re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

I could hardly agree on that. Contrary to what you said, RE is regarded high among their fans because of RE's legacy and cult following. Things like, Thump, everyone one make way when Bullet passes, oldest motorcycle company still in production, Standard being in the production for a period, not any other motorcycle on this earth have been etc. RE has a big cult following and why RE hit a chord with UCE, simple and plain reasons, reliable, more powerful yet retains the Old bullet charm (look and feel, same metal body, heavy, same design etc) else even UCE would not have turned the tables for them considering the fact many technologically superior bikes were and are available. Harley lifestyle is one thing, but RE itself has it's lifestyle image and has built that already. Isn't the fact that we do not see any RE advertisement supports this fact. They do not advertise at all, they already have made a legacy with CI, only thing left was to bring something more reliable and UCE did that.
If you would have been right then at least I would have met one guy among my RE friend who would have said, ahh feels like Harley this RE, at least like it. Instead majority of them don't like it to be compared to Harley at all. No they don't.

Why CI guys keep abusing UCE owners, that is the legacy. They feel RE has fiddled with legacy by stopping the production of CI, nothing to do with Harley. Your observation here really does not go down well.

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

First, to the part in bold... You understood me wrong, I didn't say or try to imply that an RE motorcycle could feel like an HD. Instead, I said that riding or owning an RE motorcycle makes some people feel closer to a Harley lifestyle. It's a different emotion.

Secondly, it's debatable how much one believes the level of cult and legacy RE has. For the thing you say that "everyone makes way when bullet passes", it's nothing but RE's marketing stunt they did when they launched an refreshed Electra some years back highlighting its glass-wool silencer. You might remember one of the TV adds showing a train stops to let a Bullet pass!

I didn't write my previous post to show that my research is the only one that stands true. You didn't have any of your friends who feel like what I tried to convey, and that's fine as well. However, you can still find enough RE lovers who would concur with me, in our country. Obviously, I didn't mean that it's a bad thing.

Again, let me make it clear that I am not straightaway comparing motorcycles of the two legendary brands in a typical manner. What I am trying to relate is the sense of lifestyle these two companies bring with their motorcycles, and that is somewhat related. Obviously, RE doesn't make cruisers so an RE can definitely never give a feel of a Harley Davidson. But RE is still closer than anything to what HD represents as a brand to its customers. And that is why I say that this is or will be one of the reasons we will see certain RE lovers switching to that budget HD.

I hope you would understand now how I am trying to relate the two brands.

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

See I have understood what you are trying to convey but do not interpret me wrong either as you said "I can assuredly tell that among the faithful RE lovers, many are those whose love for RE is majorly because it makes them feel closer to a Harley lifestyle (even if realistically the difference in lifestyle is still quite huge)" This where I said, I do not feel so, RE has created it's own lifestyle and cult or whatever. But indeed it has created it's own segment for sure.

Yes I very much remember and have seen that add. I am not vouching for that, neither I am saying that is the reality (even the humble luna waala sometimes does not make way for RE ). What I meant, things like that has inculcated the feeling of cult and legacy more. That off-course is a marketing stunt. A catalyst. RE already had created this cult and adamant fan base and things like that act as icing on the cake [/QUOTE]

Agree but the majority are not and they sense a pride in what they own rather beguile themselves by thinking it is the answer or match to the Harley's lifestyle image. As I said, it has it's own and majority of them does not like it be borrowed and compared.

Neither would Harley can give the feel of RE. Actually all bikes serve a purpose but for some in the line that purpose becomes a cult, a lifestyle and surely RE has it's own. Also what HD represents as a brand to it's customers might not completely work out in all countries. 883 cc HDs, giving mileage of 8-10 won't work out well in India else they would have never thought of 500cc if their Brand image is all what it takes them for selling.

I have completely understood you and had understood you, hope you understand me as well as term like "majorly because it makes them feel closer to a Harley lifestyle". NO closer to RE's lifestyle because as I said many times, it has it's own. You tried to compare the emotions and that is where I disagree. Becoming part of RE does not make them feel they can now match the lifestyle of Harley or take them even slightly closer rather they think they have become part of RE's lifestyle and the cult following it has.
I hope somehow I am able to convey what I mean actually and where I differ actually.

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

So all of you guys are dreaming that harley will price their twin cylinder cruiser around 2 lacs.....???????
well according to me they will price it around 3.5 lacs which will give a safe window to RE bikes.....please stop day dreaming....Harley and honda are world famous for their premium prices...

