Why do people buy Harley Davidsons?

[The Other PaulG]

SIGH , i'll be fixing the Sportster soon , i'll call you when it's done . ( at this rate you'll ride all my bikes )

I'll take you up on that! I'd love to ride one, and Ryan does a good job of 'selling' their charms.

I've always thought that the Harley for me would be a Sportster, with single seat, small tank, single speedo, wide but not high bars... really minimalist. I saw one like this once and it really accentuated the engine - it looked like one big motor with just a seat, 2 wheels and some handlebars bolted on. Perfect.

By the way, is your Cali Vintage for sale yet?

 

[KMD]

I’ve only ever ridden one Harley, quite a few years ago now. It was a friends 1200 Sportster. I liked it because it felt bad-ass, was loud, and had a lovely torquey power delivery. But its cornering ability didn’t match its engine performance in that it ground out easily in fairly tame bends and left me wondering why a bike with so much potential was also so compromised. In terms of styling I don’t look at any factory standard models and think ‘that’s the one I’d like’ so it would need to be a custom. Maybe a Bobber, something stripped back, single headlamp not the row of three that are quite common, and not too loud.

Couldn‘t be my only bike though, I’d still want a Gs as well.

 

[Rugged Path]

I would be happy on any big bike that can carry me and luggage for a month or more on the continent.
Not one for long fast weekend rides to the mountains along highways but, a steady bimble along roads and lanes.
Mainly tour on my own and meet other bikers on the way at some campsite.
Last bike an Ultra Classic and next purchase will be a 107" Ultra Limited later this year.

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[Manganr]

Could probably never be my only bike, but just a great ride on a Sunday morning. Makes me smile every time I take it out and definitely gets more comments than anything apart from my C90 Cub!
The Fat Bob 114.

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[Aidan1150]

I don't know why either OP. I have never been interested in owning one and will never own one. I just don't get it.

Many years ago, on a trip to Scotland I rode a 1340 Fat Boy and then immediately afterwards rode an 1100 Guzzi Cali III which, in my opinion, was the much better bike to ride.

Each to their own and all that, but no thanks.

 

[QED113]

I bought one last week, it's an absolute hoot..a fun bike. Had many bikes over 43 years of riding and while it's not the fastest or most tech heavy, the torque and seat is just so twist and grin. It's not for everyone but for me it was a 40 yo itch and very glad I did..it's a keeper.

 

[Breham]

I was anti Harley, but 3 years ago got bitten and went for Streetbob, now moved onto the Lowrider. For me it’s so unlike new bikes, with their quick shifter 150 bop plus, it feels old school which I love. I would concur, not sure it could be my only bike, but I can ride it hard and keep up with sports bikes….. here’s my beauty

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Love a Harley . Bought my first in 1997 a Road king .It was my only bike for 3 years , loved it . Traded it for a Road Glide in 2000 , liked it but found it too big ( weird as they seem small now ) traded for a Fat Boy . Had that 2 years and sold it to buy 1150 GSA . Always missed the Fat Boy so bought a platinum anniversary 2006 FB in the year of Covid . I love it . Use it and it’s an easy bike to live with . I’ve owned it 3 years and have no wish to sell it .

 

[Nin]

I bought one to see what all the fuss was about.

Twizzle predicted I’d have it for 6 weeks or 6 years.

I do get it, but it’s not for me I’m afraid. Not because of the Harley-ness, but more because I’m not going to be doing the kind of riding that suits it, well not for a few years yet.

And I have another project that needs the money …

 

[Flipfly]

Had one, loved it but due to piss poor design and utterly shite customer service, I swore I’d never have another…….

I‘lol be looking for another once the GSA is sold

Only my brother gets it, my wife thinks I’m gay, my mates are laughing at me, but I care not one bit. I need another Harley for my well being.

As was posted earlier, I’ll have another bike alongside it, but it’ll be an old 1100 or 1150GS, I’m done with technology

 

[Richie N]

I love the styling on the 48 Sportster and would have one as a second bike…

 

[EVskiy]

Many moons ago, circa 2002 I for the very first time (previously to that Honda CB125) rode what I would consider a large bike. Albeit not a harley, it was in fact a Yamaha Virago 535. So it was a small cruiser. I must say, ever since then I haven't sat on another bike that resembles or is a HD.

