I hate Harley "culture"

[CanuckAmok]

Yes, and I'm sorry if that offends some of you.

Not that I have anything in particular against the Harley Davidson motorcycle. Well, I do when their owners modify the exhausts to sound like a Sata Fe locomotive, but that's hardly a problem at a corporate level.

What I do hat is all the merchandising, from model kits to wallets (with chain, of course), to full-size pickup trucks, with the Harley brand on them.

I hate their white-trash iconography (leather flames, and screaming eagle heads), American flag co-opting (which is illegal, isn't it?), their poor colour combinations, and their whole 'Harley Lifestyle" thing.

I see someone wearing a Harley sweatshirt, and I immediately think "asshole". I see a six year old on a Harley pedal-bike, and I think "doomed" (and that his name is either "Dylan" or "Cale"). I know that's probably more a problem with myself and my stereotyping of someone I know nothing about, but it's not as if someone is born into a leather Harley vest they way someone is born into a skin colour or sexual orientation. These people want to be judged, dammit!

If some mobile home company decided to market a line of clothing to compliment their "Twister 2000" line of pad homes, would people buy into that, too?

/end rant

[mhr]

1. It Is Sad How People Hold On To Past Dreams And Perceived Glories

When I was in business school, my study group analyzed the HD company. It was amazing to me how involved the two upper middle class woman became in the study. The only conclusion I could draw was that they were enamored with the Bad Boy image projected by the company. Seems that stimulated these types. Needless to say this study was quite contentious as I was and am not enamored with the company.

[ProudGerman]

2. Do you hate the actual biker culture

Or the weekend poseurs?

Personally, I dislike a part of the Harley biker subculture. The part that thinks somehow you're less of a biker becuase you didn't buy an overprice, over loud, over slow "hog".

[CanuckAmok]

3. I think it's just the culture.

First of all, it's all bull. Harley Davidson is about as subculture as Starbucks.

Secondly, I just hate the sorry-assed attachement people have to this white-trash idealism.

And, as an aside, there's a bona-fide Hell's Angels clothing store open near our place. Anyone can buy anything they sell. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the next trendy suburban fashion destination. Look for one soon in your local mall, right between Peoples Jewellers and The Gap.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

8. Weekend Poseurs for sure

I have a Harley... never ride it. Looks great in my garage, rides like shit, can't corner, only gets about 28MPG and I worry about it getting stolen if I leave it for more than 20min.

I ride a Honda. Starts immediately, runs like hell, corners like an F-14 and gets over 40MPG. No one in his right mind would steal it.

Depends on whether or not you want to ride the things, or look like you ride the things.

[ret5hd]

4. let me give you some facts re: our local (tx) harley culture...

Disclaimer: I am not nor have ever been a member of said culture.

But...

I was recently involved in the organization of a local dem/prog/labor rally in the ft worth area. During the course of this effort I discovered that a co-worker was an official in the Tx. Motorcycle Rights Assoc. (TMRA). He quickly became involved in our effort and educated me about their group.

The chairman of the group, a man named Sputnik, spoke at the rally. He was everything you imagine a hard-core biker to look like...has the word "FREE" tattooed on his forehead, a mohawk haircut, leathers, etc. I dont know how old he is, but he is a Korean War vet from a unit that lost over 70% in one battle. Three fingers and part of his right hand missing. Everything about him exudes "tough".

And then he spoke. He told the rally how the TMRA is the largest Democratic caucus in the state of TX with over 1700 delegates at the last state convention and over 2000 expected at the next one. He told us how they had done this, with grassroots organization and TRAINING. Their training sessions are open to all, not just bikers or members. Their ideals are STRONGLY Democratic with a dash of Libertarian for spice. He is one of the most respected lobbyists in Austin.

I'm just trying to tell you...this group is nothing but an asset to us. As further evidence, I give you a link to a picture of my co-worker, Sputnik, and a member of the local gay community discussing common ground at the rally:

on edit: picture wouldn't post, so here: (take the spaces out)
www .are-u-pissed-yet.com /city/rally/sputnik_mike_stonewall .jpg

[HEyHEY]

5. And it seems as though some of them turn into tough guys

As soon as they kickstart their engines.

[democracyindanger]

6. Harley-Davidson: American English for 'crap'

Not bothered so much by the merchandising. If there were no HD(tm) lifestyle for these people to glom onto, they'd be buying into some other lame brand (No Fear or Member's Club, anyone?) We live in a consumer culture, what can ya do?

