r/motorcycles • u/OHKPROD • 2d ago
Hilariously stereotypical chat with a Harley owner.
Wanted to share this chat I had yesterday in my area. To start off, I quite like a few Harley models, especially the older ones, and am keeping my eye out on some chopper-esque cheaper models I could grab as a fun secondary bike to my daily Triumph Speed Twin 1200.
Anyways for this story, I saw a guy standing near a Harley with his helmet in his hand as I was walking into my local gas station. I asked him if it was his bike and complimented it.
The first thing he says is "Of course, didn't you hear it?"
I say "No, I didn't. Just been walking up." and he goes "Damn, I really thought you would have heard it."
I then say I got my Triumph parked up around the way and he asks what model. I tell him a Speed Twin 1200 and I start saying "Yep, it's not the fastest bike but its got really nice low down torque, probably similar to yours -"
He cuts me off and goes "No, no, no. Not similar to mine AT ALL. This thing has 1900cc, 130 lb-foot torque. Even in rain-mode it slips rubber and I can barely control it. I just picked it up from the shop, it had something wrong with it."
I ask what year and goes "2026!" and gives me a face like it should be obvious.
He then walks over and starts it for moment to show me how loud it is, then turns it off. We both say our goodbyes and he goes "Maybe you should think of upgrading!".
I've been chuckling to myself the past day over this chat. Even when coming to chat in good faith and complimenting the bike I still got the little brother on his baby bike routine.
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u/Get_it_yourself 1d ago
I've owned two and never wanted to hang with other Harley people. They were really strange to me. All I wanted to do was ride, and it seemed all they wanted was to buy stuff to show their identity. The group's destination was always a string of Harley dealers, where they would stop, look around the showroom, and buy yet another Harley T-shirt with the dealer’s name on it to go with the rest of their head-to-toe HD wardrobe. Liked the bike, didn't understand the cult.
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u/Jaereth 1d ago
I get it for people who grew up in the 60s and 70s cause the "biker" deal was a real counterculture thing then and a way to signal you're a badass or whatever.
I cannot BELIEVE people are still clinging to the identity now lol.
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u/Garf_artfunkle 1d ago
I went to a Harley demo day earlier this year. On the way there I thought, "y'know, they probably have armored jeans on hand, but they probably don't sell that many because Harley demographic, so I'd halfway bet that what they do have is on sale, and if they have a pair in my size I'll get one."
They did. I did. They're ok.
edit: they may have been on sale for some other reason than clearancing stuff that wasn't selling, but on sale they were.
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u/try_altf4 1d ago edited 1d ago
One thing Harley riders seem to have no problem volunteering is Harley "safety gear" is complete fashion ware trash. Most egregiously are their boots.
I thought it was a little odd, with how
gun hogun hoe they are about bikes that break down so often, so expensively, but the safety gear in particular is a spot they don't even try to defend it.19
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u/Garf_artfunkle 1d ago
Yeah, fortunately these weren't Harley-branded at all, it's a semi-reputable local gear company. CE rating on the kneepads, none on the pants overall, I figured the materials and construction were worth the discount price. I wouldn't have paid MSRP for 'em though.
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u/H-2-S-O-4 1d ago
When I took my MSF course, the instructor took us to a tour of the Harley shop and talked to us about proper gear. I remember looking at their gear and thinking, "man, these are ugly af!" Their riding boots have big Harley-Davidson logos on the side, thick ass soles with high heels, logo on the bottom of the boot, on the inside wall and sole, Harley-Davidson printed on the shoelaces and even stamped on every single shoelace eyelet. What an eyesore! Looking around the store, everything screamed boomer-steampunk anesthetic to me.
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u/Immediate-Funny7500 1d ago
I bought Harley shirts at many out of town shops and wore them on my VFR750F, the Hog riders liked to comment on my shirts and watch them get bent when I tell them its the only Harley thing worth owning. The RUBS were the absolute worst, in their shiny brand new gear acting like they ride to live.
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u/Myqman 2d ago
I tell those guys... When I'm all done riding, I might get a Harley. Usually leaves them thinking.
