Dream Bike Harley vs V Star The choice is yours.
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:53 am
Here recently I have been getting a rash of krap from the guys that I work with about my Motorcycle. I can handle it but sometimes it can get under your skin. That’s probably why they are always bringing it up. Just to see if they can push my buttons. These guys are not under my direct authority and I am sure that they are happy that there not. Because I would be kicked back under my umbrella with a cool drink and watching them bust rust on the back deck if they were. 3 ride Harley’s 1 doesn’t ride at all. But he wears all the Harley apparel. I get the whole Harley thing. I understand it. Buy American be proud, Buy the best burn the rest. Etc, etc. I don’t know where all the hate and discontent comes from. But I understand.
I did a background check when I was told that Harley’s were only 78% American Made and the rest is made in Japan and China. I was kind of taken back when I found that out. But that’s beside the point. Harley Davidson is this best quality Motorcycle out there. The fit and finished quality can’t be beat. I know that, and anybody that knows motorcycles knows that. Those who say different has never really been up close and personal with a Harley. The point I am trying to make is, people make choices in every day life. A lot of choices are made by factors that contribute to the outcome of the choice. When I bought my bike factors played a huge roll. Factors such as, cost and reliability, New or used? How much can I afford? Size. American or foreign made? That’s just the factors on the bike side. Then there where personal factors that also weighed in. How much will it affect my family? Will it cause my family to do with out? I struggled long and hard balancing everything out before I made my decision. When you have a fairly large family being selfish can cause a major riff. Do you sacrifice your families well being for your personal pleasures? You have to balance out what you want verses what is practical. I know I have been told that you can have a Harley financed for 8 years. That’s cool for some. But it wouldn’t work. Buying used just didn’t appeal to me. It would have had to been really used in order for it to even come close. So when all the weighing and balancing was in, my choices were very slim. A V Star Classic that closely resembled the bike I really wanted, a Softail Deluxe. Or I could have gone with the 883. I’m a pretty big fellow, so the choice got even more narrow. I always had a motorcycle of some sort before I got married. You give up lot when you decide to take the plunge. No regrets, that’s just the way it is. But the bike is a me thing not a me and the wife thing. She hates motorcycles. That’s sort of strange since she rode with me before we got married. So anyway 20 years and 4 kids later I finally got to get back out on the road. I didn’t realize until after I was on the road just how much I missed it. It was great, the peace you can only get on the open road I once knew was finally back. I really don’t think the brand or style of a bike has anything to do with that feeling. So that’s how I came to buy my 04 V Star Classic. Trading up? Still not in the cards, but maybe in a few more years.
Behind every bike there is a story. Just because it’s not American made does not make the owner a traitor to his or her country. If that were the case then Harley riders would be just as guilty. Not as much guilty but still guilty to a certain extent. Just because it’s not the best, does not mean the bike is complete junk. Just like every Harley rider is not a Rich Urban Biker or an OMG member, some are just making it happen. There are life situations that dictate the outcome of every person’s decision making. So just because you see a rider on a different brand bike doesn’t mean that is the bike he planed to get. It might mean that he would rather be out on the road with the wind in his face, instead of being at home wearing his Motorcycle shirt and due Rag and saying one of these days, one of these days and never really knowing if that day will come. It’s their choice to stay home and dream of that day. But while their home dreaming I will be making memories and new friends and seeing things that was once in my dreams to. Yes I still have dreams of owning my dream bike. Softail Deluxe 2 tone blue and white. Long straight pipes and wide white wall tires. Lots and lots of chrome. But I know my V Star Classic will be the closes thing that I will have until life says otherwise. Yes my bike is a Harley want to be, that I will never deny. But I believe there was someone that once said
“Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery” and with that said,
Live to Ride or Ride to Live either way, just ride. What ever it may be.
I did a background check when I was told that Harley’s were only 78% American Made and the rest is made in Japan and China. I was kind of taken back when I found that out. But that’s beside the point. Harley Davidson is this best quality Motorcycle out there. The fit and finished quality can’t be beat. I know that, and anybody that knows motorcycles knows that. Those who say different has never really been up close and personal with a Harley. The point I am trying to make is, people make choices in every day life. A lot of choices are made by factors that contribute to the outcome of the choice. When I bought my bike factors played a huge roll. Factors such as, cost and reliability, New or used? How much can I afford? Size. American or foreign made? That’s just the factors on the bike side. Then there where personal factors that also weighed in. How much will it affect my family? Will it cause my family to do with out? I struggled long and hard balancing everything out before I made my decision. When you have a fairly large family being selfish can cause a major riff. Do you sacrifice your families well being for your personal pleasures? You have to balance out what you want verses what is practical. I know I have been told that you can have a Harley financed for 8 years. That’s cool for some. But it wouldn’t work. Buying used just didn’t appeal to me. It would have had to been really used in order for it to even come close. So when all the weighing and balancing was in, my choices were very slim. A V Star Classic that closely resembled the bike I really wanted, a Softail Deluxe. Or I could have gone with the 883. I’m a pretty big fellow, so the choice got even more narrow. I always had a motorcycle of some sort before I got married. You give up lot when you decide to take the plunge. No regrets, that’s just the way it is. But the bike is a me thing not a me and the wife thing. She hates motorcycles. That’s sort of strange since she rode with me before we got married. So anyway 20 years and 4 kids later I finally got to get back out on the road. I didn’t realize until after I was on the road just how much I missed it. It was great, the peace you can only get on the open road I once knew was finally back. I really don’t think the brand or style of a bike has anything to do with that feeling. So that’s how I came to buy my 04 V Star Classic. Trading up? Still not in the cards, but maybe in a few more years.
Behind every bike there is a story. Just because it’s not American made does not make the owner a traitor to his or her country. If that were the case then Harley riders would be just as guilty. Not as much guilty but still guilty to a certain extent. Just because it’s not the best, does not mean the bike is complete junk. Just like every Harley rider is not a Rich Urban Biker or an OMG member, some are just making it happen. There are life situations that dictate the outcome of every person’s decision making. So just because you see a rider on a different brand bike doesn’t mean that is the bike he planed to get. It might mean that he would rather be out on the road with the wind in his face, instead of being at home wearing his Motorcycle shirt and due Rag and saying one of these days, one of these days and never really knowing if that day will come. It’s their choice to stay home and dream of that day. But while their home dreaming I will be making memories and new friends and seeing things that was once in my dreams to. Yes I still have dreams of owning my dream bike. Softail Deluxe 2 tone blue and white. Long straight pipes and wide white wall tires. Lots and lots of chrome. But I know my V Star Classic will be the closes thing that I will have until life says otherwise. Yes my bike is a Harley want to be, that I will never deny. But I believe there was someone that once said
“Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery” and with that said,
Live to Ride or Ride to Live either way, just ride. What ever it may be.
If you enjoy riding what you have, who cares what brand name is on it?
