Both Harleys and S&W revolvers . . .

[Mainsail]

What is this "culture around them" you loath?

Did you not have a phone you could call and talk to a salesman? I've never tried to buy a bike or car by email.


Salesman probably get jerked around a lot by tire kickers. They might have thought if you were serious enough to buy a new bike, you'd at least want to discus the deal in person instead of by email.

Thank You!

There was nothing to discuss- give me a number so I can pick up the bike, what else does there need to be?

I'm being a little coy though, there really was something they wanted to discuss, the financing. They don't make as much money from a sale as they do from getting you into payments- that's their dealer model.

As to the "culture" ... I took an English 101 class back when I was still active duty- girl in the class wouldn't shut up about hers. Even when the writing topic assigned couldn't possibly include a Harley, she managed to worm it in. More recently, friend at work bought himself a decent Honda Rebel 300 for learning and commuting, but he had to park it in with the huge $20K+ harleys and a month later he dropped his credit card on a new one for himself. Not weird by any means, until the harley jacket, coffee mug, dress shirt, pen, notebook, ....

Many more in the between years. Just the way some people get upset if you don't like Harleys...

I'm not against them- I love all the bikes, so not sure what the indignation is about, but relax, my opinion isn't going to put them out of business.

We get all kinds of bikes for the group rides here. This is what was left after, but we started out with over 30.

 

[Bald1]

Those are just newbie HD guys that want you and everyone else to know they have an HD. I knew a guy like that who even bought the Ford F150 HD edition. When you said culture I thought you were referring to the wanna be tough guys pretending to be outlaw bikers. Or maybe even the legit criminal element………. Progressive insurance has a funny commercial about new bike guy. He works it onto every conversation and puts a pic of it on a birthday cake.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

I own and ride motorcycles since 1978, my actual bike is a Guzzi 850 Le Mans l 1976 model year.

 

[alwslate]

I rode a variety of bikes for over 50 years without ever going down on the street. Had several Harleys but my all time favorite bike is the original Yamaha V-Max. Had 4 of them over a period of 20 years. Never once wished for more power! At 79 I can no longer ride any motorcycle. Thought about a Harley Trike but the new trimmed down version is over 30K. A bit much for a toy. But with the current climate of road rage and violence in the US I'm going to quit while I'm ahead.

 

[Bekeart]

AMEN!

I'm going to quit while I'm ahead.

SAME HERE!

 

[boykinlp]

I'll be 64 in a few months. Growing up, my stepfather was a motorcycle guy before he got married and had 3 girls. He had been a Triumph guy apparently. When he married my mom, he "inherited" 2 boys. I was 12-13 and he decided to buy a couple of enduro bikes, one Yamaha 175 for himself, and a Yamaha 100 for me. I enjoyed riding it with him, once I learned how. He wasn't a very good teacher, having zero patience! We had a mountain house with miles of dirt roads and trails to ride on. I rode it until I was in high school and it was stolen.

After graduating from college and being on my own for a while, I had some money burning a hole in my pocket, and decided to buy a motorcycle that an acquaintance had for sale. This was in 1987. The bike was a 1984 Kawasaki Ninja 900. I had never really ridden a bike on the road before. I enjoy riding it for a couple of years, but had to sell it because I was buying a new house and needed a refrigerator more than a motorcycle, and even back then folks didn't see motorcycles on the road. IIRC, that motorcycle was one of the fastest at that time.

About 15 years later, I thought about buying another motorcycle, a Harley this time, but it didn't work out. Here is what my Kawasaki Ninja 900 looked like:
Larry

 

[delcrossv]

A lot of us grew up riding Harley's because they were cheap to build and spare parts were really dirt cheap...that really (really!) changed over the years...

The rigid Sportster below was my first ever build in 1976, it started as a 1972 XLCH Sportster engine, once all the parts were gathered and a lot of wrenching later I had a Harley.

....

Oh we're still building them, but parts are no longer cheap

 

[BKLooney]

I'll be 64 in a few months. Growing up, my stepfather was a motorcycle guy before he got married and had 3 girls. He had been a Triumph guy apparently. When he married my mom, he "inherited" 2 boys. I was 12-13 and he decided to buy a couple of enduro bikes, one Yamaha 175 for himself, and a Yamaha 100 for me. I enjoyed riding it with him, once I learned how. He wasn't a very good teacher, having zero patience! We had a mountain house with miles of dirt roads and trails to ride on. I rode it until I was in high school and it was stolen.

