Racer's Lounge - HD dis-article, Very long but kinda true

http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/showthread.php?t=345116

found this on a sportbike site. I never thought about where America stands in the Fast bike community before now....America does need a performer

WOW...my brain just checked out. Good read tho

Wow. I like my Harley. Hard to believe that's possible considering what a giant piece of shit it is.

I have had no reliability issues in the 2 mos and 1700 miles I have put on it.

I don't ride it like an asshole like I did my CBR or R6.

It looks and sounds good.

It gets good MPG.

It holds its value well.

It's fun to ride.






What junk. :huh:

ROTFLOL.
Oh my, I had to delete everything I just wrote, I don't want to offend fellow forum members.
However, having ridden rice burners for over 40 years, I understand where he is coming from. I remember back in ~1980, I worked managing a convenience store. It was right next to a Ford dealership. One of the workers there had a nice looking Hardley (I don't know the model, sorry, but it was one of the big ones, not a Sportster) and his co-workers goaded him into racing my RD350. Fortunately, he still spoke to me afterwards, but he never let them goad him into a rematch.
I will say this for Hardley, their quality has improved immensely since the unfortunate AMF days.

ROTFLOL.
One of the workers there had a nice looking Hardley (I don't know the model, sorry, but it was one of the big ones, not a Sportster)

Mine looks nice. :nutkick: But then, it's not an 883.

Don't get me wrong, I like the way the 1200 Sportster looks, I rode with one a few years back. But we went to IRP and my 1981 KZ750 blew him away by over 1.5 seconds. Too his credit, he rode out a wheelie, something I never saw a Hardley do before.
But the guy I raced with my RD350 had one of the big suckers. Even then, I knew what a Sportster looked like. Bronson rode one, when he wasn't riding offroad (then his Sporster morphed into a dirt bike, for some reason :jest: ).

Why was that article written? If he doesnt like a harley, oh well. Did he ever stop to think that not everyone shares his idea of an ideal bike? Why would someone buy a Ferrari when you could buy a vette for half the price with similar performance? Maybe they like the styling of the ferrari, or just the snob appeal. Also, did the author ever consider that not eveyone likes the look, seating position or sound of a crotch rocket? Not everyone is about being the fastest on the street either.

too many words....cliff notes?

Why was that article written? If he doesnt like a harley, oh well. Did he ever stop to think that not everyone shares his idea of an ideal bike? Why would someone buy a Ferrari when you could buy a vette for half the price with similar performance? Maybe they like the styling of the ferrari, or just the snob appeal. Also, did the author ever consider that not eveyone likes the look, seating position or sound of a crotch rocket? Not everyone is about being the fastest on the street either.

but with a Ferrari u still get world class performance....with Hardley you just get a Name. Plus you dont have to ride a crotch rocket to get great performance, there are tons of standards (Ducati Monster, Aprilla's new one, Suzuki SV's) that offer great performance with awesome braking and handling. To me the only Hardley worth a shit is the VRod, at least it'll keep up with a sports car:jest:

I didn't read through a good bit of it, but how much performance does a Goldwing have? How much performance do all of these big ass metric cruisers have? I'm pretty sure that a good 50% of the import bike market is comprised of Metric Cruisers (read HD knockoff's) that came about to take advantage of a market that was built by Harleys.

I've seen a hundred articles just like that written by domestic car owners bitching about import cars & import car owners bitching about domestic car owners. Blah, blah, blah hp/liter - blah blah lets see how your muscle car does in the twisties - cry cry cry well my honduh makes more hp/liter than your mullet mobile. You can find fault in anything.

To me what the article is saying that on the world stage America is the lowest on the totem poll for performance in the motorcycle industry. The only real American Motorcycle company that we have has nothing to offer in competition. I would buy a HD sport bike, I loved my Ducati, I like V Twins. But all Harley offers is an Image, they sell outdated, under performing motorcycles at permium prices. Would you buy a Lambo for $250,000 if it came with brakes from the 1970's, handling of a tug boat, and power of a 4 banger honda from the 80's?

Thats one of the longest posts I have ever seen...

So Haley's are slow, so fuggin what..who buys one to go fast anyway?

If I wanted to run 9's @ 16X I'd buy a Japanese Sport Bike.

Harley's are for crusing.

