mikedubois
New Member
Just what is the mystique about a Harley Davidson?
What is it with the aura of a capitalized “D” and “H” when properly arranged, that gets the blood flowing, arouses the mind to the point of needing to praise a loud Yeah! Alright! or even an Argrrrrrrrrr?
You’ve asked that question and often heard the reply: “if you need to ask, you just don’t understand”.
Well I’d like to explain it here and now to the many new comers to biking who simply don’t ask from fear of rejection from the seemingly wise saddle tramps that do seem to GET IT.
Harley Davidson Motor Cycles exude machismo. From its looks, the packaging of its parts and bits, the sound and smell of those two cylinders spewing burnt gasses, the history of “THE MOTOR company and the enthusiasts who ride em’.
It is after all the rebel’s ride of choice.
The "Governato" reeked of it in Terminator, riding that Fat Boy™. The way he sat on it, DIRECTED it, gazed out of those dark Ray-Bans™. Bet the combination of he and the machine felt as if he was half man and half machine. Seems the movie itself was written around that very premise and I often wonder if it wasn’t a two hour advertisement for the Motor Company.
Macho isn’t just a male thing either. Many women want to have that feeling of brutal power under them. Both men and women want to control it, look cool astride it.
You don’t ever get on a Harley: you mount it.
Kicking that Jiffy™ stand out from underneath it is just plain poetry in motion: you give it a good firm tug left to right, kick it out from under it and balance it just right and now it’s YOUR beast and it’s between your legs. You’re astride, atop this brutal mechanical wonder. A few mandatory steps involving some leaning, head turning, wrist flicks and finally with the simple push of a thumb one bring the animal to life. I cannot describe in writing what occurs next simply because it’s totally emotional and involves just one of the senses: that Harley Davidson sound. Ummm, shivers! Even as you read this, you hear it. That deep fire spitting grumble unlike anything else ever devised for two wheels. No one can describe it but that sound is just so damned right. Bring up the rpm and let it settle back down to that hit and miss idle: potato… potato…potato. Do it two or three more times…….
You haven’t even left the parking lot yet and you’re already satisfied. Hell; shut it down and set it back on its stand! Sit there a couple of minutes. Look the part. Get off admire it as you hear those little cool down pings, try to look cool and tell the machine…. just tell it: “I’ll be back”
……….cause you forgot your helmet.
You have to understand that riding a Harley in itself isn’t the reason for wanting one. There are so many good bikes out there all offering varying degrees of handling and performance that yes, Harley owners must admit can be better in terms of latest fad engineering.
Riding a Harley is really a throwback. Technology advancements abound in some machines yet many of those manufacturers do offer their knock off versions but cannot nor ever will earn the mystique.
American grunt: The Marines, P-38’s, Mustang, Hemi, Patton, Sherman and Stuart. Oohhaahh. And when in group formation riding down the highway and into town its D-Day all over again. You own Main Street! Hell, let's ride into Iran and whip it!
There are other Americanism; all good too but somehow just don’t seem to exude the right stuff. Such a huge difference between Coca-Cola’s Santa and the Marlborough man.
Many enjoy motorcycling, but a Harley owner simply loves to haul (edited). Harley is unique. Never to be duplicated. If you need to ask again, you’ll never get it.
Mike DuBois
What is it with the aura of a capitalized “D” and “H” when properly arranged, that gets the blood flowing, arouses the mind to the point of needing to praise a loud Yeah! Alright! or even an Argrrrrrrrrr?
You’ve asked that question and often heard the reply: “if you need to ask, you just don’t understand”.
Well I’d like to explain it here and now to the many new comers to biking who simply don’t ask from fear of rejection from the seemingly wise saddle tramps that do seem to GET IT.
Harley Davidson Motor Cycles exude machismo. From its looks, the packaging of its parts and bits, the sound and smell of those two cylinders spewing burnt gasses, the history of “THE MOTOR company and the enthusiasts who ride em’.
It is after all the rebel’s ride of choice.
The "Governato" reeked of it in Terminator, riding that Fat Boy™. The way he sat on it, DIRECTED it, gazed out of those dark Ray-Bans™. Bet the combination of he and the machine felt as if he was half man and half machine. Seems the movie itself was written around that very premise and I often wonder if it wasn’t a two hour advertisement for the Motor Company.
Macho isn’t just a male thing either. Many women want to have that feeling of brutal power under them. Both men and women want to control it, look cool astride it.
You don’t ever get on a Harley: you mount it.
Kicking that Jiffy™ stand out from underneath it is just plain poetry in motion: you give it a good firm tug left to right, kick it out from under it and balance it just right and now it’s YOUR beast and it’s between your legs. You’re astride, atop this brutal mechanical wonder. A few mandatory steps involving some leaning, head turning, wrist flicks and finally with the simple push of a thumb one bring the animal to life. I cannot describe in writing what occurs next simply because it’s totally emotional and involves just one of the senses: that Harley Davidson sound. Ummm, shivers! Even as you read this, you hear it. That deep fire spitting grumble unlike anything else ever devised for two wheels. No one can describe it but that sound is just so damned right. Bring up the rpm and let it settle back down to that hit and miss idle: potato… potato…potato. Do it two or three more times…….
You haven’t even left the parking lot yet and you’re already satisfied. Hell; shut it down and set it back on its stand! Sit there a couple of minutes. Look the part. Get off admire it as you hear those little cool down pings, try to look cool and tell the machine…. just tell it: “I’ll be back”
……….cause you forgot your helmet.
You have to understand that riding a Harley in itself isn’t the reason for wanting one. There are so many good bikes out there all offering varying degrees of handling and performance that yes, Harley owners must admit can be better in terms of latest fad engineering.
Riding a Harley is really a throwback. Technology advancements abound in some machines yet many of those manufacturers do offer their knock off versions but cannot nor ever will earn the mystique.
American grunt: The Marines, P-38’s, Mustang, Hemi, Patton, Sherman and Stuart. Oohhaahh. And when in group formation riding down the highway and into town its D-Day all over again. You own Main Street! Hell, let's ride into Iran and whip it!
There are other Americanism; all good too but somehow just don’t seem to exude the right stuff. Such a huge difference between Coca-Cola’s Santa and the Marlborough man.
Many enjoy motorcycling, but a Harley owner simply loves to haul (edited). Harley is unique. Never to be duplicated. If you need to ask again, you’ll never get it.
Mike DuBois
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