damn harley's!!!

Too bad Harley doesn't have to do the disclosure thing like the auto manufacturers do that disclose exactly how much of them is made in USA. From what I've seen, read, and talked to people who are in the motorcycle business say "A LOT" of Harley is "Made in China". How much a lot is, is hard to say, but a lot is a lot more than on our Kawasakis I'd wager to bet which is a big ZERO, and as one guy I know said "some stuff made in China is OK, but Harley uses the lowest quality rockshit Chinese crap they can get". I guess I don't mind the bikes as much as the riders sometimes and their attitudes. Back when I did the USA 4 corners tour in 90-91 Harley was the second highest number of motorcycles to finish the 10,000 mile ride distantly behind Honda at #1. At that time I think I was only the second Kawasaki to ever finish the ride. They must have some redeeeming quality I suppose.

I don't care what anyone rides. You get attitudes no matter what you are doing in life. Can't tell you how many times I have stopped for gas or food and had guys on Harley's come up and say how much the enjoyed a bike like mine when they first started riding.
The best one that happened to me was a guy walks up to me while I'm filling up and says "When you getting a real bike". I just toid him I enjoy the old Kaw. I asked him what he rides, figuring it would be a Harley. He says and I quote, I don't have a bike.
Enough said,,, LOL.

Here here, well stated!!

I think bikes are kool. I even wave to 50 cc scooters.

The Milkman wrote:

The best one that happened to me was a guy walks up to me while I'm filling up and says "When you getting a real bike". I just toid him I enjoy the old Kaw. I asked him what he rides, figuring it would be a Harley. He says and I quote, I don't have a bike.
Enough said,,, LOL.

They're usually the type that can't keep a dollar in their pocket so saving their money for a "real motorcycle" will never happen. Of course, they've drank the koolaid so getting a cheap Japanese motorcycle so they can at least ride is completely out of the question. I've met a few of those as well. They've generally paid a decent sum of money to be a walking billboard for HOG.

>>I gotta admit, if I could afford to buy/build a bike out of all USA made parts and labor I sure would. Who can afford that nowadays?<<

True, but harley doesn't, and hasn't made an American bike in many, many years. There are more American parts in a Ninja or Honda Goldwing than in a Harley. At least the "Jap crap" doesn't pretend to be something it isn't just for marketing. I rode H-Ds for 35 years, and now I ride "rice". Why? Because I like RIDING a bike, not just WORKING on it. I want modern (even 30 year old) technology rather than motor design from the 30s.

2M4Dale wrote:

All told I have seven fellows that I occationally ride with. Five of the seven ride Harleys. The other two (father and son) a Suzuki 1300 "busa" and a GXSR 600.

Everyone gets along with everyone else. There is a fair share of good natured ribbing going both ways but it's all in fun.

Oh and in my experience .... 9 out of 10 Harleys leak oil no matter how well maintained they seem to be. And starters are definately a major issue with them too !!!

Also, when I'm out riding I always wave at fellow riders no matter what they are riding ... The Harley guys always wave back .... I've noticed that the BMW guys are the ones who seem most snooty now-a-days. Go figure

I have to second that as well because I have yet to see one of them wave back. Riding their George Jetson sounding bikes they are a step ahead in time.

I had to laugh to myself a couple of weeks ago. Mary and I had ridden out to a local restaurant popular with bikers, and as we were parking the KZ, a couple came out to leave on the HD parked next to us. The lady half of the couple (a good looking 60ish), looked at our bike, said "wow, that's a cool looking vintage Kawasaki" and struck up a conversation with Mary about what year it was, how long had we owned it etc. Her partner wanted nothing to do with it, stuck his nose in the air and fired up the HD - efectively killing the conversation. Mary said "I bet he doesn't get any tonight"!

I found it odd that at the Mid Ohio Vintage races last year, the featured marque was HD, but there were relatively few Harleys there! I think that, for the most part, Harley riders are not MOTORCYCLE enthusiasts, they are Harley enthusiasts and prefer to live in their own, clone, world. I just leave 'em alone to get on with it, as long as they leave me alone too!

Beatpoet wrote:

Ohh come one, HD is not so bad.

It's not the hardware, it's the software that gets me.

A well-taken care of HD is a good solid ride. Many people can not or do not properly care for them, or perhaps they cannot afford to after paying the sticker price

We've all heard our share of 'rice burner' and 'jap bike,' I'm starting to think that some of these folks have been brainwashed by HD marketing or are just plain racist.

I gotta admit, if I could afford to buy/build a bike out of all USA made parts and labor I sure would. Who can afford that nowadays?

might i suggest you check where the parts on that made in america harley were actually made you might be suprised,just like all those american made appliances and cars built with japanese parts theyre so proud of!:laugh:

Limey wrote:

Her partner wanted nothing to do with it, stuck his nose in the air and fired up the HD - efectively killing the conversation. Mary said "I bet he doesn't get any tonight"!

The moment of realization when all of the money spent and all of the time carefully polishing is all for naught as you're still a grain of sand on the beach of life.

I found it odd that at the Mid Ohio Vintage races last year, the featured marque was HD, but there were relatively few Harleys there! I think that, for the most part, Harley riders are not MOTORCYCLE enthusiasts, they are Harley enthusiasts and prefer to live in their own, clone, world. I just leave 'em alone to get on with it, as long as they leave me alone too!

I got the latest issue of Motorcycle Classics yesterday and note there is a full two page HOG ad near the front along with several other "lifestyle" ads I've not seen in it before. While it's good that they're picking up advertisers, the "lifestyle" ads don't square with the photos of vintage/classic enthusiasts. The vintage/classic crowd seems to be miles away from "lifestyle".