If Harley-Davidson Motorcycles?

Question

are such "POS" why are they still very much sought after as basket cases, parts, memorabilia? Even the Japanese are buying up the old Harleys for restoration in Tokyo, why?

Answer 1

The Japanese are  even bigger trend humpers than Americans.

Where I live, people pick c**p up off the beach and sell it to tourists.  Its still c**p.

Answer 2

because they are harley's..... everyone knows that they are the king you will never fine a 100 yrs old sports bike..... over 70,000 mile on my harley be kind of hard to fine a sports bike with that many miles

Answer 3

Great bike!!!!

Answer 4

One reason, because they are very easy to ride as long as you enjoy going slow.  The low end torque means you can be very lazy about being in the right gear.

Another reason is really dumb people, people of low status who want to be somebody, buy motorcycles too, and it dosn't take much to sign up for monthly payments and instantly be 'badass harley guy'.

Another reason is they have achieved icon status and are certainly the most famous bike in the world.  People who know little or nothing about bikes already have it in their heads that the HD is the king of bikes.

And my final reason, there are tons of people who care more about fitting in, buying status, buying into a lifestyle, buying a fashion accessory than they care about performance.

A Harley is no POS.  It is 70 year old technology built to more modern tolerances.  An antique engine and frame loaded down with chrome and doodads.  Not a POS, more like useless and overpriced.  If you just gotta buy American, and you just gotta have a crusier, it boggles my mind that anyone would ever choose an HD over the much superior Victory.

Answer 5

like stated above its a lifestyle/ fashion statement aka. buying friends.. trust me there still "POS"

Answer 6

American Classic, nuff said!

Answer 7

People will always collect junk.

Answer 8

Because many, many people are sheep and follow the many, many other sheep.

Answer 9

Because people want them because they are "classic" and "stylish."  There's a great deal of satisfaction in bringing a basket case back to life too.

Want to ask my dad why he collects stamps when they've already been used?

Answer 10

I myself deliberately sought out a basket case of an antique Harley for the simple pleasure of evenings in the garage restoring a finely crafted machine, knowing this is one of the few mechanical devices that actually gets handed down from generation to generation because of its durability. I have friends still riding Harleys that have passed the 60 year old mark, and I fully expect mine to still be rolling at that age. How many other makes can make that claim?

Answer 11

People admire the Harley Davidson Marque' for a number of reasons.  

1. At it's introduction and for many years, it was the highest quality motorcycle money could buy.  Obviously the AMF years wiped out that legacy.

2. Of the dozens of American motorcycle manufacturers in the teens and twenties, they are the sole survivor of both world wars, the depression and Jimmy Carter's trashing of America's respect in the world.  

3. There is no other manufacturer that is so strongly associated with the American culture, with the exception, perhaps, of Coca-Cola.

4. It's a company staffed by garden variety Americans, not Case Western geniuses, not Ivy League MBAs or mega billionairs.  

5. It's now run by the descendants of the company's founders.

6. Their product has evolved, but not radically changed, in almost 100 years.

People identify with such a company.  

I would own a Knucklehead or a 45, but not much else they have ever made has captured my imagination.

Answer 12

I see where your coming from all this Bs we deal with is the same as

Some Zit pulling up next to a 34Ford Roadster in a Nissan and calling the Hot rod a antique POS with a bunch of chrome and loud exhaust

Not to mention if thats what we wanted We could sell our HDs and buy 2 or 3 of them If we ride a Harley that should prove that we can have any bike we want

I dont think they can say the same thing-They do say it "BUT"

We mean it