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

@gyan_recl350: Well let's agree that neither of us can generalize our opinions for all RE followers. I wrote what I wrote because I have come across such people

PS: You will see good number of REs modified or customized to look like a cruiser. See how these particular set of people feel like about RE's unique legacy! Food for thought

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

I have never been an RE fan because of obvious issues till they launched their new line ups. Every motorcycle company needs to adapt with time or else it will fade into oblivion. Harley too has faced some bad time but it has recovered. Even RE has manged to attract few customer who were not interested in their product at all till their new releases. Anyway, this is a good news to all those thumpers who now have to think hard before going for RE or HD.
[MENTION=33612]Naveen1985[/MENTION]: Yes, we are day dreaming because if HD wants to eat into RE share then the ex-showroom price of the 500 CC bike should not cross 3 Lakhs

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

Why color change

Good number of RE's being modified because they are the most modification friendly bikes ( I hope you would agree on this) and second they modify to look like a cruiser but they don't change the engine (most of the case, off-course exception is always there and an exception cannot be an example). Also again it is personal choice which is limited to few. On an average how many RE turned into cruisers you see in your city. Percentage? Not only that after modification they claim yes it is RE which I have transformed so somewhere they like to be attached, they would never say that no it is entirely a different bike and don't compare with RE (met one guy who had shredded the weight from cl500 drastically to make it look like Yamaha RX100 but did not like it when I said, it is no more an RE now . Just quoting one example here) . Anyways modifying into cruiser is one thing and that modification translating into Harley wannabe is one thing, also majority of the modifications are either some custom paint job, or headlight work, decal work, fender work etc.

Lets rest this case.

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News


Regarding the color. Even I don't understand it!

Sir, you are missing the big picture here. First of all, I am not here to give numbers of modified REs in my city as I was never carrying my side of the argument on that basis I am just trying to share that we will find good number of RE owners who feel somewhat related to a Harley-kind-of-lifestyle while owning an RE motorcycle (you can generalize it as a cruiser-kind-of-lifestyle). I never said that all RE owners are like that, they are not. Hell even I am not as an Electra owner!!

I believe we both are simply debating whether RE brings its own unique lifestyle to ALL its customers or not. I am simply saying that not all RE owners believe that

Let me give you a real example on the basis of my previous post which you just countered. You might be aware of Vardenchi and Rajputana Customs (Custom made Motorcycles, Bikes, Customized Choppers by Vardenchi, India and Rajputana Custom Motorcycles). These guys specialize in heavily modifying bullets and can turn your bullet into a cruiser or a chopper which in someways is one and the same thing. In fact, on these websites you will find that some bullets are so heavily modified that they are completely different motorcycles altogether other than the exception of an RE engine.

My argument is...do any of these guys who make their REs look completely different, that for a common man it would indeed seem like an imported cruiser or a chopper, still believes in the unique legacy that RE brings with itself? I don't think so. I would say that these guys bought an RE, probably got bored of it over time, and decided to have a cruiser out of their motorcycles without having to spend a large amount of money in actually owning a real one while having the reward of being unique. OR. Some probably simply wanted to own a cruiser or a chopper but simply can't afford one due to financial constraint or non availability (read choppers). Isn't this the reason they turn their street friendly and simple REs into impractical choppers?

I agree with you that such examples are rare, but I am simply saying that there are RE owners who feel differently about owning an RE and these heavy customization are a real example of that. And as you say, they will probably still admit happily that it is an RE in the end but that doesn't mean they didn't want a cruiser experience out of their modified RE. As you say, that Bullets are modification friendly, some turn into a cafe racer, some into a Bonneville......and very few into cruisers and choppers.... all for the sake of a different feeling from the same machine

Shake hands?

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

Yes very much aware of them and some more. Well few as you said, exception and deviation is there in everything, all sorts of class Creed and breed let alone bike owners but what has built upon gradually with time is always more profoundly looked upon and quoted.

As I said lets rest this case, indeed you are correct to some extent but that cannot be the example, rather deviation.
But I do agree on one thing, the degree of deviaton probably gonna increase with lots of options available and more money to shell out

Sent from my X10i using xBhp Connect mobile app

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

why all people,always goes mental the moment they hear about RE??? this thread supposed to be for HD 500 (upcoming) and suddenly it becomes a RE bashing thread.Come on guys grow up.

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News


Relax...it's not an RE bashing thread. I started this news .... anyways, the new HD is probably going to cost between 3-4Lakh on road. Even for a budget cruiser, HD will still maintain the high premium feel associated with the brand so a cost of around 2 Lakhs is pretty out of consideration.

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

Friend there is absolutely no RE bashing here just that me and satellite kid got into debate if RE has created a strong cult and legacy or the reason is something else and not RE itelf for that strong cult following .. Well that has been rested now

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re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

people here want HD to eat into RE's share but i think HD is not interested as per my knowledge and their pricing trends...

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

Well, one thing is for sure that HD is definitely interested in entering or creating a relatively mass market. I can't think of any other reason for developing a budget cruiser. And that could invariably hurt RE. Probably. If not more, people will likely start expecting RE to develop its own twin engine and slug it out with HD. 500cc is a known segment in India (thanks to RE), so for a common man it might seem that HD is entering into RE's domain to challenge it

PS: No two motorcycles have to be designed with a similar intent and/or fulfill exactly similar riding requirements in order to compete with one another.

re: Harley Davidson 500cc in final stages: xBhp News

Well I have seen quiet few Harleys here in Chennai now, IMHO HD and RE bikes are totally different. If we consider sound, ergonomics, style and the road presence these two are not in the same lane. I don't think there will be any impact on RE's pie due to this. I can only think of few RE owner (who are not happy with RE on technical grounds) might consider upgrade to the HD, but as far as new comers to this segment will for two separate pools respectively for HD and RE. Also I believe it will take HD quite some time to build the strong cult as RE has.