To each their own... its just like cars.You dont see many Harley riders splattered all over the highway after doing some stupid shit or splitting cars ridding wheelies down the highway.... Most riders who have a sportbike only think they can ride... much like the auto x road race wanabes must be an import thing.

I just bought my first bike this year
2007 Dyna Street Bob,

basically a motor with a seat....96 cubic inches....~1600cc for you cc guys

did a stage 1 kit, and i'll tell ya, this baby hauls some ass

but i bought the bike to cruise. When I go to the track and see the crotch rockets running 9-10 seconds, thats okay. Just not what I wanted.

Then again, those guys usually are wearing shorts, and tennis shoes...so chances are they wont live to see another 10 years!

(sorry, had to vent about how most of those guys never wear any gear)

yea im kinda a gear nazi myself, I hate stunters and just hate complete dumbass's who buy the bike to park at starbucks and tell there friends they have one...I ride mine year round, aslong as there is no heavy rain or snow, im riding. Not all sportbike riders are squids, just like not all Harley riders are Lawyers with a day off:D (remember also its the 40-60 crowd thats raising the motorcycle fatalties and those guys are the cruisers/HD segment, most are inexperienced and think cause they can drive a car they can ride a bike)

yea im kinda a gear nazi myself, I hate stunters and just hate complete dumbass's who buy the bike to park at starbucks and tell there friends they have one...I ride mine year round, aslong as there is no heavy rain or snow, im riding. Not all sportbike riders are squids, just like not all Harley riders are Lawyers with a day off:D (remember also its the 40-60 crowd thats raising the motorcycle fatalties and those guys are the cruisers/HD segment, most are inexperienced and think cause they can drive a car they can ride a bike)Absolutely, I could not agree more.

www.roehrmotorcycles.com

HD has the machine, just built by a different company, now if it wasnt $39k I would love to own one. Great looking bike to, kinda mix between a Ducati 999r and a MV Augsta;)

You can go 9 seconds for 10 grand on a gsxr 1k. It will run with hardley any maintenance for 30k miles, and it starts every time.

You can't beat that, and Harley never will.

But I wouldn't mind a V-rod to cruise on in comfort.

My 2007 Harley Night Train is my daily. 6500 miles and the only problem I've had is a blinker bulb. What a piece of shit it's been! I ride in the heat, cold, and rain for the cool guy image though. What do I know?

www.roehrmotorcycles.com

HD has the machine, just built by a different company, now if it wasnt $39k I would love to own one. Great looking bike to, kinda mix between a Ducati 999r and a MV Augsta;)

good looking bike. but 39k?? holy crap

I bought my Harley for cruising, not riding fast, not racing, not stunting. So, on that note, some points:

I don't give a flying fuck that a jap sportbike will outperform my bike on a track.

I've been over 170 mph on a sportbike. I bought a Harley because in my young and stupid days, I pushed my CBR and R6 as far as they would go and almost got myself exploded in the process. Rode too fast, did too many wheelies, and just generally acted like a moron.

Before I bought the HD earlier this year, I decided that I still wanted to ride, just on something without the potential to go faster than any human should on public roads.

I have NEVER had ANY problems with my Harley. It fires up every time. :huh:

I don't ride my Harley because other people like Harleys.

I am not a lemming. I don't give a fuck about what anybody thinks about anything I choose to do. I do things because I want to do them. Fuck everybody else. :guns:

In my opinion, this thread is probably one of the most ignorant that I have seen posted in the lounge. I appreciate things for what they are. Comparing Harleys to sportbikes is like comparing a Camaro to a Cadillac... And only a complete fucking turd would do that.

What's worse about this thread is that I like sportbikes too. Some of you sportbike squids on this thread, and you know who you are, really give jap bikes a bad name.

