[elbucko]

they can't hold a candle to Japanese bikes.

Yeah, but if by circumstance, you had to have a tattoo on your arm with the name of a motorcycle in order to save your life, would you pick Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, or Harley-Davidson?

I rest my case.

[-YYZ-]

I'm not sure I understand your question, but If I had to pick one bike brand to tattoo on my body (highly unlikely - I have no tattoos and if I did I doubt it would be a corporate brand), I'd probably pick Kawasaki, the brand of my first bike as a kid and 4 more since. BTW, I'm not American, so the fact that HD's are (partly) American-made has no real significance for me.

You know, though, if when I get old I want a touring cruisers, I might well go for a Harley. I think Harley has the best integrated and overall well though-out cruising tourers, with good wind protection and decent ground clearance.

[archy]

Yeah, but if by circumstance, you had to have a tattoo on your arm with the name of a motorcycle in order to save your life, would you pick Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, or Harley-Davidson?

I rest my case.

None of the above.

[jimt]

Besides the mystique thing, there's a quantifiable aspect of Harleys that make them fun to ride - their torque curve.

A typical Japper (like my old Honda 750) has a torque curve that starts out quite low, builds in a fairly straight line to a peak, then slopes down again. Approximate shape is a steep wave.

The Harley's torque curve is shaped like a mesa. It increases off idle very rapidly to a peak, and just stays flat for a loooooong time, then drops off again very rapidly.

The consequence of this is that when you turn up the wick acceleration is smooth and immediate. On the Japper you've got to get the revs up and as they come up the rate of acceleration increases. Not so on the Harley - acceleration remains constant throughout the useable RPM range.

It makes for a unique feel no other bike really has. And very comfortable cruising.

[MarkL]

Yeah, but if by circumstance, you had to have a tattoo on your arm with the name of a motorcycle in order to save your life, would you pick Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, or Harley-Davidson?

Sorry, it would be Ducati!

I rest my case.

You lose! lol

Mark