After graduating from college and being on my own for a while, I had some money burning a hole in my pocket, and decided to buy a motorcycle that an acquaintance had for sale. This was in 1987. The bike was a 1984 Kawasaki Ninja 900. I had never really ridden a bike on the road before. I enjoy riding it for a couple of years, but had to sell it because I was buying a new house and needed a refrigerator more than a motorcycle, and even back then folks didn't see motorcycles on the road. IIRC, that motorcycle was one of the fastest at that time.

About 15 years later, I thought about buying another motorcycle, a Harley this time, but it didn't work out. Here is what my Kawasaki Ninja 900 looked like:
Larry

One of my all-time favorite bikes! I bought my first one in 1985, the 2nd in 1992.

I went down on the one I bought new in 1992, bad, bad wreck. I hit the pavement at 130+, blue jeans and a t-shirt...but I did have good boots and a top of the line Shoei helmet, that helmet saved me. Several chipped vertebra, broken ankle & big toe, lots of skin gone, and a lovely silver dollar size piece of my right kneecap exposed.

The bike was beyond totaled, found another with your color scheme about 2 month later and bought it, had it for quite a number of years.

 

[Erich]

The WSJ had a follow-up article today. I'm posting a free link to it for informational, not political purposes.

wsj.com

The quotation speaking to how they're taking things seriously:

Harley-Davidson said it . . . will focus on retaining its "loyal riding community."

(redaction of possible poltical issue mine).

 

[bdGreen]

Camped out in Custer.

enjoy,
bdGreen



Can you tell we are in Kansas?

 

[Imissedagain]

A saxy Harley.
Stan Getz did the tune ups?

 

[boykinlp]

One of my all-time favorite bikes! I bought my first one in 1985, the 2nd in 1992.

I went down on the one I bought new in 1992, bad, bad wreck. I hit the pavement at 130+, blue jeans and a t-shirt...but I did have good boots and a top of the line Shoei helmet, that helmet saved me. Several chipped vertebra, broken ankle & big toe, lots of skin gone, and a lovely silver dollar size piece of my right kneecap exposed.

The bike was beyond totaled, found another with your color scheme about 2 month later and bought it, had it for quite a number of years.

Wow, I missed this post last month! You are extremely lucky, that's for sure. Were you carrying a rabbit's foot in your jeans? When I bought mine used, it came with an older helmet, but as soon as I got the money, I bought a top of the line Shoei too. Our heads are pretty valuable and fragile after all!
Larry

 

[chief38]

. . . are likely to have prices coming down sharply on used ones in ten years or so. If you're young, you might consider investing accordingly.

Harley Will Ride or Die With the Graybeards
Milwaukee-based company focuses on high-end motorcycles, but some say it isn't cultivating the next generation of buyers. 'You get older, you actually realize it's a really cool thing.'

wsj.com

I basically do agree. That is why Harley is in trouble right now! Most young people simply can not afford one and they are usually attracted to Japanese Bikes for a whole lot less $$.

As far as S&W revolvers are concerned, yes in general younger people think of a personal protection gun in semi auto pistol form, not revolvers. That said, the old vintage S&W's in top not 98% - pristine condition should hold their value just because there will always be some who like revolvers and might be willing to buy the few great ones still around.

I also am a Lionel Electric Train collector and thought the same thing about them - but the hobby has somehow survived even with the reduculous prices they sell for. The old vintage originals from the 1930's, 40's 50's and 60's are still selling for big bucks. Will that change? Don't know as my crystal ball has gotten a bit blurry.

The red 2008 Ultra Classic was the Bike I sold 3 years ago when we moved. Never looked back after riding since I was a kid. At 67 I decided that after all the decades riding, cross country trips, trips to Canada and all up and down the East and West Coasts without going down, that was the time to hang it up. I logged well over 100K on Bikes and was a lucky man - so no more Bikes for me. Now 70 and I know I did the right thing - at least for me. I did have a blast though!!

