Harley Bashing

[swimmer]

Will someone please start a thread that either originates as a harley bashing thread or quickly evolves into one.  I've got a pirate related link I want to post but feel it would be lame to start a dedicated thread for it. Thanks

[DogBoy]

Hey, did you hear the one about the Honda guy who couldn't post to an existing thread?

[mxvet57]

Hey, did you hear the one about the Honda guy who couldn't post to an existing thread?

No i didn't. Tell me more.

[Blunder]

The 2011 models have bitchin' paint jobs.

[chornbe]

Having owned a couple, the best I can do is: Home Depot to replace all paint shaker machines with the TC103 CVO engines by end of 2011.

Sorry.

Now the people who own them... the "real biker" Harley Guys (r) (c) (tm)... they're complete and open fodder for pointing and laughing.  

[Rincewind]

[sammyseaman]

Harley bashing is boring. Honda bashing on the other hand is FUN!  

[Geoff]

Honda bashing is definitely more fun. Check out the highway pegs on this Wing.

[stevent]

Since most Honda riders are flaming homosexuals it's considered politically incorrect to bash them. Far be it from me to pass comment on the moral depravity that would cause one to not only take up rogering their fellow man but to ride a Honda as well!

 

[Max Wedge]

[Geoff]

Since most Honda riders are flaming homosexuals it's considered politically incorrect to bash them.

And I thought Harley riders were fags.

[stromgal]

Proving that I'm white and nerdy, I have to ask: who is that dancing behind Al in the vid?

[atadaskew]

The 2011 models have bitchin' paint jobs.

Are you tawkin' about the 2011 Honda CBR 600 and 1000?
Apparently they just changed the paint on those and are listing them as all new models.

[ScottysB12]

Proving that I'm white and nerdy, I have to ask: who is that dancing behind Al in the vid?

That is Capt Purple himself, DOnny Osmond

[chornbe]

Are you tawkin' about the 2011 Honda CBR 600 and 1000?
Apparently they just changed the paint on those and are listing them as all new models.

To be fair, new paint probably takes more line work than graphics.

[Open Sore]

The three easiest thread topics to start on ST.n.

Harley Bashing
What is your favorite brand/model bike
Oil/Tire/Cake vs. Pie


The OP gets a neg rep for not having the nads to start one on their own.  Its officially the easiest thread to start.

[sammyseaman]

Since most Honda riders are flaming homosexuals it's considered politically incorrect to bash them. Far be it from me to pass comment on the moral depravity that would cause one to not only take up rogering their fellow man but to ride a Honda as well!

 

Best quote of 2010. I'm stealing it.

[falconati]

 

[county]

So, how many Harley riders does it take to screw in a light bulb?

[chornbe]

So, how many Harley riders does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A. They're too busy screwing biker hoes?

A. They're too drunk to find the socket?

A. The shop where the bike is STILL at already has good lighting?

[FBRR]

So, how many Harley riders does it take to screw in a light bulb?

None if they live in Tennessee! The outhouse isn't "wired".

[ScottysB12]

Yeah, it may ignite the ether fumes in the meth lab

[ninjaridaz]

You might own a harley if:

if Your Bike Leans Further On It's Sidestand Than It Does On The Highway................................ .....

if You Are Left In Awe By The Mechanical Advantage Of A Doorknob............................... ...........

if Your Bike Cost More Than Your House And Has Fewer Wheels................................. ..............

if The Output Decibel Number Of Your Exhaust Exceeds Your Horsepower
output Number................................. ...............

if You Have Ever Found A Grasshopper In Your Beard.................................. ...........

if You Have Ever Blown Your Suspension----------------in Your Seat................................... ........

if You Get Blown Away By A Moped.................................. ..............

if You Are Unable To Let Your Bike Simply Idle At A Stop Light.................................. .................

if You Don't Wave To Sportbike Riders Cause You Don't Want To Drop Your Tools.................................. .................

if You Confuse The Word "character" With The More Accurate Term "engineering Flaws".................................................

if You Think Running The 1/4 Mile In Mid 15's Is Really, Really Fast................................... ...............

if "water Cooled" Means Standing On The Side Of The Road, In The Rain, Waiting For A Wrecker................................ ................

[atadaskew]

You might own a harley if:

if You Get Blown Away By A Moped.................................. ..............

