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a guy I work with always asks me "when are you gonna get a Harley?" I keep telling him "never" and try to explain to him I want a bike that handles well because as Carl McAllister of the Carl McAllister Motorcycle Safety School says about Harley's "they handle like shit"

but its all good, as long as you don't ride like an asshole I'll ride with ya.

“It has the look, the sound, the prestige…Harley is number one. It’s American."

Did you happen to point out the Showa suspension or any of the electronics on the bikes?

Great article, Dave. Once again you've hit one out of the park.

An elderly friend, knowing I am a motorcyclist, bought me a Harley-Davidson coffee mug. I hadn't the heart to tell her.

very nice my friend. You have done the near impossible: translated the nuances of elusive emotion into words.

Very much enjoyed that. Thanks Dave.

Very well done. One of these days we will have to reacquaint. Been along time since the bagel factory days. I'll be seeing our bud Mr Alexander next month.

David Botsford

My father used to ask me "When are you gonna get a Harley?" My answer as always, as I pointed to my 1000RR was "When I get too old to ride one of those....." then I would laugh.

A couple years later when the Warranty ran out on his Harley and it blew up it's motor(even though he was very meticulous about maintenance, but had it done at the Harley shop) he sold the Harley and guess what he rides now??????
















A freakin V-Star.....................I love it.....


Was a good read though....

I'm probably one of the few HD riders on this site, but having spent 10 years on CBRs followed by a pair on VTXs, I've been on both sides of the fence. I don't own any HD apparel and I'm not in the HOG group or anything like that, so I think I can give a fairly objective view.

First off, the "if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand" is a line ALL riders have probably used at one time or another in response to the inevitable "those things are dangerous, my friend/relative/random person got killed on a motorcycle" comment. Basically, I think we all ride for pretty much the same reasons. Why do you choose to ride instead of drive your car? For the sensory experience of riding that not even the sportiest roadster can provide (although many of us are car nuts as well, but that's another discussion ).

Well, for me, the allure of the Harley really isn't that much different than for most bikes, at least in a general sense. We all want a stylish bike that meets the needs of how we use it. I know most folks on this site are mainly sportbikers and wouldn't consider any cruiser, but assuming you were in the market for one, why choose HD over others?

Well, for better or for worse, a big reason a lot of folks probably buy one is for the label. Say what you will, but the HD marketing (propaganda?) machine is genius. How many folks have Harley apparel or stickers on their vehicle that have never even ridden? How many times do people find out you ride and ask if you have a Harley? There are bikes from every manufacturer that I would be happy to own, and most riders I know feel the same way. But strangely enough, most of the snobby responses about HD (and dismissive to non-HD) bikes I've heard come from folks that don't even ride. Anyway...

I was raised on Hondas and I've owned a VTX 1800 and 1300, both very good bikes. And I've looked hard at the Yamaha/Star Warrior and Road Star. While the perception still exists that Harleys are overpriced and lesser quality than their metric counterparts, that's not really the case anymore. The larger metric cruisers such as those I mentioned start around $12k, comparable to several bikes in the Dyna line. And you can find problem bikes from any brand; in my observation I don't see where HDs have more problems than anything else. One factor that steered me toward Harleys is the build quality/fit and finish. For one thing, the chrome parts are actually metal, not plastic like much of the VTX parts. Don't get me wrong, Honda's quality and refinement is legendary, but side-by-side the HD seems to have more of a handcrafted feel as opposed to mass produced. It's part of the "soul" that HD owners talk about. I guess my point is, as the metric bikes have moved into HD price territory, and HD quality has improved to where they've shaken off the perception of unreliability, that seems to have given more folks reason to go ahead and get the Harley.

Another thing that is huge in Harley's favor is the enormous aftermarket support. From appearance to performance parts, if you can think of it someone probably makes it. Like the article mentioned, customization is a big deal to most riders, and it's just easier for HD folks to change their bikes without having to fabricate a bunch of stuff. The aftermarket is certainly growing for the metric bikes, but it's nowhere near that of what's available for Harleys.

Another part of the “Harley mystique” is that they’re viewed by many as genuine, whereas the metrics are viewed as Harley knockoffs or imitators. Now, that may sound more negative than it really is, but of course other cruisers’ styling imitates HD- it’s called appealing to your target audience. (Why do you think Harleys have looked pretty much the same all these years?)

I could probably come up with more stuff since I thought long before buying a Harley, but I’ve typed too much already. And I guess none of this really matters because buying a $10,000 plus motorcycle isn’t exactly a practical decision anyway. But I think the question here isn’t, “Why buy a Harley Davidson?” but “Why do you buy any motorcycle?” You buy what appeals to you the most when you look at it, when you ride it, when you talk about it, when you think about it, etc. Why buy a CBR over the GSXR or R1? They’re all close on paper and probably exceed the limits of your riding ability, so you go with what looks best to you, is most comfortable for the riding you do, which brand you prefer, etc. It's largely an emotional decision. For a lot of people, a Harley Davidson is the first bike that comes to mind when buying a street/touring bike. If you’re a rider yourself, how could you not understand?

Or this one

I actually do not minde cuizers, they just are not my #1 choice at this time. As for HD, if I am honest with myself, I don't like them for the same reason I did not like the Ipod. It is what the masses have, I would lean more towards a Moto Guzzi or a Jap bike.


Is that new VMax a cruiser

Thanks for sharing your perspective, ST.

Super article, Dave! I really enjoyed it!