What's so great about Harley Davidsons?

Question

Why are Harley Davidsons known as the cream of the crop, the ultra-cool in cruising motorbikes? Is it just a branded thing?

Answer 1

It's the sound and the name

Answer 2

Your first statement scares the hell out of me. I have seen too many people repeat exactly that right before they got out of control. I don't know that I believe that just on it's own merit. Comfortable for long rides, not a touring bike, Harley less than $10,000. I've got nothing for that price. Add another $10,000, and don't worry so much about a longer comfortable cruise without getting a touring model, and you have a wide variety to choose from. I would go a Crossbones given the choice. Once you are an active duty Marine, you will have to tell your chain of command you intend to purchase a motorcycle. After the financial counseling to make sure you can afford it at your pay, you can purchase one with your commands approval. You will have to attend at minimum two training courses before you can get your license. The first is the basic riders course, and the second is the experienced riders course. If you go the sport bike style route you willhave to attend a third course from the Keith Code school for sports bikes offered in our area every quarter. At your first regular unit you will be on Force Protection Program which makes you automatically high risk when you have been in the unit for less than one year so your movements wil be pretty limited. You will have to check in with a mentor every day, but should have plenty of people around that ride. You are limited on a regular weekend to no more than 250 miles away from your base, and no more than 450 on a 4 day weekend. If you are part of an east coast unit like Lejeune you will have to fill out a liberty package every weekend that is more than 48 hours detailing a safe liberty plan.

Answer 3

Compared to a Japanese motorcycle, Harley Davidsons are:
1. Overweight
2. Underpowered
3. Overpriced
4. Can't corner
5. Leak oil
6. Sound like they need a tune-up and
7. The engine looks like an air compressor

I ride a Goldwing 1500 to work every day, 90 miles round trip. It is REAL transportation. Harleys are weekend toys. My bike has 51,000 miles on it. My co-worker's Harley has 34,000 miles, and it's on its third engine. Most Harleys won't ever go 51,000 miles, 'cause they mostly sit in the garage under a cover. If they do make it that far, they will probably need an engine rebuild.

I rented an Ultra Classic for a weekend to compare it to my 'Wing. It was a 1380 engine, so mine is a little bigger, and a lot faster. I don't know why there is a 'y' in the exhaust from the rear cylinder, unless it's to concentrate heat under the rider's crotch. And, I got a free vibrator ride at every stop light!!

Answer 4

They are still using technology from the 1930's... They don't do any Research/Development. The biggest thing they did was to make the engine "rubber-mounted". There are other brands of bike from America like Victory, which are so nice that they basically eat a Harley, poop it out, and then feed the poop back to the Harley, wait for the Harley to poop out it's own eaten poop of itself and then make the Harley eat it again...

Buell makes a cool bike, but they still vibrate enough to make your hands/butt go numb after three miles

Answer 5

i have to agree with some people here. its the sound and the name...but thats already it. there is nothing more to a harley. the Japanese bikes have won over the market many years ago. yes..harleys are indeed built like ****. if you're goung for durability, i suggest a nice classy bike like the Yamaha 1600 Dragster or Vulcan 1500. in the end its all about looks...so why dont invest in something that looks just as good but is MUCH MORE durable?!

Answer 6

the sound and the feel set a harley apart. i've had a slew of jap bikes, but only a year or two ago i purchased a '75 1000cc sportster. i rebuilt it, easily since it is primitive (especially my old bike). air cooled simplicity that delivers a feeling i've never felt before. imposter japanese bikes are cheap, but there is an unexplainable reason why they don't feel/ ride the same.

Answer 7

They make a lot of noise for no other reason other that to make the douchebag riding it feel like a manly macho man and annoying everybody else for a 3 mile radius who has to listen to it.

They are overpriced, overhyped, primitive American low tech crap layered in chrome. Bikers are so cliche now it isn't even funny. Every homo has a Harley wallet and every accountant with a $20,000 Harley thinks he's born to be wild.

It's all so incredibly contrived and gay that I actually feel embarassed for the people who think it's cool. It is so beyond played out now it's not even funny.

The last time it actually WAS cool was probably 30 years ago. Now it is so common that there is nothing unique or rebellious about any of it anymore.

Answer 8

I won't comment on this tried out subject. But I agree with Harley Redneck.

But RC - It wasn't Al Gore who spelled potato with a "E" it was Dan Quayle . Now everybody knows you are an idiot!

Answer 9

A Harley guy will tell you, "If you have to ask you wouldn't understand". I have owned a couple, you know speed, handling, braking, and all the other measures of performance can be different from satisfaction and what I call just plain fun factor.
Try one out, see if you like it.

Answer 10

awesome machine parts + wicked + brand + ridiculous price + pride + custom = Harley Davidson

Answer 11

Because they are real motorcycles.Everyone that doesn't own one wants to.Especially the crybabies that run them down,They don't even know what they're talking about.I've been riding Harleys for 31 years and have never been disappointed.It seems the only people that are disappointed are the ones that don't ride one.If you can figure that out,let me know too.