Its interesting how many Harley bashing threads there are on non-harley sites. I own a Speedie and a Harley Street Bob (used to have a Road king) and I love both bikes. I did not buy the Harley for the lifestyle, but for the grin it puts on my face when I ride it and look at it. I bought the Speedie for the same reason. I also belong to a HD forum and I have never read a Triumph bashing thread on the forum. It seems to me we should be out riding instead of making fun of people who ride a different brand of motorcycle from us. As for those who bash Harley quality, I have never had any problems with either of my Harley's but had my Speedie break down on me twice during the first month I owned it. The plastic fenders and plastic chrome on the Speedie are cheap, but the metal fenders and chrome on my Harley are not.
Even though my Speedie has given me more problems than my Harley, I do not bash Triumph and Triumph riders. I still like it and ride it to work 80 miles round trip most days. Some of the Harley riders I have met are the nicest people I know. If they want to get a Harley tattoo and wear Harley t-shirts its not my idea of cool, but more power to them. They enjoy their "lifestyle" and their bikes. Sounds like a good thing to me.
The only attitude I have ever seen when riding my Harley or Triumph has been from some Sport Bike riders. I've lost count of the amount of times they blow past me in the carpool lane with one hand on their hip, while I am doing 80 mph or they do a wheelie in front of me. I guess that is supposed to impress me. It doesn't impress me, but I don't let it bother me either. I would not bash the sport bike riders because I was young and stupid once and rode outside my limits. They enjoy riding like the rest of us, some of them just have a little growing up to do.
Anyway enough of this, I'm going to go out and ride my triumph for a while. I'm not sure if I will roll up my Triumph t-shirt sleeve, to show off my Triumph tattoo. I might also wear my classic British helmet with the Triumph sticker on the back, with my Triumph chaps and Harley boot. Oops I meant Triumph boots.
