I recently in my web surfing mode came across a rather… well venomous article. It was a very long winded attack on Harley-Davidson riders and the company in general. The writer did make a few valid points, but over all the impression it left me with was one of pity. I felt sorry for anyone who lives with that much pent up anger and frustration. To bad he doesn’t ride ;)
Here’s the link: http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/noharley2.html
Here’s the email I replied to him with because I doubt he’ll print it on his website:
I won’t lower myself to insults or hate email’s. Unlike you I will not call you names or attack you for having an opinion. What I will do is explain the fundamental attraction to Harley-Davidson that you didn’t see in your attack on those of us within the, lets see if I get this right, “pagan cult religion for brain dead trend humping fashion lemmings”… Very colorful attack by the way.
First Harley-Davidson isn’t built for breakneck speeds because for the most part, those of us who ride them are not out to race from one point to the next. For us its not about being the first person at the destination, its about leaving a day or so early, taking back roads and enjoying the journey. Freedom to chose means if you prefer to buy a Kawasaki Ninja, curl up into an uncomfortable cramped little ball on top of it and race through the curves to get where you are going, well that’s your prerogative. I prefer to sit up right, lean back, relax and enjoy the views along the trip. That is my prerogative.
Harley-Davidson isn’t about being “in fashion”, heck one could argue that its about the farthest you can get from the “in crowd”. Sure it’s become fad in recent years to buy and ride Harley-Davidson’s. You may point out that there are a bunch of yuppie riders out there trying to fit into the biker persona because they saw it on television and thought it was cool. Or maybe they got caught up in the custom chopper craze and decided a Harley was the cheaper fix. Whatever their reasons for buying a Harley-Davidson, they have the right and freedom to do so. Just as you have a right and the freedom to criticize them for it. I find that most R.U.B.’s (Rich Urban Bikers) purchase their bike, then put it in the garage and wipe it with a diaper. They don’t get it any more than you do. But who cares how they spend their money? Not me. I also don’t care how you spend yours.
Do I worship my Harley-Davidson? My girlfriend might tell you I do, but for me I see it as more of an escape. When I ride, I am a part of the bike and the road. But more than that I am a part of my environment. Sitting in a car, you watch the world pass by your windows like you watch the television. You are not feeling the crisp air, smelling the pine trees, you are not “experiencing the ride” you are watching it.
Sport bikes and motorcycles with enough torque to leave the riders internal organs bunched into his hind quarters are built for the adrenaline junkie. They are designed for folks who are all about your speed and power. But on the open road, where there are laws against that kind of speed and where those of us on motorcycles are at a notable disadvantage to those wrapped in a couple tons of steel during a collision, who cares about getting to the grave yard faster? If you ride your 1995 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R’s 599cc in-line four bike and I ride my 2006 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide glide 1450cc and we trip across country, you may beat me to all the rest stops, but I won’t have to stop as often as you. And while you are at the destination tapping your foot and laughing at me for “Easy Riding” I will be enjoying my trip and seeing some of that beautiful county you claim to love so much but blazed right past in a blur of death defying speed and performance. That’s where you and I truly differ my friend. You claim to love your country, but sit in judgment over its people and race past its beauty. You point your finger at what you see as “Wrong” or un-American and nit pick at one of its best known companies. Well enjoy your freedom to do that, enjoy your freedom to speech and to sling mud at other Americans because you don’t agree with their choices. I chose the moral high ground. And I ride my Harley there 
Print that on your website.
Freelyx
I expect no response or reply from him. I expect him to probably not even read past the first couple of lines of my email. I expect he’s going to sit in judgment over me too… Oh well, some folks just don’t get it.
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I wrote him this reply…
I’d like to congratulate you on the apparent success of your site. Breathing new life into topics of hatred always seems to generate lots of interest.
I suppose I could do as well with my own brand of intense language to support my opinion on any topic of my choosing, but I’d rather be doing something I like to do.
The effort to describe with many adjectives, your intense dis-like of not only the brand, but the riders is amazing. Such effort has no doubt resulted in lots of hate mail which was probably the focus of your site. I have no doubt it is successful as it compelled me to write, if nothing more than to tell you what a great emotional response you’ve generated.