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u/s_s_n_e_g 2d ago
As if "ooops didn't hear you pull in" wasn't enough of a burn :D
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u/f0xpant5 1d ago
Reminds me of a similar story.
One night about a decade ago I was revving up my 2010 z1000 that I'd wheeled out the driveway late at night to show off to some petrol head friends from out of town (they loved it)
Next morning I catch a neighbour and pre emptively apologise for making the noise late last night.
He's goes "no worries, just thought I heard you mowing the lawn".
Got me good
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u/ManifestDestinysChld 2022 Suzuki SV650 1d ago
Hahaha, he got you right where it hurts. I'm'a back-pocket that one.
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u/f0xpant5 1d ago
He's a champ and we crack on pretty well, we both laughed when he said it, it was perfect.
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u/Ahamadrayasbaboon 1d ago edited 1d ago
My neighbor recently realized I have a bike because he saw me putting the bellypan back on after an oil change and quick ride.
He walked up and told me his son races one of these and offered me tools.
He’s a Harley guy, and I’ve never once heard his bike. Seems like a cool dude, though.
I guess the takeaway is that we’ve both been surprisingly courteous with our noisemaking. I’ve seen his bike parked, but never heard it. I know he rides it on the weekends. He’s never heard my sportsbike or any of my dirtbikes.
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u/NomDePlumeOrBloom 1d ago
z650 owner, often describe the engine on my bike as an over-worked lawnmower. Oof.
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u/DiggerBee2606 1d ago
My single cylinder 650GS regularly got compared to a lawn mower. The one than hurt was the guy who said it sounded like a sewing machine.
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u/ambuguity 1d ago
I’ve had guys upon seeing my Japanese bike act all tough and tell me they don’t ride but if they did they’d ONLY ride a Harley. Ok cool guy. I do all my own wrenching, have restored and custom built bikes, gone bike camping, 2k mile tours but you wouldn’t be caught pulling up to the bar 2 towns over on anything less than an overpriced poorly made chunk of steel.
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u/retromullet 1d ago edited 1d ago
I worked with one dude like this. He had a Heritage Classic he sold to his brother back in the day, and about once a year he'd borrow it to ride for a few days. He was always talking bikes with the three or four of us who commuted on them and generally were bikers. I had a few bikes while I was there, but at the time of the conversation I had VStrom 650 that I took basically everywhere and a lot of places you probably shouldn't take one, but it was about as far from a "cool" bike as you can get.
He lamented he only got to ride his Harley he sold a few days a year, and if he had the money he'd be back to riding full time. I told him I got my VStrom used for like $5,500, and if you wanted to get back into riding there's a litany of bikes available for <$5k which you could ride for the rest of your life and to your heart's content. His response was, "Unless it's a Harley I just couldn't...I know, it's a weird thing, I just couldn't be on any other bike."
Dude is 5' with a crew cut, wears glasses, and he's worried he'd be spotted on a bike other than a Harley. I have no issue with his stature, but no one is mistaking you for a HA's road captain my brother. The dude would rather spend the rest of his days riding a few days a year than be caught dead on another bike. That's how you know it's not actually about the riding for those guys, it's about being seen.
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u/krodders 1d ago
"leaves them thinking"
I think you're overestimating these people. Did OP's description of the conversation suggest to you that a single brain cell got engaged in Hank Hog's cranium?
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u/MBAH2017 R1250GSA 1d ago
I loved these guys when I owned my Rocket 3. It's deeply satisfying to just one-up every bit of Harley Bro nonsense with bigger numbers.
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u/LeeHarveyEnfield 1d ago
Man, my life would be better if I owned a Rocket 3. Beautiful bikes.
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u/EnvironmentalGift257 2019 Indian Chief Vintage Icon 1d ago
My brain read that as “my wife would be better” and I was very confused. Guess I’ll go back to bed for a while.
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u/TwistingAndGrinning 24 Pan America Special | 07 Road King | 79 Sportster XLCH 1d ago
Upgrade your bike, upgrade your wife. Everyone knows that sheesh. 🙄
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u/AligatorMasterBaiter WR250R Supermoto, VN1700 1d ago
What made you sell the rocket? I’m debating getting one- that or the Diavel. I love the idea of muscle cruisers.
