Why is it that everyone slams Harley Davidson Motorcycles?

Question

I love my Harley Davidson Motorcycle. I have had many and I mean many other makes of motorcycles. When Harley Davidson is mentioned anywhere in answering a question they are referred to Outdated, Mechanically inferior, etc...Do these people really know what they are talking about or just Jealous? I know the answer but have at it..

Answer 1

Some people are just so insecure they have to slam on others folks about something. Harley's firmly entrenched as part of the American culture, and it's gonna stay that way. They got there for a reason.

Hate on me all you want... I won't be able to hear you out on the road, I wouldn't really care anyway.

EDIT: The thumbs-down I've gotten prove my point... I didn't slam anyone else's ride. What you ride doesn't matter to me, either. If you wanna ride something else, have at it.

And Rails... if you are a "genious", try spell-check. I think you're looking for the word is genius.

Answer 2

I buy Hondas, yet I ride an HD. It was a present from my oldest son when he came back from Iraq. In a couple of different boxes. My experience is that Harleys can be as reliable as Hondas, with the exception of that belt drive. Oil changes and tires - and no valve adjustments. Edit: I disagree, Paul. While the kid had no clue about motorcycles, he did have some others. Value for the money? You spent more than we, and I agree that mine was overpriced. However, IF I had wanted airbags, abs and REVERSE, I would have bought a $21,000 automobile instead of the less expensive motorcycle. Actually, I did do just that. I got 4 doors with power windows and locks, power adjust heated mirrors, heated 6 way power seats, ac, killer heat, seatbelts, airbags, abs, am/fm 6cd changer, the security of 3 extra wheels, 4 wheel drive, and reverse came as standard. People buy many things for many different reasons. I bought the car to suit my wife. When it comes to motorcycles, it seems like there is usually an emotional content that you don't find with any other type of vehicle. I don't ride motorcycles because I need transport from point A to B. I ride because I wish to. I ride what I wish to. It gets me from point A to Beyond. There are times I ride simply for the discomfort - and while I know that is hard to understand for many, there are a few who do. After having had Hondas, Suzuki, and Yamaha, this one happens to be a Harley. It is serving the purpose well.

Answer 3

People make fun of Harley here because when you're out on the road the Harley people make fun or shun everyone else on the road who don't ride Harleys. I ride everything. I own 3 Harleys and a Buell. But when I'm on my Suzuki or my Yamaha the Harley guys never wave back. Now I don't even wave at them when I'm riding a Harley unless they wave first.

The push rod Harley engine is out dated. Even Harley knows that that 's why they have the V-Rod engine because the younger crowd want more performance and today's younger crowd will be tomorrows Harley riders hopefully. Now take that V-Rod motor down size it a little put it on a better slightly larger more comfortable Sportster frame with good suspension components. Man that would be one fun versatile bike. Also look at the Buell. Why do you think Harley help get that started? Buell is no longer using the Harley motor, it's out dated. Harley just acquired Cagiva an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. They are now talking to BMW about using BMW motors on the Cagiva's BMW has a new vertical twin. Harley is a very well run company. I doubt that they will ever get rid of the old style Harley completely because there will be some die hard Old School Harley riders around for a while but Harley is preparing itself for the over head cam crowd.

Answer 4

You say that you already know the answer, why then do you ask the question.



I'll entertain you and submit my reasoning.



It's not so much the brand name of Harley Davidson that evokes so much emotion as it some of those who chose to ride that brand. I have come across a few, but not all, HD riders that are simply arrogant bastards that think HD is the only bike on the planet. They would like you to believe that if you are not riding a HD, then you are not even riding something worthy to be called a motorcycle.



This attitude causes a lot of backlash that seems to be directed at the brand. I direct it toward the arrogant bastards with the bad attitude, not the bike they ride.



I ride what I want, when I want and I don't need anybodys permission or justification to do so. You and everybody else are welcome to do the same.

Answer 5

Because Harleys are the best. You will never see rice burning Jap bikes on the road after 10,2o oe30 years. They're not built to last like a Harley. More importantly they don't have the torque of a Harley or the sound or off the line power.

Answer 6

I'm also from Georgia and I've worked at a Harley dealership for the past six years. Harleys are not my favorite, but they are good machines. I ride a sportbike, but I ride with a group of Harleys. The noise isn't really a problem, no matter how much others love to complain about it. Some of the older bikes do leak oil, but what older bike doesn't? Anyone who thinks Harleys are just the scum of the earth probably have too high an opinion of themselves to start with.

Answer 7

I have been following and riding bikes since 1984.

I have never owned a bike made by HD.

Motorcycles represent something different to each person who owns one regardless of brands or country of origin.



Due to price points, location, demographics and income we make choices on what we choose to ride.



I know HD builds a great machine but right now I am more interested in a different aspect of motorcycling as most can respect that if they also own a bike. I have only owned bikes made in Japan but know someday that may change.



Harley's do not sit at the forefront of technology, are not terribly fast and do not handle all the great compared to other bikes on the market.

Then again, they never set out to build bikes that performed in that manner choosing to focus more on comfort and style first.



In the last 5 years they have pulled up their socks considerably(V-Rod) and I'm sure those who ride HD enjoy them greatly and I'm hoping to take in that experience one day as well.

Answer 8

Can you accurately say they aren't outdated or mechanically inferior, isn't that part of their attraction for their riders?



I do wonder that they haven't advanced as much as other marques and whether by not doing so they have done their customers a disservice. I suppose a partial answer to that is if the customers had wanted more power or better handling they would have put in a new engine or changed their suspension themselves.



But I look at bikes like the Confederate Wraith and wonder what might have been if the company hadn't been so conservative in its approach.



http://www.confederate.com/confederate3/wraith.php



Look at other manufacturers who have used similar layouts virtually since their inception like BMW and Ducati, still twins but hugely advanced from their original designs.



