Harley Davidson, a way of life?

[Ferrantelli]

Today a Harley rider told me he would not ride anything else. I said I have never owned a Harley, I prefer the Venture. But that I would ride anything with two wheels and a motor. He replied that he would never get on one of those pointing at my Venture. I told him that I enjoy the silly grin that riding puts on my face:big-grin-emoticon: and not what people on the side of the road think of me or my bike. At that point he went all philosophical on me, and said "It's not just a ride but a way of life!" I do not get it and felt a bit naive. I guess after 32 years of riding and 16 bikes I am still a novice.

[Squidley]

His loss with an attitude like that....just smoke him with the Venture and let him take that to heart

I guess I'll take the "lesser bike" and just keep smiling

[RSTDRIDER]

I've run into a few of those myself. I just tell em they are right and in fact 95% of the harleys made scents 1945 are still on the road! The rest made it home! And my way of life isn't sittin on the side of the road hopin a " rice burner":Venture: will stop and help!

[Guest Vermincelli]

RIDING is a way of life.

 

Hanging out with a bunch of people wearing overpriced Harley logoed accessories talking about Harleys is a social club.

If I want elitist snobs, I'll go hang out at the local country club.

[Kregerdoodle]

Well if he thinks that sitting on the side of the road, bumming "Metric" Tools for his " All American Heritage" is a way of life, let him have it.. I would rather be riding !! Nuf said..

[Mariner Fan]

It's too bad that he bought into all the hype. Funny how some folks don't understand that motorcycles are meant to be ridden.

 

It's the adventure of the ride, not so much what you ride that's important.

[DRAGIN TAIL]

In the past I owned a 88 FLHS, a 96 and 97 Road Kings and a 92 Ultra Classic Sidecar. Harley now puts out a good, reliable product. All motorcycle dealers have service departments. They all break down. I now own a 83 Venture and also like it. It's different but likeable. There are Jerks riding all kind of bikes. I ignore the one's who are jerks, don't have time for them whether they ride Harley's or Hondas or Urals. Life is too short and I'm not going down to that level. My father died 20 years too early from illnesses contracted fighting the Japanese in the Pacific Theater. If I can forgive them for that, I guess I can also forgive some blow hard for shooting off his mouth about American Iron or another guy bragging how his Rice Burner is so fast. I went down to the Weiss Lake Meet and Eat that Eck sponsored last weekend and met alot of nice Venture Riders. It wasn't any different than similar Harley meetings I've attended in the past. It's always the 5%ers that try to ruin things for the rest of us if you let them. Ride Safe and I hope to meet alot of you in Arkansas next August. Ronnie

[Bubber]

In the past I owned a 88 FLHS, a 96 and 97 Road Kings and a 92 Ultra Classic Sidecar. Harley now puts out a good, reliable product. All motorcycle dealers have service departments. They all break down. I now own a 83 Venture and also like it. It's different but likeable. There are Jerks riding all kind of bikes. I ignore the one's who are jerks, don't have time for them whether they ride Harley's or Hondas or Urals. Life is too short and I'm not going down to that level. My father died 20 years too early from illnesses contracted fighting the Japanese in the Pacific Theater. If I can forgive them for that, I guess I can also forgive some blow hard for shooting off his mouth about American Iron or another guy bragging how his Rice Burner is so fast. I went down to the Weiss Lake Meet and Eat that Eck sponsored last weekend and met alot of nice Venture Riders. It wasn't any different than similar Harley meetings I've attended in the past. It's always the 5%ers that try to ruin things for the rest of us if you let them. Ride Safe and I hope to meet alot of you in Arkansas next August. Ronnie

 

What Ronnie said !!!

"There are Jerks riding all kind of bikes. I ignore the one's who are jerks, don't have time for them whether they ride Harley's or Hondas or Urals. Life is too short... "

 

 

I ain't got time for thier BS either. The bike don't matter as long as you like it. If you don't like my bike please keep you silly A$$ comments to your self, That is all I have to say to them.

That or "Go lay down by your bowl will ya" !

I have had a bunch of different makes and there was only one that I wouldn't ever want to own again. But thats just me.

Keep on getten on!

Steve

aka Bubber

[Yama Mama]

The other night we were at a community festival with a bunch of bikes parked in the lot. We were looking at all of them, and then we saw a friend of ours from church. He has a very nice Suzuki Intruder which looked really nice. There was a newer Road King parked next to his bike. He actually was almost drooling over it.

We told him his bike looks just as good, but that did not fly. He said he always has wanted a HD and that is the only thing that will do.

