Does this look like a Buell laying in the grass? This accident happened last week. Two bikes crashing into each other.

Quote from: mister on March 21, 2011, 01:18:59 AM


So... HD's new Action Plan = Sell the same over-priced bikes to the same customers (who are dwindling in numbers and ability to buy them) and cross your fingers.
Yup, that'll work 

Michael

I think their latest genius plan was was to start selling Hyosungs in their dealerships, because if an american made sport bike with a harley engine isn't good enough for their dealerships, a Hyosung definitely will it.... 

Twisted: I'm not sure what it is, but it's definitely not a buell. It looks like a triumph to me.

They have introduced some newer bikes in the past few years actually. I don't think they are completely lost in the market as far as trying to keep up with trends, however, I will admit it does appear that they have waited a tad too long to actually start trying to breathe new life into the company. I like them actually. Always have since I was a kid. My uncle was huge into harley's and there is a picture floating around at my mothers house somewhere of me in a leather jacket sitting on my uncle's bike. I was only a couple years old. Are they heavy? Yes. Overpriced? Maybe, depends on your perception of what you think you should be getting for your money. Do they have "wannabe" riders? Sure, just the same as any other genre of riders, you'll have those lame brains in the mix. I've seen both dorknozzle cruiser riders and dorknozzel sportbike riders. Generally I would say that your bike choice doesn't automatically make you an idiot. When I think of Harley's, I envision open countryside, long open roads, the sun shinning bright, just cruising. When I think of sportbikes, I think of roads with tons of curves, same sun shinning bright. I also think of the track and racing when I think of sportbikes. To me, different bikes for different purposes.

Quote from: jserio on March 20, 2011, 11:33:14 AM
Kinda funny to hear the argument of "no foresight or innovation or creativity" on a forum for a bike that has stayed virtually unchanged for over two decades. 

I paid 1800 bucks for my bike.  I love the gs500 for what it is.  Its a an everyday bike thats great for the city (at least for me).



What was the point of this topic?  For you to try to tell us your view point on why we should like Harleys.  Well, I don't buy the argument (respectfully) and I respond with why the company sucks.  Your 60/40 riding ratio doesn't work for me, I'd rather be 90/10 riding.  I work with my hands on a daily basis and the last thing I want is a machine that is constantly requiring attention.  I'm actually pretty surprised you decided to mention the fact that the bike requires so much attention as a plus!  I see that as a huge minus.  

The bike I own should have nothing to do with it.  The 500 is a perfect size for me and when the time is right, I will be adding another bike to my stable without subtracting the GS.  Just because I do not own a tech savvy bike I lust over does not mean my appreciation for companies that strive for perfection is any less.  


Without a serious turn around as well, I don't see Harleys holding onto that market share for the future.  I have no doubt they will always be around, but their popularity will dwindle to a population of hardcore followers rather than every newbie above 40 that wants to ride a bike.  

Quote from: jserio on March 21, 2011, 01:03:45 PM
Are they heavy? Yes. Overpriced? Maybe, depends on your perception of what you think you should be getting for your money.

I agree wholeheartedly.


If thats what you want to spend your money on, have at it.  You have a personal connection to this bike through your family and no one is going to change that for you.  Just don't expect others to have the same nostalgia for a machine you admit is heavy and to those looking for value, extremely overpriced. 

Quote from: NickyNumbers on March 21, 2011, 01:09:22 PM
]



I paid 1800 bucks for my bike.  I love the gs500 for what it is.  Its a an everyday bike thats great for the city (at least for me).



What was the point of this topic?  For you to try to tell us your view point on why we should like Harleys.  Well, I don't buy the argument (respectfully) and I respond with why the company sucks.  Your 60/40 riding ratio doesn't work for me, I'd rather be 90/10 riding.  I work with my hands on a daily basis and the last thing I want is a machine that is constantly requiring attention.  I'm actually pretty surprised you decided to mention the fact that the bike requires so much attention as a plus!  I see that as a huge minus.  

