Riding A Drifter In Harley Country is a Bit Like Being Rodney Dangerfield

[bambam0099]

Posted this in another thread...

Went for a nice, 350 mile,  last ride of the season Saturday (good timing, we got 8" snow Sunday!).

Stopped for a quick bite to eat and, as with every stop I make, caught a couple admirers checking out the bike (Note: notice the Harley in the background that no one even notices?  LOL!)

[DC]

It's all par for the course when you ride a decked out Drifter.  Don't want attention?  Don't get a Drifter.   

[Zoar]

Another true story for ya...

Went riding with a friend Saturday down in the Catskills. He shows up with a beautiful, brand new Harley which cost him 20-some grand.  We stop for lunch at a small diner when 2 young teens come up to him and ask "Excuse me sir, is that your Indian motorcycle outside?"  He simply said no, it's his.  They came up to me and asked "would it be ok if we got pictures of us with your motorcycle?"  Of course I said go ahead.  I watched them take several pictures at different angles around the bike and crouching to get their faces near the Indian tank emblem while my friend just rolled his eyes periodically.
After lunch, we walked outside and their were 2 older gentleman standing between our bikes and we heard one say "Wow, that's alot of money wrapped in that beautiful old bike" and, as I got close, followed up with "We were just admiring your Indian.  Man, that's alot of bike you have there."   After I thanked them and they walked away, my friend said "does anyone want to look at my brand new Harley that I spent a fortune on?  NAH"   I laughed out loud especially considering her spent 6-7X as much money on his biek as compared to mine.
On the way back, we stopped at a McDonalds in Richfield Springs.  The parking lot was maybe half full but he proceeded to go all the way in the back to park.  When I asked him why, he simply said "I think you've had enough attention today"   LOL!
True story.  This sort of thing happens all the time and of course, I really enjoy it.
Beautiful day saturday.  We put on 450 miles and then I put on another 350 Sunday.  The bike runs like a top.  These bikes are truly the best looking ever made and great riding.  They are a whole'lot of bike for not nearly the amount of money as others spend :-)

HA! So true!! and yes your bike does look so much better than his bike.

(BTW--I live on a hill overlooking Seneca Lake so we are close! I just realized that!)

[pcarrell]

I used to have that happen all the time.  My best friend bought a brand new HD Superglide Custom a couple of years ago, and nobody saw it when we'd ride.  I felt bad that my Nadine got all of the attention when my friend had 4x the dollars invested in his ride.

[bambam0099]

Another true story for ya...

Went riding with a friend Saturday down in the Catskills. He shows up with a beautiful, brand new Harley which cost him 20-some grand.  We stop for lunch at a small diner when 2 young teens come up to him and ask "Excuse me sir, is that your Indian motorcycle outside?"  He simply said no, it's his.  They came up to me and asked "would it be ok if we got pictures of us with your motorcycle?"  Of course I said go ahead.  I watched them take several pictures at different angles around the bike and crouching to get their faces near the Indian tank emblem while my friend just rolled his eyes periodically.
After lunch, we walked outside and their were 2 older gentleman standing between our bikes and we heard one say "Wow, that's alot of money wrapped in that beautiful old bike" and, as I got close, followed up with "We were just admiring your Indian.  Man, that's alot of bike you have there."   After I thanked them and they walked away, my friend said "does anyone want to look at my brand new Harley that I spent a fortune on?  NAH"   I laughed out loud especially considering her spent 6-7X as much money on his biek as compared to mine.
On the way back, we stopped at a McDonalds in Richfield Springs.  The parking lot was maybe half full but he proceeded to go all the way in the back to park.  When I asked him why, he simply said "I think you've had enough attention today"   LOL!
True story.  This sort of thing happens all the time and of course, I really enjoy it.
Beautiful day saturday.  We put on 450 miles and then I put on another 350 Sunday.  The bike runs like a top.  These bikes are truly the best looking ever made and great riding.  They are a whole'lot of bike for not nearly the amount of money as others spend :-)

[bambam0099]

Just went for a long ride tonight with a couple buddies that own new Harley Ultra Glides.  We're sitting at the gas station and this old guy comes out, walks up and says "OMG, I love your Indian".  My one friend just shakes his head because he's used to being overlooked as my bike gets all the compliments.  Then the guy asks, "These Harley boys let you ride with them?".  I simply replied, "Yeah, they enjoy being around a class bike".  He just laughed and said "Nice".