While I could go on and on here about why I believe you’re wrong on some point, I won’t add to the list of emotional responses of hatred.
If I were to say you’re right on the money, then that wouldn’t generate the text you’re really looking for (and not nearly as much fun).
If you will indulge me for a moment, maybe my opinion would be worth considering.
The riders. – Harley riders are as varied as there are people. They may like the idea of the stereotype, though they are individuals. Whatever their look, their attitudes are individual. The typical biker look of black leather is as much a practical matter as a fashion statement. It’s also a sort of uniform, as in seeing others who share the same interest. I’ve personally witnessed Harley riders going out of their way to help others, in part due to the recognition that their clothing makes a statement of shared values. While it may be possible that Japanese bike riders are also out there doing the same, it doesn’t really fit their stereotype now does it?
So I guess my statement here is that an attack on Harley riders, based on how they look, is rather a weak argument based on an emotional response that you are not regarded as highly as they are. While all are not angels, all are not thugs either.
The company. – As with any company, the goal is to make money. If they didn’t have a product that people like, then people wouldn’t buy and the company wouldn’t really be viable. Selling a product people are asking for sounds smart to me whether it’s a product I use or not. We could argue the sense of a company like Rolex, which sells mechanical movements in their watches, which by most accounts are the finest in the world for their accuracy – but can’t match a microprocessor for cost, or accuracy. What’s left if all sense in the world revolves around what’s better?
Style – Here’s where your discussion of foreign superiority might make the most sense. As others want the customers of Harley-Davidson, they make copies. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If Harley didn’t have a style that sells, then why are all the foreigners making bikes that copy them?
Engineering – Harley has come out with updated designs, things like ABS and the water cooled VROD. They even sell the VROD Destroyer which can do 1/4 mile times under 10 seconds. As for the design of the V-Twin, it has been around a while, but that’s what people are asking for. Engineering does come back to style, and there have been many improvements to the power, and reliability that they can put into the design. I suppose you could put a chainsaw motor in frame and call it light and fast, but who would buy it?
As for quips about the relative intelligence of owners, and riders; I’m not aware that any scientific measurement has been done. I would assume that folks who can afford a Harley are a little better off as they are more expensive for some models. If I were to suggest that they might have better jobs, and that higher education might be a requirement for those jobs, then I’d have to assume that as a group, based on my understanding of the economics of the choice, that they are probably more educated than the average foreign bike owner. Cost is relative. If it’s what you want, and you can afford it – is it too expensive?
If I were to attempt to speak for the buyers of Harley-Davidson, I’d say they probably bought because it’s what they wanted – for whatever reason. Such attempts to demean their intelligence because they may not understand they have a choice (they probably know Honda makes motorcycles), really shows a lack of understanding of all the variables that went into their decision.
Stupidity is willful ignorance or unintelligence. This quality can be related to a person’s actions, words or beliefs, or those of a group. (Wikipedia reference).
I’m going back to my new project, slamming owners of Rolex for being elitist snobs that are too stupid to know that Timex makes a digital watch that’s technically better and when it comes to telling time, no amount of style can win me over a cheap, lighter, more accurate model which is why all those elitist, snobs who put looks and price over something that’s so obviously better can kiss my a** and I’m going to put it on the web and show them how stupid they are, and why I’m so right, and on, and on, and on…
Well you get the idea..
Hi Freelyx. The author of the website you mentioned has posted a response to your email, at
http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/freelyx.htm
He has also posted a response to Tom Hasse’s email, at
http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/thasse.htm
Thanx.
you got owned
You’re entitled to that opinion. I don’t see it that way, he read my email and decided to pick it apart and attack me, lumping me in with everyone and everything he hates in Harley riders. There is a word for that, its called prejudice. Again I pity the guy. According to his website he’s a cop. Sad really, that someone with a job to “Serve and protect” prefers to assault and attack anyone that doesn’t fit into his belief of how things should be. Regardless, you’ll note I choose to let the subject drop after his base attack that really only proved my point for me. The so called issue was not worth any more of my time or effort in any event. I have better things to do than hate and rage.