Don't take everything as a personal attack. There are exceptions to every rule. If you don't fit the stereotype, congratulations, please keep it that way.
What I will say is, I have been around a large sample of the motorcycle population, and unfortunately the Harley stereotype is more well deserved than any other group. You may not fit the bill, and a couple other guys on here may not, but the majority of the people who buy the things do. And Harley works hard to keep it that way. They sell a "lifestyle".
What else do you have to sell when your motorcycles are 50's technology?
I have also been around motorcycles for a long time. I had worked at a motorcycle shop for a couple of years, just to help out the owner/mechanic. I have seen plenty. I must say, there is no comparison of quality between the Japanese motorcycles and Harleys. Harleys are very crude.
My opinion on the typical Harley rider is, they have the need to be a member of a group, to feel tough, to try and look tough, but its only a facade. Its sort of like a role playing fantacy of theirs. They dress up because they insist they are different, but yet by dressing the Harley biker part, they are all the same, fakes! Example: My cousin bought a Harley for himself and for his wife, they each have one. Then a few months later they each got their tattoos. Then my cousins wife got a boob job. They go to Harley meets and she goes topless there, showing off her new assets. When my cousin told me about his wife going topless at those Harley meets, I asked him why she does not go topless when they come and visit me. His reply was, "Its only for other bikers to see, and you're not a biker." So by saying that, my cousin feels only other Harley owners are good enough to see his wife topless. Interesting psychological point about Harley riders I thought.
They must take Harley riders into a back room and brainwash them into a new perverse way of thinking.
I was at the NY Motorcycle show a couple of weeks ago and the two most popular exhibits were HD and BMW.
The secret is the marketing. Americans have been trained to want HDs. It started in the early 80's when HD gave Schwarzenager, Cruise and Eastwood new models once the company was recovered from AMF. They took the company mainstream. In addition to traditional "bikers," in 2012 HD is popular among accountants, lawyers and other professionals. I know at least 2 judges that have HD's.
The HD display at the bike show was all inclusive. Women were there not as models, but salespeople, targeting women at the show, not as the +1, but as potential buyers.
None of my close friends ride. When they found out that I bought a new bike, the first question asked almost to a man was "Did you buy a Harley?" And when I said no, the general answer was, "if I bought a bike, I would have bought a Harley."
PS having spent the day at the show, there were several HD's that I would love to have. We don't always like things for rational reasons.
