Its not the picking up part. Picking up is very easy, its the fact they stay and keep comming back for more that really helps.
Harleys are not bought for racing, the are bought for going.
Your opinion does not want to see it, but the Harley is a beautiful piece of machinery. I may be a bit outdated technology but it has stood the test of time. Old japanese bike do not have the longevity of desire that old Harleys have. Just a fact of life.
Perhaps you will be riding an old honda race bike years from now. Who knows?
But right now, its ALL good.
As I said, the funny thing is, I don't have anything against Harleys. I think they're fine machines for what they're intended for (which, as they come stock, doesn't include any sort of contest of performance). I've considered buying (yes, gasp!, me actually buying) a Harley full-dresser for touring on, as the big Honda and BMW touring rigs leave me cold, and I believe Harley's touring cruisers are better in some ways than the Japanese competition's.
Longevity? Harleys are no more durable out of the box than Japanese bikes, in fact I'd say a bit less so. I know people who've gone over 100,000 miles on (liquid cooled, to be sure) Japanese bikes without ever opening the engine at all.
Years from now I expect I'll be riding a new Japanese bike. I like technological progress.