 What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson?
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Complete Newb
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HAving sat back and wanted a bike for years and now finally settled on a Triumph, I was wondering why is there such a rivalry between Triumph and their less attractive, more flashy, overpriced rivals Harley? Also, is there an affiliation between Triumph and Harley and particular biker gangs?
I'm very interested.
Bring on tomorrow and my new Triumph Speedmaster!!!!
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 Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Loquacious
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gotta ask yourself, what made harley design a sporster, and also why they made it a right side shift back in the day
Frank
(Former)05 BA tbike pipes, ai removed, Freak, mikuni hsr 42's, 904, ported/polished head, 1mm oversized valves
NOW-2010 silver and black tbird
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Loquacious
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Welcome James.
You get use to the whole Triumph v HD thing. I'm sure the most vocal anti-HD advocate here knows a HD rider whos a really nice guy/girl. I do.
But having said that, I went to a pub to look for a new meeting place for a club with 2 other Triumphs (both with too much plastic...), and 2 hardleys pull up. They park at the opposite end of the car park, and completely ignore us, sat with helmets jackets etc...
Maybe they didn't want to park to the class that is my bike!!!
PS you coming Dahn Sarf next weekend? (See Rides menu)
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel... 
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel... 
09 America - It's very blue....
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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The funny thing is most of the old time Harley riders have a huge respect for Triumph. A lot of them road Triumph in the 60’s and 70’s.
The invisible One 
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Its true, but like anything the riders that understand the machine, enjoy riding, and know a little bit of the history always seem to have respect for it. Its the guy with $20,000 in chrome and 1200miles on his 4 year old whatever are usually the ones that snear.
Last edited by Mlessard; 05/12/2006 11:20 AM.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Triumph is legendary! That is what a guy on a custom chopper said with his aussie accent last Sunday when he pulled up at a red light. We take away from them being the only 100 year bike company and deminish their badboy (girl) mistigue. We show there is a choice and that bothers some of the younger Harley owners. The older ones have no problems with Triumph.
On the flip side we all talk like they are just into image rather than riding as we sit on our Triumphs posing lol. We have a great deal in common actually :-) we are just fewer in numbers.
I don't know anybody that really hates Harley owners nor do I know any Harley owners that hate other bikers. Its all just fun blustering. Bikers have very complex egos. Like a sports car the bike becomes an extension of your (snipped) personality.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Ron,
I think you pretty much nailed it. There are two very significant and legendary bike companies that have had continous production fo rover 100 years. Both brands have been featured in movies, both have been ridden by bikers. Both have a very strong and deep history. Anytime you have anything like that, you will create a "respectable" rivalry between two brands. For example look at Chevy and Ford, Coke and Pepsi. Those comparisons may not really be the same since there are a lot of genuine brand haters out there when it is not about motorcycles.
I have noticed that the respect between the Triumph and HD really only goes between the owners of either brand and seems to be mainly from those that respect the herritage of each.
Soren
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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Quote:
Ron,
I think you pretty much nailed it. There are two very significant and legendary bike companies that have had continous production fo rover 100 years. Both brands have been featured in movies, both have been ridden by bikers. Both have a very strong and deep history. Anytime you have anything like that, you will create a "respectable" rivalry between two brands. For example look at Chevy and Ford, Coke and Pepsi. Those comparisons may not really be the same since there are a lot of genuine brand haters out there when it is not about motorcycles.
I have noticed that the respect between the Triumph and HD really only goes between the owners of either brand and seems to be mainly from those that respect the herritage of each.
Soren
Well said Soren I can only agree with you.
The invisible One
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Gotta ask yourself why triumph built a cruiser, named it america and gave it a left hand shift.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Old Hand
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Quote:
Gotta ask yourself why triumph built a cruiser, named it america and gave it a left hand shift.
The left side shift was mandated as a standard by politicians who, for some reason, (couldn't be bribes could it?) decided that the entire world should follow the japanese control layout.
A cruiser? Why not, they already had pretty much everything else in production, long with a strong tradition of cruiser style customized bikes that had been built in back gardens across America since 1946. Also, since these custom built Triumphs were mostly built in America, might as well give recognition to that.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Learned Hand
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They aren't my cup of tea, but i see nothing worse or better about them.It's subjective and i perfer the look and feel of mine. They're just different is all. But It's not the bikes themselves where i think triumph riders have a problem with them. For me at least i see one simple thing that seperates triumph from HD. And thats the fact that there are huge numbers of HD owners who's choice in bikes is not based as much if at all on whether or not they prefered the HD over any other brand, but because they are following the crowd.Not all, but a huge portion of them, and of the few i know at least 1/2 are like that. That to me is pathetic. I think if you were able to do a study by taking a number of people who had no idea what the social differences were and didn't know anything about any bike's rep or history or who or how many ride them, then let them all look over all available brands/models and make a choice, HD's would probably be no more popular than truimph. Thats what bothers me.......the lemming factor. And it's further aggrivated by the fact that a lot of them look down on others because they think that because there are so many HD's out there they must be better.
