Topic: Honest Harley Davidson Commercial

[Retro Rocket]

Something to think about. H-D was bankrupt before the employees stood up to take over and rebuild. They did it successfully. The Japanese has been trying to emulate them ever since

And have been bailed out by the government on several occasions since, lucky they are looked at as an American icon or they would be dead and buried by now, the same can not be said about the Japanese makers. The Japanese only make the cruisers because thats what your market dictates, thats why you guys get all the crap Japanese bikes and we get the good ones....

Mick

[Caymen]

Really, is that any different that Honda and Toyota being funded by the Japanese government to make sure the Japanese motor industry will succeed?

The last "bail out" H-D got was the same "Bail out" money Microsoft got.


Tom

[traveler]

Harley is the best at what they do....build cruisers.

Their sales volumne in comparison to other makes backs that up.

I like mine....it's nice to have a cruiser and a racer!

~Joe

[Retro Rocket]

Really, is that any different that Honda and Toyota being funded by the Japanese government to make sure the Japanese motor industry will succeed?

The last "bail out" H-D got was the same "Bail out" money Microsoft got.


Tom

Yes it is a lot different, one is a subsidy and the other is a cash handout to stop the company from folding.
All your farmers are subsidised and it is to help them compete with foreign traders, doesn't mean they are all going bust. The Japanese car manufacturers get funding to counteract the US tariffs on their products, this all has nothing at all to do with Harley going under and needing to be bailed out. I am not Harley bashing, just pointing out the obvious. I have said this before, when i looked into building a Harley i liked, by the time i had researched everything there were no original Harley parts, even if Harley went broke the bikes would still be being built because the aftermarket has rebuilt everything Harley has done only better....

Mick

[74cb750]

Very funny video.

I DID beat a HD 1200cc bike near Hampton Beach on my
1982 shaft drive Yamaha XJ650.

Big deal. We both had bikes that we liked.
peace,
michel

[Terry in Australia]

That's it Michel, some folks would say that XJ650's are nothing bikes built for commuters and motorcycle couriers, but you liked it, so that's the bike's real value.

I laugh when I hear people waffling on about "value for money" and "technology" being the main justification for them buying a bike, to me, that just makes them boring bastaards, and I don't think they'd be much fun to spend time with.

I love my CB750's, but there's plenty of bikes I don't like much, most of which are Japanese. I don't feel any desire to post threads attacking them here though, is that strange? Cheers, Terry.

[Caymen]

The Japanese car manufacturers get funding to counteract the US tariffs on their products,

Yea right. Tarriffs are imposed because the Japanese government makes it impossible for the USA to export vehicles to Japan.

I am for fair trade, not free trade.


Tom

[Retro Rocket]

The Japanese car manufacturers get funding to counteract the US tariffs on their products,

Yea right. Tarriffs are imposed because the Japanese government makes it impossible for the USA to export vehicles to Japan.

I am for fair trade, not free trade.


Tom

Even though your answer is totally off topic and has nothing to do with my point, i would like to point out that it is the US that is responsible for pushing "free trade" agreements on the rest of the world and most if not all countries are not big enough to compete. And why the hell would Japan want to import American cars in the first place? Think about it.....

Mick

[Caymen]

Why would I want Japanese junk cars? I only ask for the opportunity to sell in another country.

In either way, the fingers can point in both directions.

Still the fact remains, H-D makes fine motorcycles that do what they do better than anyone else.

There is nothing wrong with a Honda. In the end, if buying a cruiser, H-D is the only way to go.


Tom

[Retro Rocket]

I am really not too sure what point you are trying to make but  i was replying to what you said about the Japanese not wanting American cars....Did you know that Japan is the biggest market in the world for Gibson guitars?, they are obsessed with American culture and import #$%*loads of American product. I still disagree with the blanket statement that they "do what they do better than anyone else", if what they do is look good then you may be right but their engines are old technology, they are bloody heavy , they don't handle at all and they are bloody expensive. Lets be real here, i think you are getting all defensive because you think i don't like HD's and your wrong, i do like them or and the look of them but they offer very little other than an image and the fact that they are built in America but Harley Davidson has pumped out some pretty forgettable motorcycles over the last40 years and still charged like a wounded bull for the experience. To each his own but lets not fool ourselves, Harley are not the best motorcycles on the planet for a number of reasons but they have a large following and thats what keeps them alive....

