Harley-Davidson Motorcycles:

LowRiderGhost · 08-03-2008

Seems there’s nothing in all of motorcycling more controversial then the subject of Harley-Davidsons. I’d imagine there’s folks out there (perhaps I’m one of em’… at least now a days?!) that spend as much time talking about them as others are actually out riding em’?! At least in more enlightened forums such as this one, they make for interesting conversation among intelligent beings. Other forums though (yikes?) you might just cause a Riot, or as I did (and a few others as well) get Booted OUT of another! Love em’ OR hate em’, just no denying they are of interest to everyone.. NO exceptions.

Myself, I’ve always loved ALL motorcycles – just the way I am. IF I had Jay Leno’s monthly Budget, I’d have a collection bigger then the new H-D Museum in Wisconsin – of course mine containing all the brands A thru Z. But there’s no denying, the predominant brand would be Harleys. Or on a wider scale, at least just about every V-Twin bike that was ever made by anybody… that at least is my ideal.

I’ve been riding 36+ years now…. 400,000 miles worth between about 35+ bikes – all the ‘Major’ brands (Big Four) including the odd BMW and Norton too (most recently a Victory of all things!) but my choices have mostly been Harleys (12+ so far). Got to admit I’m getting to appreciate the older models (the one’s I grew up with) more and more these days over the newer stuff, but it’s all good! Nuff’ said.

LRG

adrian · 08-03-2008

I have never ridden a Harley, and to be honest I only know what I have heard and read. A few years back I wouldn't ride one just because I thought I was too gen-x, nowadays no one ever offers one to me, otherwise I would ride it. I love riding anything and everything now.

With the exception of the V-Rod all Harleys are air cooled, right?

LowRiderGhost · 08-03-2008

There is no denying the somewhat amazing popularity level Harley-Davidsons have achieved among the higher echelon within the past couple decades or so. But As with most things mainstream and ‘vogue’ it is destined NOT to last forever, and there again the upper management has failed (or refused) to acknowledge, and will pay (or so shall we all) accordingly. Sad, but it seems to be an ongoing cycle of events for H-D Motor Company. They seem to fail to learn from mistakes from the past, thus are doomed to repeat em’ again in the future. But what the heck do I know?! I’m just a lowly consumer (non-stock-holder) who’s been riding H-D’s since 1980, though seriously was looking at em’ long before that.

The oldest H-D I ever had so far was a 1972 XLCH Sporty (Kicker ONLY), of which I learned the infamous meaning of “Kick-Back” (in spades!) on those older models. Despite everything I love Harleys and always will – I don’t think much of the company and they’re corporate decisions… such as just having purchased MV Agusta (of Italy) for a disclosed 130 Million Dollars, yet just the month before laying off 300 people and claiming “losses”?! I HATE ‘Creative Accounting’ Corporations! Our own tiny company (non-MC related) continues to struggle but at least we’re honest! Why should these (H-D or anyone else?!) get away with this?! I just don’t know!

Anyways, I hope there will always BE at least a Harley-Davidson. I honest to gawd don’t want to see them (or any other MC company) fail… NO matter what. But all I know is currently, when I think of my NEXT Harley, I’m not looking at (don’t like!) any of the new ones. Quite frankly I’m going back to 1965/1966: LAST year of the Panhead but FIRST year of the Electric Starter. The very bike my older Brother gave me my first bike ride ever on at age 9! Never forgot it… so dog gone it I want THAT bike! Nuff’ said.

LRG

Footnote: Exactly, far as I know the V-Rod is the only current Water-Cooled H-D model. Now the past AMF Nova V4-800 was, and at one time a 250cc Racing 2-Cycle Twin made in Italy for H-D was as well - but of course just splitting hairs!

