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).