We asked if he ever has had a problem with his Intruder. He said, Oh no it is great, it always runs great. Very nice ride.

So we just stared at him. I think that tells it all.

Mama:8:

[1BigDog]

Someone at work also gave me that Harley line. I told him that I guess ill just be a very lonely but happy biker. Gotta give the Motor Company their due. They sure do know how to market a product along with an image. At least their product is a quality bike, expensive, but well made too. :mo money:

[YamaGeezer]

Someone at work also gave me that Harley line. I told him that I guess ill just be a very lonely but happy biker. Gotta give the Motor Company their due. They sure do know how to market a product along with an image. At least their product is a quality bike, expensive, but well made too.

 

 

I personally know a lot of HD owners who would disagree with you on that. Go ask the owners of '07 and '08 HD bikes how much more money they had to fork out on top of the price of the bike to get it cool enough to ride. Go read some of the HD forums and you'll see that not every HD owner is cherishing the "way of life." Believe it or not, oil leaks are STILL common on new HD bikes! I know this because I did some research. Wife and I stopped at the HD shop in Daytona and I fell in love with a white Ultra Classic there. Thought seriously about trading, but didn't until I could look a little closer at what UC owners are saying. What they're saying is: Dude - keep your Venture! I'm hearin' them loud and clear.

[Nighthawk II]

I've been given that HD line many times. I just answer them with a short, sweet line..."I've ridden for most of my life, and I've ridden ALL brands. I know what kind of bike that I want to ride".

[Schlepporello]

RIDING is a way of life.

 

Hanging out with a bunch of people wearing overpriced Harley logoed accessories talking about Harleys is a social club.

If I want elitist snobs, I'll go hang out at the local country club.

Here here!

I've never had the hankerin' for an HD and hopefully never will. They're built too heavy and in my opinion still too outdated. And for the price of a single Harley, I can keep myself riding a decent rice burner for a loooooooooooong time.

And who really wants to wear black all the time and be forced to keep that mean look on their face? You're supposed to enjoy driving.

[Tombo]

I have both a 2007 RSV and a 2003 Harley Ultra Classic. I got the RSV first and love it. I took it on a weekend trip to Marysville OH and was comfortable the whole time. I picked up the Harley from a friend at the beginning of the summer because I ride with a club that is all Harley. They are nice guys and several of them admired my RSV when I rode with them last summer (one even admitted that he previously rode a Yamaha RSTD). I enjoy riding the Harley in town because it is a little more maneuverable, but for long distance comfort it will always be the RSV. One advantage of the Harley is that you can usually find accessories to personalize it. Ironically, I purchased the Harley license plate light kit for both rides but it only fits on my RSV because my Harley has a removable trunk kit on it and lights don't fit. Bottom line is that people who say they will only ride one make of bike are limiting their opportunities for a lot of fun.

 

Ride on....

 

Tombo

[1BigDog]

I personally know a lot of HD owners who would disagree with you on that. Go ask the owners of '07 and '08 HD bikes how much more money they had to fork out on top of the price of the bike to get it cool enough to ride. Go read some of the HD forums and you'll see that not every HD owner is cherishing the "way of life." Believe it or not, oil leaks are STILL common on new HD bikes! I know this because I did some research. Wife and I stopped at the HD shop in Daytona and I fell in love with a white Ultra Classic there. Thought seriously about trading, but didn't until I could look a little closer at what UC owners are saying. What they're saying is: Dude - keep your Venture! I'm hearin' them loud and clear.

 

My HD friends are sure cherishing the HD way of life. More power to them. I even congratulate them on their choice of bike, now that they are on a fixed income..LOL.

By the way, my buddy bought a pure white Ultra Classic from Daytona....wonder if its the same one....:mo money:I call his bike "Snow White" and dubbed him the "One Big Dwarf":smile5:

[roadwarrior]

I have had a HD and may have another in the future but the bottom line he is correct for many when he says it is a way of life.It is an egocentric way of life but it is a way of life.I have a young banker in my neighborhood that has a Harley.He was sporting a new POW-MIA jacket and helmet the other day and being a Viet-Nam vet I had to ask why he selected the jacket and helmet and he said"it is that Harley way of life look I am looking for"The reason the Harley riders say that is they are more interested in the appearance that actual riding.I doubt many of them would ride if it wasnt for the harley way of life.

[Venturous Randy]

I have heard that Harley sells more in clothes than in bikes.

