I know speed sells but when you buy a Harley you are buying a piece of artwork. Yea they have some manufacturing problems but most Harley riders aren't your average biker, they take pride in what they own. The crotch rockets are popular because they are cheap and that's all the kiddies can afford. Harleys don't lose value as fast as other bikes.
"The crotch rockets are popular because they are cheap and that's all the kiddies can afford."
We have a winner! The most myopic statment on this thread.
Ummmmmmmm try this on for size:
"Crotch rockets" are Japanese sport bikes. Just as a Mazda Miata was an entry level Japanese sports car.
The new GSXR , R1, 1000 ZX and CBR are "hi-end" Japanese sport bikes... much as Lexus (model number?) is a hi-end Japanese sports car.
Ducati / MV Agusta / Aprilia are Itailin sport bikes... their 4 wheeled equivilent would be Ferrari's.
Believe it or not... there is a large segment of the motorcycling population in the States that do not see riding a motorcycle as a social event. These folks follow AMA Superbike racing WSB and GP-1 Racing like the average Joe shmoe follows NFL (grown men shouldn't play with balls... but this is for a whole 'nother thread).
Crotch rockets are popular because the average 600cc sportbike offers more performance for the dollar than ANY OTHER MOTOR VEHICLE on this planet!
Get it?
I know plenty of "kiddies"...who are 40-50- and even 60+ years old who have club raced most of their adult lives. They STILL ride sportbikes. You could put any one of these "kiddies" on a clapped out 1988 Yamaha FZR and they would run circles around 99% of the riders out there on the latest greatest that any manufacturer has to offer.
Some folks enjoy a relaxing ride with their buddies droning down the interstate, while others couldn't care less about that aspect of motorcycling. Some others only ride in twisty backroads and need this "speed fix" to feel alive.... much like a skydiver jumps out of an aircraft.
It's not just kiddies that ride "crotch rockets" :)