:cheers:

somebodies got sand in there panties;) Like I have said, I am disappointed that America really has no true represention on the performance motorcycle market, and since HD is really only the true American Motorcycle company, I thinks its time they start repping America on the AMA and Motogp circuit. I wish I was cheering HD on, instead Im yelling for Suzuki and Ducati riders.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/newsandupdates/122_0610_harley_davidson_prototype/

this one is a step in the right direction, but only europe may get it.

buell (owned by harley and american company) 2008 1125r
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8682/081125raf1xo2.th.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=081125raf1xo2.jpg)
nuff said

rotex motor, same motor used by Aprilla. Its austrian built motor....not american:(

american company nonetheless


people forget that even though buells power is lacking ive heard many people say they are one of the best handling bikes you can buy

http://www.rubbermag.com/news/0707/070709_01.html

but what Im saying is HD has a motor to make a great superbike but rather let everyone else make one

someone else that thinks going fast is all there is to riding. It's okay, someday they will learn that people do things for a myriad of reasons, not just the ones 'approved' by one opinion.

I'll try this experiment this new riding season- I will compare the mileage on Harleys I see versus the mileage on sport bikes I see.
Then we will see who actually RIDES their bikes and who stands around talking about how fast they are.

SNORE.

Said it before- I've never heard more shit talking than from sport bikers. Usually ones with a tenth of the miles and years riding than the average HD rider. You'd think some people would outgrow that by the end of high school, but I guess not.


Quoted from a member in that thread.

austria, still not american. the heart/motor of the bike makes it Jap,Ital, or whatever

was referring to buell and the fact that the bike itself is american, not the motor manufacturer

but HD has a great motor to build on, guess they dont want there sibling Buell to have any fun with it.

you have a point and that baffles me also

the VR1000 was starting to have a great race season back in the day before HD pull the plug on the program, it used the Vrods motor. Harley sees it has a market for sportbikes, like the XR1200 that might be in europe, but it just seems there scared to put themselves in that market. I say attack the Jap & Italian bikes on there turf.

hd seems like gm in that respect but gm seems to be gettin better at it

does this fucking tool not realize harley does make performance bikes, its a little side project called

BUELL

sorry ill ride my "slow ass harley" anyday of over some jap garbage

:rotflmao:

I guess reading comprehension isnt one of your strong suits. Buell does not have a performance motorcycle yet built using an all american motor (like the Vrod) that competes in the world performance market on race tracks or really street bikes.

does this fucking tool not realize harley does make performance bikes, its a little side project called

BUELL

sorry ill ride my "slow ass harley" anyday of over some jap garbage
then stay happy with your Yugo, but i prefer technology advancing motorcycles. All im saying is I wish HD made a motorcycle to compete with the other motorcycle manufacturers. They have the ability.

From Wikipedia:
"The Buell Motorcycle Company is an American motorcycle manufacturer based in East Troy, Wisconsin and founded by ex-Harley-Davidson engineer Erik Buell. The company is the only significant manufacturer of sporting motorcycles in the United States."
Not HD, Buell.

you dont see Ducati, MVAgusta, Triumph,Aprilla,KTM etc...only making sportbikes, they make all sorts of motorcycles...what does the states have HD and Buell which right now make nothing that competes on the world circuit. Hell a SV650 would donkey punch a top of the line HD powered Buell. My old 1998 Ducati 750 Monster would run off from Buells in the corners and on the straights.

but HD supplies the motors for Buell, well they did until Austria stepped in to help with the new bike.

you dont see Ducati, MVAgusta, Triumph,Aprilla,KTM etc...only making sportbikes, they make all sorts of motorcycles...what does the states have HD and Buell which right now make nothing that competes on the world circuit. Hell a SV650 would donkey punch a top of the line HD powered Buell. My old 1998 Ducati 750 Monster would run off from Buells in the corners and on the straights.

Who the fuck would buy a Harley crotch rocket, even if they did build one on par with a Japanese bike? You? :eyes:



Well that makes one of us. Most Harley riders aren't aching to drag knees on a sportbike. That make sense to you? :bang:

actually it does, Harley had a great thing going with there VR1000, alot of buzz surrounded it when it was released for racers to buy, awesome design to, looked like an old time sportbike. People wanted to buy it but like I said it was for racers only and HD ended pulling the plug right when they the sponsored team was starting to get good. Plus why are you getting so pissed, this is just a simple discussion and you Harley guys get all butt hurt?

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/classics/bike.asp?id=2

I would have bought it, and so would many others.

then stay happy with your 1:Yugo, 2:but i prefer technology advancing motorcycles. 2:All im saying is I wish HD made a motorcycle to compete with the other motorcycle manufacturers. They have the ability.

