What is it with Harley riders?

npalen · Jan 21, 2014

I remember a story from back in the day where a kid was stopped for loud pipes. He asked the HP why semi trucks can get by with loud pipes to which the HP responded something like: "They're pulling a 40,000 lb load, you're not". I had a '54 chevy with split manifold and a cutout on one side. Made a unique noise but the HP didn't have a great appreciation for the "music".
Speaking of semi's, the jake brakes are about as loud as anything out there but they do serve a useful purpose.

DK35vince · Jan 21, 2014

npalen said:
Speaking of semi's, the jake brakes are about as loud as anything out there but they do serve a useful purpose.

The semi's with engine brakes are only loud when the mufflers are removed.
Same with a Harley. They sound good till the owners put on the straight pipes. Then they sound like JUNK.

Dr_Zinj · Jan 21, 2014

I don't know, seems like for the price of a Harley, you can get a good used tractor.

CobyRupert · Jan 21, 2014

k0ua said:
I believe it Jim, a buddy of mine bought a HD Sportster 1200 at the same time I bought a Kawasaki KZ650. In the first week of owning his HD several things had fallen off in the street, like horn and shift lever. and the tach stopped working and many other problems in the first couple of months of ownership. I never had any problems with the Kaw, of course. And my little 650 would outrun his Harley any way he wanted to run it, despite being almost twice the displacement. But my buddy still loved his Harley. He extended the forks and let me ride it around the block, I could not wait to get off of it and give it back. My little "rice burner" was so much more comfortable, quiet, and powerful, not to mention reliable. I understand that Harleys are much much more reliable now than back when AMF owned it.

But they're a great bike when they're parked! They're so pretty and shiny! And the upper middle class accountant who can afford them gets to play dress-up biker on the weekend. And you know he's a bad-*ss, why just listen to those pipes!

Went and rode the Smokeys this fall and rented a Heritage Softtail to see what the fuss was all about. It drove like a hog that's for sure. Rode the Dragon and a lot of other crazy roads. Scraping the footpegs without even trying, good thing I didn't really need to turn. Mediocre acceleration for 1400cc, poor braking and muscle every turn. My friends Suz 650 V-Strom would whip it in every category. THe H-D would feel like you were doing 100mph when you're doing 65mph compared to my 1984 Magna V65 which is the opposite. But it sounded bad, and it sure was purrty.

BrandonR · Jan 21, 2014

They are doing it to fit in with all the other Harley riders it's part of the "harley" culture.

RobertN · Jan 21, 2014

funny thing is, it started with Marlon Brando, with loud pipes on a Triumph, and no helmet..

BrandonR said:
They are doing it to fit in with all the other Harley riders it's part of the "harley" culture.

deepNdirt · Jan 21, 2014

CobyRupert said:
But they're a great bike when they're parked! They're so pretty and shiny! And the upper middle class accountant who can afford them gets to play dress-up biker on the weekend. And you know he's a bad-*ss, why just listen to those pipes!

This is so true they even made a movie of it, ( Wild Hogs )

I had a V-65 I know how bad-***** they are, I didn't need to die so young, is why I switch to GL's

CobyRupert · Jan 21, 2014

Ok, ok, ok - All that low end torque was kind of fun.

MossRoad · Jan 21, 2014

npalen said:
I remember a story from back in the day where a kid was stopped for loud pipes. He asked the HP why semi trucks can get by with loud pipes to which the HP responded something like: "They're pulling a 40,000 lb load, you're not". I had a '54 chevy with split manifold and a cutout on one side. Made a unique noise but the HP didn't have a great appreciation for the "music".
Speaking of semi's, the jake brakes are about as loud as anything out there but they do serve a useful purpose.

We have many sound ordinances against jake brakes in our area.

TripleR · Jan 21, 2014

I've owned and ridden Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Triumph and Harley. I liked all of them in one way or the other. My sons, brothers, nephews have ridden and owned everything from cruiser to touring. As I got older, the only thing that fit me was a Harley or imitation Harley, couldn't get my feet tucked up on the pegs, hated leaning over on the sport bikes and my legs were too weak for the touring bikes, so I bought a new Harley in 1989 and no parts fell off, no oil leaks etc. I gave it to my son last year when I had to quit riding.

I really liked my Harley, some do some don't. If you don't like them don't buy one, I really don't understand riders low grading other peoples' choice in what they ride whether it's a sports bike, touring or cruiser. I would really prefer a camaraderie of riders and not all this BS.