An old friend of mine I see once or twice a year has several Harleys and has trailered one to Sturgis several times. We were talking about bikes and he admitted that for dependability, you can not beat a Jap bike, but he would not have one. He made the comment that he did not want to offend me, but he stated "You ain't s*** if you don't ride a Harley". I stated "Maybe I don't want to be s***." I think he finally got it.

 

RandyA

[CrazyHorse]

Having experience with several Harleys I'd rather have a 2nd Gen and thats coming from a 1st Gen nut. Harley is also recalling many 07-08 bikes due to fuel line problems. A friend of mine has his new Ultra Glide with just about every option you can put on it numbered paint job, Harely radar detector,Harley Gps which felloff while he riding, every LED imaginable I think he has 40G's in this bike total and then he trailers it to Sturgis. Whats the point I guess to look good I'd rather ride a bike then look at it. The only Harley I would consider is the Road Glide if they put the Vrod motor in it.

Edited August 11, 2008 by CrazyHorse

[Grey Fox]

It's not what you ride, it's that you ride and enjoy it! I can't say that my RSTD is in the forefront of technology. But, it is a good dependable ride.

[Older...]

The last Harley’s the wife and I owned were 1998's. She had an 883 Sporty and I had a Road Glide. It was one of the best tour bikes I’ve ever ridden and enjoyed. The 80 CI Evolution was a great engine and I’d buy another one today. HD went with the "bigger is better" ... to 88 CI and now 96 CI or whatever. I say bigger is not always better. In HD’s case their new biggers are definitely Not better; in my opinion. Not Harley bashing, just stating that I am not even looking at any HD for me. Now the wifester would consider another Sporty and thinks they are actually improved over her previous ones. Note they are still 883 and 1200, but with improvements that count, at least to her as a possible customer.

[Ky. Rider]

As I have said before, some people ride Harleys because they like them just like I like my RSV but then some people ride Harleys because they don't have enough self confidence to ride anything else, even if they liked it better. I left that kind of peer pressure in Viet Nam!

[halfwitt]

I live in York County, PA - home of HD Final Assembly Plant. In York County, if it aint a crotch rocket, it's an HD. I get a lot of comments from HD riders. Most are good. The people I know well who ride don't care what somebody is riding. All are welcome. I have run into a few people that made comments on my "HD Wannabe". I've corrected them. It's an HD Donteverwannabe.

[jpgivens]

My uncle owns a Harley dealership in Colorado and also sells Yamaha. I went riding with him earlier this year in Arizona and was continually told by him how nice my Royal Star Tour Deluxe is. I called him before buying it as I wanted to get a feel for the reputation and maintenance before buying. He insisted on the Royal Star over anything else. This coming from a Harley Dealer. I think Harley owners consider it a way of life because they spend so much of their time at the shop it just feels like home - plus it gives them the excuse to buy more HD clothing while they wait.:rotf:That being said, I rent Harley's once or twice a year when I go out of state and love them. As long as I'm not paying to repair the beast, I'm good with them.

 

Today a Harley rider told me he would not ride anything else. I said I have never owned a Harley, I prefer the Venture. But that I would ride anything with two wheels and a motor. He replied that he would never get on one of those pointing at my Venture. I told him that I enjoy the silly grin that riding puts on my face:big-grin-emoticon: and not what people on the side of the road think of me or my bike. At that point he went all philosophical on me, and said "It's not just a ride but a way of life!" I do not get it and felt a bit naive. I guess after 32 years of riding and 16 bikes I am still a novice.

[Yammer Dan]

I've rode both. Quit riding Hardleys because I was tired of sitting beside the road waiting for someone to come and get me. And 56 Pan chopper was stolen had a little to do with it. Grabbed my first Yamaha because i had nothing to ride and was hooked. Worry free riding!! didn't know what that was. Won't say I won't own another Hardley. If I win Powerball I have a Ultra Classic with all the bells and whistles sitting in the front lawn to impress everybody. But if you want to see what I'm really riding look around back and you'll probally find a few 1st Gens!!

[PBJ]

I've loved watching the progress Harley has made since the eighties. There are some very beautiful machines coming from the Motor Company. ( The Road glide is one of my favorites). But the price of membership has always kept me away. Many Harley riders won't ride anything else because their afraid they'll lose all their "Friends' if they do or worse they might actually like another make.

 

I fall into that groups that loves anything with two wheels and a motor. I don't bike bash because all bikes add to the evolution of or machines and our sport. Many with the attitude either don't understand Harleys history or the history of motorcycling in general. Thats a shame, they could take a greater pride by knowing how Harleys and other makes have all helped to make each other better and in knowing that be a little less insecure and therefore take even greater pride in their ride.