He has also posted a response to Tom Hasse’s email, at
http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/thasse.htm

Thanx.

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..