I suspect however that far from “everyone” slamming HD look how many thumbs down any slightly negative comment to them attracts. Jealous – No – “each to their own”, “the world would be a duller place…” etc etc.

Answer 9

I have owned many motorcycles, none of them Harley's, I am going to buy one this summer. Why a lot of people are asking me? Well I have traveled at over 200mph scratched my knees around corners and hung around with sports bike riders.

Why am I buying a Harley then? Well I enjoy tinkering with my bike as well and you can only wave a spanner so much at a Suzuki and there is nothing left to fettle on.

Also The scene is different, more relaxed.

After all 95% of the people are not buying motorcycles they are buying a lifestyle.

Answer 10

I think mostly they don't know what their talking about.Outdated? That's what makes them desirable all around the world.Mechanically inferior?My answer is a few questions.Why in the world would 100 year old(v-twin 1909) engine design be change to a ''updated'' inline?Why would the engine design be copied by japanese motorcycle manufactures? Why is there a huge demand for this bikes worldwide even in China (3 dealerships)? Japan is in high demand as the first imports were in 1912!

BTW I don't own one but my neighbor and his friends have 4 of them and they are very quick. Mods are unlimited and any imaginable accessory can be bought.



The question still remains. Why are some japanese mfgs.producing 2009 and 2010 bikes that have the H-D v-twin style motors? And why are some of them pushrod motors?

Answer 11

i have been riding for 35 years and owned around 50 bikes,i now own 5

bought 2 new harleys put over 60,000 miles on both of them they were good bikes for the time but i got tired of the dealer B S and them wanting to sell new ones over msrp so in 2000 i went to the imports.

now if you like 1970's tech and low hp that is up to you, take a test ride on a new jap bike and you will see why. 2009 electra glide 66 hp

gold wing 1800 100+hp and sport bike handeling and smooth.(so many people think that by owning a harley makes them cool) i don't think any one is jealous they just know a better motorcycle.

Answer 12

A lot of people here just have an irrational, pathological hatred of the brand. I'm not really sure why, nor do I care.

Then some people are just too stupid to understand that not all of us like to go from 0 to 100 in 2 seconds.

Answer 13

I have a 2006 street bob HD I love it, harley davidson is about history when you try to tell people they get mad like when they say they are loud but you tell that person harley dont make them like that the people that buy them do, just like yamaha or honda. I think they are just jealous. I just tell them to get training wheels

Answer 14

I don't know where you live, but here in GA, Harley is considered top of the line. My husband comes from a family of bikers, and they make fun of people that don't have harleys. Maybe it's a regional thing.

Answer 15

I'm more like George Carlin:

Equal opportunity sound effects.





BTW, the guy who first coined the phrase "Come ride with me" now rides HD, but his attitude has not changed one iota.

Answer 16

I don't think I can say it better than John. But I'll add my perspective.



It's the attitude of people like you who bring out the slams.



You are like my neighbor and his friends. They belong to this club and all have black and white RCA televisions, most of these guys are over 45 and it is their first TV ever, they don't even know how to fine tune them.... all chrome plated, rabbit ear antennas and huge 20" screens(ha ha) , reproductions of the original, vaccuum tubes and all, and they cost twice as much as the best HDTV. They all dress up in coon skin caps and fringed buckskin assless chaps and think they are badass for dressing like Daniel Boone's gay brother. They have added huge mono speakers to their TV's and set them up in their driveway and watch reruns of 'The Honeymooners' with fat dumpy tattooed chicks in tube tops, the sound way up so I can hear it loud and clear inside my own house half a block away. When I complain about the noise they say I'm jealous of their superior TV's because I only have a 40" sony HDTV with cable and theater surround sound and it is plastic jap crap, not capable of the sweet sound and awesome viewing experience of their B&W mono RCA's.



So the bottom line is that if someone wants to watch the Super Bowl in his house or on the back porch on his antique RCA with the sound at a reasonable level, more power to him, there are plenty of guys watching stuff on their B&W Zeniths, Sylvanias, no attitude, never a problem, cool guys enjoying their thing. But for some reason the attitude always comes from the RCA guys. If some guy wants to be a dweeb and cop this stupid attitude because he has a B&W RCA with a loud speaker, make silly claims of superiority, be obnoxious to his neighbors. Then there is a good chance that I'm gonna call him and his friends a bunch of posing retards, and bring up picture quality, color, reception and HBO any chance I get. But with sincere apologies to the cool old dudes who are still watching their original B&W RCA's and don't bother anyone or go around copping an attitude.

Answer 17

they never had one i would think one reason ive rode a few others my harley been good for me 9 yrs stil going strong been across country 6 times east coast to west coast but every one has what they like same goes with cars some like ford some like chevy they just dont know

Answer 18

because like they say harleys have the ability to produce fuel into sound without any by product of horsepower and they handle like a barge

Answer 19

there not outdated there just overrated lol harley sucks i will never trade my honda for a pos harley lol

Answer 20

I live in NC and Harleys are the bike to have. It may have something to do with your location? In the south there are two kinds of people, people who have Harleys and people who wish they did!

Answer 21

There are two types of people, those that have Harleys and those who wish they did!! This is a old joke that proves no sense of humour. I have owned all brands and have loved them all. Some people just have to justify themselves to the world!!

Answer 22

Aside from the fact the bike is outdated, under-engineered and over priced; yuppies *owners who come off with "you're just jealous" or some crap about resale value are just an easy target for real riders.

Answer 23

Japan is the way to go! Harleys overheat, are over priced, and break non-stop. my co worker takes his harley in 3 times a year because it craps on him.

Answer 24

they are loud and obnoious