Why make your j*p Cruiser try to imitate a Harley? If you don't like Harley then why copy?

Question

With the exception of the buell, I don't see guys trying to make their Harley's look like Yamahas, Hondas or Suzukis.

Please don't give that lame excuse about "over-priced" or "Harley break downs" We all know better.

You guys do realize that if it wasn't for Harley, your cruiser bikes wouldn't exist. You do know this right?

Not trying to be a jerk - I just don't get it.

Answer 1

You're right, you don't get it.  

If it wasn't for Crocker Motorcyles and Ronald Reagan no one would know the name, "Harley-Davidson".   Motorcycles were invented before Mr. Davidson sold out to Mr. Harley, by the way, so your arrogant statement won't hold water..

They are still over  priced and under engineered and you can't start a debate about j*p vs Milwaukee Vibrator and demand that HDs shortcomings be left out of the mix.  They are trinkets for status whores, not a motorcycle for real enthusiasts.

If you really want a Harley, I'll clean you one out of my Honda Valkyrie's air box.

As for Buell, the Harley that looks like a j*p bike, they perform better than other Harleys but still get eaten up by modern j*p and Euro bikes.

And yeah, you're trying to be a jerk.

Answer 2

Harley does have their own mystic. There are unfortunately lots of people that cannot afford Harley's and the look a likes are cheaper. I think that is what it is all about. I ride a V-Max and the Harley's just don't perform like I want a Motorcycle to. I don't know how the look a likes perform compared to Harley's. I like all of them.

Answer 3

I happen to own a 1200 sportster. By the time I purchased the bike and all the stuff to make it how I wanted it was $15K. In a lot of regions bikes are seasonal and a lot of people don't want to spend that much on something you ride half the year. I understand if someone wants a Honda shadow for $7K in that situation. I can also say that if the Kawasaki concousre 14 was available when I was buying my bike I would have been on that instead.

Answer 4

and if it wasn't for Honda your Harley wouldn't exist.

give respect where respect is due.

Answer 5

You people surely aren't taking this question seriously are you? It's bait.

Answer 6

THis is just to see what he can get going, but most say my motor cycle is a copy of a Vrod EXCEPT the styling of my bike has not changed since 1997

Answer 7

Another silly exercise.  PLEASE do not use the term j*p.  It is highly offensive to me, and my Japanese friends.

And you are being a jerk.

Answer 8

Shortbus, you got it backwards. Read your history. Honda motorcycles didn't come into existence until HD went to Japan. Respect is given when and where due.

As far as a cruiser must look like a cruiser because that's what it is: I can't fault the basic argument, but..... it's the details. There are parts on Japanese cruisers that are intentionally made to mimic the look of a Harley. Why have a cover that looks like an HD air cleaner when the air filter is under the seat? Or fins on a water cooled engine? Certainly not function.

Joe, I understand the question, and I'm at a loss as you are.

I know why the manufacturers make copies: sales.

I think proper attitude is somewhere in the owner's manual none of them read.

Answer 9

I agree with you.  Any cruiser is a wanna be Harley.  A person could buy a modern naked bike or a dual sport or any generic street bike that isn't in the antiquated v-twin cruiser style and have better performance for the dollar.  So why value the look over the performance and then not get the bike that is the icon for that look?

On the other hand, the right answer if you just gotta have a cruiser is a Victory.  Superior performance for a cruiser and more American made than the Harley.

Answer 10

how come all GM (American made cars) break down at 100,000 miles (including my poniac) but "j*p c**p" cars like my buddys honda civic has 250,000 miles on it and runs perfect with no problems? yeah i know im talking about cars but the same rules apply with bikes.. im a proud american but we suck at making s**+.t

Answer 11

WHO REALLY CARES!!!!!

If people are riding the bike that they want to ride then.......

WHO REALLY CARES!!!!!

Ride whatever you want to ride, let other people ride whatever they want to ride. And, believe it or not, the j*p trap riders can go riding with the Harley riders and everybody can have fun doing it. What in the h**l is the ongoing tension between the j*p trap and the Harley riders. GET OVER IT!!!!!

Answer 12

Who is trying to make their bike look like a harley?  I think you are incorrect in assuming if it were not for Harley, then we wouldn't have our bikes.  Have you ever heard of simultaneous inventions?  The same phenomenon happens with other things such as automobiles, motorcycles, etc.  It just so happens to be that HD's design philosophy was made canonical in the world's eye first and that makes the other manufacturers seem like they are following HD around like it was mother goose.  The point is that, like cars, motorcycles have fallen, are falling, and will fall into same or similar designs.  That is how things work.  There are people that dislike Japanese, American, or European cars for various reasons (and vise versa, like them for various reaons).  Sometimes it is public image, price, looks, reliability, performance, etc and a combination of all those things.  I proudly own and ride a Kawasaki Vulcan 800.  I like HD's, especially the touring style models with a half or full dresser, but it is a bike that I think does not fit my image so I don't want one, plus I can't afford anything more than a sportster 883.

Answer 13

The knock offs cost less. go figure.

Answer 14

Believe it or not, some of us "motorcyclists" DO NOT WANT A HARLEY for various reasons.

Answer 15

I don't think either is trying to copy the other.

If you're trying to build a cruiser, then what do you have to start with?! You have to have a frame. How much can you differenciate there? Think of other things too...like you can't put some weird headlight on the bike, so stick to a single, round headlight. Cruisers have chrome on them.

What I'm saying is that you can't make a CRUISER without making it look like any other cruiser. It's like saying the R6 looks like the CBR600RR. They have to stick to a mold.

and a Harley is overpriced!!! I can get a 2008 Hayabusa for the price of a DYNA and then some! My friends Roadglide just snapped a cam! it's 5 months old! they are less dependable than most japanese bikes out there.

Answer 16

I like motorcycles and I am proud of mine....those of us who choose to ride "cruisers" - Don't have much of a choice in how the bike is laid out....it is a type of bike.....not a brand....Harley makes "cruisers" ----  that's all.  Even the V-Rod is a "power cruiser."  So when we buy a "cruiser" we want to customize it to make it our own....It's not the fact that we want to make it look like a Harley.....I own a Suzuki Marauder 1600 because I like the looks of the bike......Could I have bought a Harley, sure, but Harley hasn't changed their bikes for several years....I wanted  a shaft driven bike for low maintenance, I wanted a water cooled engine for stop and go traffic, and I wanted fuel injected for better throttle response....In other words I wanted something that I could enjoy with my type of riding and a non-harley served the part better.....I will admit that a Harley is the BEST sounding bike out there......But I will give up sound for a better ride. (Comfort and smoother ride)