Who needs a Harley?

I have ridden my 2009 Honda Silverwing over 2000 miles after purchasing it in April of this year. It had only one mile when I bought it.
I can do all the legal speeds plus some with my Silver wing, just like a Harley. I get better mileage than the big ol' Harleys. My Silver wing is a touring scooter so it can go anywhere, just like a Harley. The Silverwing is quiet and powerful, unlike a Harley which may be powerful but sure isn't quiet. People don't have to cover their ears when I scoot by.
I don't have to shift gears, unlike a Harley.
I really like that purr when I get up to 35 to 45 mph.
Too bad Harley doesn't make anything like this.

Can you imagine the hardcore Harley guys' outrage if H-D put out a Harley Scoot?

There's no reason they shouldn't, they built a gigantic Harley dealership in Columbia Tennessee and if you go in there half the stuff is made in China. Not the bikes, but half the accessories, and you can't get anything there without a Harley logo on it.

(UPDATE: I meant a maxi-scoot.)

They did!

Harley rider ego....If they race a Scooter and loose, they will not tell their Harley friends. If they just raced and won againest a scooter....they can't tell their friends because that would be lame. It's just a no win for the harley guys either way.

If you want to enjoy your 4th of July and see a dazzling array of sparks, just ride up to deal's gap and ride up the back of a Harley's tail end.... naturally they will try to speed up so as to not get completely embarrased by a scooter and when they start dragging all that chrome on Tennessee ashphalt..... Kick back, relax, and enjoy the show.....

I hear 70% of all Harleys made are still on the road.



























The rest made it to their destination.

Yes, that is true.....You just need to be careful not run over that stuff.

Thanks for the comments, sometimes the Harley people won't even wave, or start to, see what they're wavin' at, and pull their hand back.
My wife's sister's daughter in law and her husband have harleys, they asked me to sit on one while they started it up. My ears are still ringing.
I'm looking for a scooter riding club here in Mansfield, Ohio, but seems to be a total lack of one. I may have to ride 70 miles to find one. It's good to ride in groups, it seems the automobile drivers show a little more respect when there's more than one, they don't try to run you off the road, or force you to go faster than you want.

In Western Oz we get a choice of which colour we want our free Holden ute when we purchase a Harley.

USA read Pick Up truck for Ute. Holden is our local GMH brand

yep thats right a free ute with a Harley.

only way to get it home!

Good one Kurt!
I know a guy that has 4 HD's and he has trouble keeping one of them running at any one time. Safety in numbers? He also has a sticker on his helmet that says, "My bike doesn't leak oil, it is marking its territory." Whatever. I'll take the no leak type.

Ride safe.

DuggleBogey wrote:

Can you imagine the hardcore Harley guys' outrage if H-D put out a Harley Scoot?

They did.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley-Davidson_Topper

I've beaten a HD Sportster off the line at a traffic signal twice now with my SW. Can you imagine that fellow's chagrin at being 'scootered'?
Power in a Harley. Forget about it. My Goldwing turns out 118hp at 5500rpm. The Harley Revolution engine cranks out 115hp at 9,000 rpm. Their Evolution 1450cc engine puts out a staggering 80hp. Our lowly scooters turn out 50hp at 7000rpm which is impressive considering the Evolution engine 883cc in the Sportster is rated at 53hp at 7000rpm. Only 3 more than the SW and it takes them 301cc more to get those extra three horsepower.
Harleys are good looking bikes in a traditional way but they are very old fashioned in design. Harley did a great job of creating an image and marketing it but they are stuck. Their customers expect an air cooled V twin which is basically an obsolete power plant. There's not much HD can do with it without changing it's 'look' and that's what they are selling.

I like the look and would still get one, if I could find the one I use to own back in the mid 60's. A 1945 Harley Hummer just to look at if nothing else. I like the older looking bikes more than the newer ones. Would also like to have an old Cushman Eagle and one of the old step through Cushman's. Of course that means I'd have to build a bigger garage for keeping them as I don't think my better half would let me keep them in the living room.
Craig

Took this near the end of a ride on Saturday, July 3rd.



We had rolled past 260 miles for the day when we rode up behind this set-up. Hard to figure out how those loud pipes were saving lives in this particular scenario.

Dale, I see 3 bikes on that trailer...Must be a group ride.

At least they can stay in a good tight group that way.

Most reliable way to travel on a HD, isn't it?