HAS HARLEY GONE TOO FAR?
I admire, respect, ride and enjoy all kinds of motorcycles. If it’s got two wheels and a motor, I’ll probably find something to like about it.
Additionally, I’m an advocate for greater brotherhood (and sisterhood) between riders of all kinds of bikes, the world over.
However, I can’t say I think Harley’s latest agreement to license their unique sound to Honda Motor Company is wise for Harley or good for the global motorbike community.
Now don’t get me wrong. Even though Harley and Honda are the two titans in the motorcycle making game, and even though I do not begrudge any company for licensing their logo to motorcycle apparel and gear makers, or anyone else, for the purpose of satisfying customer brand loyalty and increasing company profits, I just think that Harley has gone too far.
For many years, Harley was easily identifiable by its unique and classic cruiser “look.” At least up until Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha started making their own clones of the American cruisers. Within a few years after that began, it became increasingly more difficult to differentiate a Harley from any of the other major manufacturers. (Notwithstanding the price, quality, performance, or value items, which favor the Japanese).
HARLEY SOUND
But at least the American Motor Company has had their signature “Harley Sound,” which might be described as a choppy “potato-potato” rhythm.
Regardless of what percentage of the motorcycle public might actually be able to differentiate the “Harley Sound” from a Honda or any other cruiser with a V-twin engine, the very notion of the Harley sound has still served as an aural trademark of American tradition.
By licensing away their sound to Honda, Harley has sold off the last tangible item that identifies their machines in the world as the King of cruisers.
Although I believe all motorcyclists should respect and celebrate the global brotherhood of bikers, I also believe we should respect and celebrate the differences that each kind of bike offers in our world. In my humble opinion, Harley has not only sold its sound for corporate profit, but it has also sold off part of the soul of the international motorcycle community.
I’ll still continue to ride Harley, Honda and every other kind of motorbike, but this first day of April may perhaps be recalled long into the future as the day a disturbance was felt in the “force” of our motorbike universe.
wow. Has everyone on here lost their mind. You all gripe and argue about stupid crap that doesnt matter. If no one has looked at dealers in the last 10 years most of the bikes of comparable features are close to the same price. So thats not an issue. Harley has bad customer service in some areas. Honda didnt want to take care of me trading in my honda for a handa and treated me like crap trying to give me about 1/3 of suggested trade in for a bike at 90% condition. So customer service is all out. All manufactures have had bad times and good times so that out. All bikes have something a little different about them to set them one off form another. not much but a little. Kawasaki programed in a miss in some of their efi bikes and they almost exactly duplicated the sound. doe that bother me. no. I change my opinion daily on if i want my bike louder or quieter. Currently its a harley but it was a honda. The only reason I bought a thumper is because custom parts are plentiful. The only problem left between bikers is some dumb ones just like a few on here. If you have a problem keep your constipation to yourself and dump it when appropriate. Gorw up. I ride will all makes of bikes and riders. My group has one common enemy Some and I use this as nice as possible some dumb drivers of 4 wheeled vehicles and dumb motorcycle ryders that think we are on their own private closed coarse. Idiots like some of you just will never get it.
Sounds like the “Harley-Davidson Rider!!” has been eating a lot of sour grapes! Riding something besides a Harley is like driving a Dodge instead of a Chevy or, rather, a Toyota instead of a Chevy. It’s simply a matter of preference, whether it be due to style, value, etc. For me, it’s all about value. I have a Yamaha Road Star. It didn’t cost me a fortune, but it’s got a 98 c.u. motor, compared to Harley’s 88 or even 96 c.u. It’s actually bigger than a Heritage of Fatboy in overall size. I didn’t buy it because I couldn’t afford a Harley. I bought it for the value it gives me. My wife also has nothing to do with it, since I have 5 – count ‘em – 5 bikes! She doesn’t care what I get. So don’t go bashing someone else just because they don’t ride what you prefer. By the way, I’m selling a Honda to buy a used Sportster, so I DO like Harleys. But I’ll never replace my Yamaha Road Star with one. Why would I want to downsize?
