I guess my experiences with HD, and their riders have been different. First, I have yet to have a good experience with the younger HD riders (30-40yo) who feel that any bike other than a Harley is inferior. We have a lot of those yahoos in this area, who really don’t understand the mantra I present in my signature here: “…as long as you’re out there.†To me, they always seem to want to prove something to everyone else: my bike is louder, my bike is faster, mine has a better paint job, etc.
Now, everyone’s experience is different and the older HD riders have a great appreciation for Triumph. I’ll be the first to admit that I enjoy pulling into a group of bikes and having the “old time†HD riders come over to talk shop, while the younger generation HD riders sit and scoff.
I do agree that riders in general are generous, all riders, not just HD and every group ride I’ve been on has been open to all bikes. Granted there are some groups I stay away from when they do a charity run, such as the ABATE crowd. As I do not get a thrill raising money for a charity by riding bar to bar, maybe that’s just me.
My main point to writing this string; however, was not to get into a philosophical debate about patting ourselves on the back for buying a Triumph, but rather to get other opinions as to why HDs are still so expensive when, from all accounts, there are more on the road today than ever before. Usually, in most markets, when a commodity becomes so prevalent and expensive it drops value, I’m not seeing this with HD, so the marketing folks are doing something right, exploiting the commodity of HD. Which leads me to another realization: when, if ever, are we going to see a US company compete against HD by providing the “every man’s motorcycle?†When I say “every man†I don’t mean another high priced American cruiser company like Victory, and the thousands of custom shops that have opened up, but rather a company that makes a “standard†bike, a “cruiser†bike a “touring†bike? I may have answered my own question by writing this novella, but the commodity of HD may be their lack of competition, from inside the US.
So, anyone want to help me found the “All American Motorcycle Company?†I’m taking applications!
