Streetwise: Most American men want a Harley

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Friday, April 23, 2004 | Lauren Rudd

[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.

[elbucko]

He'd just slammed his crotch-rocket into the side of a mini-van. That pretty well put me off motorcycles.

A girlfriend of mine lost her 16 yr. old son in such an accident. He ran a stop sign and his body went through the back seat, but his head went over the top of the car. About 6mos later she visited me and I took her to a resort town to relax (yeah I know, don't say it, I was a gentleman). As the wine began to hit her, her eyes began the 1000yd stare, with tears.

Motorcycles are in the same risk class as guns. Going fast or bending roads won't kill you, it's carelessness and craziness that will. Like guns, one really needs to be taught to ride, even if one can "drive" a bike.

[OrioleFan]

I want a used UPS truck to fix up as a camper and hit the NASCAR trail.

[-YYZ-]

To be exact, most Harley engines in a reasonable state of tune tend to have torque curves that jump up to the peak value fairly early, and then drop fairly slowly up to the redline. But I know what you mean. My Suzuki DL1000 has a similar torque curve, but more stretched over a longer range of rpms. To a certain extent, the best of both worlds, strong performance down low (relative to the 10,000 rpm redline) and high-revving capability, yielding nearly 100 clean, quiet, reliable HP.

I don't care for peaky engines, they may be good for racing, but they're not all that much fun the rest of the time unless you're revving the dangly bits off of 'em.

[Range Rover]

I see the motor didn't escape your attention....pardon.

[archy]

If you look closely at the Blue Chief, you will see that it's not an Indian motor in there....that would be a Vincent Rapide motor.....a Vindian.

Precisely. Instant [more-or less] OHV power for the Indian chassis.

That might be one of the machines constructed as a design exercise the first time Indian was going to be resurrected (by Floyd Clymer, if I recall correctly).

Sort of, it's a repro, right down to the original Duco blue colour, of the '48 Indian sent to the Vincent Engineering facilities at Hertfordshire for fitting with a Vincent motor, but that was before Clymer had entered the pictute. Clymer's really the father of the Indian badged Royal Enfield vertical twins. The Indian Motorcycle Company of Chicopee Falls was still under the presidency of Ralph Rogers when the Vincent re-engining was contemplated, which got the weight down from 550 pounds to just under 500, and the spead up fronm around 85 with the Bonneville flathead to abround 110-115mph.

Vincent engineering chief and certified genius Phil Irving's thoughts and recollections on the conversion *here.*

Now just where do you find a decent Vincent engine in this day and age suitable for stuffing into an older Indian chassis without suffering the outrage of the collectors and purists....

-archy-/-

[MineralMan]

Vincent would be a good tattoo. I still would choose the Velocette for my tattoo, I think. There are so many.

But...my question is: Why would anyone put a Rapide engine in an Indian frame? Makes no sense to me. Why not preserve the original Vincent?

To me, it would be like dropping a Velo Thruxton engine in an AJS frame. You could do it, but why on earth would you?

[elbucko]

"Pleasing you are to getting good grades today!"

That's funny. LOL. Just goes to show one has to be careful about the wording of posts on FR. The witty are always "out thereeee".

[Conspiracy Guy]

Cobra or a Loach would be fine. I always liked the Cobra and I have a few dual hours in an MD500.

I am a fixed wing single engine land and seaplane rated private pilot, but I can dream.

[elbucko]

the price will plummet.

No, they'll sell 'em to the next generation at a slighty reduced price. I'd rather put my money in Harley's than in stocks.

[pt17]

You can rag on the Harley-Davidson all you want, but in the end, when all the facts are known, it is a the "All American Motorcycle" worthy of the title in all respects

Lighten up. They're a fine company and they make good motorcycles; however, a fair amount of "riders" I know are posers for whom the bike is a fashion thing?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Does the Egli Vincent come with an electric starter ? Something about kicking a 1,000 cc, high compression twin gives me pause...

[archy]

"a thousand miles a day"
Sorry pard, but my limit is 600.....and I prefer 400.

Personal best: 1477 miles, 00:02 26 May 1970 to about 23:55 26 May 1970, the day I was discharged from the Army, riding solo on a 1966 Triumph TR-6 with a 5.5 gallon *elephant tank with the parcel grid. I'd like to try for 2000 miles in a single day sometime, do-able with the right machine, I think, now that 55MPH speed limits have fallen by the wayside most places. Gas was around $0.25 a gallon then....

that said, if one has to log the miles with a lot of gear, HD is the way to go. I'd hate to make a 3 day trip on a rice burner......'cept one of the REALLY big ones.

I've done extended trips on a borrowed cop's Vulcan and was impressed. But all that weight provides stability and wind deflection resistance when out there on the road for long rides. Size matters......

[cyberaxe]

.....swwweeeeett.....

[Range Rover]

Besides, I like to cruise. I don't see any purpose in riding 100+ MPH. These young kids that I see on these light-weight bikes scare the heck out of me.

The "canyon racers" or whatever they like to call themselves just haven't learned that THE RIDE should be at least as important as the destination. I usually map out my routes beforehand but I'm NEVER angry if I get lost as long as I'm riding. Of course, if I'm using the bike as my commuting tool (more often than I use it to just ride about), I arrive with a better attitude...ALWAYS....even if I have an umnpleasant encounter with some moron is yapping on a cell while eating/putting on makeup/READING THE PAPER.

Keep the rubber side down...always.

[Conspiracy Guy]

accessories!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

You can all that stuff from UK suppliers. Pick up a copy of Classic Bike or subscribe by calling 636-488-3113 in Jonesburg, Missouri.

[pt17]

And if you're riding a thousand miles a day, carrying a passenger behind you, and pushing a windshield and large saddlebags, Harleys are still the bikes to beat.

When I am riding 1K/day with anything, I take my Goldwing, thank you.

[elbucko]

I am very familiar with the Vincent. There was a BSA dealer in San Pedro, CA, that serviced them. I had the occasion to ride a few. They are excellent for the years they were built, but by the time the Sportster came along, the "Vinnie" was out of production. It is a comparison that cannot be fairly made and do equal justice to both examples.

[archy]

I see the motor didn't escape your attention....pardon.

None necessary. But that's all the more evidence that the engine drops in there as if it belonged in that spot.

The Australian OHV *Tomahawk* engine designed for that role does too, of course, but I'd entertained thoughts of dropping one of them into one of the new production *California Chiefs.* Still might....

[elbucko]

Um, which land speed record?

If you're so smart, look it up yourself. I'm not your librarian. I do know I am right. By the way, you might also look up Calvin Rayburn.