Why are Harleys cool?

[HYPERR]

I am getting so friggin' tired of saying this...

Only the weak-willed and easily influenced believe there is a mandatory dress code for Harley ownership.

Ride what YOU want while wearing what YOU want to wear. It really isn't any more complicated than that.

Everytime I have seen someone on a XR1200R or a XR1200X, they are always wearing full gear with armor and a fullface helmet.

[crash1967]

Reliability? Well I ride a 1995 with 84000 miles on a 1340 EVO motor rebuilt engine for the purpose of boring it and camming it to my style of riding Fast? I will line it up against any sport bike on 1/8 mile strip just bring your cash or your signed pink slip. Oh did I mention American made not that it matters I mean who needs jobs in America right?

[Markg1]

Reliability? Well I ride a 1995 with 84000 miles on a 1340 EVO motor rebuilt engine for the purpose of boring it and camming it to my style of riding Fast? I will line it up against any sport bike on 1/8 mile strip just bring your cash or your signed pink slip. Oh did I mention American made not that it matters I mean who needs jobs in America right?

Are Harleys cool, you bet! Are they Reliable, absolutely! Fast? Compared to what? Don't want to start an argument but there some fast bikes out on the market. As a matter of fact there are some 650s that would destroy a Harley Vrod . Like I said don't want to start an argument (I really like this forum), but do you think that you could beat a vmax?

[totalmotorcycle]

Reliability? Well I ride a 1995 with 84000 miles on a 1340 EVO motor rebuilt engine for the purpose of boring it and camming it to my style of riding Fast? I will line it up against any sport bike on 1/8 mile strip just bring your cash or your signed pink slip. Oh did I mention American made not that it matters I mean who needs jobs in America right?

Are Harleys cool, you bet! Are they Reliable, absolutely! Fast? Compared to what? Don't want to start an argument but there some fast bikes out on the market. As a matter of fact there are some 650s that would destroy a Harley Vrod . Like I said don't want to start an argument (I really like this forum), but do you think that you could beat a vmax?

Let's continue that and say any 600cc sportbike with beat (almost) any cruiser... but then again, a cruiser isn't supposed to be a sportbike, or it would be and not a cruiser. Sportbikes are cool, fast, super agile, but I sure wouldn't want to ride one 1000km each day with saddlebags, a Cruiser has a shot at doing it.

The Cruiser isn't about fast, it's about the coolness factor, but I know any Cruiser owner knows that as they could have bought a sportbike.

That's the great thing about different styles of bikes, they are all fun and cool in their own class.

Mike

[Markg1]

Mike, you are so right. Harleys are not made for the high performance. The vrod is about the fastest stock harley out there and they have decent power. My vrod turns heads where ever it goes, but that's not why I like it...I like it because it turned my head and love to cruise it around. But curt said something that caught my attention. He said that he could beat any sport bike in eighth mile strip. Just wanted to know if he thought he could beat my Vmax gen2.

[Grey Thumper]

I'm curious what riders outside the US think of Harleys. I think it's a case of a machine that's perfectly evolved to suit its environment; the long, wide freeways and boulevards of the USA. I think many H-Ds look really cool (and many other cruisers not built by H-D, to be fair). But I'd never get one (well, maybe the XR1200), simply because they're not really suited to the roads I like to ride where I'm from. I see a lot of cruiser riders around here and think that they're just beating themselves up. Of course, you should ride what you love and love what you ride, but part of me thinks their machines aren't enjoyed in the environment that brings out their best.

So, Mr. TMW, what do riders living in tight, serpentine-roaded, filtering-legal London think of H-Ds, for instance?

[totalmotorcycle]

Mike, you are so right. Harleys are not made for the high performance. The vrod is about the fastest stock harley out there and they have decent power. My vrod turns heads where ever it goes, but that's not why I like it...I like it because it turned my head and love to cruise it around. But curt said something that caught my attention. He said that he could beat any sport bike in eighth mile strip. Just wanted to know if he thought he could beat my Vmax gen2.

I don't think much could beat the V-Max Gen2 with almost 200hp and 150 foot pounds of torque. Just imagine how much you could tune that to!

