I believe there's a bit a truth in each your arguments here guys.
In a way were talking apples and oranges.(and consumption of BOTH of these are supposed to be good for one's health, RIGHT?)
Harleys have traditionally been a "old school" design that has slowly evolved over the years. With little change comes a lack of obsolescence, which means they're worth rebuilding when they become "tired". And, come on! Some Harley models ARE beautiful.(before some of these ding-dongs out there do some god-awful things to 'em, that is)
Of course they won't usually ever be the "lastest/greatest/fastest" machines out there, but that's not their function. BUT, they ARE competent machines.
Now...on the other hand, Japanese bikes DO tend to be the "lastest/greatest/fastest" and arguably more reliable machines, BUT with that lastest/greatest "stuff" comes that word "obsolescence", and thus few japanese bikes, at least up to the present, have become financially viable to restore. After 5 years they're "obsolete", but STILL very good machines.
This lack of "being restorable" IS changing however, as younger riders who came of age during the dominance of the Japanese "Superbike" sales boom(which started in the early 1970s and ran to maybe the late 1980s) are now wishing to "re-live" their youth(like some of us Triumph riders are doing now with our BAs and Speedies), and are now driving prices up for these bikes, which has made restoring some of these machines a financially viable option.
Priced a nice 1973 Kawasaski 900cc Z1, or a 1970 Honda CB750, or Honda CBX six lately? They're out there, and they aren't cheap anymore folks! (okay greybeard...they aren't INEXPENSIVE anymore)
Now...Getting back to this guys original rant.....What I find a shame is that he seems to only have ONE GEAR...meaning, I feel sorry for him if he can't appreciate each different manufacturer's design concepts for what they are, and what they bring to the marketplace.
Because, EACH have their own reasons for being, and if you can't see that, YOU JUST "AIN'T LOOKIN' REAL GOOD"!
Cheers,
Dwight
