Quote:
Originally Posted by BSiple
For some reason your comments on the HD crowd remind me of how pwd feels about the Porsche crowd....
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I never thought of it that way, but you are exactly right. The only difference is that I can't ever see being without a Harley; I really do enjoy them that much. H-D is building the best bikes they ever have, and regardless of what the nay-sayers might have to say, some of the best bikes built by anyone at any time. They really are that good. I couldn't imagine being without mine.
They have, however, become somewhat of a parody of themselves. A victim of their own success, the sheer quality and reliability of the newest generation of H-D's has opened them up to a whole new demographic. They don't have to worry about keeping the bike running anymore; they don't have to know what makes it run anymore. When I started riding, H-D riders
had to be some of the most knowledgeable, in a mechanical sense, in the entire motorcycling world. Now they have the luxury of being the least.
I understand that a lot of the dealer atmosphere is determined by the individual dealership. However, we have no less than six H-D dealerships within an hour of my home. They do each have their own distinctive "personality", but only within a range of such that is allowed by H-D corporate. One constant that is found at all six is the aloofness, lack of mechanical/technical knowledge, and egos of the sales floor staff.
So, in essence, the people have changed a great deal. I used to hit quite a few big biker events every year, both locally and as much as half the continent away. I was actually director of our local HOG chapter at one time. I enjoyed being at the events and with bikers with whom I had something in common. I don't feel that way anymore; I have little in common with the vast majority of H-D enthusiasts. They are not the same anymore. Oh, don't get me wrong - I still ride with a very small group of close friends; "old school" bikers with grease under their fingernails and no canned "attitude" they feel they need to display to "fit in".
Anyway, the whole atmosphere at Ducati of Seattle reminded me of the old days riding Harleys. When it was all about the bikes, the road, and nothing to do with the attitudes and accessories. It was like rolling the clock back 20-30 years. It was a very familiar, immediately comfortable feeling.