Who Hates Harley Davidson?

Discussion in 'Anything Goes' started by Bubba Zanetti, Jan 31, 2008.

  1. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    I, for one, would not want to see HD fail. That would put a lot of people out of work, and decrease
    the number of motorcycle companies. I saw the result when HD shut down their Kansas City factory.
    Not a pleasant thing.

    OTOH I have no desire to bail out a company that cannot figure out how to appeal to a different
    demographic, and make new motorcycles that actually sell. IMO they need to stand or fall on their
    own.
     
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  2. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    And think about all the factory workers losing their jobs in Korea, China and Japan..... lol They don't want Hardly to fail either.
     
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  3. Chicky

    Chicky New Member

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    I was a Rider Coach for HD a few years back and I am now a test rider for them at their Arizona Proving Grounds. Then and now their mission statement is "We sell the dream of personal freedom" or something along those lines. They are very open about the fact that they do not sell motorcycles, they sell a dream. While I may collect a paycheck from them I would never own a Harley. I get to ride them all, existing models and the prototypes for what's coming. None of them do anything for me that comes even an inch close to what the VFR does for me. I think they "sell the dream of personal freedom" to those who think it can be bought. They have a great marketing team. Those of us who create our own personal freedom know that it is something that can NOT be bought for any price.
     
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  4. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    :Amen:
     
  5. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    Holy Zombie threads. This one just won't die.

    Chicky, I want your opinion that that hulk they call a Trans-America or whatever.
     
  6. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Chicky from Vegas?
    Jay told me he talked to you and what’s goin on, quite interesting job you landed.
    No VFR?


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  7. Chicky

    Chicky New Member

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    Hasn't come thru for testing yet since it's very been there. Not sure if it went through before. But... Even if it comes through and I get to ride it, I can't really talk about it.
     
  8. Chicky

    Chicky New Member

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  9. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Wow that’s so awesome.
    Still think a gaggle of us are headed to Laguna, sure be nice ta meet cha.
    I’ll have to see, have had a lot of life happening and not in a good way.
    Fingers crossed, may be a last minute decision.
    Any who, great to have you back and excellent choice on the 5G.
    Job sounds very interesting, was a test driver for a while for BMW and sure was a hoot. Nothing like getting paid and having fun at the same time.



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  10. Chicky

    Chicky New Member

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    When is the Laguna Seca thing supposed to happen? Keep me posted on this and if you will be going. Maybe I will show up. Where is the BMW Proving Grounds? Yes, it is pretty cool to get paid to ride motorcycles!!
     
  11. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    July 12-14.
    BMW has a facility in Ventura, had the second shift at 4:30,always teams of 6,we’d drive a good 7 hrs on 8 different routes.
    Computers everywhere,floors, trunks.
    We’d get back and upload all the data to Germany. You see these cars everywhere, always together with the same license plates, fake body panels as body work painted in black and white lines.
    Goin to see OOTV hopefully Tuesday, seeing if he still plans on goin to Laguna, Jay May come out as well.
    Depends for me how many bills start slamming us for my wife’s brain surgery she just had to determine if I can even afford to go.
    It’s Saturday, go for a ride.
    I’m headed off for another 12 day at work.
    Roy


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    Last edited: Apr 20, 2019
  12. Chicky

    Chicky New Member

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    I see. It sounds like you rode on public roads? The testing I do is strictly at their proving grounds. Various courses that are run at very specific speeds and stopping points. The engineers are all there on site. Keep me posted on Laguna. And I'll try to keep an eye out for any threads talking about it. Sorry to hear about your wife... I hope she is doing well and is fully recovered now.
     
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  13. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Thanks, she’s on the track for a full recovery.
    Surgeon did an outstanding job.
    Scary it can happen that fast, and change everything.
    Pushed me to leave my work for my birthday next March for good.
    I’ll still stay a Teamster.
    Gnight



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  14. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    Just curious if HD does any "longevity testing" on the drivetrain and other mechanical parts. Harley "riders" sure do seem to like to park them vs. riding time and putting miles on them. There is an innate fear of putting a lot of miles on their Harleys. A Harley with 10K miles is considered to be a high mileage machine. It prolly is for what it is. The engines were obsolete over 50 years ago. Oh, it's the potato, potato, potato, potato, lol....
     
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  15. dbuzz77

    dbuzz77 New Member

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    Like i said before i liked my vrod and there are lots of them on the forum with high miles. if you watch the making of the rod on youtube they show idling for 8 hrs in a tin enclosure with no roof in the desert and they didn't overheat. lots of testing was done. now the air heads, i don't know. now the new engine has water cooled heads i think but testing would have been learned from porsche on the vrod.
     
  16. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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  17. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    It's that time of year when the HD folks decide to put a FEW miles on them by riding in gaggles of a dozen or so at 45mph. I stopped to rest at the top of a hard hill yesterday while on a bicycle ride and could hear a "train" of them coming for a mile off. Noise counts if you own a Hog. I watched about a dozen of them amble by that nobody could pass if they were in a cage. Why do people feel the need to be a rolling road block?

    I'm getting ready to go ride my VFR on a pretty day and expect to have to pass such a gaggle of macho noise making bad asses, one or more at a time. They really don't like that but, hey, I'm not doing 45 to 50mph just to stay behind a bunch of menaces on the road. I don't get in anybody's way or block roads. Sounds like a good way to not get in trouble. It is what it is. Those Harley boys need to learn how to ride. Problem is, a Hog won't go, stop, or turn, so I guess it doesn't matter.
     
  18. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    You could just twist that thing on the end of the right handlebar and go around them.
     
  19. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    Correct. I do that when it's safe to do it. Yesterday wasn an anomaly. I didn't run up behind a flock of them. It was a bit too hot for them outside I guess. When doing 45mph, the wind doesn't have much of a cooling affect I guess. I did have fun riding. That's what counts.
     
  20. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    2019 $35k model. Ape hangers are an additional 2k. Screaming Eagle Power up.... add $5k. XGrfqy7.jpg
     
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