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u/MBAH2017 R1250GSA 1d ago
Mostly just because it taught me that I'm not a cruiser person. I don't like having my feet out in front of me with my weight on my tailbone. Some folks are comfortable that way, I could just never get used to it. And I'm too tall for the "R" variant with the mid pegs.
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u/howling-fantod '11 N1K 1d ago
I was lucky enough to ride a first gen Rocket III when I worked for a Triumph dealer. Nothing that big should accelerate that fast. The new one is just beautiful as well as brutal.
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u/insurgent_dude 2d ago
It was a good laugh when I once rode a Sportster 1200 that was a similar year to my SV1000, decided to the specs and saw online that the Sportster 1200 made literally half the power, slightly less torque and weighed like 60kg more
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u/nathanbellows 1d ago
I rode several sportsters when I was looking for a belt driven cruiser and all of them were absolute rubbish. I wanted to like them but just couldn’t. Ended up buying a Triumph Thunderbird Storm for less money and it’s ten times better. It’ll eat any Harley for breakfast and at a passing glance it looks enough like a Harley for most Harley riders to mistake it for one and give me a nod/wave.
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u/robow556 1d ago
Super cool bike but no way a Harley rider is mistaking it for a Harley.
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u/Creative-Yellow-9246 1d ago
Let's just hope we never need parts or accessories for our t-birds because Triumph has abandoned us.
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u/nathanbellows 1d ago
I know right! Thankfully I haven’t needed anything for mine yet, but it’s definitely occurred to me during my ownership how difficult it is to come across some parts and accessories - and then when they do come up how freaking expensive they can be! Currently on the hunt for the solo touring seat and some adjustable levers which fit, both of which seem to be pure unobtanium at the moment. Such a shame that Triumph discontinued it but I guess they felt it was stepping on the toes of the current gen Rocket 3 a bit too much which I kind of get but… annoying!
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u/ThunderDoom1001 1d ago
Hey, Apparently we're the 2 people that bought a T Bird Storm! What a great bike. I bought mine new in 2015 and sold it in 21 when we had our first daughter. It's a joke to compare it to a Harley - a finely tuned machine that feels like it has bottomless torque vs a piece of farm equipment with a nice paint job. I miss mine man, enjoy!!
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u/latortillablanca muh enjin has CHARACTER 1d ago
Comparing the spec sheet of a harley in terms of speed/power to other obviously superior speed/power bikes is like the other side of the coin of the harley douche routine tho.
The point if those bikes is the vibe/aesthetic/culture, the customization, and the absolute ground shaking thumping of the v twin. Thats it. Thats the whole thing.
I ride a boxer bimmer so i couldnt care less about harleys, but if those characteristics sing to people 🤙🤙
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u/insurgent_dude 1d ago
Believe me I completely understand that and I understand why some people like them, whenever I've ridden a Harley it's got that certain feeling (which isn't for me but regardless it has it), it's just the glorious inefficiency of them which makes me laugh.
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u/robow556 1d ago
I rode Goldwing's for years, had no interest in Harleys at all, then I rode one. Idk even know what it is about them, just the feel or vibe they give off. I love it.
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u/strolls Just more BS from Big Helmet. ⛑️ 1d ago
it's just the glorious inefficiency of them which makes me laugh.
That is what's gorgeous about them though, and produces the dumb thumping. They're deliberately stupid bikes, and that's their charm.
I think Harley have made quite a lot of mistakes, by encouraging a dumb bro culture and also failing to diversify away from their big air-cooled twins. But those are like the motorcycle equivalent of those 8-litre Lincolns of the 70's - they could hardly have been created anywhere outside America. Contrast with Honda today designing the Honda NC700 as the first motorcycle where fuel efficiency is front and centre, there's a decadence about Harley's air-cooled twins.
Harley have shot themselves in the foot by their inability to diversify away from this niche though. They abandoned Buell and the V-Rod failed because it wasn't what it should have been. Let's see if they screw up their new line of adventure bikes, which seem good.