I'm curious what riders outside the US think of Harleys. I think it's a case of a machine that's perfectly evolved to suit its environment; the long, wide freeways and boulevards of the USA. I think many H-Ds look really cool (and many other cruisers not built by H-D, to be fair). But I'd never get one (well, maybe the XR1200), simply because they're not really suited to the roads I like to ride where I'm from. I see a lot of cruiser riders around here and think that they're just beating themselves up. Of course, you should ride what you love and love what you ride, but part of me thinks their machines aren't enjoyed in the environment that brings out their best.

So, Mr. TMW, what do riders living in tight, serpentine-roaded, filtering-legal London think of H-Ds, for instance?

Well, to be honest, the Harley-Davidson wheelbase and their rake/trail angle of the front wheel they wouldn't be my choice for the roads and tight lanes in London, UK. They are just "too much bike" for the road here. My 750cc sport standard is about as big a bike you can really have (in size) to lane split/filtering through London traffic and even then it's tight next to the buses and trucks (You need to know the width and length of your motorcycle here). Ironically the best bikes here for filtering are the 250cc and smaller ones (inc the scooters) as they can filter amazingly well. The 500-750cc's are great for the twisty narow roads while the cruisers really need to stay on the M and A roads to be in their zone.

Harley-Davidons' here in the UK are still seen as Cool American bike though and the English really like the USA (Florida in particular).

Mike

[Loonette]

Harleys are cool??!! (JK)

I believe that "cool" is under the azz of the beholder. Many bikes may be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but what you choose to ride should be based more on how it makes you feel, regardless of how anyone else on the planet views it.

Cheers,
Loonette

[waterbuffalo750]

Wow Bandit Brad, that is a really good read. It's kinda hard to read with it being all 1 paragraph but
Most of the time I find if you ride ANYTHING different you will get the attention many riders are looking for. You would think buying a new bike you would get attention, but in my experience a 20+ year old bike will get you more.

Mike

I got wayyyy more comments and attention from my '75 GT750 than I've ever gotten with my Harley.

But why Harley? Put it side by side with any Japanese copycat and it's pretty easy to see, if the differences are important to you. More metal, less plastic. Better paint, better fit and finish. Look at the visible seam on the tank of the japanese bike, and look how clean the Harley looks. It's the little details that make the difference. If you look at the 2 bikes and they look exactly the same, then a Harley is definitely not for you.

Not meant as a knock against the japanese bikes, just differences.

[Markg1]

Wow Bandit Brad, that is a really good read. It's kinda hard to read with it being all 1 paragraph but
Most of the time I find if you ride ANYTHING different you will get the attention many riders are looking for. You would think buying a new bike you would get attention, but in my experience a 20+ year old bike will get you more.

Mike

I got wayyyy more comments and attention from my '75 GT750 than I've ever gotten with my Harley.

But why Harley? Put it side by side with any Japanese copycat and it's pretty easy to see, if the differences are important to you. More metal, less plastic. Better paint, better fit and finish. Look at the visible seam on the tank of the japanese bike, and look how clean the Harley looks. It's the little details that make the difference. If you look at the 2 bikes and they look exactly the same, then a Harley is definitely not for you.

Not meant as a knock against the japanese bikes, just differences.

Must admit this is the first time that I ever heard of a Harley better built than a metric bike. I had two brothers that had Harley's and boy they were good at leaking oil! Drip, Drip, Drip went the Harley. I have a Vrod and a Vmax. The Harley Vrod is well made. It has a strong motor and has a solid frame. It has been in for warranty work but overall a good machine. Actually Porche designed the motor for Harley! To tell you the truth the only Harley I would own is my Vrod. No offense to a Harley, but there are cars that can our accelerate a Harley!

My Gen2 Vmax is a little different. It doesnt have all the plastic I keep hearing about! It has aluminum scoops and these scoops are hand polished before they are installed. The finish is incredible! It has a "fly by wire" throttle and has standard anti-lock brakes. It is the most technologically advanced motorcycle I have ever seen! The first ride you can tell the quality of the Vmax. So what's the difference between the two? Well, the Vmax is better built, faster, handles better, better technology. So why do I like my Harley so much? Well the Vrod has something the Vmax will never have...It's a Harley!