I have found that Harleys around me are like Rodney Dangerfield ... they get no respect! :-)

[DC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4ZfaDjxDBs

[DC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A3b_MRimbk

[DC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_mp76ouFUg

[Zoar]

I posted Harley vers Metric as a joke. I like Harley motorcycles (and most of their riders).  That being said my Boss rides a $47,000.00 Harley (Canadian). Too rich for my blood. But they certainly sound better than metric bikes.

Last night when I drove my Ducati up in front of a local restaurant, the first thing people said was--- "Man, that things sounds beautiful."

[JagLite]

Funny vid!   

I understand the stereotype, and the "life style" that HD sells so well.
Some of the HD riders locally are great people who appreciate all bikes, and some are HarDcore who look down on anyone not riding a big twin.
Even the poor Sportster riders are barely tolerated.
They are viewed as biker wannabies.

HD marketing understands how to sell life style and that is what keeps them in business, not quality or performance.

When the bikes are running good they are enjoyable to ride. 

And, they sure do hold their value for resale! Go figure 

[RockinRollin]

I posted Harley vers Metric as a joke. I like Harley motorcycles (and most of their riders).  That being said my Boss rides a $47,000.00 Harley (Canadian). Too rich for my blood. But they certainly sound better than metric bikes.

[Ironworking]

You are so right Zoar! However, i am in that 3% and have been my entire life no matter what brand. My uncle told me when i was only ten. If you can not fix it; you should not own it!

BTW. I said the first 70 or so years. That era came to an end in the late 70's.
Yes! Now they are Brand, Glamour & Prestige. We the american people took our first REAL screwing on transportation products when THEY forced us to switch to electronic ignition. Yes, it is great in many ways, no doubt about it. However, when it goes awry; we can not pull over and file the points clean to get back to the house where we have that extra set sitting on the shelf in the garage.
An again. FUEL PUMPS do not belong inside of the gas tank! Up the chimney hole of the Dufus' who thought that was a good idea!!!

[Zoar]

I agree. That was funny. All BS aside though, the reason Indians & Harley-Davidsons lasted with John Q public for the first 70+ years was simplicity. Anyone who had the skills to work on a Chevy could work on every part of these bikes. Including the engine an tranny. Also, just about every part that could need replacing could also be found on most farms or local parts stores. It is the modern corporate confluctuation ( my word ) that has been the tragedy of both brands. Albeit the Indian suffered earlier due to poor decisions made during the WW wars.

Another thing. The 80 ci Evo engine is absolutely the most reliable engine HD ever produced. They sold so few parts and repairs were so rarely needed, HD regretted making them. So the solution was build the 88 Twin Cam that is not extremely reliable.  And the fuel pump in the gas tank is one of the most consumer unfriendly advances ever made.  And it has long been proven, the fuel pump does not have to be in the tank for FI to work.
However, i too think they have almost priced themselves out of existence. Every company that does; doesn't figure it out until it is too late. That is why "they" are no longer in existence. If they had of saw the writing on the wall, they would have adjusted their policies to prevent that outcome.
Okay. I'm done! Rant over.

I know a lot of Harley owners. About 3% of them work on their bikes. So 97% take their bikes in for everything so the simplicity angle argument is not in alignment with what I observe.

What I see is the success of Harley---not unlike NASCAR---is 97% marketing and branding and advertising.