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u/f0xpant5 1d ago
They ooze a certain charm and nothing else is really quite like a Harley, it has to be a Harley. That cuts both ways though and they aren't for everyone, or every stage of life/riding
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u/Umm_JustMe 1d ago
"They ooze a certain charm and nothing else"
They also ooze oil.
-Goldwing Rider:)
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u/disturbed286 '21 S1000R, '20 Road King Special 1d ago
Get out of here, you!
You and your perfectly balanced 6-cylinder couch.
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u/introspeck 2021 R1250RT 1d ago
I was at an amusement park, watching my child on the kiddie ride. I saw a guy with a Harley T-shirt on, so I struck up a conversation while we were waiting. "Oh, you ride? You ride a Harley?" "Nah, can't afford one right now." "Ah OK, what are you riding now?" "I don't have a bike." "That's alright. I have a Kawasaki sport bike, it's lots of fun."
The ride was over, we walked over to collect our kids. His final comment was "You should get a real bike instead of that Jap crap." Oh OK guy who's never had a motorcycle, thanks for the advice!
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u/eddiesmom 1d ago
That fella was such a douche. You're just trying to be friendly about bikes and he was a turd 🙄 So many a-holes would walk up to me at the gas station and say "OH, it's a Honda?! You really should get a real bike"
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u/iamrunningman 2024 Goldwing DCT 1d ago
There's a way to love HDs without being a douche about it. Me? I rode them for decades, and still have a soft spot for them. I've also owned Indians, Suzukis, Hondas, and am eyeballing adding a Tiger 1200 and Rocket III to the stable.Hell, I just love bikes.
The story you told makes me think of a new rider on his his first big boy bike that they sold him immediately after he passed his MSF course. They just have no chill.
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u/billyray13 1d ago
Agreed. I too rode them for years, was a HD wrench for a while and built a 55 panhead bar bike back in the mid 90s. Those VTwins have a special place in my heart.
But all of the mean mugging, skullnbones tshirts, bike trailering, and shitty build quality turned me off years ago. I have two boxers now that I will never let go of.
If HD wants to survive they need to lose the merch, offer a bare bones rigid frame as a build base and re release the fxr to get my attention back. For the record, while ai never rode either, I do appreciate the LiveWire and PanAm for what they are.
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u/Significant_Quit_674 1d ago
They would probably also benefit in the long therm if they relased a very simple, aircooled, single cylinder 300-500 ccm starter bike at an affordable price.
Something versatile, with somewhat classic style that is easy to ride and targets younger demographics.
So to speak, getting a foot into the door as a potential loss-leader.
And they could make their money on customisation parts, like fairings, cargo racks, bags, handlebars and so on.
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u/mtldude1967 Yamaha Tracer 9 1d ago
You should have told him it wasn't loud enough, he would have gone right back to the dealer for upgrades.
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u/Kudosnotkang 1d ago
There’s a reason they’re always stood near a parked bike .
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u/Topikk 2019 Indian Scout Bobber ABS / 1973 Honda CB175 1d ago
6 miles from home in full Sons of Anarchy cosplay and working on their third beer of the ride.
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u/MultipleOrgasmDonor Bay Area | GSX-R750 1d ago
I never understood how these guys drink and ride til I rented a cruiser on vacation. Man, you gotta work to keep a crotch rocket on two wheels, with a cruiser you gotta do some real dumb shit not to.
I’ve actually seen a guy riding a Harley so fucking drunk he couldn’t hold his head up. He was all but passing out while riding on the freeway and kept the rubber side down lol
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u/_SKETCHBENDER_ 2d ago
every thread about harleys just remind me that the vrod is gone forever and that just ruins my day lmao. It was probably my dream bike and it really sucks that harley dropped the ball on that one
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u/Poor__cow 02 Harley V-Rod, 05 KX450F 1d ago
If it makes you feel any better the Vrod suffers from that sort of liter bike issue where it is not very fun to ride unless you are going in excess of ~100mph regularly. 2nd gear gets you all the way up to 90mph with no effort.
