| Author | Message | ||
     Buellfart |
Does anyone here think the Billet Barges that Orange County Choppers produces,never mind function for a moment,are even remotely attractive,in the raw,mechanical(or any other)sense,in ANY estetic sense-I can`t believe that a majority of Americans are interested in this gaudy crap,if I went to K-mart on my worst day i could come up with more original paraphernalia to hang onto a bike.How about a "tribute to bad taste" bike? Pick a number.Am I really occupying the planet with so many nitwits?God allmighty,this show in and of itself makes me want to immigrate to Europe-and I aint no snob.What is going on with motorcycle design in this country?I cannot google anything "Harley Davidson" without encountering a sh-t load of chopper B.S.Skull this and leather that,Ok,so we all wanted to be Hell`s Angels at one time in our childhood-get over it and stop crapping up the internet with your adolecent fantasies!Wow,Harley Davidson IS powerfull afterall. | ||
| Thespive |
Um, wow, um...okra anyone? --S | ||
| Toona |
ahhh, how does this post have anything to do with Harley, let alone being in the news? | ||
| Jackbequick |
No. Have you noticed that the word "Harley" is little used in the custom chopper market or arena? Most of those are built around parts of other brands and do not contain a single H-D part. There are many of us that own Harley-Davidsons that do not spend any money on riding costumes. I'm not sure if we are a minority or not. But we also seem to be the types that spend little money in the H-D boutiques. For the most part, the only thing I buy from H-D dealers are parts needed to do my own work. I don't use H-D lubricants or filters either. I have a H-D shirt and a book with the history of the company. Those were both gifts from people that are non-motorcyclists but who that know I own one. I appreciate the gifts but probably would not have bought them on my own. H-D is a business, they exist to be profitable. They are "enjoying the ride" in the fiscal sense of the word and that is where their focus is. Do you really expect them to tell people to quit acting silly about H-D motorcycles? Jack | ||
| Mikej |
I kind of liked the Snap-on bike. Interesting to see all the creative ways they used tools as bike parts. I've had a chopper in the past, like in the 70's, long time ago, different era and life. Thought about chopping the M2, haven't yet, probably won't (per se). Was down at a local used bookstore, started looking at some bike books, opened up one titled "Harley-Davidson a celebration of the Dream Machine" published in 1990. Thumbing thru it I found a copy of Hal's Harley-Davidson newsletter from October 1990. When I lifted it out of the book to look at it I noticed it was marking a page showing a white Buell RR1200. And right above the picture on the page showing a bare-frame Buell was Erik Buell's autograph with a date of 11/27/90. The book is now home with me. Sometimes when pressure builds up you have to let some off, some fart, some rant, some post a ranting fart, but hey the computer I"m using has a built-in fan so hardly any of the fumes made it past the screen. Life would be boring if everyone liked and disliked the same stuff. Sometimes form follows function, and sometimes the form is the intended function regardless of how it actually rides. | ||
| Rainman |
As long as Harley crap is selling and they're making money, they'll keep funding Buell.....see, it's a good thing. | ||
| Tuono_tom |
Where did I read the article about H-D being quitters... somewhere online, lost the link. But, I'll paraphrase the meat of the article: Once, HD was the fastest, bestest bike available. They tried racing, they built a water-cooled engine with awesome engineering assistance and it writes checks that the chassis can't cash. Somewhere in there, they quit, gave up. They no longer have the performance, handling, braking that matches the rest or the motorcycling world. Now my thoughts- imagine what a HD could be IF they had progressed mechanically. Think a mix of H-D, BMW, Rotax, and metric cruiser. Go on, use your imagination. It'd be an interesting ride. | ||
| Jayvee |
"Think a mix of H-D, BMW, Rotax, and metric cruiser." You mean like the Buell 1125R ? | ||
| Court |
>>>>Somewhere in there, they quit, gave up. . . . . and in doing so became arguably the most successful and profitable motorcycle company in history and eclipsed all records amassing nearly 70 quarters of increasing profits which allowed investors to turn each $1,000 invested just a few short years ago into well over $100,000. Not satisfied with resting on their laurels the company, during this period, shed it's motorhome, bomb casing and other non-motorcycle subsidiaries as it focused it's efforts and acquired Buell Motorcycle Company which has become one of the fastest growing vehicle manufacturers in history, providing HD a test bed for innovative products and procedures. Maybe that's what it would have said. | ||
| Qii |
wow, my kind of guy. i have a super but i never wear any harley stuff of any kind. i have the same attitude about motorcycling in general. all this tuff guy stuff. woof. | ||
| Brokeneck |
About Harley giving up -- I look at my 2000 S3 as Harley's version of a year 2000 Sportster -- they needed to have Eric to do it but they did -- and it was a great modern version -- Unfortunately most people still prefer the classic version -- and how is the 1125R giving up? -- | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Choppers are kinda like breast implants. Most of them are outrageous and overdone, but the ones that are done right sure are purty. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Ummm just because I would never own one of the OCC bikes, the high-end chopper poser build-off machines or a chrome couch, doesnt mean that I wont sell you one ;) Theres a market for it, people will buy it, and that perpetuates the frezny and media. .... I am just not one of them . Tune in , turn it up, drop out, go play in the MUD. | ||
