Is Triumph the new Harley Davidson?

**rosie631** · 13th September 2009, 21:29

Originally Posted by Headbanger

(especially people who wait till I get my helmet off at the servo and then pounce so we can have a bit of a convo about my bike)

Hating the public since ages ago.

I get pounced on a lot. But it doesn't worry me lol. Always happy to talk shit about bikes.

**FJRider** · 13th September 2009, 21:30

Originally Posted by Headbanger

Not so, Go for a ride on one and people take notice,everywhere you go, Go the same route on a non-HD and you don't raise a ripple.

Its a massive ego fuck for those that get off on that bullshit.

The legends continue to be told ... it helps being noticed if you've taken the baffle's out of the exausts.

Is it about image ... ??? tarnished, or not being tarnished enough ???

Nobody notices my little yammy ... which is fine by me.

**Kickaha** · 13th September 2009, 21:31

Originally Posted by Molly

Y'not kidding. Quoted $350 for some Triumph America handlebars!

I know someone who was quoted double that for bars for his Fatboy

**aahsv** · 13th September 2009, 21:31

I like the diversity of brands and bikes and their followers - your bike and its brand says something about you

**rosie631** · 13th September 2009, 21:32

Originally Posted by Kickaha

I know someone who was quoted double that for bars for his Fatboy

You're joking. He needs to check out the after market stuff.

**rosie631** · 13th September 2009, 21:33

Mind you, having said that, I know the burleigh bars are about a grand. Bloody nice bars but no way I'd pay that.

**Headbanger** · 13th September 2009, 21:35

Originally Posted by FJRider

The legends continue to be told ... it helps being noticed if you've taken the baffle's out of the exausts.

Is it about image ... ??? tarnished, or not being tarnished enough ???

Nobody notices my little yammy ... which is fine by me.

People love Harley's, That is all.(And the likes of HOG play on this in a massive way with their dress-ups)

Someone can ride something else past at double the volume and still not get the attention that a Harley brings.

**Winston001** · 13th September 2009, 21:36

Originally Posted by rosie631

Me too. Worst thing HD ever did was coming out with all the HOG bullshit.......

Harley Davidson have to be the best motorcycle marketers on the planet. Their sales are proof. Yes, HD nearly disappeared as a marque and indeed Norton and Triumph did disappear.

Personally all the chrome and yadda-yadda HD marketing makes me physically sick but that doesn't matter. What does matter is they have sold the image - the sizzle - that riding a Harley is cool and the ultimate bike.

It works. Most people I know don't have any interest in motorcycles but ask if I have a Harley? Even my own kids had to be educated that a Ducati is far superior.

Another piece of proof - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Look at all the HD wannabe bikes produced by Suzuki and Yamaha in the past 20 years. Black cruisers with chrome motors. Nothing wrong with them of course but it has to be sales driven.

**Winston001** · 13th September 2009, 21:44

Originally Posted by rosie631

Me too. Worst thing HD ever did was coming out with all the HOG bullshit.......

Harley Davidson have to be the best motorcycle marketers on the planet. Their sales are proof. Yes, HD nearly disappeared as a marque and indeed Norton and Triumph did disappear.

Personally all the chrome and yadda-yadda HD marketing makes me physically sick but that doesn't matter. What does matter is they have sold the image - the sizzle - that riding a Harley is cool and the ultimate bike.

It works. Most people I know don't have any interest in motorcycles but ask if I have a Harley? Even my own kids had to be educated that a Ducati is far superior.

Another piece of proof - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Look at all the HD wannabe bikes produced by Suzuki and Yamaha in the past 20 years. Black cruisers with chrome motors. Nothing wrong with them of course but it has to be sales driven.

**FJRider** · 13th September 2009, 21:44

Originally Posted by Headbanger

People love Harley's, That is all.(And the likes of HOG play on this in a massive way with their dress-ups)

I believe its about marketing ... how many brand (names) of any other product that people will tattoo on their chest/back/other body part to the same amount/scale as HD ???

**Headbanger** · 13th September 2009, 21:50

I'm referring to the general public, Not people who actually own Harleys (and get Harley tatts) however I consider it to be the romantic notion of the bad arse biker and that freedom/in the wind bullshit that causes the interest in the bike (and which has been whored to the point of throwing up in your helmet by the H-D marketing division) Though you pretty much need to enter a dealership in NZ to taste the marketing as I don't believe its played on NZ media.

**AD345** · 13th September 2009, 21:54

Strange thread.

Triumph have certainly got a broader range and the new Thunderbird surre looks like it's aimed directly at HD, but I wouldn't see most of the others as competing.

Now if you're talking image among a subset of the population - who knows?