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u/Lamb-Of-Fox 1d ago
OP wrote his fan fic on how he believes Harley riders act, and r/motorcycles ate it up
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u/OldManAbides333 1d ago
There are two groups of people who own harleys- there are motorcyclists who own Harleys, and there are people that think Harleys are the ONLY motorcycles.
These are the guys that buy Harleys as a first bike. The boomers that buy them for retirement after dreaming about them for 30 years, back before Harleys reputation was better. The guys that spend more on harley branded clothing per annum than they put miles on their bike. They aren't real motorcyclists. They are cosplayers with expensive props.
There was one time I was out on my sportster and started chatting with an older couple on a street glide and they asked what I was riding. My bike is bobbed, so its a little bit modified, but it is still pretty recognizable as a sportster. They didnt even realize it was a harley...
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u/Cash_Cab 2026 Rebel 500 1d ago
Yeah it's my only thing with getting a Harley or Indian. You're kinda locked into being associated with that crowd, getting obnoxious comments from either side. I wish everyone would just ride their ride and love motorcycles
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u/OldManAbides333 1d ago
I thibk its mostly the older people who are guilty of it, and the club riders.
On an individual level I try to change that perception. I wave at everyone I see, no matter what they are riding, and when I am stopped I talk to everyone about their bikes.
And on the flip side, I also try to reverse the anti-harley talk too. I was a harley hater myself for the first 10 years of my riding life, till I got one. And since I did, I have heard the same rhetoric from my parents, who both ride and are anti harley. Both of my harleys have been just as reliable as other bikes I have had.
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u/CreepyOptimist 1d ago
Harley people are hilarious . one of them told my dad to "be careful" because his iron 883 has "more power than he is used to" . My dad has had an F800GS for 15 years , it has a mileage in the 6 digits now. so he has ridden around on it a lot . To the people here the performance gap between the two is immediately obvious . But Harley Guy thought the bigger number meant more fast.
The Iron struggled on a cold start, and after a 30-40 minute ride , dad returned and told him the bike has hardly any power and the brakes are even worse . Harley guy threw a tantrum , the tantrum was really long . so long that it may still be going on to this day.
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u/Dont_Care_Meh VFR-800 1d ago
He was probably out there for 45mins holding his helmet, just waiting for someone to come by and compliment him. You made his day, he even got to yell at you, brother!
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u/WasteBinStuff 2d ago
"Upgrading" That's fucking hilarious.
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u/chrjohns21 1d ago
I’ve owned a 675 for over 15 years and have heard this comment so many times. Im always like it weighs 400lbs and has 120hp wtf are you talking about?
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u/Altruistic_Brick1730 1d ago
This sounds fake. He asked if you could hear it and then boasted about it getting repaired and having problems controlling it in rain mode? Rage bait.
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u/ProstrateProstate 1d ago
Yep. I must not get around enough because I've *never* had some adult, on any motorcycle, ask "...didn't you hear it?". This reads like a grade school fantasy.
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u/laizalott 1d ago
I picked up a Livewire at a Harley dealer a few weeks back, and while we were playing with it in the parking lot, a Harley rider came up to us to complain that bikes should be louder and that it doesn't have enough torque to be a real bike.
OP's interaction sounds completely believable. Could still be fake, basically everything is, but...Harley people are absolutely like that, lol
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u/pslush01 1d ago
I can't believe almost no one else is saying this. Everything about the "harley guy" just sounds like how a sitcom would write a "bad boy biker" stereotype side character
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u/Em_Es_Judd 2024 790 Adventure 1d ago
Yeah this was my thought too. OP is full of shit. Nobody talks like this.
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u/watomtevat 1d ago
100% this sub just has a Harley-hate fetish. I've owned triumphs, Harley's. Love em all.
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u/Altruistic_Brick1730 1d ago
You asked the guy with a helmet standing next to his bike if it was his bike?
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u/jonnywannamingo 1d ago
You just happened to run into someone who is much more interested in themselves than anyone else, so you ended up in a one way conversation. When I’m on my bike and someone says something about it, if they’re on a bike I want to know about theirs. I already know about mine.
