I love the overly AMERICAN bullshit they push down your throat. "Project Rushmore" water cooled, 32ozs of coolant and radiators the size of index cards. Why to step it up boys, and all designed not to be seen. Cant make them look modern, in typical HD fashion. What about project "Little Big Horn" since the new Indians are a better motorcycle. Or they could stay with the whole HOG thing and name the next project "The Bay of Pigs"
I like the Rushmore improvements!
Nice bikes, but not really what I want,,,
Now,,, a Road Glide Ultra with a water-cooled (preferably non-TC) mill??!!??!I'd have to think about that one,,,,
Now that Willy G is out to pasture, maybe they can play some catch-up!
I remember all the YEARS I swore I'd NEVER ride a GOLDWING,,,, and now look at me!!! LOL!!!
I like having both.
Right there with ya, bub!Originally Posted by Scotrod
I remember all the YEARS I swore I'd NEVER ride a GOLDWING,,,, and now look at me!!! LOL!!!
I have no issues with Harleys or any other motorcycle--ride what you love! Be happy! What does confound me about Harleys though is how damn popular they are. I mean, retro anything should be a niche market, right? Not 50% of everything that sells. That's what I find most odd about Harleys. Not that they make bikes with obsolete technology, because there's always a market for that. It's that the market is so freaking HUGE.
Marketing on a grand scale.
I think it's because for a vast majority of the "motorcycling market" it is a couple thousand mile a year hobby where they get together with friends. It is a social hobby as much as it is a motorcycle based one, and Harley Davidson has made themselves into the only option for being COOL. If you want the social aspect of motorcycling you buy a Harley and have it come to you, or you buy any other brand and have to beg for friends or hang out at DQ with Gma & Gpa.
Harley Davidson is STELLAR at what they do, and that is sell a "lifestyle" that includes a motorcycle. They are branding geniuses plain and simple. I work across from an HD dealer and frequently run into riders in the adjacent McDonalds when I am grabbing a coffee and what not. The number of those riders that have HD Helmet, HD Bandanna, HD Jacket, HD T-shirt, HD Boots & HD Gloves is staggeringly high. My desk sits next to a picture window and there are guys who will ride to the dealership 4 and 5 times a day just to hang out, to socialize, it's an old boys club. It's the guys that want to be a part of an M/C but aren't Outlaws.
Other brands don't offer that same experience, so naturally that is where that group heads.
That's not to say HD don't make a fine motorcycle, I imagine they do at this point, but I also imagine that for 80% of the guys on them the idea that they may need major work at 60,000 miles might as well be at 60 Bajillion miles because they will never see a number that high. The guys that do see high mileage on HDs know what they are getting into before they ever start and make a calculated decision.
Just my $0.02
That, and up until 'roughly' the turn of the century, HD really didn't have any V-Twin-powered heavy cruiser competition,,,
V-twin's didn't really get 'stylish' up until the RUB's started buyin 'em,,,
When it came to baggers, I used to say, "if I wanted a rolling sofa, I'd buy a Goldwing."I remember all the YEARS I swore I'd NEVER ride a GOLDWING,,,, and now look at me!!! LOL!!!
Well....
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