That happened to me in Hawaii/Maui on the road to Hana.
Me and the g/f rented a Harley Road King from a joint called Hula Hogs.  Looked great on line and we were all fired up to take a moto on a road trip in that tropical paradise.
Fast forward... we are dropped off at the rental place.  The bike was trashed beyond belief.  Butt like a dumbass I still took it cuz I didn't want to spoil the day.  What a mistake..
It did not feel like it could go over 50 w/o esploding all over the place. And yeah, they do go faster than that    It did not want to make any turns at all, so I pulled over and then noticed that the tyres were worn square and bald.  
Butt like a dumb ass we carried on.  The road gets crazy twisty and the only way the bike would make it round the turns was if I stood on the back brake while gassing it.  It stabilized the whole mess.

 And yes, in short order, a local on a moped buzzed by us on the outside.  He musta been going at least 20mph faster than us.
Which meant he musta been going about 25mph...

Hula Hogs.  Maui.  Do not rent from them.  (I was 'smart' enough to return the bike early and got a pro-rated refund after I pointed out how un-roadworthy the bike was).

[swimmer]

So, how many Harley riders does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Just one.  A bad ass one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mens-VANGUARD-LEATHER-MOTORCYCLE-BIKER-JACKET-44-/130448367368?pt=Apparel_Merchandise&hash=item1e5f541f08

[Geoff]

The Highwayman got word of this thread and asked me to post the following...

Countless has the Harley man rolled up to a hapless soul on an asian atrocity cycle at a stop. Even though they have run astray in their unpatriotic motorcycle purchase he turns to acknowledge the rider as fellow American.

Yet to a manling they won't look, won't turn their fiberglass entombed head in his direction, pretending they don't know he's there. But what they don't know is that from great distance a Harley man's superior roadcraft has already brought him a view of their fulmer face eye port's dreading recognition of him in their mirrors.

But it's too late, they freeze, their deepest fear is becoming reality, a Harley man is pulling alongside. Their shoulders slouch in recognition, they halt the wheezy throttle blipping of their tinkertoy engine. Yet never have they left from the line first, preferring to hold the inferior position to the next stop. A stop short, as not to come into the proximity of the Harley man and his machine.

Many more times than not they have already beat a hasty left or right retreat with visions of the Harley man's leather boot kicking their asian atrocity cycle into the ditch, they have heard the rumors of such righteous acts before. Of no less concern is the fear that the thundering shockwaves from Milwaukee's finest iron will damage their third world pot metal and plastic atrocity cycle.

In the end they know. They know the order of motormen and motorcycle. And they know their place in it.


 - The Highwayman

[county]

The Highwayman got word of this thread and asked me to post the following...

Countless has the Harley man rolled up to a hapless soul on an asian atrocity cycle at a stop. Even though they have run astray in their unpatriotic motorcycle purchase he turns to acknowledge the rider as fellow American.

Yet to a manling they won't look, won't turn their fiberglass entombed head in his direction, pretending they don't know he's there. But what they don't know is that from great distance a Harley man's superior roadcraft has already brought him a view of their fulmer face eye port's dreading recognition of him in their mirrors.

But it's too late, they freeze, their deepest fear is becoming reality, a Harley man is pulling alongside. Their shoulders slouch in recognition, they halt the wheezy throttle blipping of their tinkertoy engine. Yet never have they left from the line first, preferring to hold the inferior position to the next stop. A stop short, as not to come into the proximity of the Harley man and his machine.

Many more times than not they have already beat a hasty left or right retreat with visions of the Harley man's leather boot kicking their asian atrocity cycle into the ditch, they have heard the rumors of such righteous acts before. Of no less concern is the fear that the thundering shockwaves from Milwaukee's finest iron will damage their third world pot metal and plastic atrocity cycle.

In the end they know. They know the order of motormen and motorcycle. And they know their place in it.


 - The Highwayman

Wow, I wish he was on our side.

[Rincewind]

I love me some Highwayman.  He is his own meme.  

[fastdadio]

Who the Fc#k are the Highwaymen? whoever authored that piece of work is suffering some serious delusions of grandure. Sheesh, talk about living in a fantasy world. I thought a highway man was a robber who preys on hapless travelers on the highway. You know, kind of like the Ohio State Police.

[ninjaridaz]

The Highwayman got word of this thread

 :lol:Funny, I nod to hd's at lights. I also smoke'em if they think that low end torque is a sub for hp.

[chornbe]

 :lol:Funny, I nod to hd's at lights. I also smoke if they think that low end torque is a sub for hp.

I have no idea what you just said.

[Rincewind]

Who the Fc#k are the Highwaymen? whoever authored that piece of work is suffering some serious delusions of grandure. Sheesh, talk about living in a fantasy world.

That's the point.  The Highwayman was/is a bike forum user, I think originally from CW forums, who always wrote as if he were a living legend.  

