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      06-24-2019, 05:37 PM   #37
rlmesq
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Drives: 2018 440i M Sport
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Chico, CA

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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimbobiggens View Post
Ego stroking. It's the same kind of people that buy those Japanese motorcycles that look and sound like a Harley. Those bikes are "Wish I had the money for a Harley" bikes.
Harley-Davidson, as a company, is actually very similar to people who have phony M badges. Both are taking an inferior vehicle and trying to turn it into a status symbol with a nameplate.


Many of the metric cruisers are much better bikes than a Harley. HD is trying to modernize its lineup, but most buyers still want an air-cooled 45 degree V-twin that's been around for a hundred years. The design places many limits on performance, and most of Harley's innovations have been work-around for the inherent inferiority of a 45 degree v-twin. They would be better off starting from the ground up... but people still want the traditional HD sound.

Look at the V-Rod. It had a water-cooled 60 degree twin that was jointly developed with Porsche and based on a superbike development project. It is a much better motor than the old Harley standard, but nobody bought it, so they stopped making it.

Same with the XR1200, which was a flat track style bike. They built a whole US Superbike racing class around it, with only a few parts required to make it race legal. Again, it died from lack of interest.
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