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]

Any company that can sell essentially the same product, with new paint, for more money every year, for 100 years, has to be doing something right I suppose.

When the post AMF days management, went to the investment bankers on Wall St. seeking funding to turn HD Motor Co. into an employee owned enterprise, one of the possible investors remarked to other bankers that; "Harley" is the only brand people are willing to tattoo on their arm. "That's loyalty". They got the money, the rest is history (leaving out the tariff wars).

[Bikers4Bush]

I hate those guys. Complete idiots and my guess is that the guy you saw will be dead soon if he keeps that crap up.

[DuncanWaring]

Ping

[Duke809]

Don't forget to apply loud and obnoxious to the jap V-Twins as well, like Vulcans, Shadows, Intruders and the like.

Reliabilty? My Springer has 63,000 miles on it. The speedo cable broke twice and the negative ground on the battery broke once. That's about it. My wife's 94 Low Rider has 40,000 miles and has had the base gaskets replaced twice, under warranty, because Harley tried to cheap their way out. Once the bike had James base gaskets installed and the case decked, as it should have been the first time, the base gaskets stopped leaking

I've ridden to Canada twice, Every state on the East Coast, down to Key West and New Orleans. Heading out to what's left of Rt 66 in June

Some cars should be reliable as Harley's. But it's like anything else, don't take care of it, and you'll have a piece of crap on your hands.

Of course, some folks just don't like Harley's no matter what. It's a matter of taste I suppose.

[elbucko]

Complete idiots and my guess is that the guy you saw will be dead soon if he keeps that crap up.

Yup! The "Rice Rocket Street Racers" will be dead before their parents.

[spunkets]

ping

...Harley marketing

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I'd like the '67 Triumph Bonneville to go please.

[blackbag]

"Harley's are not for everybody...they are for those of us
that love them, respect them, can afford them and
ride the heck out of them".

DITTOS

The weather is great this week and my Dyna Lowrider is calling me right now....

Keep the rubber side down brother...

[spunkets]

Looks like he could negotiate that turn.

[spunkets]

Ahhh... couldn't

[Dan from Michigan]

Someday I'm getting a Harley......someday down the road.

[Bikers4Bush]

We've got a bunch of bozo's here who call themselves "the star boys" (queer taters I'm fairly certain) that like to ride up and down the freeways doing wheelies etc. while a chase car or van films them. They then sell the tapes online I think.

Well the latest for these tools is to put faux fur on their bikes. You haven't seen anything funnier then one of these losers popping a rear wheelie and then dumping the bike on himself.

Arms and legs flailing out from under what looks like a large animal that has collapsed on them.

[Bikers4Bush]

Uhm, that's not a Harley.

[Dead Corpse]

Not me. Overpriced junk.

Now a Ducati Monster:

or a Exile "Mad Max":

That would be something completely different.

[cyborg]

Yup me too... now if I could only win the lotto :)

[motzman]

This is what my brother rides:



This is what his wife rides:



This is the furthest I made it on two wheels:

[pt17]

Harley Davidson is a marketing company that happens to make motorcycles

I think you're close. HD is a clothing company that makes motorcycles as fashion accessories.

[biblewonk]

This is meaningless. I work with a total weenie yet he once said, "If I was going to get a motorcycle I'd get a Harley". WFD he wouldn't know how to get the thing in gear.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Uhm, that's not a Harley.

He'd be any less dead on a Harley?

[pt17]

Joe, this thread just won't be right until you give me some grief about having too many cylinders, so I wanted to give you first crack.