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.

[spunkets]

...and some buy them, because they love to ride and that's the scooter that twinkles their eye.

[Melas]

OK, OK, I'll concede the reliability issue (again). They do tend to require somewhat more regular weekly maintenance, though, as I imagine you'd agree. See my earlier post about maintenance-free features that I do envy cruiser riders in general.

Weekly? My maintenance schedule is pretty straight forward. Check the oil daily, check tire pressure weekly, change the oil every 2500 miles, change the primary oil every 5000 miles. That's it. That's all I do.

I guess it does come down to cruiser's vs sport bikes. I confess. I don't get the attraction to sport bikes. Then again, I never understood the attraction to sports cars either. Speed just isn't my thing.

I rode a Honda 919 for 70 miles or so, last Summer. How do you guys tolerate that riding position for long? I was sore for days? I'll take my 12" baby apes and reclined riding position any day.

I really didn't mean to come on as strongly anti-Harley as I sounded, but I've just gotten peeved with people with this "If it ain't a Harley it's crap" attitude. FWIW, I really like the look of the '04 sportsters, which are smoother and more powerful, if also heavier (if it involves motorcycles, I'll read about it, even if'n it ain't my exact cup of tea).

I understand completely. I really don't mean to come across as anti-Japanese as I sound. I've actually owned more Honda's than I have Harley's. Granted most were dirt bikes when I was a kid, but still.

I did own a Rebel 450 for a couple years, but it was just too small and underpowered. Amazing that the Rebel 250 is still around and the 450 is gone.

As for the '04 Sportsters. They ruined them. As a true Sportster afficianado, the Sportster is more. The new Sportster are now more of a dyna-lite than a Sportster. Since Sportsters are no more, my next bike will be a Dyna Low-Rider rather than any of the Dynettes.

[-YYZ-]

If this man had been wearing a helmet he could have ended up a quadrapalegic and been a burden on society.

Yes, or he might have walked away from the accident with nothing more than road rash and contusions, or maybe some broken bones. Hitting your head on the pavement is exactly the type of impact helmets are meant to protect from.

[-YYZ-]

I guess it does come down to cruiser's vs sport bikes. I confess. I don't get the attraction to sport bikes. Then again, I never understood the attraction to sports cars either. Speed just isn't my thing.

I rode a Honda 919 for 70 miles or so, last Summer. How do you guys tolerate that riding position for long? I was sore for days? I'll take my 12" baby apes and reclined riding position any day.

Well, there are more kinds of bikes than just cruisers and sport bikes. My bike, a Suzuki DL1000, has a very neutral and comfortable riding position, IMO much more comfortable than any cruiser, as it doesn't place all your weight on your butt. As for the 919, it's really sized for smaller riders. I'm folded up like a pretzel on it. I'll agree that most race replicas and sport bikes are not very comfortable, at least to me. I think the guys who say they find them comfortable are lying :) .

[Melas]

Well, there are more kinds of bikes than just cruisers and sport bikes. My bike, a Suzuki DL1000, has a very neutral and comfortable riding position, IMO much more comfortable than any cruiser, as it doesn't place all your weight on your butt. As for the 919, it's really sized for smaller riders. I'm folded up like a pretzel on it. I'll agree that most race replicas and sport bikes are not very comfortable, at least to me. I think the guys who say they find them comfortable are lying :) .

The V-Strom is pretty close to a sport bike to me. Maybe not as aggressive a riding position as a race replica, but your feet are still more behind than under you, and you're still leaning slightly forward.

Uh...how small a rider is the 919 allegedly built for? I'm 5'1", as in sixty-one inches, and I felt like I was folded up. That's just wrong.

Cruiser egos suit me fine. Hell, the first thing I do when I buy one is put baby apes on it. I like to sit upright and slightly reclined.

Who knows, I might even skip the dyna and make my next bike a geezer-glide and be done with it.

[-YYZ-]

By the terminology of the motorcycle industry, the V-Strom is not in any way a sport bike. As for my feet, they're ahead of my butt, and that's plenty far forward. Personally I don't know how people can be comfortable on or properly control a bike with their feet stuck way out in front of them. Really, to say that my bike is anything like a sport bike is laughable, and mostly says something about how narrow your frame of reference is. I sit bolt upright. Your average sportbike these days has your body leaning forward about 45 degrees and forces you to carry a lot of your upper body weight on your hands.

And unless you've got a windshield, I don't know how you can be comfortable riding at any sort of speed hanging off the bars.

BTW, my insurance company does not consider my bike a sport bike. I find it comfortable enough to have done an 1100 mile day and then get up the next day and do 600 miles.

[Melas]

By the terminology of the motorcycle industry, the V-Strom is not in any way a sport bike. As for my feet, they're ahead of my butt, and that's plenty far forward. Personally I don't know how people can be comfortable on or properly control a bike with their feet stuck way out in front of them. Really, to say that my bike is anything like a sport bike is laughable, and mostly says something about how narrow your frame of reference is. I sit bolt upright. Your average sportbike these days has your body leaning forward about 45 degrees and forces you to carry a lot of your upper body weight on your hands.

Ok fair enough. We just see things differently. Harley offers bikes with both mid and forward controls. I don't care for forward controls much either. I have highway pegs if I want to put my feet out front for a bit.

I guess you might sit bolt upright on a V-Strom if you're extremely tall, and have extremely long arms. The only guy I know who rides one is about 6', and he's leaning slightly forward.

Hanging off the bars? You can't hang off baby apes, unless you're Billy Barty. Baby apes are just that, baby versions of apes.