But Harley motorcycles...what pieces of crap. Overpriced, underpowered, unreliable and outdated. An embarassment to American engineering. While other countries' manufacturers offer bikes with the latest in technology, HD continues making the same junk they were in 1950, getting by on the number of suckers there are out there.

The worst part about these rolling, rattling fakemobiles is that they go for the entry-level rider. So not only are they beginning riders, they're on the worst possible bikes to learn on.

Harleys. Feh. Possible buyers should save the $20k and spend it on the liposuction and hair plugs they'll try next.

[CShine]

7. Harley is nothing BUT the Harley culture.

Maybe 5% of the people who own them do so for the bikes themselves. Everybody else is buying an image. Harley is nothing BUT image. I mean hell, owning a Harley is as much about how you look yourself as it is about riding the bike.

[watercolors]

9. Is it just harley culture or bikers

that are pissing you off so much? I hardly think you are right to lump all into a white trash label. Bikers come from all aspects of our society, judges, doctors, cops , engineers, nurses, retireries, etc, the list goes on.

Here in Merritt Island, Fl, Today, we are having the annual TOY RUN . The bikers will meet at the mall and drive down US1 to Melbourne with their gifts straped to their bikes. Yes traffic is stopped for them, and the parade route is lined with fans cheering them on! So today 25,000 or more bikes will make a loud roar over the county, and we here will cheer them on and watch in excitement, because they are a fantastic group of PEOPLE!!

[ret5hd]

10. see post #4...

post a few facts, and watch 'em avert their eyes.

i've always heard that facts are the enemy of prejudice, but who'da thought it woked so easily?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. We are talking about the people who DO not ride

Harleys, but dress like they do.
The pretend bikers.

At least, I am.

If you are a biker, you are a biker. Does not matter what you ride.

To some people in "that" group, it does matter, and you are less of a biker if you are not in their club.

[mitchum]

12. It's just marketed "rebellion"...

I call it "Outlaw, Ltd"

[DrWeird]

13. I was under the impression that the Harley/Indian/Biker culture...

started with disillisioned WWII veterans that were disgusted with conventional "nuclear family" living, either due to philisophical differences or inability to fit in due to post-traumatic stress, and was continued with vietnam veterans. This is what lead to the whole, nonconformist, "fuck you, pig" type attitude stereotypical of bikers. This is a far cry from the drug ring gangster type bikers which constitute a small portion of modern bikers, and an even further cry from biker Santas with their toys-for-tots programs, and the complete antithesis of the yuppie Harley bikers with their white collar jobs and thier showroom purchased fatboys. The latter, IMHO, deserve a swift kick in the teeth.

That said, if I ever see a real Harley biker, i.e. a well tattooed 80 year old on a hog with his 60 year old hot piece of ass on the back, I'm going to give him a wide berth, and my utmost respect.

[Susang]

17. They're still out there

I speak to them daily and work with several of them. I'll tell them you said "hi". :-)

[Ellen Forradalom]

18. That's interesting. Gives you a new perspective on 'rebel biker'

and an insight into the role wartime trauma played in creating that culture.

I understand that interest in Harleys and biker culture has peaked with the baby boom-aged generation and is waning with younger people. That would corroborate your observation that Vietnam fed the biker attitude. "Real" bikers come from the same group of people who suffer disproporationately in wars--the working class.

[blockhead]

14. hey,

at least they are Amercan made!

[Mountainman]

15. That may be true but why are there no American made bikes as good as my

Kawasaki Mean Streak 1500 Vulcan.

I wouldn't buy a Harley if it were well priced. My bike is the best bike I have ever owned and I have owned quite a few. Never a Harley and I don't need to let the world know I'm here by taking the noise suppression out of my mufflers.

[Susang]

16. My goodness, that was a prejudiced rant

I happen to work for HD. All of my customers and co-workers are the people you just maligned. Trust me, they are some of the nicest I have ever met . Today was "toys for tots" here in Chicago. I didn't see that many non-Harley riders with tons of toys riding in the cold for charity.

So, when you think "doomed" about that poor kid on the Harley trike; try to remember that someone else might be thinking the same about you and your judgemental need to stereotype a culture you obviously don't know personally.

[supernova]

19. Harley riders all secretly dream of being Brando

They're all Brando wannabes. :P

[rustydog]

20. It is a manufactured bastardization of a genuine American culture

The marketing of the Harley image has led to retards buying Harleys then trucking them into Sturgis for the annual show.
Of course, it is selling motorcycles!

The true Harley culture harkens back to the biker-gang era and the no helmet, anti-everything attitude that was embraced in the counter-culture revolution of the late 50's into the early 70's.