Comments on: Wrong: Hogs

By: Bikeless in Illinois

Bikeless in Illinois — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:42:42 +0000

Either you like them for their worth or you don’t. I like them and see value other than as some he man toy. My take comes after much research and many test. I have ridden Gold Wings (very nice), Stars (also nice), sport bikes, sport touring, and many others. I still prefer the Harley touring bikes. Comfort and performance is there for the duties I would put it through. So I guess this may be as like a Jeep thing, you just wouldn’t understand.

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:34:50 +0000

Chris you have missed the point of HDs entirely. Riding them is not the point having them sit in the driveway proclaiming to the world that the resident is capable of owning one is the point.
Oh and not to put too fine a point on it the sit up and beg riding position is more accommodating to the the ummmm American physique than the crouched over the tank position of racer inspired bikes.
Looking at the table you used I am once again befuddled by the way US engineers manage to get so little power out of such big engines (a point eloquently made more than once on Top Gear)?

Here’s something I’ve noticed too WTF is it about USians and Honda Goldwings? The only MC able to hide the average US rider amongst the fairing, Parker lounger seat and load boxes. Who thought making a bike that could tow a trailer was a good idea? Somebody bright clearly coz you see bings of them round here (NC).

Being another Scots transplant to the US I see a lot of the oddities you mention and I’m sure there’s a deep socio-cultural philosophical root to it all. Can’t be arsed working it out tho’.

By: Brian Woods

Brian Woods — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:32:43 +0000

I think Harleys are popular mostly because of the film Easy Rider. That said, if you head to New Mexico, you will see some people that you would definitely not want to mess with on Harleys. They aren’t dentists, but will do some dental work on you if you piss them off. I had one follow me 60 miles out of his way because I missed seeing him in the blind spot of the rather large truck I was driving.

By: Nicky

Nicky — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:22:57 +0000

Ooops

It seems you’re Scottish not American. Well, my bad. None the less, your observations stand, I feel, and while I apologise to those Americans who are offended by my veneration of an alien as a classic example of an American, I also claim that this is what the USA is all about to me; cultural diversity. That’s why I make my home here.

By: Nicky

Nicky — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:56:47 +0000

Chris, I am a Brit resident in the US these past six years and was online this morning trying to figure out what Americans called a clothes rail – one of those temporary clothes storage devices that are often used in stores. Well, no dice I’m afraid but I had the pleasure of stumbling across your septic’s companion dictionary and then your blog and you kept me laughing out loud for a good hour.

You are a classic example of one of the things I have learned in these six years – Americans are quite as capable of laughing at themselves as anyone else is and with the assistance of neanderthals like “texas rider” who appears, shockingly, to be from Texas, can make asses of your selves and subsequently use this as an excuse for entertainment just as well as any so called intellectual (aka “toilet”) British humour. Keep it up and thank you!

When driving in the UK, one would usually see motorcyclists appear (briefly) in one’s rear-view mirror before howling past at an obscene rate of progress and disappearing over the horizon. In the US, I am in the habit of uttering a silent curse when I draw up behind one of your accurately described male menopausal bad boys as they, along with buicks and mini-vans, appear to exist solely to clog the roads. I guess that business of “handling” being as prevalent in the design process of a Harley as “rear-view mirror” is in the repertoire of the average driver who passed their test driving round a strip mall parking lot has something to do with it.

By: Michael Harling

Michael Harling — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:43:44 +0000

Chris: very funny, and very true. Though, like Cathy says, the point isn’t speed, it’s noise! That, and the fact that they are, by God, American!

(redneck mode on)

What’s a matter wit chew, boy! You wantin’ to buy a furren motocycle? That means you’re either a furriner or a sissy or both. If Jesus were alive today, He’d drive a Harley, and do you know why? Because he’s an American! (Hush now, Linda Sue, don’t go confusing me with facts, I’m on a roll.)

(end rednect mode)

By: KTLA

KTLA — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:38:42 +0000

“…I don’t know how many Harley Davidson owners read your blog.”

At least two.

In the wise words of Homer Simpson…”It’s funny because it’s true.” You can argue back and forth on whether it’s an even remotely well designed machine, but your last two paragraphs were hilarious and stunningly accurate!

By: Authoress

Authoress — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:23:30 +0000

Laughs at *texas rider*

I bet you own a Harley, right?

Anyway Chris, kudos for speaking your mind. I too find Harley’s to be utter obnoxious and the whole idea of people wanting a large, inefficient motorcycle hysterical. I guess it’s like SUVs. Wonder what the Harley owners are compensating for? Small brains?

*Ducks beer cans thrown at her*

And they can’t take a joke either. Though, I don’t know how many Harley Davidson owners read your blog.

By: texas rider

texas rider — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:39:22 +0000

I think you’re an idiot. Only a fool starts making comparisons and conclusions on the worth of something they have never owned or ridden. Grow up.

By: wc

wc — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:00:55 +0000

I can’t stop laughing at those last 2 paragraphs! You hit the target dead center on that one. But there’s a lot of people in between. I don’t ride Harleys anymore but they’re made to be cruisers, not racers. They used to be called “the bikers bike” because you had to be part mechanic to keep them running. It’s just one of those things. They came out with a sport bike this year which I hear is selling pretty well.