Of course I have a windshield. I'm over 25. Seriously, I gave in to the comfort a windshield years and years ago. I won't ride without one now.

Lastly, if you're comfortable, that's all that matters. There aren't enough of us out there on 2 wheels. I live for those rare opportunities when I can put in a 1,000 mile day, and it sounds like you're of the same mindset, so hat's off to you.

[-YYZ-]

Cheers, same here. If you're riding a bike, you're cool with me, whether your feet are below you, out in front, or behind you.

I'm 6'3" and long in the arms, which is one of the reasons I ride the Strom. Most other bikes are too small for me to get comfy on. Another guy I know who rides one is 6'6" and even finds his Strom a bit tight in the seat-peg relationship.

My last bike (a Kawi ZRX 1100 "naked bike") only had a small headlight fairing, so that the slight forward in combination with the wind was just right when moving at a reasonable speed. I can't say I find cruiser riding positions comfortable for very long personally, but like you said, if it works for you that's all that matters.

Keep your right hand cranked and the shiny side up.

[Badeye]

"Bah, you're 20 years out of date. Not a lot of tinkering to be done on modern HD's. EFI with appropriate sensors, multi-curve electionric ignitions, self-adjusting valves, kevlar belts, etc etc, have all made HD one of the most reliabe bikes around.

The own it to wrench it motto is 25 years out of date."


Sorry, but I disagree. My neighbor has a Harley. In the three years since he purchased it, I've had to pick him up twice after it broke down.

Its a work of art, no doubt about it. However, reliability isn't a strong point in my opinion when you talk about Harley's. I know, I know, heresy....(grin)

[Badeye]

He he he....I won't consign Harley's to the Home Depot, but the reliability compared to the Jap bikes just isn't close.

They are more a work of art than anything else in my honest opinion.

All I know for sure, based on my experiences since I started riding in the late 1960's is the Jap bikes are reliable, the Harley's aren't. Its not really debatable imho.

[Badeye]

"I'm not a big fan of Harley's reliability, however. Bottom line for me has always been if you like tinkering with your bike as much as you do riding it, Harley's the brand for you, if you can afford it.

That's the way I think about 1911 pistols compared to my glocks or HKs."

Hmmmm, thats a good way to sum it up. Its not that I dislike Harley's, I"m just not a very good wrench turner. I don't have the time nor the inclination. When I do have the free time to indulge myself on a ride, I want to jump on mine Intruder and "Go!".

Harley's need TLC.....and I don't have time for that.

[Badeye]

"LOL! I write ad copy and have to be brief. :)

Regarding their need for repairs, I heard that 99.8% of Harleys ever sold are still on the road.

The other 0.2% actually made it home."

ROTFL! You write for Leno in your spare time?

[Badeye]

"I really didn't mean to come on as strongly anti-Harley as I sounded, but I've just gotten peeved with people with this "If it ain't a Harley it's crap" attitude."

Same here. Its not that I am "anti Harley", hell life would be much better if the world had more bikers, imho.

But I get oh so very very tired of the "If it ain't a Harley its crap" attitude you mention. What really irks me is when it comes from some idiot that can't afford ANY bike, let alone a Harley.

Bikers are bikers, period. Some are mechanics, and love the "tinkering". I'm not one of them.

[anonymous_user]

ROTFL! You write for Leno in your spare time?

Thanks for the kind words, but "No," unless he or his writers read FreeRepublic. :) The Harley joke was an oldie but goodie. I think I actually heard that on a Harley documentary where bikers were complaining about the AMF days.

[archy]

So you are less dead when killed while riding a Harley? reminds me of something a moth said, once.

I don't have digital
I don't have diddly squat
It's not having what you want
It's wanting what you've got

--Sheryl Crow, Soak up the Sun

[archy]

Ashford wasn't wearing a helmet when he ran off the road and hit his head on the pavement, said Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Tony Love.
Every motorcycle fatality presents a unique opportunity to provide much needed hearts, livers, kidneys, eyes, lungs and skin to terminal patients everywhere.

If this man had been wearing a helmet he could have ended up a quadrapalegic and been a burden on society. As it turns out, he will probably save the lives of 4 or 5 terminal patients by his generous sacrifice.

Luckily the people of South Carolina care enough for kidney and heart patients to allow motorcyclists to choose to ride without helmets, thus increasing the chances that needed organs will be made available. The heart and liver and kidney patients in California can only wish their legislature was as forward looking as South Carolina.

I've long been an prospective organ donor, but with the proviso that if my death occurs in a state with a helmet law, no donation is to be made but instead my organs are to go to a state medical research facility instead. And just in case some over-enthusiastic bodysnatcher decides to take it upon himself to *harvest* any organs, claiming to be unable to contact next-of-kin and disregarding my carried written instructions, I've also arranged for certain insurance monies to be used to place a bounty on the hands and eyes of the physician involved. Turn about is fair play.

It's quite a lot of money, which I'd rather see go to my pals for a swell party and wake. But it's a comfort to know that they'll do me that one final service if need be.

[gunnrmike]

I have two HD's. A 02 883 Hugger and a 03 Deuce with 14K miles. Have not had a bit of trouble with either one, and the only time they have been in the shop has been for routine maintenance. HD's built today are reliable and maintenance free if you take care of them. And will hold their re-sale value for much longer and higher than any Jap bike.

Ride Safe! Gunnrmike

[spunkets]

I think that was for hookman. I didn't get the moth part. I do love my Harley though.

[gunnrmike]

Loud Pipes save Lives! Look twice, motorcycles are everywhere!

Gunnrmike

[gunnrmike]

If I had to explaine it to you, you wouldn't understand.

Gunnrmike