 

[CH4]

I've been riding hogs since I was a kid and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon, it's a lifestyle. That said, I only visit HD shops when traveling abroad and that's only to buy a t shirt. There are a lot faster and smoother rides out there, and I've owned many, but there will always be an at least one HD in the garage. Here are likely my last Harleys, an 09 Road Glide and 98 Wide Glide, the last year of the Evo. Can't forget to mention my 01 BMW K1200RS.

 

[Marshwheeling]

As for the haters, most Harley haters are guys that never had the balls to ride, so they just sit back and mumble pot shots. It's kind of like gun haters. Most anti-gunners have never touched a gun, never mind owned one, and deep down they're just afraid. America is evolving (devolving…?) into a more refined, emasculated society. "Toxic masculinity" anyone…?!

I beg to differ. Most Harley haters are knowledgeable and experienced enthusiasts, with the balls to really ride, not just bloviate around in large groups getting in the way.

 

[tomhenry]

Harley's problems are waaay beyond MSRP.

Harley-Davidson's German CEO admits he took the job to turn an American icon into a DEI wokeness factory…

[Begin quote]
It looks like the woke DEI disease has claimed yet another victim—this time, it's the all-American motorcycle company Harley-Davidson. They've gone from easy riders to progressive pukes faster than you can say "born to ride," all thanks to their uber-woke German CEO, Jochen Zeitz. He's now admitting that he took the job at this legendary American brand in order to turn an iconic symbol into a DEI wasteland. Think Bud Light on wheels…

He said this at a Synergos 'David Rockefeller Leadership Award' event. Synergos says they work to "dismantle systems that create the most urgent problems of our time…. social injustice and climate change."
[End quote]

More at link.
Harley-Davidson's German CEO admits he took the job to turn an American icon into a DEI wokeness factory... - Revolver News

Edited to add: they scrapped DEI because of all the attention they're getting.

"Harley-Davidson is dropping DEI policies after pressure from diversity critics"

Harley-Davidson is dropping DEI policies after pressure from diversity critics - CBS News

 

[tinkerer]

Regarding the posts about 'distracted drivers and cell phone use', I'm seeing more bike riders using a cell phone while riding. Holding phone in one hand....

 

[ridewv]

. . . Harley's and S&W revolvers are likely to have prices coming down sharply on used ones in ten years or so. If you're young, you might consider investing accordingly.

I think we can take this a step further to say "motorcycles and guns in general" are likely to have prices coming down sharply on used ones in 10 years or so....

But they're right, brands and models (Harley, Moto Guzzi, S&W revolvers, Goldwings, etc., which appeal to oldsters probably even more so.

Regarding Harley riders being snobbish toward other motorcycles, from my experience it's more the case the other way around. Riders of other brands; Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, BMW, etc., often bad mouth Harley Davidsons. Personally I don't get any of that, I just ride whatever bike works for me including at present; Honda, Yamaha, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, and an older BMW.

I do agree that when it comes to sales, it seems like a higher % of HD dealers tend to be jerks than other brands. OTOH they tend to be better when it comes to stocking parts and service, and they're everywhere.

 

[Ingramite]

IF I HAVE TO EXPLAIN YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND

1999 FLSTS

 

[1sailor]

I've been riding for just over 55 years now. Almost all of that on Harleys. One of the things I've never understood is why everyone I meet who's riding something other than an HD feels they need to explain to me why they didn't get a Harley. As far as Harley prices coming down, yeah absolutely they will. At least used bikes. For a couple of decades every Lawyer, Doctor, CPA, etc had to have a Harley. It was fashionable. Now all those thousands of low mile bikes are just sitting around waiting for new owners. A few years back I listened to a guy rant about how he got screwed by Harley. Apparently, his local shop closed and so no longer supported the HOG (Harley Owners Group) rides and get togethers. He was furious that he had paid over 25k for a bike that was now useless because there were no organized rides with other RUB's. It just didn't even occur to him that he could still ride. Most of those guys didn't even really like to ride. It was just fashionable. Having a Harley makes you a biker in the same way that owning a rope makes you a mountain climber. You are or you're not. I'm in my seventies now and don't know how much longer I'll be able to ride but, I will continue until I just can't anymore.