I would love to have one; it's a distinctly American motorcycle, and until relatively recently (or so my dad says), no foreign bike could compare with the burly, awsomely muscle car-like sound.
I also understand the 'general' dislike for them as well. Groups like the Hells Angels, and various other groups like that, evidentally left a bad taste in the mouths of the cagers. Then, when those cagers have kids who get into motorcyling (or get into themselves) they pass on that bad taste.
It's also really no different than the whole dispute between car brands. I think it's just harder to come up with a rhyme thing (forgot the actual word for it) with names like Kawasaki (like Found On Road Dead, etc).
Personally I try to stay away from most American made motor vehicles of any kind (even though 3 of the 4 cars I've owned so far were all Fords).
So do I condone cracking jokes about someone's brand? Not really. Like it's been said already; once it turns into personal attacks like "You're stupid 'cause you ride a vespa/harley/honda/suzuki/kawasaki/etc" it drifts into the realm of abuse.
Really there's nothign that can be done. It's human nature to joke amongst themselves. It's also human nature to try to denounce the stuff your comrades have. So until human nature changes, I don't think anyone is going to stop ripping on each other and their respective choices.
Bleh, minor rant over....