I have a HD dealer less than 10 minutes away from me. An acquaintance or two work there. But I simply have no interest to even have a go on their demo range. That is how I know HD isn’t for me.

 

[ymfb]

I’ve known a few people who have bought HDs, mainly because they needed to itch the scratch others because they like the sound and look. None of those do it for me, but it’s good that we are all different.

 

[FatAl]

I've had three HDs, the first was 24years ago, a 1999FXDX, I spent thousands on it making it faster, handle and brake better. The Harley was an itch that needed to be scratched. I loved the bike I had it dyno'd @ 100bhp 5000rpm, 103ftlb 3500rpm IIRC. During the six years I owned this bike I also had at various stages an EVO 1340 Low Rider, BMW R80st, BMW R1150GS, BMW R100s. I got shut of the EVO because it had so little ground clearance and I just couldn't gel with it.
A few years later after swapping the FXDX for an Aprilia Tuono, I got a 1200 Sportster to scratch the HD itch again, but it only lasted just over a year and that was swapped for a Tiger 1050 which I kept for three years.
Back in 2011 I did a three week tour of the SW USA with three mates, bike of choice was a Road King, but unfortunately Eagle Rider had to supply us with Electra Glydes, doing that trip on a Harley just seemed so appropriate, doing it on anything else would have been rude
I liked the Harleys for a number of reasons, they were charismatic, sounded great, very easy to work on and easy to customise. I always struggled with the heavy clutches and spent a fair bit of cash on lightening the clutch action. There's no chance of me getting another one, they are too big and heavy for me now, plus they seem to have become a bit of a fashion icon like the GS. I never liked the faux 1%er Sons of Anarchy image that many of the middle class accountants, lawyers et al took on which put me off joining HOG. Yet I still buy and wear HD Tee shirts

 

[brut33]

I've had three HDs, the first was 24years ago, a 1999FXDX, I spent thousands on it making it faster, handle and brake better. The Harley was an itch that needed to be scratched. I loved the bike I had it dyno'd @ 100bhp 5000rpm, 103ftlb 3500rpm IIRC. During the six years I owned this bike I also had at various stages an EVO 1340 Low Rider, BMW R80st, BMW R1150GS, BMW R100s. I got shut of the EVO because it had so little ground clearance and I just couldn't gel with it.
A few years later after swapping the FXDX for an Aprilia Tuono, I got a 1200 Sportster to scratch the HD itch again, but it only lasted just over a year and that was swapped for a Tiger 1050 which I kept for three years.
Back in 2011 I did a three week tour of the SW USA with three mates, bike of choice was a Road King, but unfortunately Eagle Rider had to supply us with Electra Glydes, doing that trip on a Harley just seemed so appropriate, doing it on anything else would have been rude
I liked the Harleys for a number of reasons, they were charismatic, sounded great, very easy to work on and easy to customise. I always struggled with the heavy clutches and spent a fair bit of cash on lightening the clutch action. There's no chance of me getting another one, they are too big and heavy for me now, plus they seem to have become a bit of a fashion icon like the GS. I never liked the faux 1%er Sons of Anarchy image that many of the middle class accountants, lawyers et al took on which put me off joining HOG. Yet I still buy and wear HD Tee shirts

I'm with you on this bro, feck the HOG nobs. I'm now quite happy to be in the Sons of Apathy.

 

[FatAl]

I would too as well, but I can't be arsed.

 

[Rugged Path]

Nowt wrong with HD's except the high price for a new one. I went everywhere on mine with over 65K on the clock (2010 Ultra Classic).
Only for being knocked off it and it being written off meant it going but, it would have done me for more years.
Hoping to get a 107" Ultra later this year when leg / foot healed sufficiently.

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[brut33]

I would too as well, but I can't be arsed.

That's the spirit.

I'm also of the same frame of mind re my RK. It's getting too heavy to push around so I'm thinking of a Dyna
as a replacement.

 

[Doc]

I'm thinking of an Indian.
Not the two legged type.

 

[FatAl]

I'm thinking of an Indian.
Not the two legged type.

Are you going all Pocahontas on us? or is it a Biriani?