Why are Harley riders so defensive?

Question

I swear I have never seen someone get into such a tizzie if one dares to speak of these bikes in anything but glowing accolades.Are these bikes some religious icon?Do they worship this graven image?Please dont give me that tired old cliche"If you have to ask....."thats such a cop-out.And yes,I have owned ,and sold,these because i just was not at all impressed with any aspect of them.

Answer 1

I've noticed the tizziness too, they really get hot boy. I don't appreciate them at all, as i've already said, but I do know a few HD riders I like, not all of em are pinheads, but lots of em are. The generally 'tude I don't like is this attitude like "Oh, you don't own a Harley, but you know we like you anyways, and someday you'll own a "real" bike". Like I'm supposed to be jealous of these "things" they ride. Their just a silly stupid old fashioned design, a throwback. Some old vintage things are OK, and I do like the old ones, but holy crap, they COULD make something other than this lumpy azzed old V twin crap. They TRIED with the 'Rod, and I rode one, but WHO decided to make the frame that wide around the tank? 5 miles was about all I could stand. THEN Buell decides to put it in a sport bike frame, like that ain't some Frankenstein.Well, I could go on. But I do appreciate that they do have somewhat more American content than say a Hondoid, and I don't wish anything bad on The Company, but just NOT for me.If they made something comparable to a BMW sport touring rig (WITH more than 2 cylinders (rolleyes)) I might even consider HD, but just nothing there at all and yes I agree a large percentage of HD owners have there head stuck so far up Willie G's azz that it ain't never likely to pop out of there.

Answer 2

Well, you dump 20,000 dollars into two wheels, half is buying the name and you'd be pissed to. Expecially when others are paying half as much and getting just as good a bike going with a metric.

I've owned Harleys also, and just wasn't satisfied with the quality versus price.
The way of life stuff is crap. The national average for mileage on a Harley is 3600 miles a year. How can you have a way of life when you only put ten miles a day on a bike. If people really feel that it's a way of life, time for a new life.

It is an object people, a pile of metal that anyone can buy with enough money.

I have known some bikers that were true bikers, lived on them 24/7. They rode HD but didn't have the attitude and the holier than thou crap. They didn't need it.

The old saying is "If you don't ride a Harley, you ain't sh*t". Well, what does that make you if you do ride one.

Answer 3

Anyone will defend their love when it is attacked. People all over have a passion (or several) that keeps them going and that is what makes us different and at the same time brings us together. I, for example, love all bikes and I constantly defend that love when another person refuses to see that passion as a part of my everyday life. "live and let live"

I am from Texas and I dislike Country Music. That statement only reflects my feeling and nothing about ANY music. How in the world could something like that happen? I know people all over the US that can't seem to get that one. They begin to stereotype me and say, "but you're from Texas, you have to like Country."

You follow?

Find a passion and live with your own decision of that passion. When you do, and then present it to others that don't agree with you or even have that same desire, you will begin to see the path unfold, "Do I stand up for what I love, or do I just remain quiet and let others dictate my feelings?"

Maybe this is more than you were looking for but I tell you that when you truly have a passion for something, it usually has to be defended.

Answer 4

What a narrow minded question. When anything negative is said about anything you personally love or enjoy, you take it as an insult. Most people then react defensively. It doesn't matter if its about Harleys, Fords, sports teams, or whatever. It's just a human defensive reaction.

By the way, I ride a Harley and think it's the best, and I don't care what anyone else thinks.

Answer 5

Dana d,you should get some help.not all hd riders are drunks.and to want to hurt them you have issues. as far as the riders liking their bikes whats wrong with that?? anyone who has a passion for what they own is really normal.ask a jap owner about his throwaway bike and he will praise it till the end.its a choice people make. and yes if you have to ask you wouldn't understand.no cop out just a fact. american made with pride. and yes most new riders are wanna be's,like doctors,lawyers, etc.

Answer 6

Well, I do congradulate HD for fulfilling the american dream of creating so much hype about something that it is worth a lot of money. I am an american and it sucks to face the fact that americans are bad manufacturers. I mean Buell? sucks. If only we could do something sporty without using tradition as an excuse for good bikes. IMO Harleys should cost a whole lot less, as they are very overpriced, but if people are willing to buy them then I guess they are doing alright. I personally hate HD motorcycles but I dont bash people. I have had an encounter with a mean guy who I went to chat with (I told him I liked his bike and he gave me this look like I knew nothing about bikes and blared his straight pipes right next to me and left). there are plenty of stupid sport bike riders but at least you get more bang for your buck!

Answer 7

I think there are two kinds of Harley Riders, the old crusty ones who created and live the outlaw biker style, and the new rich bikers who buy into the life style and want all the romantic lifestyle of the first group but don't want to give up their comforts. The first group gets testy about Harley's cause that's their life. The second group gets testy about Harley's because they need to keep up that image. I'm a Suzuki rider so I have no image to live up to.

Answer 8

It's not the glowing accolades.

It's the spew that flows forth instead. You, yourself have tossed as much offal as any other. For no apparent good reason, other than to rile folks. You don't have to like them, you are only asked to respect a persons choice, even if you happen to disagree with it. Ride what you want, think what you want, I don't care. But, if you throw enough rocks at me, you just might find one coming back.

Shut up and ride, if you can.

Answer 9

when I first started q&a i thought wow what a great source of info but you folks keep beating the same dead horse who gives a phuque everyone has the right to thier own wrong opinion and your not gonna change it so lets move on why does my 73 honda keep going through tires because I ride the sh*t out of it and no amount of logic will get me off of it money maybe but not logic so leave it be man and ride what ya want there are times when understanding just isn't as important as acceptance I tease the crap out of my harley buddies and they give it right back but let something bad go down and we all stand up

Answer 10

Harley riders defensive? I've only received emails from metric riders calling me an ****** because they didn't like the way I answered a particular question.