That is to funny. I really don't understand all the hating on HD but to refer to it as being in the same level as a $200k Italian sports car is just ignorance at it's best. I grew up around HD riders so I have definitely met my fair share of people who think HD's are the be all end all to bikes. I find that I usually don't agree with them politically or religiously either, I don't why I just pointed that out, I just think it's kind of funny.
I will most likely own a HD at some point because I have ridden them 3-500 miles a day for 9-12 days straight and really enjoyed the riding position, big dumb seats, loud pipes and vibration. I will always have something vintage and most likely Japanese for my, around town bike though.
I put a lot of miles on my 400f but even if it were stock I would never ride it as far or as long as I have ridden HD's.
When I'm out on my 400f I get several reactions from HD riders. Some of them come up and say "is that a 400f, I used to have one, those are great bikes." Some say " I really like what you have done with that bike, what is it?"
Then there are the ones who look at it like it's from another planet and say things like "bet you ain't riding that thing on long distances" to which I usually reply with "I'm not sure what you think is a long distance but I put four thousand miles on it in that last 4 months."
Those are usually the same people who have five thousand miles on a 3-year-old bike.hehe
I was in Longview, Wa over the weekend and my Dad asked me to meet him at some Kelso Iron Horse bike show. I like all bikes and thought it would be interesting to see HD riders reactions to my 400 so I road it down there.
There was a crowd around it the whole time and everybody asked me to enter it in the show under the best Metric Design category but I declined for a number of reasons.
Even though there were a lot of "Only HD's are cool people" there, there was a lot of crusty old burn outs circling it and saying things like " I wish I never sold my old Jap bike" and "I bet that thing really tears up the corners".
I also met some guys my age, mid 30's, who all had SOHC4's, it was nice to meet some more vintage Jap bike lovers in a sea of HD's.