[ninjaridaz]

1st or 2nd

[chornbe]

1st or 2nd

I have no idea what you just said.

[stevent]

So, how many Harley riders does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Harley riders are way to fat to fit in a light bulb......

[Geoff]

:lol:Funny, I nod to hd's at lights. I also smoke if they think that low end torque is a sub for hp.

I'd say you had enough to smoke.

[Skee]

You might own a harley if:

if Your Bike Leans Further On It's Sidestand Than It Does On The Highway................................ .....

if You Are Left In Awe By The Mechanical Advantage Of A Doorknob............................... ...........

if Your Bike Cost More Than Your House And Has Fewer Wheels................................. ..............

if The Output Decibel Number Of Your Exhaust Exceeds Your Horsepower
output Number................................. ...............

if You Have Ever Found A Grasshopper In Your Beard.................................. ...........

if You Have Ever Blown Your Suspension----------------in Your Seat................................... ........

if You Get Blown Away By A Moped.................................. ..............

if You Are Unable To Let Your Bike Simply Idle At A Stop Light.................................. .................

if You Don't Wave To Sportbike Riders Cause You Don't Want To Drop Your Tools.................................. .................

if You Confuse The Word "character" With The More Accurate Term "engineering Flaws".................................................

if You Think Running The 1/4 Mile In Mid 15's Is Really, Really Fast................................... ...............

if "water Cooled" Means Standing On The Side Of The Road, In The Rain, Waiting For A Wrecker................................ ................

 

[ninjaridaz]

I'd say you had enough to smoke.

fixed?

[kwh]

Will someone please start a thread that either originates as a harley bashing thread or quickly evolves into one.  I've got a pirate related link I want to post but feel it would be lame to start a dedicated thread for it. Thanks

Sure! Would a thread about this...

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/10/michigan-state-police-objectively-prove-harleys-suck/

...hit the spot? Or has it already been done?

I'm shocked, personally. I mean, I bet the Brit in this video...  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyRcGbSV5gI

...was thinking all the way through "This would be so much safer and easier on a Harley Road King!". Our police are clearly missing something that generations of their american brethren have long known about what makes a good police bike. Somebody also needs to tell this guy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4hDuPYBQVs

...that he'd be better off on a Harley as well. I'm sure he'd thank you...

[STJoe]

Last month they performed comprehensive, independent performance testing on four potential police bikes: The BMW R1200RTP, Kawasaki Concours 14 and the Harley Road King and Electra Glide. Guess which two bikes lost?

Hellforleathermagazine  


Couldn't get past the testing four bikes, then listing three, so I didn't read far enough to see which bike touched a peg and terrified them.

Priceless.  


I wonder if they are still trying to convince all the old guys that they aren't their grand fathers?

 

 

[kwh]

Hellforleathermagazine  


Couldn't get past the testing four bikes, then listing three, so I didn't read far enough to see which bike touched a peg and terrified them.

Priceless.  

 

I count 4 there... two competing police patrol bike offerings and  two different chrome boat anchors. And the testers were the police themselves.

The story is also updated with an embed of the official LA Motofuzz potential police motorcycle evaluation report, conplete with objectively measured numbers, in which a couple of Beemers, a Honda and a brace of chrome boat anchors are evaluated back to back by the police in testing designed to highlight their fitness for purpose or otherwise.

It was a police officer who nearly entered orbit off of one of the Harleys when the left hand frame rail grounded out on a slight left hand turn and (I assume) lifted the back wheel off the ground...

[BuckeyeRider]

I thought a highway man was a robber who preys on hapless travelers on the highway. You know, kind of like the Ohio State Police.

 

[EnsignCrusher]

Hellforleathermagazine  


Couldn't get past the testing four bikes, then listing three, so I didn't read far enough to see which bike touched a peg and terrified them.

Priceless.  


I wonder if they are still trying to convince all the old guys that they aren't their grand fathers?

 

 

Eh? It's pretty straight forward: MSP tested a Concours, RT and two Harleys and provided the numbers. Numbers obviously don't favor Harleys. The results are interesting not because we all already know that HDs are slow, but because they represent an objective argument for police forces to equip themselves with better, safer machinery. /article.

[chornbe]

Connie 14 as a police bike is laughable. The maintenance shop time seems silly for a long service bike. The BMW Rs and the STs make far more sense from a service and maintenance perspective.

[Biking Sailor]

Back on topic...

The wife and I rode out to Seaba Motorcycle Museum on Route 66 (super cool place, google it), me on the Guzzi and her on the Ninja.  Must have been a hundred HD's being ridden around and the parking lot at the museum was full of them, with a few metric cruisers thrown in (but we all know they are Harley wannabes).  Dang Pirates out riding on a Beautiful Saturday!  Don't they know those bikes are only for bike nights at the bars????