1: im brand loyal, GM for me thank you

2: your technology claim really doesnt hold water, we are all driving pushrod v8 cars (which i love dearly) and your gonna play the "tech" card!

3: just take in to consideration, mabey they dont need to compete with other manufactures? how many jap companies are ripping off harley styling cues left right and center, trying to copy the destictive sound. the japs are trying to cash in on something harely has created and the entire world loves.
im pretty sure they are the longest lasting motorcycle company in the world 100+ year in business im pretty sure they are doing something right. no ones gonna flying over to that fucking island and celebrate when honda turns 100

1.Im not brand Loyal, I buy what looks good and performs good. It has to do both in my book.
2. Our LS1 pushrods V8's are designed very well, they make more power then the DOHC NA motors out there, they had to slap a blower on them to make power (im talking in stock terms)
3. You can thank Harley for help creating Honda and other Jap crap bikes(they gave them design cues after WW2), plus alot of people will be celebrating Honda's, ducati's, and so on's Anniversies. Plus alot of parts on Harley's are made in China and Japan, the carbs are manufactred in Japan:D Plus Honda & other Jap Crap you call them where smart enough to see a market in the cruiser field, so why slap them down for trying to turn a profit and make a wider range of options for there customers?

"Biggest of all, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced its consolidated financial results for the second quarter of 2006. Their net income totalled JPY 127.9 billion ( $1,095,790,000 US), a decrease of 4.3% from the corresponding period in 2005. Sales of motorcycles totalled 2,816,000 units, an increase of 13.1% from the corresponding period in 2005. Unit sales in Japan were 98,000 units, a decrease of 5.8%. Overseas unit sales were 2,718,000 units, an increase of 14.0%, due mainly to the healthy unit sales in India and Brazil." Eurogossip.com

Wouldnt you like to see an American Motorcycle Co. selling that many worldwide?....I would

1.Im not brand Loyal, I buy what looks good and performs good. It has to do both in my book.
2. Our LS1 pushrods V8's are designed very well, they make more power then the DOHC NA motors out there, they had to slap a blower on them to make power (im talking in stock terms)
3. You can thank Harley for help creating Honda and other Jap crap bikes(they gave them design cues after WW2), plus alot of people will be celebrating Honda's, ducati's, and so on's Anniversies. Plus alot of parts on Harley's are made in China and Japan, the carbs are manufactred in Japan:D Plus Honda & other Jap Crap you call them where smart enough to see a market in the cruiser field, so why slap them down for trying to turn a profit and make a wider range of options for there customers?

im well aware of this, and the same is true with harley's v-twin. extremely well designed push rod engine. i think the old term applies here "if it aint broke dont fix it"

heres harely's profit reports from the last quaters its proves there "competing just fine"

Revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles was $1.25 billion, an increase of $226.4 million or 22.0 percent versus the same period last year. Shipments of Harley-Davidson motorcycles totaled 95,117 units, an increase of 15,321 units or 19.2 percent compared to last year’s second quarter.

Revenue from Parts and Accessories (P&A), which consists of Genuine Motor Parts and Genuine Motor Accessories, totaled $263.4 million, an increase of $11.7 million or 4.6 percent over the year-ago quarter. Revenue from General Merchandise, which consists of MotorClothes? apparel and collectibles, totaled $72.7 million, an increase of $5.6 million or 8.4 percent over the year-ago quarter.

Gross margin for the second quarter of 2007 was 37.4 percent of revenue compared to 37.5 percent for the second quarter last year. Second quarter operating margin increased to 23.8 percent from 23.6 percent in the second


i can see ducati have a large celebration on their 100, but if you think honda will top harleys 100 in milwaukee's owner celebration your crazy.

I never said anything bad about Harleys, so chill the fuck out :jest:

But they sure as hell don't compare to the Jap crap in any category other than comfort.

They both have their purpose. IMO the only way to go is have one of each.

There's nothing really wrong with harley's, they're just overpriced. However there is a certain level of prestige that goes with that price, which is why they've remained popular.

However their sportbike line is pathetic. Not that it's surprising since that's not what they've made a company out of. It's just a shame that the world belives Americans know nothing about sport bikes.

anyone herd of buell? :lol: the lightning and firebolt are amzing handling bikes, and if 100 hp and 80 ft lbs isnt enough you can always install some big cams and do some head work!