No, it's not the bike itself. I'd have picked a HD if it was what i like more than triumph. But i sure wouldn't even remotly consider one solely because i wanted to be a member of club lemming. But many do, and thats what *bothers* me and probably a lot of us. But hey, we should be glad, and i for one am, which is why i used astericks on the word bothers. Because who the **** wants to be one of the crowd when you can be unique ! thats the beauty of a triumph...along with being my fav bike, bias' and other BS aside, i get the added bonus of having a bike that i don't see 1000's of other riding !
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Dazco, are you a writer or something? Your post are getting longer, and longer!
About this thread all I can add is to each his own. I ride with friends that ride HDs and they think my Triumph is pretty cool. In fact they prefer British and German and HD over anything Jap(HD wannabes)
Where's my $6 million??
05 TR America;2010 T-Bird
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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I love Stone being in here to counter the Triumph storm with his Harley respect dished out to us. Keeps things alive in here.
As to the original question...
...Back in the early 1950s in the USA, Triumph and Harley started their rivalry in earnest. Marlon Brando was featured on a Triumph in the movie The Wild One, and his rival Lee Marvin was on a Harley. During this time, from the streets to the track, Harleys and Triumphs battled it out with Triumph coming out on top more often than not. And as Greybeard alluded too, Harley brought out the Sportster in 1957 to compete directly against the Triumphs. That original Sportster was 54 cubic inches, which is 883cc, a size they still make today.
That's why us new Triumph owners hear stories from older Harley riders today about how they used to own Triumphs back in the 50's and 60's. When Triumph went into their dark ages, a lot of those Triumph owners bought Harleys and have been riding that brand ever since.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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My work partner & i have a 'friendly war' with each other all the time,, he is Harley mad.
We went to local HD shop yesterday & salesman came over talking to us.. asking did we ride. Mate just said yes.
He gave us both sales talk & i commented on how i like certain models. He asked what I rode & mate said "he,s a gay Triumph rider"
I could see salesman mind ticking over & after that he completely ignored me after that. O'well... his loss.
I was looking at Buel,s. I like them & u never know... 1 day there may be 1 of them beside my other bikes.
Things like this seem to stick in my mind.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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I just love Triumphs AND Harleys, thats all.  I,ve ridden both and have NO problem riding either.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson?
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Anonymous
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Hiya james Another Brit! Yeee Haw!! It's generally friendly p*ss taking. See, we can take the p*ss 'cause we know we're onto a good thing. We look better, are (generally) more reliable, cost MUCH less and can go faster!! And we're a year older so have more 'heritage'. You made the right choice friend. Have you checked out the rides section? We Brits (plus one adopted Pole!) try and get together from time to time - you're very welcome to join in. We don't bite - well .... Gina might if you try and have her scrumpy away! 
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Check Pants
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..... i get the added bonus of having a bike that i don't see 1000's of other riding !
Well said. I like pulling into a bike event and in a sea of 1000+ bikes, I'm one of maybe 2-3 Triumph's, sometimes the only one.
Al
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson?
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Greenhorn
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I can explain it to two sentences. Chicks dig guys who ride Triumphs. Guys who ride Triumphs do not have to compensate for other shortcomings.
"I am what I am, and that's all that I am."
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Quote:
I can explain it to two sentences. Chicks dig guys who ride Triumphs. Guys who ride Triumphs do not have to compensate for other shortcomings.
Where are these Triumph-digging-chicks of which you speak? I can't find any around here. In this neck of the woods it's a crusty old sausage magnet.  
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson?
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Quote:
.... Gina might if you try and have her scrumpy away!
Only on a full moon...and that's tonight!!! Be very glad you're not round here...
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel...
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel...
09 America - It's very blue....
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson?
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Mine draws tons of middle age men who"used to have one"
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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In this neck of the woods it's a crusty old sausage magnet.
Yep, have to concur! With the exception of a friend of mine who's a Hooters girl and wanted to sit on it and got all excited when I goosed the throttle (what can I say, easily entertained), pretty much otherwise as John says....
Last edited by Bayern710; 05/13/2006 12:24 PM.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson?
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Over the years, Triumph beat the snot out of HD on the race track. I am a member of the Southern Cruisers Riding Club. A fellow member, sales manager at the local HD shop will not talk to me at gatherings, he looks away whenever I show up on my bike. This rivalry never really existed, because all the competition was on Harley's side, trying to keep up. Mert Lawell was the best rider on the flat track, but he rarely finished a race. Harley finally started supporting him in more ways than a free bike, and he started winning races. That was, however about the time Triumph slowed down their support of racers.
Ride Safe,
Dennis
Triumph, it's how I live and what I ride.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Greenhorn
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beyern? are you sure that was a throttle you goosed? hmmm...
"if at first you don't succeed, failure may just be your style"
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Quote:
beyern? are you sure that was a throttle you goosed? hmmm...
SCOUTS HONOR!!!
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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I wonder.... do the H-D guys fret over Triumph riders on their forums as much as this group worrys about them??
MIKE
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Quote:
Quote:
I can explain it to two sentences. Chicks dig guys who ride Triumphs. Guys who ride Triumphs do not have to compensate for other shortcomings.
