HD makes a "Sport Bike" well almost....

[MrZappo]

The difference is that FJR type people (who also tend to be tenere or vstrom people as well and a few other things), generally gravitate to things that "work well" that are suited to the task at hand.

We buy the stuff that "works" or has some "utility" . So, in looking for the best items for the job, we find things like aerostitch or klim or sidi or whatever and we buy it because it is PROTECTIVE. And we need something protective.

Speaking strictly for myself, I certainly would not buy something that was crap because the collective does. It just so happens that that sport touring and adventure riding collective all reach the same conclusions and "end up" with some of the same products.

A friend of mine road a sprint 955 for 10 years and had good gear and a good Nolan full face helmet. He got in an accident and smashed his head on the windshield of a car. He emerged unscathed due to his helmet primarily.

The next week he took the settlement money and bought a big ol' HOG much to my surprise.

Part of the insurance settlement included a new Shoei RF 1200. He wore it once.

The next week he shows up with a HD cap style helmet. He tells me that he just didn't look right with the full face on the new bike.

So, now he rides around with a helmet that will result in death if he gets into another accident that provided the insurance money to buy the HD.

So, the "look" thing is important in that group. I couldn't give a squirt about it personally and it really makes no sense. But, hey, it's his noggin.

All this to say that I buy for utility first and if it happens to be so the same thing as any of you, it is because great minds think alike. NOT because I'm following the crowd.

The HD crowd buys to impress and generally doesn't give a second thought to anyghing else.

IMHO

 

[Geezer]

Do we, as human beings, buy things so that we can conform with the group, or do we buy the things we prefer and then tend to hang together with other people who make the same choices?

For example, I bought my FJR because it seemed perfect for my needs and wants. It was later that I started hanging out with other FJR owners.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Fred, I would never buy a HiViz jacket cuz you have one. I just saw it on the Forum and thought it was a good idea...made sense.

I've not much cared about what others have thought when I cared about something. If I happen to look like the person next to me in the riding group, it is serendipity, not conformity.

Now what kinda tassels do you like on your buttless chaps?

 

[rushes]

Ahem..

Whistling in the drifters...

Bring back Buell. It's on my list of bikes I'd like to have just because.

 

[HotRodZilla]

^^Out of likes, but yeah, I liked Buell also. I wanted one, but just didn't have the desire to buy a bike I wouldn't ride much. I didn't get why HD dropped them. There were TONS of them around here. I never saw an FJR, but I saw a couple of Buells every day.

 

[BkerChuck]

HD dropped Buell because they claimed Buell wasn't profitable enough. As a former HD dealership employee and Buell owner I can tell you there is definitely more to the story and far more politics involved. From the beginning most HD dealerships that took on Buell really didn't even want them, they were shoved on them by the powers that be and they were lousy dealers for Buell as a result. The dealerships that wanted the Buell line generally did pretty well with them but they required a different sale technique and a willingness to haggle price as opposed to the Harley attitude of "this is MSRP and this is what you're going to pay if you want one" mindset. The better Buell dealerships sponsored racers, carried a selection of aftermarket performance parts, and understood the folks buying them were not the same clientele as Harley.

I still own my 1995 Buell S-2 Thunderbolt purchased brand new in February of 1995 as my reward for my divorce being finalized.It's a Yellow Jacket Pearl color only painted for 1 year and is bike number 600 built. It's had it's share of recalls and been down more than once. I know it's not worth nearly what I have in it and yet it still brings a grin to my face when I ride it. Erik Buell signed it for me back in 1997 when I got to go on a ride with him. Nice guy, great engineer, but not the best businessman. I wish him luck and can say with absolute certainty that he'll never get back in bed with Harley.

Bombardier wanted to buy Buell in 2010 when HD shuttered the doors. HD claimed that would have forced them to allow Bombardier into their dealership network because of the crossover of parts between Buell and HD Sportster lines. I think it was more the fear that they woould have been shown up by a competitor who could have made Buell successful.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Thanks for that background, BikerChuck. Buells came out during my child-rearing years when I was not riding. It's a shame they disappeared before I returned to biking, because they were innovative and competitive. (Disk brake around the front rim, anyone?)

Would have been interesting indeed for Bombardier (Can-Am Spyders) or Polaris (Victory & Indian) to acquire the marque and offer a North American sportbike.

 

[BkerChuck]

Another of Harley's big fears that you won't document anywhere but came through the dealership grapevines was this. If Bombardier had been able to purchase Buell they could have moved Spyder production to East Troy and then claimed "American Built" for those. Some of the background I'm offering is undocumented but told to me by dealership principals following HD Dealer meetings.

This also took place during that time frame where Harley had purchased MV Augusta and then subsequently sold it back all in a short window of time and at a rather substantial loss.

 

[Fred W]

They already could claim "American Built". Canada is part of (North) America, last I checked. It's not part of the country of the United States (of America), but still "American".

Saying that "American" means exclusively the USA would be similar to saying "Asian" means only Japan.

A company could set up shop building bikes in Mexico and claim to be "Built in America" I bet that would piss off The Motor Company to no end.

 

[bigjohnsd]

The Motor Company can in reality claim Assembled in America.

https://backintheusa.us/articles2.php?title2=howamericanisharleydavidson

 

[wheatonFJR]

Honda Goldwings were "American" bikes, too for awhile.

 

[Niehart]

 

[Panman]

When going to go steal that from your brother? It must have a inch of dust.

We also need to go get your original pony. JSNS

 

[PapaUtah]

I enjoyed Harley-Davidson© and their dance with Buell. They have done very well in NHRA Pro Stock Bike. The reason for that success is lost on most people.

Back in the day when it was still truly Pro Stock, the competitors in the class were required to use parts readily available from the dealer and manufactured by the respective company. The main regulated parts were the bottom end and cylinder heads. They needed to have a factory part number and be available through the dealer parts department.

Then along came Harley-Davidson© and Vance & Hines©. Lucifer and Beelzebub. In the name of competitiveness they convinced the NHRA that the best way for them to be competitive was to allow, "American-made V-Twins", to run run motors that had absolutely nothing in common with the engines that those manufacturers installed in their production machines. In the NHRA you are allow to run complete custom billet motors with zero factory parts if you represent an "American V-Twin." Oh, and to sweeten the pot the NHRA limited those evil asian inline 4's to 96 cubic inches. "American V-Twins", well, is 200 cubic inches enough??? I used to watch the Pro Stock bike class whenever I could. Now days, ehhh, I'll go for a ride instead.

 

[steveoreno]

FredW, what I'm saying is that H-D is selling an image, and motorcycles, apparel, and events are only the mechanisms for their customers to achieve that image. Motorcycles, riding gear, their version of NAFO, and assless chaps are how they sell the image.
Think of it this way: the H-D image is of an outlaw, free spirit, non-conformist, "seeker of freedom". And yet, their subculture has a rigid code of how to dress, what to ride, where to ride, how to behave, and even their own lingo. That's not being an outlaw or freedom seeker, that's just conforming to a different image than a suit-wearing middle manager.

And they're marketing wizards, because you can even buy H-D neckties to wear with your middle management suit.

A couple of years ago I was sitting in a cafe in Bardstown, Ky when a group of "rebels" pursuing their "lifestyle" strolled in for breakfast. Every item of clothing all 3 couples were wearing was HD branded and they looked as giddy as cub scouts wearing their brand new uniforms for the first time.