(08-26-2017, 06:12 PM)homebiscuit Wrote: I just returned from a 5 hour motorcycle ride and got a good soaking - several times. My jacket weighs a ton. 
It was without incident until two blocks from home when some fool in a work van decided that I must be turning right even though I had no turn signal on (I was going straight). A good blast from my 130 dB horn got him to stop midway through the intersection while I gave him the stink eye  . That's my best stink eye.

That's a story many a biker has experienced.  It can be pretty scary out there if you're not paying attention.

(08-27-2017, 09:28 AM)homebiscuit Wrote:

(08-27-2017, 05:04 AM)DragonFury Wrote: Probably has less to do with HD's branding and more with the fact a lot of them can't afford to take up what is essentially a luxury hobby and certainly not at the prices HD is asking for their product.

Man, ain't that the truth. A coworker just plunked down 28k for a new Harley. Even the used ones are priced high. Don't get me wrong, Harleys are nice bikes, but the whole HD biker mystique thing has over inflated their stock. Not to mention the exorbitant prices HD wants for parts, service and add-ons. 
They've done well for the last 15 years marketing to the late-boomer generation who've had the disposable income to buy into the brand. However, for the younger casual riders who only want to invest a reasonable amount of money for a hobby, HDs are out of reach. They don't want to buy into a lifestyle, they simply want a machine that's fun to ride but can also be affordably operated and maintained.

The pricing of parts and service is where Harley really sticks it to owners.  A friend of mine works for Adamec here in Jacksonville, and he's religious about having them do all of the scheduled maintenance on time.  With his employee discount, he's still forking out $800-1200 for basic scheduled maintenance.  Tires?  Equally ridiculous.  Fortunately, you can find aftermarket manufacturers selling comparable or even better accessories for a fraction of the cost, and you can take your bike to a non-dealership mechanic for significantly less.  I think they price their services so high so that you'll say it's not worth it, let's just trade it in for a new one. lol

---