Yes indeed, I share your feelings. The real truth never comes out face to face but most people are paper, rather cyber tigers and they will come out in their true forms when online. Regardless of what Americans do or dont, it is purely to show how vehemently they support the HD spirit of it being American in all senses.

To be fair on HD India's move of getting a HD painted in tricolor, all I can say is that their move worked - it generated publicity, be it negative, positive or neutral - publicity is publicity.

^ See Sunny bro, good & bad things are out there on the internet... It's upto our discretion what we pay attention to.
The best reply the Indian Guy could have given them, is to ignore them. Ultimately, they'll stop talking tr*sh.

Being mature, we should not just jump into the marsh, to teach them a lesson...


Secondly, about the topic, Harleys' trick should be to constantly enhancing the user experience with enhancements, accessories, including technical accessories.
Small things like GPS, Jacket/ Helmet Air Conditioning, Advanced consoles, Electric Steering Dampers, etc. can make riding experience much better.

I'm not saying they're not doing it. I'm saying they should continue making highway riding better...

And one more thing, they also need a new product, somewhat in the lines of ZX 14R and Hayabusa... It should offer good looks, be advanced engine wise and comfortable for long rides too. That would literally be "The best of both Worlds".

When they can have a "Sportster", why not a competitor for Hayabusa/ ZX 14R?

Have you even read the whole thread?

Yikes! Umm.... No. I just read the first post and the last 4 posts... But what happened?

I hope I didn't mess up something?

well!

HD has indeed sold a lot of bikes, in Europe and in the US. Someone should figure out the average temperatures in the countries where HD sells a lot of bikes. I'm guessing, they won't be selling a lot in countries like India, where the climatic conditions, roads, et al aren't suited for long distance riding. Please don't give me examples of a few isolated places where its great to ride for a few months.

The average age of HD buyers should be somewhere around 30 - 40, and most of them already drive. They are not looking for a commuter, they just want the lifestyle, how far will HD be able to create that in India is of course the question.

Its not just bikes and people, but a lot of other factors will go into creating the Harley experience and I hope HD does realise that, India as a market is far more complex and though the noise and the heritage will definitely help them sell bikes for the first year, but Indians are also the loudest customers and as FORD/GM have found out, changing perceptions in India is a mammoth task.

I was surprised too reading this. My experience of riding 2000 Kms in America left me with an extremely high opinion of the riders and people in general in that country.

- They greet you whenever they cross you
- They are polite and respectful
- They obey all traffic rules and respect your right of way, and appreciate it when you reciprocate the courtesy
- Wherever you meet them, they never made me feel alien and not once did I feel that I was riding a Goldwing in a Harley country!

The image of a typical harley rider being brash, gangster like is purely a product of movies and more recently the internet i guess because on the street, they are really a pleasure to interact with, the same as any other rider.

HD is a product for me ... 47 something .....old guy old bike chalega.....

I dont know how many of you will tolerate the half day day it may take to talk to you when you twist the throttle compared to a ninja 250.

it is more to do with the arrogant US Mindset on it that any thing will sell tagged USA. closed down ( almost ) once revived with US GOVT funding. still in very bad shape.

HD will start assembly in india and lower the price by more that 50% may not be a secret any more and india may be an export hub (cheap labour) sort of for Asia cannot be ruled out.

i still wonder how HD will fit into our country and satisfy you guys by just a made in USA Tag ?

Well I did mention, I have lesser chances of killing myself on it. And I am not wrong in saying that.

I dont quite get your humor here friend, did I miss anything?

For a minute their I thought you were back to plugging me again!

Well actually I reserve my thoughts until after my ride on them, I'm scheduled for 8-9th May.

And generalizing people's behavior through people on forums is wrong, I can show you excerpts from many other online forums (bike and non-bike related) where someone or the other white guy plugs India and Indian people. Like you put yourself as well, everybody is a smart-ass online.

The discussion has taken some varied directions, I am sure I would want to contribute when there are heavy-weights around. But will definitely have more to share after the ride. Lets see if that "aura" exists.

This thread was started stating "How to save Harley" & it went on talking about how Harley didn't change their styling & want people to change & it went on comparing how the Japs copied, but improved upon their technology.