Mick

[Terry in Australia]

I want one. 

[Retro Rocket]

I would like to build a rigid using an evo motor and a straight leg frame, kinda like a WLA but with a modern twist....

[Laids]

Since this thread started off in the Humor forum maybe I'll end with an appropriate joke.


Three motorcycles approach a bar from three different directions, a Honda, a Ducati, and a Harley Davidson. The riders walk in together to the bar and all order a beer. The bartender says "if one of you can prove that his bike is the best, the drinks are on the house". The Ducati owner begins, " the Ducati is the greatest bike, it has a racing pedigree, it's sound and feel stirs the heart". The Honda rider enthusiastically says "Honda has led and pushed the envelope in technology, performance and reliability, Honda makes the best bike". The Harley rider not even looking up replies "don't have to prove nuthin to nobody, I already know Harleys the best".

[bikeme2001]

I totally disagree.....three types of people...Those that have a HD, those that think they want a HD, and those you couldn't force one on them....I don't know which CB you have since your tag line doesn't show it....But obviously you don't have a very good one. My 1974 CB750K4 will give a Harley a run for it's money. There are a lot of very nice bikes out there for a LOT less money that will out perform any Harley you could afford. In fact, you could buy two really nice high performance bikes for the price you will pay for the HD. It is all hype..... tell me what you plan to do with the bike and I find you a better, more reliable, and less expensive bike to fill the bill....and it won't be a HD.

totally agree.I was that guy that thought he wanted a HD.Traded my 02 kaw, meanstreak for an 03 police bike.I thought I would get use to it, just couldn't.The thing wouldn't go and once you get it rolling you couldn't stop it with the junk brakes and crape tires.Did burn gas though and made noise without all that dangerous horse power

[the technological J]

Very funny video.

I DID beat a HD 1200cc bike near Hampton Beach on my
1982 shaft drive Yamaha XJ650.

Big deal. We both had bikes that we liked.
peace,
michel

i have a 81 xj550 and it might take my 750 off the line.... that thing is a rocket ship

[Laminar]

Harley is the best at what they do....build cruisers.

Their sales volumne in comparison to other makes backs that up.

That's like saying that Justin Bieber must make the best music because he has the record sales volume to back it up.

My point is that there's often a huge gab between "best" and "most popular."

Why would I want Japanese junk cars?

Still the fact remains, H-D makes fine motorcycles that do what they do better than anyone else.

Luckily for you, this remains an objective fact - never in the history of ever has a Harley failed to win a comparison article in a motorcycle magazine. There has never been a more reliable, more comfortable, faster, better handling, or better-looking cruiser produced, ever.

(Notice I had to say "cruiser" at the end there, because cruisers are basically the Special Olympics of motorcycling - as soon as you start comparing them to any other category of motorcycle, they all fall short, so they have to have their own little category to compete in.)

[Ichiban 4]

Bump
_______________________________________________________

Well..

Back to the original post on this thread..think it says all that needs to be.

I don't think that Harley needs defending..especially on a Honda website (never quite understand why some feel they have to do that..other than playing devil's advocate).  One indisputable fact remains about Harley..that this YouTube vid points out..Harley hasn't/doesn't hesitate to screw you if it means their bottom line will be affected.  That's enough in my book..has been for over 40 years..to look to other bike manufacturers for better rides.

Rock on..

Ichi
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

[quote author=Ecosse link=topic=71418.msg793472#msg793472
Well..

To each his own I guess.  But that's about the most accurate depiction of HD that I've run across in my 51 years of riding.  I rode them..moved on to Brit bikes..then Jap bikes..as they were evolving.  Made my decisions then..have (and still do) see little reason to look back..except maybe for nostalgic/old time's sake.

Ichi.

_________________________________________________________
date=1274916253]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izzlN2zC8PU&feature=player_embedded

[Zaipai]

Awesome video find Ecosse, I loved it. As one that lives in HD's back yard I can really identify with that. Fact is they are over priced heavy bikes that while they ride nice, they are many other bikes that ride better and sound better and are just better. When you buy a HD your paying for the name, nothing more. They constantly hold Wisconsin hostage threating to move every year when they don't get the tax brakes they are looking for. I say fine, let them go.. we would be all the better for it.. However that could just be me..