Where are these Triumph-digging-chicks of which you speak? I can't find any around here. In this neck of the woods it's a crusty old sausage magnet.
John - And thats a problem why? Course I could do without the crust!
Becky
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Loquacious
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Quote:
I wonder.... do the H-D guys fret over Triumph riders on their forums as much as this group worrys about them??
I would tend to agree with Stone.
I wouldn't think we register on their radar screens the way e.g. Indian did a few years back.
I understand there was a lot of animosity at the time (and of course historically).
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Comment of the day yesterday from Harley rider:
"I'm really glad to see them making the Triumphs again."
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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That's what I figured, too.
MIKE
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No they don,t JM! They're not the underdog. With Triumph's production rate, that is likely to remain unchanged for decades. Triumph is a far superior motorcycle, but the market is not about quality motorcycles at this time.
As far as the market is concerned, Triumph is a wee blip on the radar - but we are Triumph's best marketing tool.
Ride Safe,
Dennis
Triumph, it's how I live and what I ride.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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I went for a putt Saturday with my bros, 12 Harleys and me. We went to a local bike show where there were a bunch of dealers. None of my friends cared what i was riding , we just enjoyed each others company and the wind in our face.These guys didn,t have abad thing to say about anyones bike even tho there were yamahas, suzi's, hondas. We even took turns demoing a something star? full dressed Yamaha. Just enjoy what YOU ride and dont fret over what someone else thinks or rides, LIFES TO SHORT, ENJOY. I really have to say that after hanging out with Harley riders my whole life, and then reading the comments on this forum, that Triumph riders are much more prejudise against Harleys than Harleys are against Triumphs.
Last edited by Stone; 05/15/2006 7:50 AM.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Quote:
I really have to say that after hanging out with Harley riders my whole life, and then reading the comments on this forum, that Triumph riders are much more prejudise against Harleys than Harleys are against Triumphs.
Prejudiced, maybe. Brand haters, I don't think so. As far as I know there isn't anyone here that truly hates HDs. I think the biggest problem is some of the people that ride them. The "some of the people" I refer to are those that bought one just to have one, may only put 100 miles a year on it and trash talks (with genuine phony hatefulness) every other bike on the planet. Yes, I harley bash sometimes, but it is never in seriousness. The parts manager at work has been a hd guy for many many years (since the early 70's). He has a great respect for Triumphs. However, he and I poke fun at each others bikes all the time, totally and completely in fun.
Now I suppose that really the proper thng to do is to really bash those asian bikes that want so much to be like a HD that they hide their badges. Then there was the kid the other day at the Vista House that pulled up on a Honda something or other (I knew that only by looking at the SN tag on the neck) wearing harley stuff.
Soren
Maybe that wasnt the best HD bashing repsonse. Oh, wait, here we go, try this one... Triumph people are more prejudiced against harleys than harley people are against Triumphs because HD people are too stuck on themselves to notice that there are other makes of bikes out there
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Dude, you need to come up here and ride, like I said, the Harley riders up here are friendly, and they do notice other peoples rides, they just dont fret over them. I' m glad I live where the additude is towards riding and not what you ride. I didn't say they were brand haters, { allthough I bet some are} just prejudice for some reason.
Last edited by Stone; 05/15/2006 9:40 AM.
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Learned Hand
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Like I have said before, there are two types of Harley riders. The people who have never really ridden before, but go out and buy a new harley for their first bike. They are ones who look down on everyone else for being inferior. These are the people/attitude that most of us are complaining about. The second type of rider are the guys/women who have been around bikes for years. They have either owned a triumph or had ridden one at some time or another. They enjoy all bikes and riding regardless of brand. I am new to street biking and I'm too young to remeber all previous brand disputes. The reasons I'm riding my speedy, good value, very indivdual (completely unlike the all japadavidsons), and most importantly I like it.
Dill
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I must be lucky I dont get the attitude. Maybe its because ive got a long ponytail and tattoos and you can tell by looking at me that ive put on a few miles{you know how stereotypes are }The most important thing is" most importantly you like it "
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Loquacious
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We actually get the "attitude" out here too (possibly moreso than in the States), even the people that work at the HD dealers are snobbish jerks.
We also had a sudden increase of "Yuppies" getting HD's with the same "attitude" around '96 (and of course, onwards) when I was considering adding a HD to my stable for long distance rides, which put me right off (plus I thought the bikes were a bit "clumsy/overweight").
I went with a BMW R1100RT instead (and no ... BMW owners don't have an "attitude" in this part of the world, they buy them for their long-distance capabilities, for the most part anyway, as did I).
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: What's the deal with Triumph v Harley Davidson
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Quote:
The funny thing is most of the old time Harley riders have a huge respect for Triumph. A lot of them road Triumph in the 60’s and 70’s.
I want to add to this.I myself have gotten nothing but respect from Harley guy especialy the old schoolers and usually tell me they either had one or a family member or buddy had a Triumph or some Brit bike.In fact the british bikes(Triumphs including of course) are just about the only ones they have respect for.This HD vs Triumph stuff must be a Brit thing!
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