Guess I should have done a "sarcasm alert" before typing.  

[Geoff]

Interesting read

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rikuo_Motorcycle

[Biking Sailor]

Interesting read

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rikuo_Motorcycle

Thanks for the link and history lesson.  I'll have to share this with my HD buddies at work Monday.

[STJoe]

OK, I missed that there were two Harleys.  So I read the entire article.  

It is hardly a surprise for anyone who rides that the two Harley's were going to be slower than the Beemer and Connie, at least above 20 MPH.  

Nor is it tough to understand why the police would focus on the 0 to 60 MPH range, for their evaluation of acceleration and braking.   That's the range they work in.  

But I must say the article was far better written than the "Shamu" debacle.
     

[EnsignCrusher]

Sometimes the truth is hard to read.

Here's another take on explaining why Shamu turned out so badly and what it represents for the motorcycle industry at large, written by an industry analyst and bike designer instead of by this particular squid:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/09/bred-obsolescence-why-2011-won%E2%80%99t-be-a-bumper-year-for-bikes/

[mugwump58]

Normally I don't play this game but it looks like someone went to a bit of trouble...

HD personal computer

[Mr.Black]

That was kinda funny.

[ninjaridaz]

I love it! I'm going to have to forward that around.

I went riding sat at a local twisty road. After some nice esses, I spot a hd ahead of me in a rare straightaway. I've ridden this road countless of times before. It's popular with cruisers and sport bikes. Coming up after the straight is best set of twisties. The road had just been newly paved. The last thing I wanted was to be stuck behind mr. hd slow poke in the turns. Already in OD, I decide to just throttle up to get ahead of him. I notice that it is taking me a little longer than usual to pass him. hd decides that he doesn't want me to pass him. I considered dropping it a gear, but decided that going WOT would be enough. I was right. WOT in OD was more than enough to dust him. With the curves coming up, I slowed to my "no brakes" pace. This was, of course, too fast for the pirate- lost him within 3 turns. I find that in the Smoky Mountains, this is not a problem. Most people will get out of your way if you are faster and vice versa. Other than my state, has anybody noticed this attitude in their locale?

[atadaskew]

Normally I don't play this game but it looks like someone went to a bit of trouble...

HD personal computer

Just wait until Honda copies it, makes it chintzier, and asks the same money for it.

In 5 years.

[71Fish]

I love it! I'm going to have to forward that around.

I went riding sat at a local twisty road. After some nice esses, I spot a hd ahead of me in a rare straightaway. I've ridden this road countless of times before. It's popular with cruisers and sport bikes. Coming up after the straight is best set of twisties. The road had just been newly paved. The last thing I wanted was to be stuck behind mr. hd slow poke in the turns. Already in OD, I decide to just throttle up to get ahead of him. I notice that it is taking me a little longer than usual to pass him. hd decides that he doesn't want me to pass him. I considered dropping it a gear, but decided that going WOT would be enough. I was right. WOT in OD was more than enough to dust him. With the curves coming up, I slowed to my "no brakes" pace. This was, of course, too fast for the pirate- lost him within 3 turns. I find that in the Smoky Mountains, this is not a problem. Most people will get out of your way if you are faster and vice versa. Other than my state, has anybody noticed this attitude in their locale?

You're probably the coolest guy here.

[Geoff]

I find that in the Smoky Mountains, this is not a problem. Most people will get out of your way if you are faster and vice versa. Other than my state, has anybody noticed this attitude in their locale?

Yeah, I weave in my locale to keep faster riders from passing me.  

[mugwump58]

In the business world does this mean anything?

[atadaskew]

In the business world does this mean anything?

So did BMW, Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi....

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/12/bmw-borrowed-from-the-fed-during-credit-crisis-so-did-harley-toyota-ford-and-mitsubishi.html

[mugwump58]

So it really has no significance

[BobW]

Only if you think of how badly they mismanaged their huge profits of the preceding years and the greed that caused them to abandon a sound business plan thus placing workers and partnering communities in the cross hairs. HD could of, should of, would of, blah, blah, blah. Or they may have just leveraged this gravy train crash to eliminate old factories, BAD paper and union concerns they never had to address before and get e z money to do it with. I'm not cynical, MUCH, but every banker, manufacturer, regulator, etc., etc., that didn't do their job, should be hung out to dry and not be allowed to pay their master card debt with their visa card while reaping HUGE bonuses which BTW, we are all paying for w/o benefit of product for our mandated purchases taxation dollars. Because others did it too, means nothing to me, prisons are full of thieves and many more are still on the street that also need a cell to call home.

