FReeper Motorcycle Hooligans - Your thoughts on this bike, pls

Victory Motorcycles ^ | 2/1/11 | marty_f

[tacticalogic]

Just because you love actually riding doesn’t mean it must be ugly to be considered real.

Agreed. But if you're really in it for the ride, you won't let the fact that it's ugly make you not want to ride it if it really is a good ride.

[Eagle Eye]

If your bike was worth as much as a Harley they would charge more. HD can charge what they do because their bikes are worth it.

HD can charge as much as they do as long as there are idiots willing to pay that price.

If not they would be forced to sell for less

At times they have been. Their market share is not rock solid and many people don't see the value in their machines.

The simple law of supply and demand.

And now HD finds itself as the Establishment and representative of the old fart generation, not the rebellious individual.

I can buy a bike today and get the same back when I sell it.

If so, only a retarded fool would pay new price for a used bike. But from what I have seen, your claim is fiction. HD buyers are told that by the dealership and then perpetuate the lie themselves. Unless you are talking about dealer garantees for trade in.

What other bikes can you say that about.

No other brand even talks about resale as a selling point. That is another thing 'I don't get' about HD...why a big part of their marketing includes and exit strategy for the purchaser.

As far as maintenance goes, I do take care of my bike. Change fluids, keep it clean and waxed. Nothin. g out of the ordinary. I have just under 100,000 miles with no problems. How many other brands can make that claim.

The real question is: How many HD owners can say that? LOL...I've read enough American Iron magazine letters to the editor to know that HD has not been the model of performance or reliability or carefree riding. I don't see British or "Rice Grinder" bikes on the side of the road in anywhere near the number of HD owners.

I admit, I do not know many people who own anything but a Harley, but the few I do know, know they have an inferior bike. They just do not want to spend the money it takes to get the best.

I think you really need to look at the definition of "best". And frankly, a lot of people put "value" into the equation.

Best? Best? Best what? Design? Construction? Performance? Ride?

Oh yeah, snob appeal and mystique! LOL

For a real Touring bike, how can you possibly disregard a Goldwing or BMW? For what someone spends on a base model 883 they could have had a larger bike with a better designed and constructed engine with superior drive train AND a few bits of bling on top of it. Kawasaki 900LT vs HD 883?

The 883 is a bike with no options for about $8500 (msrp). The 900 LT has bags, windshield, and stronger, water cooled engine for about $9300; a plain 900 goes for less than the 883. Or you can go to the 1200 Sportster for $10,500.

IMO one of the closest comparisons is the Roadstar and Heritage Softail

Similarly equipped, the Softail starts out 15% more and for the extra thousands you get a shorter, lighter, smaller machine with only 85% of the engine displacement and an old fashioned chain drive.

So if smaller, weaker and more expensive is your idea of best, then go for it!

I know an Escalade is by far better than a Trailblazer, buy I am not willing to spend the extra in order to get a better truck.

Bad comparison. The Escalade is a luxury SUV and is not meant for real off road work or recreation. The Tahoe isn't supposed to be a bling factory on wheels. Apples and Bananas.

I think I've said about all I'm going to say on this. In my opinion it is more about THAT one rides than WHAT one rides....and for me, value is far more important than supposed brand name status and the shallowness that implies.

Simply put: we have different values when it comes to what we ride and why.