I call bull#$%*e on TT only having heard 2 quiet Harleys.. I mean where in North America could you ride for at least a year without riding past at least (stock exhaust) 2 E'Glides or cop H-D's ?..
San Jose California. And, that was over several years time. Cops and Highway patrol don't use Harleys around here. They were Kz1000's, BMWs, and lately, Honda St1300s.
I think its more like you are not noticing the quiet ones..
Maybe they drove by while I wasn't on the road and I didn't see them. But, not while I was riding. I look at all the bikes (and other vehicles) on the highway, sort of like my life depends on it.
Case and point, acquaintance at work bought a new Harley, in 1991. Dealer had to sell it to him with stock exhaust (legal reasons). I never got a chance to hear it in stock form. One week after he bought it, it was back in the shop getting a louder exhaust. I never rode with him again it was so annoying. He flat told me that at all the bike rallies, poker runs, and other events he attended, Harley owners would ridicule other Harley owners if their bike had quiet stock exhaust. I also asked him if I might go to one of the ride events with my Honda. He said yeah, but you'll catch a lot of grief and ridicule about driving a Japanese bike and be asked to keep well to the rear of the procession.
Another case was a different coworker selling his Honda V65 (I very nearly bought that one) to get a Harley Fat boy 1994-ish, I think). Stock pipes lasted one week. He drove it home where it sat until the shop schedule was open, to bring it back for louder exhaust. Fortunately, he just bought it for status. In the three years I knew him after the purchase, he didn't put 700 miles on it. Still, he bought right in to the "Only Harleys are real motorcycles" BS.
Don't tell me that their aren't any snob Harley owners. I've encountered more than a few.
FYI, I don't hate Harleys. I like machines in general, Harleys included. I was always looking for a basket case to resurrect. But, for the price even basket cases were selling for, I could get 3 running bikes that weren't Harleys. And, several of my bikes were just given to me. The MOST I ever paid to drag home a motorcycle was $500 (CB750F.) It was also the only one I could actually drive home. Try getting a Harley for $500! (legally).
Cheers,
