Harley Motorcycles
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Originally Posted by NewEnglandHerdsman
Ah but you *are* a slave to marketing and attitude - it's just happens you're slave to a slightly *different* marketing and slightly *different* attitude... 
Based my earlier description of what, to me, riding a bike is all about, please explain as to what "marketing" and "attitude" I was a slave to?
Last edited by RocketScience; Sep 19, 2007 at 09:34 PM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 5
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
That cold barley-pop sounds great! Heres to old engines and good times...Cheers 
Originally Posted by 76supercab2
You sir, sound like someone I'd enjoy a cold barley-pop with. 
There are definitely to genres of Harley riders. Those who enjoy working on their own bikes because they love the bike and are willing to help anyone who askes. And then there's those who buy a finished bike and look down at anyone who rides something else. The latter attitude makes no sense to me.
BTW, Harleys never leak. They just mark their territory.
There are definitely to genres of Harley riders. Those who enjoy working on their own bikes because they love the bike and are willing to help anyone who askes. And then there's those who buy a finished bike and look down at anyone who rides something else. The latter attitude makes no sense to me.BTW, Harleys never leak. They just mark their territory.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Originally Posted by NewEnglandHerdsman
I don't we're really saying different things. To me desiring a bike that goes way faster that you should (or dare to) go, being after the adrenaline rush, wanting to be the fastest thing on the road, etc. is just another "lifestyle". If you can be sold a bike by putting numbers on a page, that's just another style of marketing. (It's generally known as "specs-mans-ship".)
I'm not a die hard biker myself, (I don't even own one right now) but when I see bikers coming in from riding in the cold, the pouring rain, sleet and worse, they're more likely than not riding Harleys - you can hardly say the riding is secondary to them. Are there posers in the Harley crowd? You bet there are. Plenty of them. But it's hardly only members of the Harley crowd that are sold a "lifestyle" by the Madison Ave folks.
I'm not a die hard biker myself, (I don't even own one right now) but when I see bikers coming in from riding in the cold, the pouring rain, sleet and worse, they're more likely than not riding Harleys - you can hardly say the riding is secondary to them. Are there posers in the Harley crowd? You bet there are. Plenty of them. But it's hardly only members of the Harley crowd that are sold a "lifestyle" by the Madison Ave folks.
You're right, we are saying the same thing to an extent.
I do believe I've been stereotyping.
But just on a WAG, (nothing scientific to back it up) I still believe the Cruiser ads have a better chance of luring the average mid-life crisis, 2 1/2 kid, 1 dog, 2 mortgage individual than the crotchrocket ad/lifestyle.
But both sides have their purists that could give a rat's **** about any ad or lifestyle.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 18,787
Likes: 30
From: Melbourne, Aus
^you are right to some extent.
However... the crotch rocket market seems to stem from an almost weekly update, a little something here, a little something there.
At least it has improvements, but its a market that seems to suffer endlessly from the "my equipment is bigger than yours".
So unless you have the 3073 model three letter acronym/number referring to capacity here... Sumasada... your bike is an apparent pile of crap (when in relality, the same model from 10years ago will do 99% of what the current bike will do... and that 1% is unable to be achieved by most of its riders anyway...)
However... the crotch rocket market seems to stem from an almost weekly update, a little something here, a little something there.
At least it has improvements, but its a market that seems to suffer endlessly from the "my equipment is bigger than yours".
So unless you have the 3073 model three letter acronym/number referring to capacity here... Sumasada... your bike is an apparent pile of crap (when in relality, the same model from 10years ago will do 99% of what the current bike will do... and that 1% is unable to be achieved by most of its riders anyway...)
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Originally Posted by FTE Fred
^you are right to some extent.
However... the crotch rocket market seems to stem from an almost weekly update, a little something here, a little something there.
At least it has improvements, but its a market that seems to suffer endlessly from the "my equipment is bigger than yours".
So unless you have the 3073 model three letter acronym/number referring to capacity here... Sumasada... your bike is an apparent pile of crap (when in relality, the same model from 10years ago will do 99% of what the current bike will do... and that 1% is unable to be achieved by most of its riders anyway...)
However... the crotch rocket market seems to stem from an almost weekly update, a little something here, a little something there.
At least it has improvements, but its a market that seems to suffer endlessly from the "my equipment is bigger than yours".
So unless you have the 3073 model three letter acronym/number referring to capacity here... Sumasada... your bike is an apparent pile of crap (when in relality, the same model from 10years ago will do 99% of what the current bike will do... and that 1% is unable to be achieved by most of its riders anyway...)
You're correct...........but I don't think that's what we're debating.
To put it bluntly, the HD crowd has more "wannabees" than the sportbike crowd.
And I "think" that the ads depicting the lifestyle (the outfits, accessories, bandana heads) encourage that.