.: Scott :.

[Terry in Australia]

I hope they send Harley here to Oz, I'd be happy to have them in my backyard. One of the guys here referred to Cruisers as the "Special Olympics of motorcycling", but I disagree, cruisers are probably the smartest way to travel on a motorcycle.

Last September I dropped over on the Rocket III to show it to a friend of mine, and my mate had just taken if for a ride and was stoked at what a brilliant bike it is, and his 23 year old Honda VTR1000 riding employee said, "yeah, it's got tons of power and great brakes, but what are you gonna do when you take it thru the twisties? And I thought, well, I've just ridden it back from Whyalla in the Oz outback and ridden it back to Melbourne, (800 miles in two days) and a couple of weeks prior I'd ridden my BMW K1100LT to Sydney and back (a little over 1200 miles) and I couldn't remember actually seeing any "twisties"?

I asked him what the longest trip he'd made on his Honda and he said "Phillip Island". (a little over 100 miles from Melbourne) I asked him if he'd ever consider riding it to Sydney or Brisbane etc, and he replied, "no fukkin way, my back and wrists were fukd by the time I got to the Island" and I thought, geez, how useless is a modern sportsbike, that it's only good for short rides before the pain gets too much for you and you have to pack it in and take the car? He also said he doesn't commute on it, because the "racers crouch" riding position means he can't hold his head upright at 90 degrees to his spine for long periods of time without a lot of pain again, so it limits his vision to mostly looking at his speedo and tach, and not much else.

His Honda, in it's Repsol color scheme is a great looking bike for sure, and the engine sounds really nice with the louder ($3K) titanium pipes he fitted to it, but really, like most modern sportsbikes, it's a toy, and a pretty dangerous one (in real world riding) at that. It's no wonder that there are so many modern sportsbikes for sale with such low mileages, because unless you can take them out to a race track, or find some "twisties" to enjoy yourself at "go to jail" speeds, they're entirely useless. I think I'll stick with my "Special Olympics" bike, capable of covering usefull distances with plenty of comfort and safety. Cheers, Terry.      

[Ecosse]

His Honda, in it's Repsol color scheme is a great looking bike for sure, and the engine sounds really nice with the louder ($3K) titanium pipes he fitted to it, but really, like most modern sportsbikes, it's a toy, and a pretty dangerous one (in real world riding) at that. It's no wonder that there are so many modern sportsbikes for sale with such low mileages, because unless you can take them out to a race track, or find some "twisties" to enjoy yourself at "go to jail" speeds, they're entirely useless. I think I'll stick with my "Special Olympics" bike, capable of covering usefull distances with plenty of comfort and safety. Cheers, Terry.      

i only own one bike (for now) and i decided against the cafe racer hack up for that reason. i'd love to have a cruiser as part of my collection as well as a cafe/ race replica. maybe even a hd if i can stomach any mistaken association with the black tee shirt, do rag, outlaw poser, leather chaps, holier than thou attitude, stigma so embraced by many hd owners. granted i know some dedicated hd rider not like that, and some even rode with the real bad boys fwiw, but ultimately the one reason i would not buy a hd is because of image.

some who cr@p on hd because they're outdated should stop riding their 30+ yr old cb right now and buy the latest crotch rocket or be mistaken for a hypocrite. i actually bought my 550 because i wanted something old, so there! 

[Retro Rocket]

some who cr@p on hd because they're outdated should stop riding their 30+ yr old cb right now and buy the latest crotch rocket or be mistaken for a hypocrite. i actually bought my 550 because i wanted something old, so there!  Grin

Personally i think they deserve everything they get. Pop over to a HD forum and see what they have to say about our JAP CRAP........Its a lot harsher than anything said here....

Mick

[Ecosse]

Personally i think they deserve everything they get. Pop over to a HD forum and see what they have to say about our JAP CRAP........Its a lot harsher than anything said here....

Mick

that's because you meet the nicest people on a honda. 

