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[quote="CajunBass"]Personally I ride a Yamaha scooter for goodness


Did you say yamaha scooter?

Gummie, I bash Harley's as much, probably more then the next guy. I've also been bashing Vector's warrior because he's so all fired sure that it's the greatest bike in the whole world. I bash BuzZz's bike because it's purple (he did the same to me), and I bash supersports because they look like they're humping a football.

I'm a non-brand-specific basher. Because on this forum, I feel it's all meant in good fun. Go ahead and take a shot at my Honda, I know that you're joking... at least I hope you are.

You might notice that the second someone came on here and actually started insult your ride, Schoolbusyellow, or whatever his name is. Half the forum jumped up and started slinging garbage his way. Hell, I even insulted the color of his bike... yellow. You'll see the irony in that when you look closely at my avatar.

My point is that, well this is one of the things that friends do. They make fun of each other. It's not malicious, it's not offensive, it's commraderie. A shared bonding experience through mutual pain if you will.

I'll back your Harley up till hell freezes over, if I think that someone is actually trying to be offensive, but otherwise it's open season. And I expect the same response from you.

One of the problems with the net is that you cannot see the smile on my face when I give you a hard time.

Well said Sev

fireguzzi wrote:

CajunBass wrote:Personally I ride a Yamaha scooter for goodness


Did you say yamaha scooter?

i have got 2 yamaha scooters and wouldnt trade either for a harley.

I think the root of the "problem" here is that nowadays everyone seems to feel it is their God-given (or mother nature given....) right to be offended. Since when do BIKERS, for God's sake, get all offended when someone jerks them around a bit? Besides that, the thread began with a story about some radio show that assumed anyone who rode owned a Harley...as though anything less was just that...less. Personally, I don't care what you ride. My dad owned a Harley dresser (a complete POS, mind you, and he'll tell you the same thing) and we both thought it was a beautiful bike (hey, I was just a kid!).

Anyway, for the record, here's my view on Harleys:

No one buys a Harley for their displacement, power, handling, braking, value, or reliability because you can pick from many MANY other bikes that beat Harley in every single category. That leaves comfort, aesthetics, and Harley brand loyalty. Now, comfort and aesthetics are SUBJECTIVE, so I would be way out of line to bash anyone for their choices in those departments. Different people are different, and what fits you and what looks good to you is totally your choice. Brand loyalty, on the other hand, is what leads to comments like "Too bad it's not a Harley" or the assumption that anyone not riding a Harley wishes they were. This is the source of animosity between Harley and non-Harley riders, and is the source of friction now present in these two threads.

There are some members here who ride Harleys and love them (hopefully for the right two reasons), some who don't but aspire to one day, and some who don't and wouldn't be caught dead on one. That's just the way it is, Folks, and no hard feelings are meant by those very subjective personal choices. And besides that, lighten up a bit....PC sucks and is nothing more than censorship disguised as tolerance.

I've always thought bikers were like longshoremen, call them anything you want and they don't get offended... unless you call them goofy that is...

ZooTech wrote:No one buys a Harley for their displacement, power, handling, braking, value, or reliability

Yes they do. I rode 54,668km with not even so much as a burnt out signal light on an '04 FLHT. I put just over 2,000km in three weeks with no problems whatsoever on an '06 FXDI before reluctantly putting it in storage for the winter. I also rode 120,000km on an '86 XLH 1100 with very few mechanical/electrical glitches, it never once left me stranded by the roadside.

If/when you trade your Mean Streak for something else, we'll have a chat about value. Of all the bikes I've owned, only the Harleys have given a good value at trade-in. You don't want to know how much I lost on my two Triumphs and the Kawa Drifter.

Displacement is a non-issue, only fools think there's no substitute for cubic inches. I know a nice lady on a 650 Kawi that can easily whip my butt - and DEFINITELY yours - on any road, anywhere.

As for power, handling, brakes - I agree with those points.

Am I offended by your remarks? No. I still think you're hilarious, but that's purely a subjective and personal opinion.

Gummiente wrote:

ZooTech wrote:No one buys a Harley for their...value, or reliability

Yes they do. I rode 54,668km with not even so much as a burnt out signal light on an '04 FLHT.

I sure hope a 2yo Harley hasn't had any major failures yet.

Gummiente wrote: I put just over 2,000km in three weeks with no problems whatsoever on an '06 FXDI before reluctantly putting it in storage for the winter.

And I sure as hell hope you haven't experienced any failures on an '06 during the break-in period.

Gummiente wrote:I also rode 120,000km on an '86 XLH 1100 with very few mechanical/electrical glitches, it never once left me stranded by the roadside.

How few? Also subjective. Not to mention just one example of one bike. Hardly representative of the statistics on Harley failure rates I could pull up if so inclined.

Gummiente wrote: If/when you trade your Mean Streak for something else, we'll have a chat about value. Of all the bikes I've owned, only the Harleys have given a good value at trade-in. You don't want to know how much I lost on my two Triumphs and the Kawa Drifter.

My bike was $10,995.00 brand new. A far cry from the $20k+ to ride a Harley. And I plan to keep it indefinitely. Not uncommon for a japanese bike.

Gummiente wrote: Displacement is a non-issue, only fools think there's no substitute for cubic inches. I know a nice lady on a 650 Kawi that can easily whip my butt - and DEFINITELY yours - on any road, anywhere.

Displacement is not always about power and that wasn't the context I mentioned it in.

Gummiente wrote: As for power, handling, brakes - I agree with those points.

See?

Gummiente wrote: Am I offended by your remarks? No. I still think you're hilarious, but that's purely a subjective and personal opinion.

I'm glad you're amused, Gummi. I would have felt silly had I been the only one laughing.

ZooTech wrote:Hardly representative of the statistics on Harley failure rates I could pull up if so inclined.

By all means, please do.

ZooTech wrote:My bike was $10,995.00 brand new. A far cry from the $20k+ to ride a Harley.

$13,700USD for the one I have now. But why should we let facts get in the way, right?

ZooTech wrote:Displacement is not always about power and that wasn't the context I mentioned it in.

Right.

ZooTech wrote:I'm glad you're amused, Gummi. I would have felt silly had I been the only one laughing.

Hey, that's good to know. BTW, have you met schoolbus yet?

9000white wrote:

fireguzzi wrote:

CajunBass wrote:Personally I ride a Yamaha scooter for goodness


Did you say yamaha scooter?

i have got 2 yamaha scooters and wouldnt trade either for a harley.