Cheers, Happy Holidays

[atadaskew]

I don't disagree with you Bob.  My point is that it is not limited to Harley...

Don't get me started on the banks.   They f-d everything up w/ their shady deals and risk taking.  Then they get bailed out with their toxic assets bought at 100% of the 'value'.
What happens if we , the public, defaults on a credit card?  Our rates jump to 29.99%.  What happens to the banks?  They get to borrow money at 0%, do not provide liquidity to the economy like they are meant to but use it to buy T-bills at 3% return.  So they are paid back 3% on money they borrowed for free.  And get huge bonuses as their reward.

[chornbe]

I don't disagree with you Bob.  My point is that it is not limited to Harley...

Don't get me started on the banks.   They f-d everything up w/ their shady deals and risk taking.  Then they get bailed out with their toxic assets bought at 100% of the 'value'.
What happens if we , the public, defaults on a credit card?  Our rates jump to 29.99%.  What happens to the banks?  They get to borrow money at 0%, do not provide liquidity to the economy like they are meant to but use it to buy T-bills at 3% return.  So they are paid back 3% on money they borrowed for free.  And get huge bonuses as their reward.

Don't get me started on credit card companies.

I had some measurable but not overwhelming credit outstanding on cards. A couple of years ago, due to some personal stuff going on that is immaterial to this discussion, some payments were late. Next thing I know I'm whacked with 30% rates, and two fo the companies call the entire credit due like RIGHT NOW.

I am, at this point, realistically unable to secure credit.

Fuck you, banks. And credit card companies.

Never. Again. Ever.

[Mr.Black]

Don't get me started on credit card companies.

I had some measurable but not overwhelming credit outstanding on cards. A couple of years ago, due to some personal stuff going on that is immaterial to this discussion, some payments were late. Next thing I know I'm whacked with 30% rates, and two fo the companies call the entire credit due like RIGHT NOW.

I am, at this point, realistically unable to secure credit.

Fuck you, banks. And credit card companies.

Never. Again. Ever.

I'll loan you some dough.

[BobW]

Wasn't trying to be too much of an ass, this whole debacle has just pushed my buttons to new levels.

Any Credit Card, regardless the institution/bank, as far as I have ever seen are all headquartered out of Delaware and North Dakota ( I think that's the two) as they are the only States where Usury is not against the law. If they located in the other 48 they would be joining "Guido" in having to defend loan sharking charges. At this point in the "game", I would have to give the nod to Organize Crime and Racketeers in having more integrity on how the rules are explained and enforced, pretty sad actually (in a total understatement kind of way).

God Bless, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and I genuinely wish you all a better and happier New Year.

Cheers

[scarecrow]

Will someone please start a thread that either originates as a harley bashing thread or quickly evolves into one.  I've got a pirate related link I want to post but feel it would be lame to start a dedicated thread for it. Thanks

You are a genius. Best thread award goes here ----> X

[ChrisZRX]

[scarecrow]

I'm not a Harley rider but my brother is and he is really pissed right now about this little gem. Harley's CEO, Keith Wandell, has given himself a $6.4 million dollar bonus on the back of the worst sales in 12 years for the MoCo. He has had the job for 8 months. It was also revealed that Harley accepted a (secret?) $2.3 billion dollar bailout in 2008-09 then cut 2,300 jobs. It's the bailout that has him really pissed.

[Playinthestreet]

Why shouldn't Harley be the equal of General Electric?

[scarecrow]

It gets worse. Harley also took a $2 billion dollar loan from Warren Buffet at 15% interest. It appears that Harley was on the brink after that MV/Augusta fiasco.

[falconati]

One of Harley's best accomplishments in the motorcycle world has been cleaning up MV's balance sheet.  We fans of their styling thank Harley very much for that  

[falconati]

That's where I grew up  

[Playinthestreet]

That's where I grew up  

How many Big 4 import dealers have been in business for the same length of time as Wieblers in that market?

[scarecrow]

Source.

Not for the loan, but for this statement. They acquired MV for pocket change.

Use the search words "Secret Harley bailout", and you'll find many sources.

[falconati]

I googled tin foil and hate and learned about aliens, too. Thanks.

Why the tin foil hate?  Can't conspirators all just get along?  

[scarecrow]

I googled tin foil and hate and learned about aliens, too. Thanks.

Butt hurt? I'm sorry you took it personally.

[stromgal]

I believe it was H-D's financing arm that was dragging the balance sheet down. They put a lot of asses in seats with risky loans.