| Igneroid |
Buellfart wrote: Does anyone here think the Billet Barges that Orange County Choppers produces,never mind function for a moment,are even remotely attractive,in the raw,mechanical(or any other)sense,in ANY estetic sense-I can`t believe that a majority of Americans are interested in this gaudy crap,if I went to K-mart on my worst day i could come up with more original paraphernalia to hang onto a bike.How about a "tribute to bad taste" bike? Pick a number.Am I really occupying the planet with so many nitwits?God allmighty,this show in and of itself makes me want to immigrate to Europe-and I aint no snob.What is going on with motorcycle design in this country?I cannot google anything "Harley Davidson" without encountering a sh-t load of chopper B.S.Skull this and leather that,Ok,so we all wanted to be Hell`s Angels at one time in our childhood-get over it and stop crapping up the internet with your adolecent fantasies!Wow,Harley Davidson IS powerfull afterall. I dunno man, if you re-read this, your attitude seems to be very similar to the folks you are dissing. I would never own a bike like the ones you describe but alot of people would, and just because you dont like them, dosent mean they aren't "cool". Thats schoolyard shit. The mind is like a parachute, works best when open..... | ||
| Court |
>>>>I cannot google anything "Harley Davidson" The first step is to stop Gooling Harley-Davidson . . I did when I sold my XLCR. It sounds like you are at risk of becoming one of them. I've never seen any of those shows . . they interest me as much as gardening. Buy, ride and enjoy what suits you. | ||
| Tom_b |
"choppers are kinda like breast implants" LOL | ||
| Trackdad |
As a investor and HD rider I had put my faith in the designs of HDI. My first bike bike was a Fatboy and loved the tradition. When the Deuce hit the showroom, that bike was everything(except the rear fender)my ideal style of harley. The new changes to my now retired bike is, in my mind limited to those who like the OCC, Bigdog and such... after a few track days, especially with the 1125R back in October, I know there will be one parked in the garage someday. Its like going from a mercedes to a Porsche. NO comparison!!! I'll keep both just for the different riding styles. To me two wheels IS the difference...who the hell cares what brand we ride, thats why its called "choice" but two wheels IS two wheels!!! We all have our fantasy and I do like the comment about the boob implants, its true!! | ||
| Swordsman |
" Not satisfied with resting on their laurels the company, during this period, shed it's motorhome, bomb casing and other non-motorcycle subsidiaries..." H-D made motor homes? And bomb casings? Weird! Where can I get a Harley-bomb!? (Tha-thump, tha-thump, tha-thump, tha-BOOOM!) ~SM | ||
| Court |
>>>Its like going from a mercedes to a Porsche. NO comparison!!!  Thanks. | ||
| Chopped58 |
hey what's wrong with choppers? like going from this....  to this?  | ||
| Jayvee |
For as big as Harley is, they do have a limited range. Everything is just variations on the same two engines. You know what they need to round out their offerings? Maybe a sport bike, maybe a little single for beginners, maybe a small DIRT BIKE. Oh. Well, 2 out of 3 isn't bad ! (Message edited by jayvee on November 19, 2007) | ||
| M1combat |
I like choppers. Old school and new school. I would have built one instead of buying the Firebolt but I couldn't build a bike with as much all around performance... | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>I've never seen any of those shows . . they interest me as much as gardening. << Ambivalent. If it floats folks boats - so be it. Personally don't watch it. I've been exposed to 2 x half episodes that have been on when visiting friends places. I thought if I wanted to watch a father bicker with his son for entertainment - I would have just gone home. | ||
| Etennuly |
It is the eternal problem with art in all forms. It has been the ruin of so many gifted individuals. The first few shows from OCC were good, raw, entertaining, and they produced some neat shit(I don't like choppers). Then comes big money to make it public entertainment. Next comes telling the artist "do more, do something better, do something bigger". And then staging everything to enhance it for the TV audience. I think that they have done a great job of staying on the tube as long as they have given their canvas. How many ways can they make a chopper new and exciting? The same thing happens to nearly every musician who makes great music, a style although great gets long in the tooth or even boring as time goes on. Painters of great renown have had the same issue past and present. Have you been to a Thomas Kinkade studio? They are all the same and he has a fine style of painting, but put ten in a room and enough is enough. We watch Football, Baseball, Hockey, Soccer, Basketball, Golf, NASCAR or what ever and it isn't boring to most like the art forms because there are differing outcomes. Something to route for or bet on perhaps. But the art forms......the out come, if done right is the same....."that is NICE". I have watched about eight of their shows and after the 'Spider Bike', the best had to be the 'Dixie Chopper'. It is the only one that really was different and the outcome was unpredictable. Who knew a chromed out lawn mower engine would make a chopper cool? (I was involved in a Briggs and Stratton on an old bicycle frame in the late sixties, but not of the same quality). Neat thing is ...... you have the power to change the channel. |