I think Harleys are extremely overpriced and under performing and the primary reason they are in business is successful marketing/branding to a percentage of the population that is receptive to having their values shaped 97% by branding.

[jmbo]

I agree. That was funny. All BS aside though, the reason Indians & Harley-Davidsons lasted with John Q public for the first 70+ years was simplicity. Anyone who had the skills to work on a Chevy could work on every part of these bikes. Including the engine an tranny. Also, just about every part that could need replacing could also be found on most farms or local parts stores. It is the modern corporate confluctuation ( my word ) that has been the tragedy of both brands. Albeit the Indian suffered earlier due to poor decisions made during the WW wars.

Another thing. The 80 ci Evo engine is absolutely the most reliable engine HD ever produced. They sold so few parts and repairs were so rarely needed, HD regretted making them. So the solution was build the 88 Twin Cam that is not extremely reliable.  And the fuel pump in the gas tank is one of the most consumer unfriendly advances ever made.  And it has long been proven, the fuel pump does not have to be in the tank for FI to work.

There are other advantages to HD ownership. For those who finally get over all the "the dealer is the only one who can fix my Hardly" hype and B.S., you find there are tons of shops that work on the bikes.  I admit there are some of these shops I wouldn't ask to fix my lawnmower but there are some good shops none the less. There are also tons of parts and accessories from tons of sources.  Not something we Drifter folks enjoy.  As far as the rest of the "brotherhood" crap.  They can have it.

[Ironworking]

I agree. That was funny. All BS aside though, the reason Indians & Harley-Davidsons lasted with John Q public for the first 70+ years was simplicity. Anyone who had the skills to work on a Chevy could work on every part of these bikes. Including the engine an tranny. Also, just about every part that could need replacing could also be found on most farms or local parts stores. It is the modern corporate confluctuation ( my word ) that has been the tragedy of both brands. Albeit the Indian suffered earlier due to poor decisions made during the WW wars.

Another thing. The 80 ci Evo engine is absolutely the most reliable engine HD ever produced. They sold so few parts and repairs were so rarely needed, HD regretted making them. So the solution was build the 88 Twin Cam that is not extremely reliable.  And the fuel pump in the gas tank is one of the most consumer unfriendly advances ever made.  And it has long been proven, the fuel pump does not have to be in the tank for FI to work.
However, i too think they have almost priced themselves out of existence. Every company that does; doesn't figure it out until it is too late. That is why "they" are no longer in existence. If they had of saw the writing on the wall, they would have adjusted their policies to prevent that outcome.
Okay. I'm done! Rant over.

[mittico68]

the friend/coworker who gave me the nudge to get back in the saddle is a Harley rider. But he's not hung up on Harley's like some people are, so he's not holding my purchase of a drifter against me - he was actually admiring my bike.

That's what I assume to be regarding harley's bikes: I don't think I'll ever buy one, since they're not worth all the money of their costs; but I admire those Harley wich are customized enough to meet my taste...

[Indian_fan]

Now THAT was funny. However, the friend/coworker who gave me the nudge to get back in the saddle is a Harley rider. But he's not hung up on Harley's like some people are, so he's not holding my purchase of a drifter against me - he was actually admiring my bike.

[DC]

They nailed it to a T.  Hilarious!!!!!   

[Old Drifter]

This sums it all up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2ERfv15EsI
Heh, heh, heh!

Sad but true in many cases...too funny. 

[tj]

This sums it all up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2ERfv15EsI
Heh, heh, heh!

LMAO

[Trall]

This sums it all up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2ERfv15EsI
Heh, heh, heh!

Absolutely hilarious

[RockinRollin]

This sums it all up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2ERfv15EsI
Heh, heh, heh!

[mittico68]

You know what?
If only I could, I'd go with an early Indian or even more, with a Kiwi Indian: IMHO those bikes are worth each and every cent!

[DC]

Kawasaki was ahead of the curve in making the Drifters liquid cooled.  So far, Indian only makes one model liquid cooled.