[Shotimes] (OT) Dr. Phil compensating for ...?

Dave Garber dave.garber@comcast.net
Tue, 7 Mar 2006 10:18:47 -0500


People "still" buy HD's for the same reason that folks "still" buy Rolex's - 
because they can! Not everything one can purchase is about pure numbers.

I can buy a 400 dollar Seiko that has very good to excellent build quality 
and keeps time like the atomic clock. Or I can spend 4k-8k on a Rolex that 
also has high build quality, but can't match the Seiko in any way for 
"timekeeping". Guess what kind of watch I own?

People buy Harley's precisely because they haven't 'changed' much over the 
years. They still use a 45 degree single crankpin V-Twin - not because they 
don't know how to make anything else. It's because that's what people want 
(count me as one of them)! You could show me a BMW that does 6's in the 
quarter, has the comfort of a LaZ-Boy and a price tag comparable to a moped, 
and I wouldn't want the damn thing. I'm not interested in doing 6's, 
couldn't care less about a wiz-bang FI setup, ABS, whatever. I want the HD 
'experience'! A lot of folks don't 'get it'. That's fine. A lot of folks 
don't "get" why I would spend thousands on a wristwatch either. But the 
numbers say that even more folks DO get it (HD AND Rolex sales numbers are 
the envy of their respective industries).

And for the record, it's not 1800cc. The 1450cc makes 67hp and the bike is 
no where NEAR 25k dollars. More like 17k dollars. Now, if you opt for the 
Screamin' Eagle version, you can get closer to the 25k dollar number, but 
you get a bigger engine and some other performance stuff (which is a 1690cc 
engine. Harley doesn't make an 1800cc engine that I'm aware of) along with 
different wheels, seat(s), paint, tank, etc.



Dave Garber
Pittsburgh, PA
99 White, 96k
99 SF, 77k
2001 1200 Sportster, 20k



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Zach Leahy" <leahyz@gmail.com>
To: "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net>
Cc: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 8:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] (OT) Dr. Phil compensating for ...?


> You're right Ron, it is a bad idea perfected.  the problem is that since 
> the
> V-twin fits the image, no one will look elsewhere even when it has serious
> limitations, cooling being one of them (rear cylinder temps are very high 
> on
> V-twins typically)  instead they throw a some cash and effort at a problem
> and try and improve it.....
>
> i think the numbers speak for themsleves -
> HD 1800cc 67hp (RoadKing)
> BMW 1200cc 167hp (K1200s)
>
> You do the math and tell me who has figured out how to build the better
> engine, and who is stuck in the stone age.  I shouldn't have to replace my
> engine on my bike as an upgrade... especially when the bike costs about
> $25k!
>
> Less money, way less weight, more technology, more power......  why do
> people continue to buy HDs?
>
> Z