, great job. But it says more for the rider's ability then the bike I think.

Well, it shows that the bike has capability that most people would never give it credit for. 

I never said you couldn't turn a harley or ride it slow thru a maze. So don't try to make it like I was bashing a harley or make the harley less than what it is. No I don't care for harley's,but that guy probably could do the same thing on a Honda or BMW or even a minibike don't you think. But if he did it on anything but a harley people probably wouldn't be near as impressed with his riding skills, not the bike.

But you are right, not many people give harley's much credit for much more than being loud, big and slow, now that you mention it. But as I said the rider impressed me with his ability on such a low quality bike <(this is harley bashing) and my opinion.

[754]

Ah its  so easy to slam what you dont understand..(not directed at ekim)

 I did see the Vancouver drill team here performing, I was impressed that they would graunch out, the rear wheel would unload and inch or two and they kept riding!! The part that amazed me the most was that this was on a 2 lane street and they were doing tghe 180 turns less than 3 ft     from all the kids sitting on the curb with their feet on the road!!

[754]

Watch thr video for ..
Japanese Motorcycle Cop.. looks like they are allowed to dab.. good rider..

[Rocking-M]

what's this dude on?? BMW eh?

[ekim98]

Looks like a BMW to me.

[Bob550four]

the rider in that first video is definately a skilled rider.  a Harley isnt my first choice of bike at all, but they still have potential.   most riders just dont realize how great the potential for their ride is.

I"d venture a guess to say that guy has been practicing that skilled slow stuff for YEARS easily if not decades. 

[ofreen]

I never said you couldn't turn a harley or ride it slow thru a maze. So don't try to make it like I was bashing a harley or make the harley less than what it is.

I read my post to see if that is what I was trying to do.  Doesn't look like it.

You are right.  Just think what he could do on a trials bike or a CB125.  But that wasn't my point.  If you don't like Harley's and want to express it, it is OK with me.

[PxTx]

I'll start by saying I'm not really into Harley.  The exception I'll make is the XR750 / XR1000 because I think they were a very capable machine in the flat track events.  What blows my mind though is that thse bikes were less successful on the road courses than the CR750 yet they command more money!  Anyways,  I would probably own one in a flat track theme.

[754]

Yeah, i kinda like those.. wish I could ride one..

[Terry in Australia]

Harleys are great bikes, I've owned one and I'm now looking for another, I'm always surprised that they get such negative comments from Americans though, it seems to me that you either love them or you hate them, but I just can't understand the hate?

While we all lament the passing of so many of the national icons that we grew up with, I can't understand why some Americans would bad-mouth one of the few iconic American products remaining, to me it's very un-patriotic.

I can't help but wonder what experience that hate is born from? Geez, if I lived in the US, I'd have a garage full of them! As far as the "only dickheads ride Harleys" argument goes, I've learned over the years that all brands attract their share of dickheads. Cheers, Terry.    

[Rocking-M]

bad-mouth one of the few iconic American products remaining, to me it's very un-patriotic.

I can't help but wonder what experience that hate is born from? Geez, if I lived in the US, I'd have a garage full of them! As far as the "only dickheads ride Harleys" argument goes, I've learned over the years that all brands attract their share of dickheads. Cheers, Terry.    

I agree that Harley's ain't so bad, I just don't care for them.
However, to dis an american made product doesn't make anyone un-patriotic.
Products have nothing to do with patriotism.
Perhaps a bit of a word study.

Patriotism going back to the latin meant, lover of ones immediate surroundings.
The area where one grew up, has nothing to do with a nation.
More to do with the people and area one knows best, that being the home
where he grew up.

[Gordon]

I'm always surprised that they get such negative comments from Americans though, it seems to me that you either love them or you hate them, but I just can't understand the hate?

Nah, there's plenty of us who are somewhere between the extremes of love and hate, but it's usually just the ones on either end of the spectrum who tend to voice those opinions. 

[fuzzybutt]

as old as some of the technology in the ol v-twin is, one of my dream bikes is a 66' e-glide. i love the generator shovel

[Terry in Australia]

Good to see guys, I like all motorcycles, because I love motorcycling, and I think it takes a very narrow mind to only like a narrow section of the motorcycle market.

And there's nothing wrong with "dis-ing" a home grown product RM, it's the guys that openly attack them that worry me. Cheers, Terry.

[Steve F]

While we all lament the passing of so many of the national icons that we grew up with, I can't understand why some Americans would bad-mouth one of the few iconic American products remaining, to me it's very un-patriotic.
 

I personally feel that Harleys, while yes they are some what of an "icon", are a bit of an embarassment to America.  They keep building the same old thing, just changing the name and adding different fenders and chrome.  They made no real attempt at keeping up with technology like our friends overseas have done, and for me, that's unpatriotic.  Harley is stagnant and not very imaginative at all. SOS.....  America was founded on imaginaton, and where has all of that gone?

[ekim98]

While we all lament the passing of so many of the national icons that we grew up with, I can't understand why some Americans would bad-mouth one of the few iconic American products remaining, to me it's very un-patriotic.
 

I personally feel that Harleys, while yes they are some what of an "icon", are a bit of an embarassment to America.  They keep building the same old thing, just changing the name and adding different fenders and chrome.  They made no real attempt at keeping up with technology like our friends overseas have done, and for me, that's unpatriotic.  Harley is stagnant and not very imaginative at all. SOS.....  America was founded on imaginaton, and where has all of that gone?

+1 Yea, I know what a lot will say "If it ain't broke don't fix it" but I think they are broken =  same old same old.

[PxTx]

I used to think all vehicle manufacturers should stive to evolve technologically.  Now I've come to accept that these strides are not always nessisary and do affect the selling price.  No too long ago I would turn my nose up if an engine wasn't multi-valve with OHCs.  Now I think it's pretty cool these old pushrod, 2 valve small blocks Chevy is producing are making 500+ hp, and most 4 cammers aren't.

As for the Harleys, I liked it when they were competing in racing.  Now the marketing shift is towards a crowd I would rather not be considered part of.  I remain open minded for the most part.