[myhondas]

His Honda, in it's Repsol color scheme is a great looking bike for sure, and the engine sounds really nice with the louder ($3K) titanium pipes he fitted to it, but really, like most modern sportsbikes, it's a toy, and a pretty dangerous one (in real world riding) at that. It's no wonder that there are so many modern sportsbikes for sale with such low mileages, because unless you can take them out to a race track, or find some "twisties" to enjoy yourself at "go to jail" speeds, they're entirely useless. I think I'll stick with my "Special Olympics" bike, capable of covering usefull distances with plenty of comfort and safety. Cheers, Terry.      

i only own one bike (for now) and i decided against the cafe racer hack up for that reason. i'd love to have a cruiser as part of my collection as well as a cafe/ race replica. maybe even a hd if i can stomach any mistaken association with the black tee shirt, do rag, outlaw poser, leather chaps, holier than thou attitude, stigma so embraced by many hd owners. granted i know some dedicated hd rider not like that, and some even rode with the real bad boys fwiw, but ultimately the one reason i would not buy a hd is because of image.

some who cr@p on hd because they're outdated should stop riding their 30+ yr old cb right now and buy the latest crotch rocket or be mistaken for a hypocrite. i actually bought my 550 because i wanted something old, so there! 

Well, I have my cb750K4 and I have my daily rider a vf750cd Magna and my pit bike ..a 65 c100 cub  and I can tell you that there is nothing out of hd that will touch any one of them. The c100 is the pedigree bike that has sold more copies and versions than ANY vehicle ever sold. the cb was the First Superbike and still has the balls to run with the big boys. Now my Magna will smoke most if not all Hd's and does it in cruiser comfort. So everyone keeps talking about how great Hd is as a cruiser. Sorry, but I don't see it. I know that it is 95% hype and 5% patriotic bravado. It is an image and that is all. But don't get me wrong....if you want one then just go get one and be done with it. Don't try to push your false image  idea of what a great cruiser is. It surely isn;t not an hd. Twice the cu. in. and half the preformance. Noise does not make a great bike. So again, if you want one then go buy on... I don't so I don't.

[Laminar]

I hope they send Harley here to Oz, I'd be happy to have them in my backyard. One of the guys here referred to Cruisers as the "Special Olympics of motorcycling", but I disagree, cruisers are probably the smartest way to travel on a motorcycle.

Last September I dropped over on the Rocket III to show it to a friend of mine, and my mate had just taken if for a ride and was stoked at what a brilliant bike it is, and his 23 year old Honda VTR1000 riding employee said, "yeah, it's got tons of power and great brakes, but what are you gonna do when you take it thru the twisties? And I thought, well, I've just ridden it back from Whyalla in the Oz outback and ridden it back to Melbourne, (800 miles in two days) and a couple of weeks prior I'd ridden my BMW K1100LT to Sydney and back (a little over 1200 miles) and I couldn't remember actually seeing any "twisties"?

I asked him what the longest trip he'd made on his Honda and he said "Phillip Island". (a little over 100 miles from Melbourne) I asked him if he'd ever consider riding it to Sydney or Brisbane etc, and he replied, "no fukkin way, my back and wrists were fukd by the time I got to the Island" and I thought, geez, how useless is a modern sportsbike, that it's only good for short rides before the pain gets too much for you and you have to pack it in and take the car? He also said he doesn't commute on it, because the "racers crouch" riding position means he can't hold his head upright at 90 degrees to his spine for long periods of time without a lot of pain again, so it limits his vision to mostly looking at his speedo and tach, and not much else.

His Honda, in it's Repsol color scheme is a great looking bike for sure, and the engine sounds really nice with the louder ($3K) titanium pipes he fitted to it, but really, like most modern sportsbikes, it's a toy, and a pretty dangerous one (in real world riding) at that. It's no wonder that there are so many modern sportsbikes for sale with such low mileages, because unless you can take them out to a race track, or find some "twisties" to enjoy yourself at "go to jail" speeds, they're entirely useless. I think I'll stick with my "Special Olympics" bike, capable of covering usefull distances with plenty of comfort and safety. Cheers, Terry.      

Ah yes, the fallacy that there are two kinds of motorcycles: Cruisers and sport bikes.

I'd be curious to know if there's any category (straight line speed, handling, range, long distance comfort, etc.) that any Harley could beat something like an ST1300 in.

[Industrial Cafe]

I like that video.
   It seemed like a real advertisement.