The guy eating popcorn while watching the tele (did I say that right??)doesn't have a revelation that he wants to be Rossi......but that same bored pencil pusher can picture himself riding that fat-boy or XLCHVRT Low rider with his chaps wearing, bra-less old lady riding on the back.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
t
"It's about the curvy twists, the straight-a-ways, the sun and wind in your face, the ever changing smell in the air at every bend..... the feel of the open road"
No offense intended RocketScience, but come on - you got to admit that your description has a bit of an "ad copy" sound to it?
Which is not to say I don't agree with you - those are good reasons to ride any bike, a Harley included...
Originally Posted by RocketScience
Really?
Based my earlier description of what, to me, riding a bike is all about, please explain as to what "marketing" and "attitude" I was a slave to?
Based my earlier description of what, to me, riding a bike is all about, please explain as to what "marketing" and "attitude" I was a slave to?
No offense intended RocketScience, but come on - you got to admit that your description has a bit of an "ad copy" sound to it?
Which is not to say I don't agree with you - those are good reasons to ride any bike, a Harley included...
Last edited by NewEnglandHerdsman; Sep 20, 2007 at 06:26 AM. Reason: typo!
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
I guess one observation I'd offer is that the Harley crowd is more diverse than the sport bike crowd. In the Harley group you got everything from die-hards that have been riding bikes for 50 years before the sport bikes were ever around, to bone-heads who just got to buy a Harley but don't even have a license yet. You got riders who will come from Canada through whatever weather there is to go to Daytona. And then you got the ones that will fly in and rent a bike there so they can just sit on it for a week. So if you're looking to find real bikers, it's real easy to find them on Harleys. It's also real easy to find the wannabes too. And everything in between.
Also I think it's also true that Harley marketing is more intense. Why? Because they generally have more money to spend...
Also I think it's also true that Harley marketing is more intense. Why? Because they generally have more money to spend...
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 0
From: Clarksburg WV
Well, what exactly are some of your definitions of a "wannabe" when it comes to Harleys?
I see lots of what I think are "wannabes" in the sport bike crowd every day. Dumb azz college kids riding around in a t-shirt, shorts and sandals popping wheelies and acting like hot ****.
And, in the motorcycle world, it's hard to pick out "wannabes" from your average joe that just likes riding his bike on the weekends or one or two days a week, but doesn't ride it to work or school every day because it just isn't practical. Or at least that's how I see it.
I see lots of what I think are "wannabes" in the sport bike crowd every day. Dumb azz college kids riding around in a t-shirt, shorts and sandals popping wheelies and acting like hot ****.
And, in the motorcycle world, it's hard to pick out "wannabes" from your average joe that just likes riding his bike on the weekends or one or two days a week, but doesn't ride it to work or school every day because it just isn't practical. Or at least that's how I see it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
I gave a couple pretty good examples of what I'd consider a "wannabe" to be in my previous post. Those examples are real, not made up.
Which, to your point, is not to say they are totally unique to the Harley crowd...
Which, to your point, is not to say they are totally unique to the Harley crowd...
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Katy, Texas
Ok, our local police officers used to ride Harleys but the dept got rid of them because they are always needing service. This is true with most harleys, they're high maintenence bikes. If you want something that looks cool and isnt going to dig into your wallet like a HD would, check out a Victory Vegas 8 ball, its long and is probably the best looking bike ive seen yet.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Originally Posted by NewEnglandHerdsman
No offense intended RocketScience, but come on - you got to admit that your description has a bit of an "ad copy" sound to it? ....
.....But as "add copy" as it may sound, it is how I truly feel about riding, and a sport bike in my case, just so happens to fill that requirement.
Originally Posted by NewEnglandHerdsman
I guess one observation I'd offer is that the Harley crowd is more diverse than the sport bike crowd. In the Harley group you got everything from die-hards that have been riding bikes for 50 years before the sport bikes were ever around, to bone-heads who just got to buy a Harley but don't even have a license yet. You got riders who will come from Canada through whatever weather there is to go to Daytona. And then you got the ones that will fly in and rent a bike there so they can just sit on it for a week. So if you're looking to find real bikers, it's real easy to find them on Harleys. It's also real easy to find the wannabes too. And everything in between.
Also I think it's also true that Harley marketing is more intense. Why? Because they generally have more money to spend...
Also I think it's also true that Harley marketing is more intense. Why? Because they generally have more money to spend...
Originally Posted by ghunt
I see lots of what I think are "wannabes" in the sport bike crowd every day. Dumb azz college kids riding around in a t-shirt, shorts and sandals popping wheelies and acting like hot ****.
In a crowd, line up five Harley riders next to five sport bike riders. The Harley riders will stand out like a fat chick at a lingerie party.
Last edited by RocketScience; Sep 20, 2007 at 06:59 PM.