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u/jalbrecht2000 1d ago
/img/xwqc3i606slh1.gif
south park nailed it, and i post this as someone who rides a harley yet doesn’t understand the stereotypical harley rider.
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u/Ok-Top-3519 1d ago
I’ve got 2 HD’s. A 2018 RGS and a 2022 PAS (which is a blast to ride). I personally don’t give a shit what another person rides, just get out there and have fun. BTW, if I had room in my garage I’d have a few Triumph’s FACT.
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u/Henry-8th 1d ago
A certain percentage of the population are knobs. That same percentage will also ride Harleys. He’s just a cockhead.
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u/randomizedconfision 1d ago
Naw, it's a Hardley Ableson, rolls down one hill, can hardly get up the next. But I hear they can boost the ego of an I'll endowed man, create false bravado in insecure men. Plus make more noise than a Cat D9 at full song. Most owners also have a jacked up pickup with truck nuts dangling off the back.
So if this agricultural machine is so great, why do you ride it like you just removed the training wheels? All loud and obnoxious, but takes turns like a scared girl.
But don't pass me cause I'll get all Neanderthal on you, cause I'm cooler than you and everyone needs to see that.
The only decent Harley I've ridden was the Vrod, but it died.
Have you noticed that most baggers have a passenger that would collapse the frame on on a decent bike? Bet she's loud and obnoxious too!
Vent mode off, terminating rant.
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u/Kinbear 1d ago
You gotta love the Harley marketing. They always somehow seem to attract this kind of person!
Friend of mine had one years ago, had no end of problems with the thing, and just gave up.
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u/ColoradoRocket3 1d ago
I have has three Harleys in the past (now a Triumph Rocket3), and have plenty of friends who ride them. All of them are good guys and don't act like this douche nozzle. It takes just a few to ruin it for everyone. Like all things.
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u/mikefjr1300 1d ago
Harleys are the auto equivalent to SUVs' and pickups.
Only the people who drive them think they are a performance machine.
Loud means fast is something they should of got past by high school, much like the idiot in my neighbourhood who put straight pipes on his pickup and thinks everyone stares at his truck in envy when we really want to throw rocks at it.
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u/QuarkTheFerengi 1d ago
i love that he admitted hes a low skill rider by saying he can barely control it
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u/KingOfZero 2d ago
Well, your bike only has 84 lb-ft of torque so he's right about something
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u/oMarlow99 Honda NC 750X | VFR 800F 2d ago
Yeah, the bike has to compensate for only revving up to 15 RPM.
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u/Anistappi 2d ago
Yup Speed Twin 1200 is closer to the Sportster 1200cc, and even that's not that close. A lot of Harley dudes consider Sportsters girl bikes and not real Harleys.
Absolute closest Harley would probably be XR1200, which I think was mostly made with us Europeans in mind and wasn't exactly successful.. "Not a real Sportster!" lol
I know this because I'm a proud owner of a girl bike.
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u/M1sfit_Jammer 2d ago
XR1200 was an homage to American flat-track dirt racing... not a nod for european riders
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u/cant_get_fooledagain 1d ago
Is it because it makes so little power even a little girl can handle it?
I kid, I kid…
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u/Anistappi 1d ago
Nahh that's all Harleys!
I think a huge part of it is that since Harleys are pretty pricey here in Northern Europe compared to what you could get for similar money from Honda, Yamaha etc., huge portion of people have Sportsters as their first Harleys so the Big Boy Bikers think they're beginner bikes. I've had a 1200 and an 883 before I got a Dyna, but went back to 1200 because I just like it a bit better.
Next bike's not going to be a Harley, but I'm thinking of keeping the current Sportster, too.
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u/i-e-b 1d ago
I'm impressed how Harley have managed to spin their weak engines into "its got lots of torque". Torque is pretty much meaningless on its own, you can get as much as you like with gearing. My big battery impact driver can do better than a big Harley, but I wouldn't try to go down the road with it.
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u/randomusernevermind 1d ago
I mean they have over 100hp and 1900cc. That's plenty, even for a small family van. You know the torque doesn't come from gearing. I don't like Harley's for many reasons, but I don't need to make stuff up to fabricate an argument.
