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.

[IamHD]

Thank you...she was only 39.

"My Bonnie likes to "mark the pavement" also...it's more uncommon to find one that doesn't."

That's what my husband said. That's the only thing wrong with it, though.

My husband isn't a purist, either, but if we're riding, he doesn't take his Triumph out, he uses his Dyna-Convertible. Now me, on the other hand, there is just something about a Harley...maybe the sound. 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.

[uglybiker]

[elbucko]

5. They all come with a wet spot on the back seat.......factory standard:)~

Yes, they certainly do....;^)

[archy]

Bring back the old Indians and I'd be very happy.

Concur. Building the new ones to take a reworked Harley design motor was the wrong way to fly entirely. But an improvemant over the old Roadmaster 80" Chief flathead engine is indeed indicated, and there are a couple of real swell possibilities. That said, I'm happy starting with a chassis built in the year I was born and going on from there, but that's not an option for younger riders.

[freedumb2003]

My Grandad used to take her to school on his Indian (a real one)

"Pleasing you are to getting good grades today!"

[archy]

Uhm, that's not a Harley.

And lets hope he stays away from Harleys, lest he take some decent machinery with him when he goes over the high side.

[elbucko]

Well, they can be made fast, but not very fast. A tricked out Sportster can easily do 140,

I beg you're friggin pardon! A single engine Sportster held the land speed record of over 260 mph for over 25 years. Not very fast, indeed.

[archy]

I will say they don't leak much anymore, fortunately, and the newer bikes do exhibit improved quality and fit/finish. Still, next to a Honda or BMW, they look tremendously unrefined.

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.

[fightin kentuckian]

I agree, how bout an Apache "Air King" with a chrome 30mm cannon and leather fringes on the end of the blades. Cooooooool.

[archy]

A machine that is in your driveway and that you can't throw all kinds of crap in is useless...

.....i keep plenty of crap in mine.....

.....and even keep crap on the top of it.....

Me too.

[Tailback]

I keep waiting for resale values to plummet, when people figure out they've been duped, but it never happens.

As soon as the baby boomers currently going through mid-life crisis get too old to ride, the price will plummet.

[Mariner]

"a thousand miles a day"

Sorry pard, but my limit is 600.....and I prefer 400.

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.

Size matters......

[Range Rover]

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.

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).

[elbucko]

I'd probably pick Kawasaki, the brand of my first bike as a kid and 4 more since.

I understand your answer. If I had a tattoo, it would "Barney" in a heart, but he was my first Quarter Horse (some things are equal to Harley's).

I once posed that question to my neighbor who owned a Yamaha. It is very hypothetical. "What if a gang held you hostage and you had to choose a tattoo of a motorcycle to live with all you life. Would it be Yamaha or Harley. He got the point. It is similar to being a Marine. Unique unto itself, and beyond money value. No, I am not a Marine, but I respect those that were or are. They are the H-D's of the US military.

[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.

[T.Smith]

Nah, 'cause then the X'ers like myself will finally have enough money to buy them. The cycle will repeat itself (no pun intended).

[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.

[-YYZ-]

"I beg you're friggin pardon! A single engine Sportster held the land speed record of over 260 mph for over 25 years. Not very fast, indeed."

Um, which land speed record? The iron-barrel push-rod engined full streamliner class? There's dozens and dozens of speed record classes, some of them extremely narrow.

[rightwingcrazy]

I want a skycar

[Range Rover]

Baxter...yeah, bought some parts from them but never had the pleasure of strolling through that Alladin's Cave.

I have a couple of BSA's gathering dust too. Been collecting parts for YEARS to resurrect whichever I can over the coming winters. The Bonnevilles keep one busy chasing minor repairs and hunting down the correct bits (speedos are costing more than I paid for the ENTIRE BIKE).

Used to be that you could pick up a Bonnie, Trophy, Tiger, Commando, Atlas, Lightning or a Thunderbolt for under a grand running. Last bargain I saw was a Dommie-engined chopper...Purple Paisley, a girder that was at least 7 feet long and a white button-tufted seat. Hadn't seen the road since 1970.....$500.00.

I know of a Fastback and a Hi-Rider tucked away but passed-up a Rocket3 a year ago for $2.5k....the woman at home would have stabbed me in my sleep.