cneron asked:


I admit it, for years I was a Harley-basher. They've always been the most beautiful bikes in the world, yes, but I was always more interested in utility. A lot of people buy them for the image---and I HATE the image. I like to ride motorcycles, I don't give a damn what other people think of me riding the thing. I never thought I would consider buying an H-D, but due to my height, taste and the type of riding I do, my options are limited and Harley is about the last real bike out there. I am hugely irritated with the plastic faux chrome parts on Japanese bikes in recent years. I've heard that insurance is high on H-Ds, that repairs are expensive (and frequent), and I don't feel good about the belt drive thing. If I went Harley, I'd have to go with the 1200N Sportster. Fill me in, people.
By "real" bike I mean that the parts actually seem to serve some function, unlike the faux air cleaner covers and plastic "chrome" on many bikes.

thomy8s: I never said the image was negative, I simply said I didn't like it. And you didn't change my mind much witrh your outburst.

tamarack58: Yeah, I realize I don't have to wear the accepted uniform of the supposedly free-from-conformity crowd. The "image" I don't care for is the low-rent snobbery of the H-D crowd, (see thomy8s comment), the Made In America attitude, and the pretentiousness.

And Ed: I have indeed done the research, and am obviously still doing it, since I asked the question. The high-priced custom bikes strike me as something people want to own, rather than ride.

Thanks all for the responses.

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