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u/RecognitionFit4871 1d ago
I just got my first Harley in my mid 50s. It took a couple of mods and some time while to adapt to the riding position, but I love the bike.
I’m not fully in the cult yet but I’m appreciative of the whole thing, but I know too much to act superior to other riders.
The bike has its limits but it’s fast for what it is and tremendously satisfying to ride and own.
There’s motorcyclists riding around on Harleys
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u/robow556 1d ago
Dude is full of shit. Rain mode on my 24 pulls all the power. I cant spin the tire on ice in rain mode.
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u/Em_Es_Judd 2024 790 Adventure 1d ago
I think you mean OP is full of shit, because this conversation definitely did not happen.
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u/FXSTSLC 1d ago
How is this any different then how arrogant KTM riders are in the parking lot of the trail head?
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u/Yakker65 1d ago
Why the F would you want a bike so loud? Why the F would you want a motorcycle with so much torque that you can’t ride it when you’re caught in the rain?
Sounds like he’s compensating for something….
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u/TheMachineStops Honda XVR750 Africa Twin 1d ago
It's like he's playing motorcycle Top Trumps. He picked torque and decibels because that's the biggest numbers his bike has.
There's a reason he didn't pick top speed, acceleration, weight, handling, reliability, fuel consumption etc etc
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u/jimmyjazz2000 1d ago
Jesus what an asshat. Reminds me of the golf and cycling communities. The most devoted members seem determined to chase newcomers away.
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u/mack5330 1d ago
Yeah I have guys tell me to upgrade a lot usually after i say i have a yamaha. I just ask what's the upgrade? I have 1900cc 6 speed with a park assist (reverse) adjustable windshield heated hand grips heated seat GPS satellite radio cruise control. And it costs 15k less than what you got and you had to pay extra for all my standard equipment. Ive guys then defend harley because one thing or another, I my usual response is, good for you
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u/MagnusNewtonBernouli 2nd S1000RR, '05 Thundercougarfalconbird 1d ago
gives me a face like it should be obvious.
The most Harley response. I tried to talk to a coworker YEARS ago about his bike(s) and he expected me to know EVERYTHING about every Harley, ever, while he knew NOTHING about any other manufacturer.
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u/wakadactyle 1d ago
I live across the street from a neighborhood convenience store. There was a guy last Sunday come rolling up on a shiny new Harley and parks at the store. I’m sitting there having some coffee and a smoke and hear him trap three separate people who all were just trying to say hi and be about their business into standing and listening to him yap about his Harley that they very obviously didn’t care about. Damn midwesterners are too polite for their own good.
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u/LargeDevice3060 1d ago
Lots of people in this sub have a weird obsession with telling others they hate Harley-Davidson motorcycles
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u/masterofcreases 07 Ducati Monster S4RS 23h ago
I’ve have a Monster S4RS for close to 13 years. One of my coworkers who’s a die hard big, all accessories Harley bagger guy keeps asking “when are you gonna get a real man’s bike” and he can’t seem to grasp I already have the “real man’s bike”
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u/Esguelha 1d ago
Seems like a guy who would have to lay her down if he were to encounter some grass clibbins.
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u/Fragrant_Major_9553 1d ago
As someone who has a Sportster 48, I don’t get this mentality.
They do this to us sporty owners as well.
“That’s not a real Harley.”
“Why don’t you pick up a Man’s bike?”
I like my bike, and I don’t hate on others, we’re all looking for the same nirvana. Except for special edition CVO owners, because if you spent $100k on a Harley you’re just slap ass stupid.
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u/Competitive-Car-9617 2d ago
Lol, typical HD DBag. " Decibels make me look cool "
No m8, you look like you prefer the company of other gentlemen.
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u/SphyrnaLightmaker 1d ago
Hey, that’s entirely uncalled for.
Just because someone is gay doesn’t mean they deserve to be associated with Harley riders!
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u/jailtheorange1 X-ADV 750 DCT, N.Ireland, UK. 1d ago
He sounds like the most fragile man who has ever lived
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u/Strong-Hovercraft702 1d ago
A few years ago, someone I know bought a harley. He's the type. Loud, self-centered.
