I'd be delighted to buy more quality American stuff but it's hard to find. I've had rice and domestic cars and trucks....and I'm sorry to say that the American built vehicles have been crap.....just unreliable pieces of junk (many of which were built during the 'golden era' of the American auto industry....long before its current problems). I don't know about you, but I can't afford to waste $30K to $40K on an unreliable POS just to support some UAW worker (who doesn't give a **** about me). A hell of a lot of Harley owners must feel the same way, because I'd say Schumacher's 50% is probably a conservative estimate of the HD owners that drive rice.

 

They already do make that bike. The rubs ain't trading their bikes every 2 years because they are worn out. (I think they just don't wanna wash them). LOL

Count me in as one who also agrees. Not sure there really ever was the infamous brotherhood, but there was a large group that stood by the American Car thing. I know very few that do that anymore. I won't own a foreign car, but I sure don't have to look far to see those junks. Hell, I even know die hard union f-k's who drive yap cars. No one cares anymore.

 

and another thing to add to this while we're on the subject. The hate of V-Rods.......
The guys hating on them are the same ones with the Corolla in their driveway..

I'd love to know where all of these idiots came from

 

What HD really has going for it now is that its quality is excellent AND its MSRP price is extremely competitive...I've been in this game long enough to remember when the gouging ****** at the Harley dealers started demanding huge $ above MSRP (as well as large deposits on a an unseen bike 6 months out). The local dealership that existed at that time is now out of business (good f**king riddance), and the remaining dealership is happy to conduct some decent business. I only hope that when the economy comes roaring back (and it will) the Harley dealers don't return to that same greedy mindset.

 

well, I read a report this morning that the economists are now saying it will be at least 2015 before the unemployment numbers get back to anything near normal.
The question is....will Moco survive that long?

 

My guess is the MoCo will survive, however, they will move all production to china.

 

You know, most of the V-Rod owners I know have sold the V-Rod and bought conventional Harleys. I see the same bikes going through successive owners. I don't know if the Harley 'brotherhood' made them feel inferior, but I've had a number tell me they loved its power, but its riding position was uncomfortable. I do know that many of them spent a lot of money trying to turn them into baggers with big saddle bags, windshields, floorboards, comfortable pillion seat etc....which (in my opinion) makes them pretty unattractive bikes. Hell....they're Harley's muscle cruiser.

 

The point I was trying to make regarding HD lifestyle was not referring to the old brotherhood but to the image the HD marketing team is selling today and doing a very good job at I might add. Again I refer to the Ford F150 Harley Edition. Imagine if you would a Victory Edition Ford F150...who would buy it. I'm sure most of the cages you see sporting a HD sticker don't even ride they just want to be apart of bad boy image . Do you think every HD tee shirt sold is worn by a HD rider. Its the HD lifestyle or perhaps image is a better word that people want to be part of and are willing to over pay for.

Ask anyone on the street if they know what a Harley Davidson is and I bet 99.9% or even 100% of the people would know...ask the same about any other bike and I doubt the results would be the same.

 

The same dipshit economists that didn't see the current meltdown coming? HD will survive (and it's been getting a lot of components out of Japan and Taiwan for years). Eventually China will master the quality aspect of manufacturing (just as Japan, Taiwan, and Korea have done)....which is sad for America, who'll just sit on their butts depending on service sector jobs....and scream that we need to enact high tariffs to keep quality products out, rather than rebuild our own manufacturing capabilities.

 

well, if yer into what they're pushing nowadays, that's totally up to you.
The majority of the guys who rode harleys in the 80's and back just aren't buying into it.
You see it it many threads in this forum.
For a motorcycle company to survive on t-shirts alone is totally ludacris.
If Harley had to stand on it's motorcycles alone (as pointed out in another thread in general), they wouldn't. And that's just totally sad.