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Streetwise: Most American men want a Harley
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Friday, April 23, 2004 | Lauren Rudd

Posted on 04/23/2004 10:13:44 AM PDT by Willie Green

What do men want more than anything else? No, not that ... well maybe that also; but that is not the topic of today's column. According to a survey of 1,000 men nationwide, besides wanting more money and keeping their wives happy, six out of 10 men dreamed of owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Steve Piehl, Harley-Davidson communication director, said, "When asked why they had not bought one, there were some interesting answers such as, 'My wife won't let me,' 'I don't have the time' and the one that really drives us crazy, 'Don't they cost at least $20,000?' "

The survey revealed that 75 percent of the respondents thought a Harley was too expensive. Not true, says Harley. "What we're finding out is that people know owning a Harley is cool, but they just do not have the facts. If they did, they'd have one in their garage right now," Piehl said.

(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: harleydavidson; harleys; hd; motorcycles
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
The left turning cage is every biker's worst enemy.
101 posted on 04/23/2004 11:48:16 AM PDT by cyborg (The 9-11 commission members have penis envy.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
< nose_tilt=30>

"We are not amused."

< /nose_tilt>
102 posted on 04/23/2004 11:49:04 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
You're bad!
103 posted on 04/23/2004 11:49:12 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: MineralMan
Pip pip cherrio!
104 posted on 04/23/2004 11:49:50 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (From each according to his inability, to each according to his misdeeds - DNC Motto)
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To: xsrdx
Tell you the truth, I don't know either. I can answer for myself though. I've been riding mini-bikes and go-karts and junk since I was 5. My Uncle Duke was a real hot-rodder back in the late 50's and early 60's. My Uncle Ron had a 58 Chevy Impala convertible with a Connie Kit, 348 with trips, fender skirts, spolights and the like. Uncle Duke was always fooling around with it and his 56 Ford Fairlane, that he put a 312 T-Bird engine in. I was a little kid back then around 5 or 6 and was living with my grandmother while my mom was recovering from some heavy duty surgery, so Uncle Duke always made me help him.

He used to build mini-bikes and go-karts out of junk, but my grandmother would pitch a fit when I rode them, since they lived on 71st and Dicks Ave in SW Philly. I used to ride them in the Elmwood Ave park, but grandmom didn't care. My grandmother moved to Jersey in something like 64 or 65. The first thing Uncle Duke did when he got there was to buy a 62 Candy Apple Red Duo-Glide. He kept it in our garage and my mother hated that thing, but he loved it and used to take me for rides on it, I was 11 at the time and she used to stop him and make me get off. But that bike was in my garage every day for two years and I couldn't stay away from it. It could have been a Honda, Triumph, BSA or whatever and I would have felt the same way.

Ever since I saw Uncle Duke's Pan, I told myself one day I would get a Harley.

As for my Mom and bikes, she still hates them and she still tells me it's dangerous and I should sell it and I'm 50 now.

105 posted on 04/23/2004 11:49:56 AM PDT by Duke809
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To: Bikers4Bush
"Nice, I hope you get one some day.
"

Thanks. I had one, back in the 60's. Paid $500 for it. Rode it; sold it. I wish I had all the vehicles I owned back when I was a kid. I'd be retiring.
106 posted on 04/23/2004 11:50:14 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: MineralMan
I've seen pics and it's not nice. I like the ones who wear the helmets on TOP of their heads instead of on them *LOL*
107 posted on 04/23/2004 11:50:20 AM PDT by cyborg (The 9-11 commission members have penis envy.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
"Seems though, if you can ride competently, don't have a penchant for getting in over your head (particularly in corners) and don't ride under the influence, you'll miss most of these."

And that my friend is the long and short of it. Getting killed by an incompetent cager is not as common as everyone thinks.

I've had some close calls myself but since I wasn't boozing it and was keeping an eye on everything around me I was able to avoid them.

I'm not ashamed to say that I've taken a few motorcycle safety courses and doing so has saved my behind.


108 posted on 04/23/2004 11:50:21 AM PDT by Bikers4Bush (Flood waters rising, heading for more conservative ground. Write in Tancredo in 04'!)
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To: Bikers4Bush
Stay safe out there.
109 posted on 04/23/2004 11:51:55 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (From each according to his inability, to each according to his misdeeds - DNC Motto)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
He said thumper not BUTT UGLY PORKER!!!

LOL!!!!!!
110 posted on 04/23/2004 11:51:55 AM PDT by Bikers4Bush (Flood waters rising, heading for more conservative ground. Write in Tancredo in 04'!)
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To: IamHD
Hey, thanks. Not to mention it's a heck of a lot of fun to ride.

Black on one side, Harley orange on the other. Quite a head-turner 'round these parts.

My Buell

111 posted on 04/23/2004 11:52:04 AM PDT by Buell_X1-1200 (Isn't it spring yet?)
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To: Bikers4Bush
You mean Miss Ariel Square Four? :)
112 posted on 04/23/2004 11:52:42 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (From each according to his inability, to each according to his misdeeds - DNC Motto)
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To: Bikers4Bush
"I'm not ashamed to say that I've taken a few motorcycle safety courses and doing so has saved my behind.
"

When my dad gave me my first motorcycle when I was 16, he told me two things that are the keys to riding. First, he told me about countersteering. Second, he told me to always assume that every four-wheeler was going to try to kill me.

The second piece of advice saved my life many times.
113 posted on 04/23/2004 11:54:16 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
Woof, can you imagine the pain and suffering the painter went through?
114 posted on 04/23/2004 11:56:23 AM PDT by Bikers4Bush (Flood waters rising, heading for more conservative ground. Write in Tancredo in 04'!)
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To: Bikers4Bush
:) He said that he justed wanted to get out of there, and quick. lol Just a young guy in his early twenties. I had a sportster and every time I backed it up, I dropped it. It was just too top-heavy for me to handle. I got a great deal from my company and traded it in for a new fatboy. Now that, I can handle, because of the center of gravity of the tank. I only weigh 110 lbs., so it's enough for me. I wouldn't be able to handle a full dressed bike, although my instructor showed us how to pick up any bike if dumped, by ourselves, including a dresser.
115 posted on 04/23/2004 11:57:04 AM PDT by IamHD
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To: MineralMan
"....assume that every four-wheeler was going to try to kill me."

Exactly, they can't kill you if you're keeping an eye on them.
116 posted on 04/23/2004 11:57:41 AM PDT by Bikers4Bush (Flood waters rising, heading for more conservative ground. Write in Tancredo in 04'!)
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To: AgentEcho
Man, not the reliability myth again. Harley's are more reliable than a lot of metric bikes these days, due to self-adjusting valves that many metrics lack. Harley hasn't had reliability issues for 20 years now, but I see the myth still persists.
117 posted on 04/23/2004 11:59:28 AM PDT by Melas
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To: Bikers4Bush
"Exactly, they can't kill you if you're keeping an eye on them."

Yup. An older biker I knew back in those days gave me another piece of advice. "Stay clear of white Cadillacs." He was right, too.
118 posted on 04/23/2004 11:59:43 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: cyborg
"The left turning cage is every biker's worst enemy."

When ya collect on the lotto and get your Harley, always assume they will do the turn. That way you'll make it to the higher levels, where deer drop down out of the sky.

119 posted on 04/23/2004 12:01:22 PM PDT by spunkets
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To: Bikers4Bush
Ok, I'm 46, and have never owned, nor driven a motorcycle. Should I forget it and just buy the convertible car?
120 posted on 04/23/2004 12:02:19 PM PDT by brownsfan (I didn't leave the democratic party, the democratic party left me.)
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