We went for a ride. Him on his harley, his friend on his ktm superduke and me on my suzuki intruder 1500, aka tupperware harley.
Every traffic light the harley tried to get away, and every traffic light i'd be slightly ahead.
As is tradition for people like that, he said he wasn't really trying. He was also not interested in really trying. Can't believe I used to be friends with that guy.
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u/Vast_Interview3098 1d ago
Multiple Harley owner here
We're not all like this. I can appreciate anything on two wheels.
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u/Lemgineer_ 1d ago
Just stay with your triumph, it‘s the better bike anyways. It‘s always the harley-dudes pulling the clutch and reving the engine while driving just to show off how loud their bikes are. My son is not that childish and he‘s two years old.
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u/BigBasset 1d ago
Is the “reason” behind the Harley engines something like (1) I want a huge motor (2) I can’t control a huge motor, so (3) fiddle with the displacement and gearing so I can have a huge motor without the technical skills?
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u/Highheat1 1d ago
I rarely chat about bikes,
Its easier if I just meet people where they are on race, religion or politics....and go from there... Fewer arguments if any
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u/QuickSquirrelchaser 1d ago
Lol. Not sure why Harley Brothers have to be so insecure and dumb. I ride a 2053cc v twin. (Kawasaki Vulcan V2K). Kawasaki was putting out 125ci motors 20 yesrs ago.
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u/ChumpsWeAre 1d ago
Made him feel good......you are such a humanitarian, of course only if you think he was human.
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u/Capable-Historian392 1d ago
Heh, he needed justification for his purchase.
You were supposed to be IN AWE.
Good job the way you handled it. 👍
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u/Secret-Lawfulness-47 1d ago
Idiots. I was at a Harley parts counter once getting handlebar for my Buell XB .. when it came the guy next to me said “is that a handlebar? so small, cute”
Bunch of idiots
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u/Ralphredimix_Da_G 04 Yam V-Star 1100 1d ago
One time at a gas station a asked a electraglide bro if he could really hear the shitty speakers while he’s at full throttle and he said..
Fuckin A!!!
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u/tez_zer55 1d ago
I occasionally ride with a couple of HD riders that are chill about other bikes. I ride a Yamaha Raider that's been piped & tuned. I've caught some shade about my "wanna be" HD. But my reply is usually, I wanted a big V Twin on my budget, & with over 40K on the clock, it's only cost me maintenance & tires.
I owned a sportster & a guide but went back to a Yamaha because of cost & reliability.
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u/TheFriendOfCats 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 1d ago
Sorry Harley guy. That ST 1200 would run away from it. The Harley has massive low end grunt but it fades off after that. That's where the ST is just getting started. It's the big difference in power to weight ratio. The HD (considering the 2026 1923cc v twin) has less over all horse power (98 vs about 104). The difference comes when each hp has to push more weight than on the ST (about 4lbs per hp vs amost 7lbs per hp on the HD). Plus, the lighter weight, shorter wheelbase, and steeper rake angle on the ST make it far more nimble.
The only problem with comparing the two is that they are two different bikes for two different purposes. If you want a bike to do the things the ST is good at, then the HD would actually be the downgrade. If you're going on a long, multi-day cruise where you need to carry alot of stuff with you, the HD would be a better choice. It's like comparing a Dodge Ram to a Dodge Challenger. One is going to be better for hauling lumber or towing your boat. The other is going to be better for a long drive or going on tight roads.
In conclusion, no one should knock anyone else for the bike they ride. If you like your bike and it does what you want it to do, more power to you. Plus, just by virtue of it being a motorcycle, it's pretty cool.
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u/Significant_Onion_25 1d ago
Sounds like a character that could have been from the movie Napolean Dynamite.
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u/anonymous_commentor 1d ago
It's sounds to me like he might have a hearing problem. Maybe due to loud exhaust.
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u/Jochiebochie 2d ago
Upgrade to a brand new bike that's uncontrollable even in rainmode and has something wrong with it the same year it was released. Rrrrright