D04011
Semi-retired adult film star...
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2014
- Messages
- 393
- Location
- Mid-Coast Maine
- Ride
- 20 R3 GT; 14 R3R; 14 R3T; 11 R3R; 09 R3 Standard
Full Disclosure - I have a Fat Bob and really like it for what it is. I wanted something basic without a lot of electronics, bags, faring, etc and it is the only H-D I have ever owned or even wanted to own. They only made it like mine for 3 years and then changed the styling somewhat which I don't really care for. It is the first and very likely only H-D that I will ever own and I have owned a lot of great bikes over the years...
A lot of the guys I ride with are hard core H-D and think the sun rises and sets in H-D's corporate a$$. They are addicted to all things H-D and will spend a beautiful sunny Summer day (we don't get all that many in the short Maine Summer) hanging out in the big H-D dealership looking and drooling over the many over-priced, under-performing H-D models even though their loaded H-D is 1-2 years old?!?
A couple of them are starting to see the light though since they are realizing that much of a H-D is manufactured overseas and assembled in the U.S. They especially notice it when they get H-D OEM parts in boxes that say "Made in China" and they often have to modify to fit properly. One of them (who was always "Mr. H-D") has become outright blasphemous and based on my recommendation for a new Kawasaki Voyager has decided to get one when he replaces his H-D. The Voyager is loaded out similar to the Ultra Classic and retails for around $17K, about half the cost of a comparable H-D. With the reliability of Japanese bikes, all you do is change the oil and tires and RIDE!
One thing I will give H-D is their marketing has brought them much success. When I am riding my other bikes, I sometimes have clueless people ask me why I'm not riding a H-D, like it's a money thing?!? No, it's not about money, I just refuse to drink the H-D Kool-Aid and I want actual performance, not just noise...
A lot of the guys I ride with are hard core H-D and think the sun rises and sets in H-D's corporate a$$. They are addicted to all things H-D and will spend a beautiful sunny Summer day (we don't get all that many in the short Maine Summer) hanging out in the big H-D dealership looking and drooling over the many over-priced, under-performing H-D models even though their loaded H-D is 1-2 years old?!?
A couple of them are starting to see the light though since they are realizing that much of a H-D is manufactured overseas and assembled in the U.S. They especially notice it when they get H-D OEM parts in boxes that say "Made in China" and they often have to modify to fit properly. One of them (who was always "Mr. H-D") has become outright blasphemous and based on my recommendation for a new Kawasaki Voyager has decided to get one when he replaces his H-D. The Voyager is loaded out similar to the Ultra Classic and retails for around $17K, about half the cost of a comparable H-D. With the reliability of Japanese bikes, all you do is change the oil and tires and RIDE!
One thing I will give H-D is their marketing has brought them much success. When I am riding my other bikes, I sometimes have clueless people ask me why I'm not riding a H-D, like it's a money thing?!? No, it's not about money, I just refuse to drink the H-D Kool-Aid and I want actual performance, not just noise...
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