Now the thread seems to go in a direction of bashing HD lovers vs HD haters & even goes to an extend of making fun of someone's likes & dislikes. How come a fan imitate a cylinder's firing sound? Bet he/she dollar to beer, is it possible to make the same HD's authentic sound using a 3 blade fan? I would say, if someone like Harley, let them like & if someone likes the Japs let them like it. If the Japs really want to sell a good one, why didn't they introduce any 800CC in 6-7L range? Now such questions will again lead us to no where. To me, anyone who loves real motorcycling cannot guage the feeling of the ride & if I were forced to ride TVS XL, I would love to ride it & enjoy as much as I ride any other motorcycle, be it RX or HD or Busa.

The fact is HD is here, if someone likes HD & can afford let them buy & enjoy, if they like & cannot afford, enjoy by looking rather than bashing in jelousy.

OT - I was quite amused to think that people welcome McD, KFC, Levis Strauss, Chevy, Ford, but they don't want HD. Well, I don't intend to start a war here, but leave the thoughts here for you to conclude.

@Aargee, bro: Anurag can definitely buy one today if he wants to!

Anyways, sorry if you felt bad about anything, but we are definitely having a far more civilized and though provoking debate and there is nothing to feel bad about with some non personal jokes being thrown in the air. (Check out the HD forums to see how debates can really go bad!).

I or Anurag have nothing personal against you, just voicing our opinions in our own ways. It is unfortunate that you felt this way and rather than continue the discussion as a debate rather you labeled us jealous et al.

Now let this be.

P.S: Lets meet up in Chennai, these debates should hardly make a dent in our offline relations.

Well, may be, so be it.

Well, I felt, "not again on the HD VS Rest debates"; I've seen them enough all over the net. Controversies arises when someone is at top, both good & bad. I was surprised to come across comments against Dr. A.P.J.A.K, so someone who's on top should welcome the bashes as equally hugging the praises.

Right, I kinda felt like the voicing went way too much beyond & appeared to be like bashing. Like I told before, I do not like to see someone bashing on any motorcycle or any automobile. To me they're like an integral part of life, I cannot attribute a "thing" to it. If Bajaj BYK did not succeed, then I would attribute saying that their launch was wrong or their segment was incorrect instead of simply saying the bike is bad.

Don't feel hurted, it was not intended to you or anyone, other than the people who really are.

Well said. Very well said.

America is the biggest economy in the world accounting for over 40% of World Trade. They are the bully in this monopolar world after the fall of the Wall. Not for long though with the hardworking Chinese catching up fast on the heels of the US and being the 3rd highest economy in the world. Unfortunately India does not figure even among the first 5. We have managed to creep into the top 10 with one billion+ people!

And in such a strongly monopolar world, I have been a vehement activist in my younger days against American products and American populist culture notably McD, KFC, Chevy and of course FORD who has been fleecing customers for over a decade. But after the NEP in 1990-91 introduced by the then Finance Minister, Dr M. Singh, things have changed irreversibly. And sooner or later, these brands were bound to shove their way in despite local protection strategies and lobbies.

Not that I am jumping in joy that HD is here, but since most other major brands have already made their presence felt, why not HD; I do not mind since I have ridden the HD motorcycle, and I have ridden a few other motorcycles. I am a motorcyclist. It is a good thing for motorcycling in general that HD is here.

And to end this (from my side): I really do not think that HD needs saving!

Everybody evolves. So will HD. But maybe not in the manner that others do. They function a trifle differently from others. Their philosophy is different. Where will they go with that? Only time will tell. I definitely do not see them going down. There are not too many motorcycles in the world that have seen more than a century of production and have still a big hand in the pie!

Ken, I think you went overboard with that. Nowhere was it said that HD will shut down. By 'Save Harley' the original author and I meant - restoring it to its former glory and 'saving' it in the eyes of the majority of the people who dont own one (even though they can own one).

So now do I see you buying a Sportster soon?

Former glory? I find the HD motorcycles are getting better & better every year & I see they're more glorious than what it used to be, say atleast 10 years ago (that is several years after they took over from AMG).

This also provoked me another thought, why not someone bash Ducati's for the desmo valves to keep them at regular intervals which is a costly affair too? Why only bash HD for oil leaks, that happened during the AMG's era?

Looks like you are putting the problems across yourself, oil leaks wasnt mentioned anywhere. And bashing ? - you have overused this word here my friend along with labeling people as jealous, haters et al. I feel its getting too personal and out of hand for you now. Just chill pal, nobody's trying to change your mind and labeling you anything, give me a sane and calm discussion please.