I'm currently reading the book written by him titled, "The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club", and Barger admits that if he wasn't in the Hell's Angels he'd be riding either a BMW or a Honda. In another interview he talks about how he thinks Harleys are junk and that the balancing system on the 88V motor is "the kind of think a Caterpillar tractor had a hundred years ago". I find all of this very difficult to digest and, in a strange way, makes me lose some respect for my Harley. I know part of the lure and badassness of a Harley is knowing the history of them. On top of that, practically every Harley outfit you can buy these days is modeled after a Hells Angels type look. Whats the point in owning a Harley if the guy that is partially responsible for their popularity thinks they're junk?
2007-08-06 10:59:14 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
Check out the rest of this poster's questions. Each is a troll subject about Harleys. I'm no great fan of Harleys, but brand-baiting isn't cool.
2007-08-10 10:37:24 · answer #1 · answered by Thumprr 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Don't let what anyone else thinks about your bike change your mind about it. The point in owning a Harley is because you love Harley-Davidson, simply put.
Why did you initially buy a Harley? Was it because you wanted to be an Angel or because you liked the bike?
If you're riding because you want to look cool in that bad *** Angel black leather get up, then maybe you're not riding for the right reason. If, however, you ride because you love the sport, then why should it matter what Sonny Barger thinks?
I personally ride a Yamaha VStar. My husband rides a Fat boy. I love my "Yammerhammer" and wouldn't trade it for anything, and my husband feels the same way about his Harley.
I personally agree somewhat with Sonny, I think the 88 is a bit "clunky", and Harley's are somewhat prone to wanting repair. But, on the other hand, when was the last time that you saw a chopped Yammerhammer? lol
I do think that they're overpriced, but that's strictly a personal feeling. I felt that I could buy a whole lot more bike for the money by going with an import.
But overall, as long as you keep it shiny side up, does it really matter what you ride??????
2007-08-06 11:26:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Lets see - Sonny Barger, a man that's probably put 5 times as many miles on a Harley than any of the wanna-be Harley posers that post on Yahoo Answers, doesn't like Harley's? This guy has rode the equivalent of circling the globe 100 times over on a Harley and he has spent a lifetime with guys that all they ride is Harleys and he doesn't like them? So basically he's lived a life that revolves around riding a Harley and has spent almost every minute of every day around a Harley for the last 40+ years and he still doesn't like them? He obviously doesn't know what he's talking about.
2007-08-06 11:36:58 · answer #3 · answered by Studley Von Longshlong 4 · 3⤊ 3⤋
I am not a biker, but I read that book and a couple of others about the Angels.
The US military used the Harleys in WWII and Kores. The original members of the Angels were servicemen returning from WWII and Korea. They swore to use an American product, and, at the time, American cycles were the best in the world. The Angels made an oath to always use Harleys because they were easy to "chop" down and make the long, fast, comfortable bike they ride, and parts were easy to get.
Like American cars, Harley has had its ups and downs. The Japanese and germans now make bikes that are faster, plentiful and less clunky. The Angels can afford to have a shop work on bikes not.
You might like the History Channel's story of the Hells Angels or Hells Angels 69 by Hunter S Thompson.
2007-08-06 11:08:13 · answer #4 · answered by Buffy Summers 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
When Sonny said that he was thinking about a BMW or Honda he must have been talking about cars (since unfortunatly Harley does not make cars). There is no way the Hells Angles would ever start dressing up in the dorky one piece cordura "outfits" (with reflector patches) that most BMW and Goldwing owners wear. The Angles and most other Harley owners are rebels drawn to the open road and will never settle for anything less than the performance, power and sound of the mighty Harley V Twin.
2007-08-06 11:45:25 · answer #5 · answered by HD Rider 2 · 2⤊ 12⤋
Sonny Barger Hells Angels
2016-10-02 03:45:33 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sonny, explains that in the book, sure the Hells Angels popularized the Harley Davidson. but is that why you bought Harley because you are a wanna be Hells Angel. the product they rode back in the day of real bikers was inferior to what companys build today Sonny would bust your chops, listen to to the man. why don't you go down to the Oakland California Chapter on Foothill Blvd.and voice your opinion to the president.go to the source not yahoo answers
2007-08-06 13:24:45 · answer #7 · answered by dms 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Barger Harley
2016-12-12 11:26:16 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess Sonny must have had some bad experiences with Harley Davidson's.Obviously the man has a brain and can think for himself,and make intelligent choices without joining or buying into the "Harley groupie" crowd.
2007-08-06 11:18:06 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 6⤊ 2⤋
They started riding Harley's because they were cheap, war surplus and such, plus being easy to work on, and of coarse you can't forget American pride.
But Harley's compared to allot of bikes today and even in Sonny's day are relatively slow, I know I ride one.
Being an outlaw gang you need to be able to out-ride, see speed, Honda's of the day had inline 4 cylinders, again see speed. Plus the Harley's of the AMF era were JUNK. Volume not quality.
2007-08-06 15:21:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