Why are Harleys cool?

[Gummiente]

When I see any HD stitting still at any intersection I can see the bike shaking up and down with the handlebars vibrating, the engine sounds like it has a miss, or needs a tune up, and I shake my head in discust and wonder how uncomfortable that is for the rider.

I find it odd that, as you mentioned in another thread, you wear HD clothing (claiming it to be "top of the line", no less) but you've never taken the time to attend a Demo Ride day at your local dealership. But you've obviously spent a bit of time wandering around inside the showroom, why not ask for an explanation of why some of the bikes in the HD lineup bounce and shake like that the next time you're in there?

I sometimes ride with a guy that owns a simple Honda 750 Shadow Cruiser, that engine sounds soooo smooth and perfect that it gives me a hardon listening to it.

Yes, well, I prefer the company of a good woman, but if mechanical toys are what gets your rocks off who am I to judge?

[waterbuffalo750]

When I see any HD stitting still at any intersection I can see the bike shaking up and down with the handlebars vibrating, the engine sounds like it has a miss, or needs a tune up, and I shake my head in discust and wonder how uncomfortable that is for the rider.
it sounds like this "BLUMM---BLUM,,,pop----Blum--BLUMMM, pop, pssst,BLUMM,BLUMM
where a Gold Wing sounds like this . "perrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfect"

I sometimes ride with a guy that owns a simple Honda 750 Shadow Cruiser, that engine sounds soooo smooth and perfect that it gives me a hardon listening to it.

Goldwings sound perfect???
hahahahahahahahahahahahhahahaha

[Kingshead]

The Harley sound, there must be a reason why so many have tried to copy it.

Martin

[V4max]

The Harley sound is distinct, but sound is subjective, I prefer the sound of my vmax, I think race bike (moto gp, superbike etc) sounds awesome as well. To each their own. I think almost every bike out there has something cool about them even if its just the fact they have two wheels and a motor, Harleys included. Its the attitude of some riders both Harley and others included that sucks at times.

[Gummiente]

Its the attitude of some riders both Harley and others included that sucks at times.

Amen to that. Haters gotta hate, but they've got no place here at TMW.

[Gummiente]

The Harley sound, there must be a reason why so many have tried to copy it.

Martin

It is a unique sound, for sure. But when you get right down to it, a 45 degree V-Twin is not the best configuration due to its inherent vibration (hence the use of rubber mounts and counterbalancers), so it's puzzling why anyone would want to copy it. But Harley knows what sells and other bike manufacturers know this and try to emulate their products as close as they can without infringing on trademarks and copyrights. And some get it right without even realising it - my '99 Kawasaki Vulcan Drifter 1500 with its Roadhouse 2-1 aftermarket exhaust (WITH the optional "quiet" baffles, thank you) was the best sounding bike I have ever owned. Well, other than my '86 XLH 1100 with its Porker Hi-Lo shotgun pipes, but it was a bit too loud for my conservative tastes, even with the "long" baffles installed.

[High_Side]

Its the attitude of some riders both Harley and others included that sucks at times.

Bingo. Those are typically the attitudes of those who haven't spent a good solid day the bikes they re putting down OR the attitude of someone harboring a major inferiority complex. Either way, the attitude sucks.

[totalmotorcycle]

The Harley sound, there must be a reason why so many have tried to copy it.

Martin

Very true. While it is not an ideal engine for power, the sound is what people believe a motorcycle should sound like, and that's down to pure brilliant Harley-Davidson marketing.

In fact I'd go so far as to say Harley-Davidson is cool because Harley-Davidson marketing is so cool.

[Gummiente]

While it is not an ideal engine for power

V-Rod excepted, of course. But where the air cooled HD twins excel is in the torque department; my Road Glide hauled my lardarse and a fully loaded cargo trailer all the way to the east coast and back on our honeymoon and maintained highway cruising speeds the whole time without any fuss or issues.

[sikander]

what really makes harley so cool is that potato sound of harley !!