Where do you see that anyone(myself included) has said that a harley requires more attention? I also would say that having a bike I don't have to constantly wrench on is a plus. Same reason I wanted/bought a new car the last time, tired of constantly working on my daily driver. A bike should be the same. Personally, I could care less what bikes you or anyone else likes/rides. An appreciation for the sport is what matters to me. The majority of people that I hear bashing HD have never owned/operated or had any type of interaction with them at all. They go off what their buddies say or what they've heard on some online blog/forum. Instead of making a choice based on rumor alone, go to your local dealership, take one for a demo ride and give it half a chance and then make an opinion about the machine. You say the company sucks, but why? I honestly have no idea how a company could be so bad at what they do and yet stay in business well over 100 years. They must be doing something right for someone out there in order to be in business so long. Again, just my opinion on the matter.

Quote from: jserio on March 21, 2011, 03:14:52 PM

Where do you see that anyone(myself included) has said that a harley requires more attention?

Your original post below

 

Quote from: jserio on March 21, 2011, 03:14:52 PM
Yes, Harleys have reputation for breaking down. Look at it this way, most motorcycle owner are gear heads at heart. Im sure most of us fall into this category. When it comes to my GS i would say of the 100% of joy it brings me 60% is riding and 40% is just working on it, maintaining it and tinkering. We all love to work on our bikes, thats a fact. What fun would it be if it always worked and we never got to tear it apart, see how things work, get out hands dirty, re-build a carb/ engine/ tranny.

With that said, so maybe Harleys have a few more problems than other bikes, but its just part of the joy of owning a machine. Getting to work on it.

And the rest of your post once again is just your personal opinion and feelings.  Like I said,  you have a personal connection to the brand.  I don't.  My view is purely objective and has nothing to do with my feelings towards the brand, hence the posting of statistics on how crappy they performed this fiscal year.



oh yea, just for reference.  I've been to plenty HD dealerships, mainly because the one by me carries BMW as well and there is one down the block from work.  I've test ridden the 883 and the XR1200, wasnt that impressed.  The XR was my favorite of the two though. 

Ummm..that quote about 60 40....wasn't from me. Check the original posting again. It's the very first one in this thread actually. Thanks.

Quote from: jserio on March 21, 2011, 06:16:37 PM
Ummm..that quote about 60 40....wasn't from me. Check the original posting again. It's the very first one in this thread actually. Thanks.

yea i just noticed that.  I thought you were the OP, my mistake.  Doesn't really change anything I'm saying though, thanks.

All I've seemed to gather from your postings on this thread is that you dislike them because of how they are priced and that the company lost money this last year. 

Quote from: NickyNumbers on March 21, 2011, 04:10:53 PM

Quote from: jserio on March 21, 2011, 03:14:52 PM

Where do you see that anyone(myself included) has said that a harley requires more attention?

Your original post below

 

Quote from: jserio on March 21, 2011, 03:14:52 PM
Yes, Harleys have reputation for breaking down. Look at it this way, most motorcycle owner are gear heads at heart. Im sure most of us fall into this category. When it comes to my GS i would say of the 100% of joy it brings me 60% is riding and 40% is just working on it, maintaining it and tinkering. We all love to work on our bikes, thats a fact. What fun would it be if it always worked and we never got to tear it apart, see how things work, get out hands dirty, re-build a carb/ engine/ tranny.

With that said, so maybe Harleys have a few more problems than other bikes, but its just part of the joy of owning a machine. Getting to work on it.

And the rest of your post once again is just your personal opinion and feelings.  Like I said,  you have a personal connection to the brand.  I don't.  My view is purely objective and has nothing to do with my feelings towards the brand, hence the posting of statistics on how crappy they performed this fiscal year.



oh yea, just for reference.  I've been to plenty HD dealerships, mainly because the one by me carries BMW as well and there is one down the block from work.  I've test ridden the 883 and the XR1200, wasnt that impressed.  The XR was my favorite of the two though. 

HAD a rep. for breaking down. members here live in the past. this was during the amf days. when you turn ownership of a company to unions and a corporation based on profit. they tried to get hte most using the least. that showed up anythign with amf on its side i try to avoid.  hell everybody performed crappy this fiscal year. worldwide lol

Well not EVERYBODY lost money this year. (Think big oil) 

Quote from: jserio on March 21, 2011, 09:21:12 PM
Well not EVERYBODY lost money this year. (Think big oil) 

true. course 90% of what we use has a base in oil. even when we walk, we use oil. (* shoes , food, clothing, colouring, etc)

Quote from: jserio on March 21, 2011, 09:21:12 PM
Well not EVERYBODY lost money this year. (Think big oil) 

Buell sales were still on a steady increase, until HD canned them.