That Harley Sound

[togor]

When you hear a Harley going past in Europe, at first it is a little disorienting as the Sound of Milwaukee seems out of place. But it is a thing, and actually they're pretty popular.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/06/25/harley-davidson-moves-work-offshore-to-limit-blow-from-trumps-trade-war/

It seems as though the rest of the world is preparing to engage in the retaliatory tariff equivalent of daylight precision bombing on US industry. It's possible that the affected workers in the US might stubbornly shake their fists at the sky and continue to support Trump, but maybe not all of them, and fewer with each passing month.

And I think it's worth remembering that these tariffs are direct government taxes on specific economic activities, that governments are now picking winners and losers in the economy. I'm trying to think of a time when that practice produced winners without losers on a broad scale, and nothing comes to mind.

[barretcreek]

You might remember that H-D got a temporary protective tariff against Japanese motorcycles to save them from ruin back in ?, Clinton administration, Bush I,? I remember the tariff but not when it was enacted. Lasted several years.
These will also be temporary.

[Major Tom]

So, H-D will move some production to Europe to avoid customers paying the tariff. Those H-Ds will only be sold in Europe, not here. If you buy a H-D in the U.S. you don't pay the tariff.

[Marty T.]

Harley's problem is not the tariffs. They expanded because sales were so high from people who wanted to be "bikers" but didn't have a clue what it meant. Now that they have realized that, and are not "biker" material, there are more used Harley's on the market, so new sales have dropped. H-D should've expanded some, but just kept rolling along at a steady pace and let us that really are bikers keep them going, just as we always have.
And it was in the early '80's when they got the protection from Japan so to have time to upgrade from when AMF was part of it. They actually had the government to end the protection earlier than planned.

[Roadkingtrax]

HD has its own problem. 1950s technology at 2018 prices.

[Marty T.]

HD has its own problem. 1950s technology at 2018 prices.

'Apparently you have not idea what you are talking about. And if it is so outdated, why is everyone trying to copy it. How 'bout you just shut up on this one.

[Roadkingtrax]

'Apparently you have not idea what you are talking about. And if it is so outdated, why is everyone trying to copy it. How 'bout you just shut up on this one.

Owned and maintained 3 different HD and Buell bikes in my life with nearly 75,000 ridden miles between them. So what do you know about it that I dont?

[Marty T.]

About 4 times as many miles and have owned the same one since '82 with 256,000 plus miles on original bottom end, and have owned more than just that one over the years along with it. Started when I was 8 on an H-D 50 cc. So in my book, you're just a rookie. Go back to my first post on this one.

[Roadkingtrax]

About 4 times as many miles and have owned the same one since '82 with 256,000 plus miles on original bottom end, and have owned more than just that one over the years along with it. Started when I was 8 on an H-D 50 cc. So in my book, you're just a rookie. Go back to my first post on this one.

I'm happy you enjoy them, but you cant discount my experience to support your liking them. It doesnt work that way...see you on road.

[Marty T.]

You still don't get it. It's not what you do, it's not what you like, it's who you are. And I can tell you are no biker. You are what we call a motorcyclist. Real bikers need no explanation. So just go back to your weekend putts and leave the real riding to us. I support H-D now and always have. Just know what they did wrong in building too many, not in what they build. Just too many yuppies tried to get into where they don't belong.

[Roadkingtrax]

Nothing to get, and I face the same drivers and enjoy motorcycles like you far too much to be labeled a R.U.B. HDs are popular in Europe, even with the heavy excise tax.

I've just outgrew what they can offer as far as a product. That was the choice I made as a consumer and as a "biker".

[Marty T.]

You still don't get it. You're not a "biker", you're a motorcyclist. And if you "outgrew" it, you were never "in" it. It's not about facing drivers and such nonsense. And I hope I don't see you on the road, cause I dislike riding with people that ain't one of us. R.U.B.ber.

[barretcreek]

O.K.you guys. Just remember, to the type of motorist who put me in MCG and Roper St.Francis for three and a half weeks, both of you are the same.
INVISIBLE.

[Roadkingtrax]

Not sure you get anything.

Outgrew as in HD is not engineered well, you know this...you choose to ride it anyway. Choice is a beautiful thing. Don't get your wallet chain in a wad.

[Marty T.]

Engineering is fine. You just don't fit in. And now, I'm going with the "never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig". So pig, go hang with your yuppie group. I'm done with you, and done wasting my time on you, you motorcyclist.