Being a Harley owner for a long time, I have noticed some things
I do not hate Harleys. I am grateful to live in a place where I can choose to ride the bike of my choice and have the means to ride at all. Many people on this planet don't.
Most of my issues come from the people who ride Harleys and their attitude towards those who don't. Doesn't matter what you ride---it is the same wind in your face.
At this place in my life, the things that Honda and the B offer are what is important to me. Fifteen years ago, I loved to polish chrome and Peacock my style as all that chrome and noise dazzled the world---or so I thought it did.
Now my riding is about substance more than style--although I love to Peacock on the B, too. The less chrome, the better and the core Goldwing base is perfect for everything I want.
But--back to Harley and why people love/like them. This is what help attract me to them. The technology is very antiquated and the HD customer base wants it that way. HD is having a hard time making power and reliability with a 100 year old design and keeping the EPA happy at the same time. The EVO engine was their break through, but emissions standards killed it then they needed to change to EFI to keep up. However, there are people who like to see gears turn and the sight and distinctive sound of a lot of moving mechanical parts will mesmerize them. Then make it where they can crawl aboard and actually ride the large assembly of moving parts with it's belts/ pulleys/ gears/ tires/ spokes, etc.... Then you add a boatload of "shiney, sparkley chrome" and they view it as special. I liken it to guys who love a Mustang. Lots of gearheads would love a 68 Mustang V8. Like Harley, it is an old design that does not steer or ride as good and the performance is not even close to what the new V6 engine can produce and the seats and driving position is not really comfortable and most cars back then had the manual choke and ignition points were just not dependable at all. You car not starting was a regular event. But the original design and the V8 rumble has an attraction that is hard to match with even the newest and latest engineering. After saying all of that, go see what one of those old, undependable, bad riding and terrible handling V8 68 Mustangs sell for and why do people want them???????????? Most would say it is because they always wanted one as a teen and could not afford one then. Same could be said about Harley.
:2cents: Just my 2 cents worth