Harley-Davidson choices?

Question

dont you think some of us made our choices of bikes due to the atrocities from Japan during WWII? i would call it patriotism? dont you agree?

Answer 1

Nope. I buy what makes me happy!

Answer 2

Yes

Answer 3

I have owned Japanese bikes for years. Bought them for a good price and then after a year or two they are worth nothing. I am tired of having my butt numb after riding the freeway for an hour. I now have a Harley Davidson and when I get off the bike my butt feels normal and when I sell the bike I can still get something for it...

As far as atrocities, I could care less, these things are long past and why drag them to the surface over and over again.

So I guess I don't agree, I think I bought my HD to support a domestic company and keep some of my investment, and my butt is happy.

Answer 4

nope..... i got mine because she is solid black and she has a 240 rear tire

Answer 5

I'm sure some did but I wasn't around during WWII. I made my choices by experience, research and financial status.

Answer 6

Harley parts are made in Japan mostly now anyways, so the only real reason to own one (patriotism) is gone.

Personally, I go for performance and reliability.

Maybe it's because my p***s is already large enough.

I don't need an external mechanized ego boost.

Harleys nowadays are all status, and no substance.

Why would I buy an 883cc sportster that would have it's *** kicked by some kid on a 250 ninja?

And don't get me wrong, I love working on bike engines....I just don't think it should be a necessity multiple times a year.

You ARE keeping one American (or Canadian) business open though - The Harley Mechanic!

Answer 7

Uhhhh, thats a no! My first bike was a Harley Sportster because that was what everyone told me I need to have - a Harley. NOT It was a beast that I could not handle. Way too top heavy for me. Just not a good fit. All other Harleys were way out of my price range to even consider.

I traded my Sporty for a Yamaha Vstar 1100 and I LOVE - I mean LOVE - my bike. It has nothing to do with Japan, or American, or any of that.

It fits me! plain and simple. To each his own.

Answer 8

I bought mine because Honda and Yamaha didn't offer an affordable bagger (for me anyway) at the time.

'02 Electraglide standard.

Answer 9

Look into America's own foreign affairs history and you'll find some shocking, heinous, revelations.

Answer 10

I bought my BMW in 87. I have German ancestry and it might have played a small part in deciding to buy a BMW.mainly I was looking for a sport touring bike and about the only competition BMW had in this segment back then was a Kawi Concours. I has had a couple older Kawis before the BMW so ot was surprising I didn't go with a Concours, but the BMW just "spoke" to me.

This year I bought a HD FXDF (still have the Beemer). I wanted a cruiser to have that riding position and always told myself if I get a cruiser, make it a Harley, not some wanna-be lookalike HD, get the real deal. I guess that's why I bought the Beemer, the Kawi was just a rip-off of a BMW.

Answer 11

I built ours from the ground up off of old FXR's after riding j*p bikes for many years.

So no I don't agree, I consider it more of a maturation or even Evolution if you'll pardon the pun.

Answer 12

Patriotism is more of a feeling, an idea of how you feel about your country.

Don't confuse the symbols of patriotism with the actual feelings and actions of patriotism.

Besides, buying "American" doesn't mean as much as it used to.  Take a look into how much of your Harley isn't made in American anymore.

Answer 13

I've owned Handas, Kawasakis, Yamahas, Harleys Binellis Moto Guzzis and BSA.

The Harley was the lousiest built bike ever.

The Yamahas were about the best.

The Guzzi was one of the nicest.

Patriotism does not play a part.

Answer 14

Heck NO, I started racing when I was 9.

I know what performance is.

Harleys are not

Answer 15

I was not around for WWII, but you are right the j**s did do alot of horrible things then, but that's war.  They are now our allie.  On a more current note should you base your choice in bikes by the atrocities of war google blackwater scandal or Guantanamo Bay and then trade away your Harley, even the U.S. has done some horrible things during war.  Remember the pictures of woman soldier walking prisoner like a dog, them attacking dogs on prisoners, reports of sodomy and water boarding.  I'm not saying to get rid of your bike, heck they have not had an engineer employed by them since WWII if you believe the Harley bashers on here.

Answer 16

> nt you think some of us made our choices of bikes due to the atrocities from Japan during WWII?

Mostly no.  Most people -- even buyers of Harleys -- aren't old enough that that would be a major consideration.  Yes, the Japanese killed my grandfather -- but that was before I was born.  One of my aunts won't buy anything Japanese.  Me?  I have a lot of junk labelled "NEC" and "Sony."

Answer 17

Sounds rather silly to me.  

Being part Indian I kind of have no choice but to live pragmatically amongst the enemy who destroyed my culture and stole my birthright.  

But lets say you do believe what you are spouting.  I certainly hope you found a way not to use oil products imported from the Arab Muslims.  I hope nothing you own is from Japan, England, Germany, Italy, etc.  Did your people fight against the union or Confederates states?  Are your ancestors from southern Europe, I hope you don't do business with decedents of the Moors.  

If you wanna be true to your belief, it is going to get a bit complicated, because every culture has blood on it's hands.

p.s. I hope you have removed all the Japanese parts from your Harley.  You should think about removing the Chinese parts from it too, they helped the Vietnamese kill Americans.

Answer 18

I would buy a Harley if they were not all covered in tacky chrome. Harley has a kick-butt bike being sold now in Europe that is gorgeous and actually handles quite nicely, the XR1200, but Harley decided not to sell this bike in the US. I would buy one if they were sold here. The only American sports bikes for sale are Buell, which are too d**n weird and have quality issues. Thee is also the problem that all American made bikes have large engines. A beginner biker is left with no choice but buying a foreign bike. I believe Harley would do very well by building a baby Sportster, make it a single cylinder with 250 or 350 cc and Harley's build quality and I think it will be a winner bike for beginners. Harley should also make a line of sport bikes besides Buell, one that uses conventional, time proven technology, unlike Buell.

Answer 19

True but when the Japanese bikes arrived they were so well built and advertised so well to the masses to break the image of the "bike gangs" portrayed in b grade movies. The h***s angels originally were flight crews from that war the after bought motorcyles to just get away

Answer 20

yes, agreed!!!  buy American!!

Answer 21

dad fought in WWII, wouldnt or tried not to buy anything Japanese for a long time,,,but hard to do nowadays.  but if it were me, HARLEY!!!

Answer 22

Before I get told . I already know there's imported parts on my h/d bike . But, for me it makes a statement that people should hear "Buy AMERICAN".  our weak economy on our shoulders no matter who's to blame. And yessir, WW2 gave us hotrods hawgs and freedom, which nobody seems to appreciate anymore

Answer 23

I think it is about what you would like.  I would like an modern parallel twin but they are sometimes hard to find in a cruiser style bike.  would be nice to find a xs650 running cheap enough.  If i have to settle for a v-twin cruiser then why get an imatation of the original?  Even suzuki use to make a nice size twin that was not a v.  But now what choices do i have for a 650 or better parallel twin in a cruiser?  Let me know and i will look at it.  Even looked at the russian ural horizonal twin.

rd

Answer 24

Well, you're in for a rude awakening. Almost every part of those bike chassis' are Japanese parts. Even the parts made in North America ( Canada and Mexico as well as the USA ) are milled on Japanese machine tools. That's why they are so reliable now. The best Harley engines are designed by Porsche. Sorry to burst your bubble. Best bike I ever owned? Tie between Honda and Suzuki. Dig it.