08-03-2008	#1 (permalink)
LowRiderGhost Misanthrope and Sin-Eater Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mid-North/Western USA Posts: 52	The Harley Experience: The Good, Bad & Ugly?! Seems there’s nothing in all of motorcycling more controversial then the subject of Harley-Davidsons. I’d imagine there’s folks out there (perhaps I’m one of em’… at least now a days?!) that spend as much time talking about them as others are actually out riding em’?! At least in more enlightened forums such as this one, they make for interesting conversation among intelligent beings. Other forums though (yikes?) you might just cause a Riot, or as I did (and a few others as well) get Booted OUT of another! Love em’ OR hate em’, just no denying they are of interest to everyone.. NO exceptions. Myself, I’ve always loved ALL motorcycles – just the way I am. IF I had Jay Leno’s monthly Budget, I’d have a collection bigger then the new H-D Museum in Wisconsin – of course mine containing all the brands A thru Z. But there’s no denying, the predominant brand would be Harleys. Or on a wider scale, at least just about every V-Twin bike that was ever made by anybody… that at least is my ideal. I’ve been riding 36+ years now…. 400,000 miles worth between about 35+ bikes – all the ‘Major’ brands (Big Four) including the odd BMW and Norton too (most recently a Victory of all things!) but my choices have mostly been Harleys (12+ so far). Got to admit I’m getting to appreciate the older models (the one’s I grew up with) more and more these days over the newer stuff, but it’s all good! Nuff’ said. LRG Last edited by LowRiderGhost; 08-03-2008 at 02:05 PM.

08-03-2008	#2 (permalink)
adrian Spider Interwebby Thingy Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Glendale, AZ (but SATX is home) Posts: 536 Check Out My Blog!	I have never ridden a Harley, and to be honest I only know what I have heard and read. A few years back I wouldn't ride one just because I thought I was too gen-x, nowadays no one ever offers one to me, otherwise I would ride it. I love riding anything and everything now. With the exception of the V-Rod all Harleys are air cooled, right? __________________ "I just know that someday someone is going to start a thread here"

08-03-2008	#3 (permalink)
LowRiderGhost Misanthrope and Sin-Eater Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mid-North/Western USA Posts: 52	There is no denying the somewhat amazing popularity level Harley-Davidsons have achieved among the higher echelon within the past couple decades or so. But As with most things mainstream and ‘vogue’ it is destined NOT to last forever, and there again the upper management has failed (or refused) to acknowledge, and will pay (or so shall we all) accordingly. Sad, but it seems to be an ongoing cycle of events for H-D Motor Company. They seem to fail to learn from mistakes from the past, thus are doomed to repeat em’ again in the future. But what the heck do I know?! I’m just a lowly consumer (non-stock-holder) who’s been riding H-D’s since 1980, though seriously was looking at em’ long before that. The oldest H-D I ever had so far was a 1972 XLCH Sporty (Kicker ONLY), of which I learned the infamous meaning of “Kick-Back” (in spades!) on those older models. Despite everything I love Harleys and always will – I don’t think much of the company and they’re corporate decisions… such as just having purchased MV Agusta (of Italy) for a disclosed 130 Million Dollars, yet just the month before laying off 300 people and claiming “losses”?! I HATE ‘Creative Accounting’ Corporations! Our own tiny company (non-MC related) continues to struggle but at least we’re honest! Why should these (H-D or anyone else?!) get away with this?! I just don’t know! Anyways, I hope there will always BE at least a Harley-Davidson. I honest to gawd don’t want to see them (or any other MC company) fail… NO matter what. But all I know is currently, when I think of my NEXT Harley, I’m not looking at (don’t like!) any of the new ones. Quite frankly I’m going back to 1965/1966: LAST year of the Panhead but FIRST year of the Electric Starter. The very bike my older Brother gave me my first bike ride ever on at age 9! Never forgot it… so dog gone it I want THAT bike! Nuff’ said. LRG Footnote: Exactly, far as I know the V-Rod is the only current Water-Cooled H-D model. Now the past AMF Nova V4-800 was, and at one time a 250cc Racing 2-Cycle Twin made in Italy for H-D was as well - but of course just splitting hairs! Last edited by LowRiderGhost; 08-09-2008 at 06:58 AM.

Harley-Davidson Motorcycles:

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