hey MY PAL all you do is rave about your click, and being cool, thanks for proveing my point. its not the bike its the rider.
had my first harly in 1959, sportster with a mag, kick start. remember how thay worked –.were you even born kid-. then they were motor cycles. you bought them for them not the image, or head rag, but its funny all through the 70′s after amf h.d. almost went out.[ wonder why -oh ya no one wanted the junk they sold ] and HONDA had to come in and show them how to make a assy plant make $. and the the 80′s & 90′s non h.d. riders had to listen h.d. riders bull about get a real bike. and american bike. but when they saw that the parts had jap words on them they changed there tune.[ maybe the new riders could not read ] now in the 2000′s all you want a bees with your fake tats,and i am bad ass black. and trailer to daytona. wine when it now comes back on you.- so how do it feel kid, just drink your beer, look bad ass,what ever makes you happy. PS i do not own a jap bike at the moment i ride a buell. at least it stops , goes, turns..what all h.d. should do.
To the guy that doesn’t like Harley’s and says we ride them because we have a complex, well you are right!! We do have a complex, our complex is towards guys like you!! Guys that bash harley’s and the riders on them because they can’t afford one for one thing, maybe your wife has got you buy the balls and wears the pants in your relationship, or you are the biggest wannabe geek of all time and we can sense the fakeness, thats why you where treated like a joke!! Because you are one!! So than your feelings are so hurt because us harley guys wont let you in our click and you get the same feeling you did as a young boy at school and most of your life, here you thought with age it would have gone away, but it didn’t, than you had a complex, and thought maybe if I had a Harley, I would look cool, and bad and everyone wouldn’t push me around so much, but than you asked your wife and checked your bank account, and all you can ride is an old beat up 80s style jap bike, and sit and search harley forums bitching about something you cant have!!
Have a great life, and I hope to read more of your bullshit in the near future!!
Your Pal,
Harley-Davidson Rider!!
Who wants to sound like a harvey?
Who gives a shit? The sound doesnt bring you home or get you down the road. The “sound” only matters to meatheads that think they are better than anyone or anything on the road anyway.
I find most Harley riders have a major inferiority complex. Yes, you heard it correctly. Even the company Harley Davidson has a very poor atitude toward the motorcycle industry and the average motorcycle rider. There are more people who do not ride Harley’s than there are who ride Harley’s. I once was interested in buying a Harley Davison Motorcycle, but when I went into almost ALL of the Harley Davidson dealers…. they treated me like I was trash and that they really did not need my business. I would NEVER buy a Harley from a Dealer ever!! Honda has the BEST reputation and the BEST customer service and the BEST RESEARCH and DEVELOPEMENT of ALL Motorcycle manufacturers. Honda rider’s and the people who ride them have more repect for others than almost all Harley riders… OK time to hear from you hoodlum Harley Riders now! Yes, Punks and trash is what most of you are! Yes, most of the Dealers are trash too. LOL
April Fools!
OK first of all this is a huge MYTH! Never happened, Harley went after several Motor Companies because they were copying their motorcycle designs.
corporate greed is governed by soul less people.they,re all going to hell for selling off another piece of americana.
I live in Milwaukee and know more than a few folks that work at Harley, I drive one. I’m a H.O.G. Member – Local H.O.G. Chapter member – most guys i ride with are Harley people. It’s in the water here. Sad to say but, the company is going downhill fast. It’s turning into Wal-Mart or any other nameless faceless corporation. They have lost touch with their Core Customer. When I hear reports of baby strollers in Downtown Strugis on Saturday night ..and plenty of other tales … the layoffs .. more layoffs … it wont be long before it’s “Harley-Davidson a division of Microsoft” …
The Harley sound in an Honda? D’ont worry. It will never be the SAME sound.
Yea… what he said!
April fools?????