If it wasn't for Harley

**1200custom** · 6th February 2008, 19:54

of this forum speaks for itself......HOGS and other crusiers

**carver** · 6th February 2008, 20:09

ya never know, the japs make some pretty weird stuff (usually honda)
look at the difference between the first 750 shadow and the ones now

**Skyryder** · 10th February 2008, 18:43

It would be the Indian............and the Jap cruisers would still look the same.

Skyryder

**doc** · 10th February 2008, 19:03

Originally Posted by ratusratus

There wouldnt be any japanese cruisers??

Dont worry they will be silenced when a factory custom like the squawking budgie fatboy wins IOMTT. Mark my words.

**scumdog** · 11th February 2008, 00:34

Originally Posted by idb

Crikey...he goes on a bit doanee?

Does he ever!

Couldn't be naffed reading the whole thing but he seems to think we should buy a motorbike for HIS reasons, doesn't seem to think some may be quite happy with a bike that's overweight and underpowered for our OWN reasons.

A wierd dude, man, real wierd.

**Bonez** · 12th February 2008, 15:48

If it wasn't for tarriffs ......................

Anyone mention tarriffs yet?

When are we going to see some of you local Harley lads on our Friday night sojourns or weekend rides? Been every other major marque show up.

**nallac** · 12th February 2008, 19:51

if it wasn't for import tarrifs -harley would've gone under.........

pushed for by H-D,
then pushed for the removal of them.

**idb** · 13th February 2008, 07:41

...and the chrome.
Harley Davidson are saving the world from being buried under a layer of chromium by capturing it all and making it into motorbikes.
Just like Italian bike makers doing their bit to reduce their carbon footprint by building it into their machines.

**madandy** · 13th February 2008, 08:38

HD gave us easy rider (well the lifestyle/phylosophy anyway) and a few bikie gangs too didn't it?

**HenryDorsetCase** · 13th February 2008, 09:21

Originally Posted by madandy

HD gave us easy rider (well the lifestyle/phylosophy anyway) and a few bikie gangs too didn't it?

Uh, no. Read some history of the early "biker" "Gangs" just after WW2: they were usually ex servicemen who found it difficult to return to civilian life and used motorbikes as an outlet for that. The "lifestyle" came first, and they would ride anything. The HD's were cheap, available and easy to modify, but there were a bunch of Indians, a few british bikes (particularly in desert racing: lighter and quicker), basically anything these guys could get their hands on. In fact in "The Wild One" which again arguably gave this image to the wider world via cinema (pre TV) Brando rides a Triumph I believe.

The cliche bullshit came muuuuuch later..... arguably in the '90's when baby boomer prosperity and availability of reliable bikes from HD codified the "rebel lifestyle" for a bunch of weekend wannabes. So a LOT of people worked in their offices Monday to Friday, but come Friday night thru Sunday, its all about the denim vest, and the HD. And good for them. I mean come on, they could have started playing golf or something equally lame. Instead its about rock n roll, motorbikes and titty bars. Whats wrong with that, and why havent I joined them? Their choice, their money etc. It isnt for me but whatever floats your boat.

**madandy** · 13th February 2008, 10:26

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

Uh, no. Read some history of the early "biker" "Gangs" just after WW2: they were usually ex servicemen who found it difficult to return to civilian life and used motorbikes as an outlet for that. The "lifestyle" came first, and they would ride anything. The HD's were cheap, available and easy to modify, but there were a bunch of Indians, a few british bikes (particularly in desert racing: lighter and quicker), basically anything these guys could get their hands on. In fact in "The Wild One" which again arguably gave this image to the wider world via cinema (pre TV) Brando rides a Triumph I believe.

The cliche bullshit came muuuuuch later..... arguably in the '90's when baby boomer prosperity and availability of reliable bikes from HD codified the "rebel lifestyle" for a bunch of weekend wannabes. So a LOT of people worked in their offices Monday to Friday, but come Friday night thru Sunday, its all about the denim vest, and the HD. And good for them. I mean come on, they could have started playing golf or something equally lame. Instead its about rock n roll, motorbikes and titty bars. Whats wrong with that, and why havent I joined them? Their choice, their money etc. It isnt for me but whatever floats your boat.

Fair point. I hadn't considered the post war scenario.
Having been directly asociated with gangs I can assure you HD's were a prerequisite for some gangs' members in the 1970's & 1980's, well before this "...cliche bullshit..."
But, yeah any thing yank or UK/Euro is acceptable..I always wondered why German bikes were accepted and not Japanese?

**avgas** · 13th February 2008, 11:07

Originally Posted by ratusratus

There wouldnt be any japanese cruisers??

Very true - but if there wasn't Triumph there would be no 'cool' people either.
If there wasn't BSA there would be no reckless youth.
If there wasn't BMW there would be conventional suspension everywhere.
If there wasn't Yamaha there would be no quality or set expectations of a bike.
If there wasn't Honda there would be no cheap mass produced bikes.
If there wasn't Vincent there would be no 100% dedicated fans.
If there wasn't Suzuki then there would be no parts networks around the world.
If there wasn't Ducati then all things coming out of Italy would only be suitable for mods.
If there wasn't Ural then a sidecar would be a caravan or an a frame (both extremes) bolted to the side of the bike.

**Bonez** · 13th February 2008, 15:13

Originally Posted by nallac

if it wasn't for import tarrifs -harley would've gone under.........

pushed for by H-D,
then pushed for the removal of them.

Honda and Kawasaki had assembly plants in the US by then IIRC.

**Bonez** · 13th February 2008, 15:17

Originally Posted by madandy

Fair point. I hadn't considered the post war scenario.
Having been directly asociated with gangs I can assure you HD's were a prerequisite for some gangs' members in the 1970's & 1980's, well before this "...cliche bullshit..."
But, yeah any thing yank or UK/Euro is acceptable..I always wondered why German bikes were accepted and not Japanese?

Lets not forget Italian ones too. Harleys were late on the gang scene here. A gent at work had a Harley, actually two at once at one point, well before any local gang member if what he says is correct.

He also owned Laverda thou and CBX1000 at one point.

I think the clich'e bullshit came about with the advent of the Evo engine and HOG which was started by HD purely for marketing reasons. It took off from there with the assistance of tarrifs imposed on imports.

Hinkely Triumph are doing the same now with RAT.