I've been an electronics technician for most of my adult life and I can tell you that Harleys are not the only machines that have a soul, although it does seem that they develop them earlier on than most any other machine. With my bike, even at only a year and half old it seems like it knows me and I know it. The way it shakes, the sounds it makes. I can't really tell you what gives any machine it's soul, although a popular kids book says that when you love something enough you make it real. But how you can tell is when the bike starts to respond to you. Not just the twist of the throttle or the lean of the turn but to your moods and thoughts. It just seems that Harleys do that sooner and more often than the clones.

 

To me Harleys have soul because, they don't feel like the motorized metric sawhorse with handlebars that I used to own. Not that it wasn't a good bike. There is more, but, that's as deep as I'm going. Others on this thread have defined it very well.

 

The french have a saying "Making love to a woman under 30 is like eating a raw egg, you get the nutrition but none of the flavor." Other bikes are fun but you never really fall in love with them, a Harley steals your heart at first touch. Only somthin with soul can do that.

 

The real truth is that we like the abuse ... !

 

The soul.... of a Harley is not unlike the soul of a person. It is a spirit that encompasses many facets. You can not reach out and touch it, but the believer knows it is real and the feeling it radiates. The feeling one has when they ride it. The defender attitude one takes when someone slanders it. The pride one has when describing the subtle nuances of the brand. But for me it was summed up once on this forum. I don't remember who said it but it seemed to strike at the heart of this elusive answer. A believer knows it has soul by the feeling they get when they read the following question " Have you ever seen anyone proudly displaying a Suzuki, Kawasaki, or even a Honda logo tattooed on their shoulder?"

 

Every since man has rode instead of walking his transportation has been humanized to some degree depending on the individual. Everything I drive, ride, and maintain has a personality---makes it easy to feel their souls. Some have been kind and some have been wicked but all were special.

 

I know what it means....

 

Soul can be given to anything that people like. My grandpa used to say his old Sears riding mower had an old soul.

 

Have U ever just went out to the garage and stared at her.... maybe even had a drink with her..... thats soul.............

 

It's actually "Harleys have SOLE" ... parts of them are made from old shoe leather.