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Why does most everyone "O Ring"-u-me that we all must be riding harleys?? When you think about it it's really kind of stupid.

Scott58 wrote:Why does most everyone "O Ring"-u-me that we all must be riding harleys?? When you think about it it's really kind of stupid.

I can answer this question - MARKETING. They brand named themselves all over the motorcycle world. If you don't ride at all, Harley might be the first name you'd think of - since they have TV shows, clothing, shot glasses, toaster cozys, and whatever you can think of that they can brand. They convinced Ford to make a special edition truck with their badge on it. They have stores that have no motorcycles in them - for example in downtown Chicago on Michigan Ave you can go to a Harley store that sells everything Harley but bikes.

This is why everyone thinks you, I and everyone on a motorcycle rides a Harley.

That just shows the power of marketing in this culture, and H-D's mastery of it.

I find most of the 'only HD makes real bikes' crowd are people who don't ride anything. And that's most of the population here. And it's hard to fight against that kind of mindset in those kind of numbers...... So I guess we're stuck with it.

And I'll still wind-up the odd enthusiast when the chance comes by...... just for fun.

I have heaps-o-fun hanging out at the local non-factory connected bike shop here in town. We have hugely entertaining discussions, and everybody enjoys it, and the only foaming at the mouth is done by Rabid Bob, but he does that all the time. And the odd wobbly pop.

BuzZz wrote:That just shows the power of marketing in this culture, and H-D's mastery of it.

I find most of the 'only HD makes real bikes' crowd are people who don't ride anything. And that's most of the population here. And it's hard to fight against that kind of mindset in those kind of numbers...... So I guess we're stuck with it.

And I'll still wind-up the odd enthusiast when the chance comes by...... just for fun.

I have heaps-o-fun hanging out at the local non-factory connected bike shop here in town. We have hugely entertaining discussions, and everybody enjoys it, and the only foaming at the mouth is done by Rabid Bob, but he does that all the time. And the odd wobbly pop.

I posted at the same time as you Buzz, and we said about the same thing. I guess it is our job as "real" riders to teach all those who need to learn.

In all fairness when you hear:

Honda - Car
Yamaha - Music equip
Suzuki - Car again
Kawasaki - ...


Not much branding for bikes.

When I hear Kawasaki I think of jet skis.

When I hear Suzuki I think of motorcycles (as I didn't know Suzuki made a car).


But the point still remains

Shiv wrote:When I hear Kawasaki I think of jet skis.

When I hear Suzuki I think of motorcycles (as I didn't know Suzuki made a car).

But the point still remains

They even make mini suv's...lol.

I get the "do you have a harley" line pretty much every time I tell people that I have a bike. They always seem to get disappointed when I tell them that I ride a honda.

Its typically the people that ride (even harley folks) who tend to peg me as being a sportbike guy without me telling them. Odd, because I dont have a sportbike yet (using a UJM to learn on).

Im just waiting for someone to mistake my honda for a moto guzzi.

Sevulturus wrote:In all fairness when you hear:

Honda - Car
Yamaha - Music equip
Suzuki - Car again
Kawasaki - ...


Not much branding for bikes.

Maybe you do, but I sure don't.

Interesting point I guess, younger folks associating those names with things other than motorcycles.

I know I was more than a little fixated on bikes as a kid, but even still....

Honda = red bikes
Suzuki = yellow bikes
Kawasaki = green bikes
Yamaha = yellow bikes... with odd ripples of white and blue floating past every now and then... dam them and their wishy washy corporate color scheme

Dad bought a new Civic in '77 and I drove the snot Uta it a few years later when I got my license, but when I hear 'Honda', I think bikes until someone brings up steering wheels or something.....

Had a Samurai that I drove 4 cars-worth of snot outta, but Suzuki's are bikes in my mental barrens....

I kinda feel bad for you young punks after hearing that.......

Maybe you do, but I sure don't.

Interesting point I guess, younger folks associating those names with things other than motorcycles.

I know I was more than a little fixated on bikes as a kid, but even still....

Honda = red bikes
Suzuki = yellow bikes
Kawasaki = green bikes
Yamaha = yellow bikes... with odd ripples of white and blue floating past every now and then... dam them and their wishy washy corporate color scheme

Dad bought a new Civic in '77 and I drove the snot Uta it a few years later when I got my license, but when I hear 'Honda', I think bikes until someone brings up steering wheels or something.....

Had a Samurai that I drove 4 cars-worth of snot outta, but Suzuki's are bikes in my mental barrens....

I kinda feel bad for you young punks after hearing that.......

Yup. Me too. I grew up when those names meant one thing... something with two wheels and was a heckuva lotta fun. Honda's were indeed red. Sometimes silver, but mostly red. And yeah... damn that Yamaha and their always changing color scheme...