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Why So Many Electra Glides?

14K views 177 replies 75 participants last post by  Joe S. 
#1 ·
Here in the Carolinas, I see 20 Electra Glides for every 1 Gold Wing. Up in the mountains, the ratio goes down to, maybe, 15 to 1. Now, I like the Electra Glide well enough, but for about the same money, it ain't no Gold Wing. What gives? :shrug:
 
#152 ·
Did you forget where you are or something? Like either of those is going to ever happen.
The only class the people you're speaking of, when the subject of Harleys comes up, is low.:nojoke:
I guess I am just an eternal optimist.:shrug: Sometimes people realize they went to far, and just need a little coaxing to let it go.
 
#153 ·
2002 GL1800, 74 yo and 140 lbs. OK, so I drop it fairly often, but when I do I don't look for a Wing rider - I look for Harley guys. If they are in the vicinity, they will be there in a flash to help me. And a little good natured ribbing.

Next time you pull into a motel, look for the Harley bikes and the guys drinking beer. Sit down and enjoy some real camaraderie.

Paul Sullivan
 
#154 ·
This thread has sure been fun. Everyone has their own preferences. We had owned nothing but Japanese bikes, but we have own one or more of each of the major Japan manufacurers and those bikes have ranged from sport bikes to touring bikes to cruisers (heck we even owned the world's largest moped, a.k.a. the PC 800). As far as HD bikes, I had a friend who owned an old iron head Sportster with open pipes back in the early 80s. It was fun to kick start, ride, etc. in a primitive, visceral sort of way but I'd be too tired to ride it after less than 100 miles (it was also kind of interesting to ride behind him after dark and see the detonation in the pipes after dark). That is the extent of our experience on HD bikes. Having said that I'd love to borrow an Ultra for a month or two but the wife loves the Wing so this will probably not happen.

I'm about as True Blue as an American can be (22 years in the USAF on active duty, still a USAF Civilian, family line in the USA can be traced back before the American Revolution, every last parent, grandparent, etc. having served in the military, etc.). Having said that I don't know what an American Bike is? The new world economy is a bit confusing.

Regardless, most of you have seen this bit of humor but only recently did I find the fourth chapter, "The Top 10 Reasons Why Sport Bike Riders Don't Wave" I hope that it can shine some humor on this thread. Somehow it does seem appropriate.

Top ten reasons Harley Riders don’t wave​

10. - Afraid it will invalidate warranty. 9. - Leather and studs make it too hard to raise arm. 8. - Refuses to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for. 7. - Afraid to let go of the handlebars because they might vibrate off. 6. - Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos. 5. - Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley. 4. - Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by those rice-burner manufacturers. 3. - Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else. 2. - Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet. 1 - They're jealous that after spending $20,000, they still don't own a Gold Wing.

Top ten reasons Goldwing riders don’t wave​

10. - Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture. 9. - Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip. 8. - Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm. 7. - Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him. 6. - The expresso machine just finished. 5. - Was actually asleep when other rider waved. 4. - Was in a three-way conference call with stock broker and accessories dealer. 3. - Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen. 2. - Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system. 1. - Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on the dashboard.

Top ten reasons BMW riders don’t wave​
10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm. 9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form." 8. Shoulder too stiff from camping on the ground the night before. 7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat. 6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to ipod, XM, or talking on the cell phone. 5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!. 4. Wires from Gerbings is too short. 3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW. 2. You haven't been properly introduced. And the number one reason... 1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.

Top ten reasons Sport Bike Riders don’t wave​

10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to 9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond. 8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear. 7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the socket. 6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips. 5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank. 4. Their skin tight-kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits prevent any position other than fetal. 3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops. 2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies. 1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on.
 
#155 ·
All I know is there were 50 or 60 of them damn pieces of crap. Oops I mean those wonderful Harleys, waiting in line on 44th ave in front of my shop and all of then were professional riders. I mean they got that Harley image, ride with a Tshirt, which doesn't bother me, but sit there reving their fart **** engines, Rum, RUM, rum, RUM, Rum, RUMM, Rum. 60 of these pieces of crap! I still call them piles and always will. I wish hunting season, I'd be out with a 12 guage aiming at the bastards. Why do they think we want to listen to them rev their engines eternally, constantly non-stop? I don't hear goldwings going rum,rum, rum? Junk don't idle without operator input I guess. If you think I don't like Harleys, you're mistaken, I just live to hear them things, NOT. Back in 1983 when the government bailed out that crap of this world, would have been the best thing to happen for 1000 years if they would have let them slip into the deep dark forgotten past and never be seen or heard from again.
 
#156 ·
All I know is there were 50 or 60 of them damn pieces of crap. Oops I mean those wonderful Harleys, waiting in line on 44th ave in front of my shop and all of then were professional riders. I mean they got that Harley image, ride with a Tshirt, which doesn't bother me, but sit there reving their fart **** engines, Rum, RUM, rum, RUM, Rum, RUMM, Rum. 60 of these pieces of crap! I still call them piles and always will. I wish hunting season, I'd be out with a 12 guage aiming at the bastards. Why do they think we want to listen to them rev their engines eternally, constantly non-stop? I don't hear goldwings going rum,rum, rum? Junk don't idle without operator input I guess. If you think I don't like Harleys, you're mistaken, I just live to hear them things, NOT. Back in 1983 when the government bailed out that crap of this world, would have been the best thing to happen for 1000 years if they would have let them slip into the deep dark forgotten past and never be seen or heard from again.
sounds like you're jelous.............LOL
 
#161 ·
Harley just may be of one the most popular topics on this HONDA board. Page after page . . . page after page . . . great passion.

I think it is a given that few, if any, on this board are so out of proper mental adjustment that they are capable of hating a mindless machine. I don't believe that . . . don't want to believe it. Seems to me that we have one group of people with a strong dislike for another group of people.
Many people share their reasons why they don't care for Harleys from a technical standpoint. But that is not hatred. If you were to sit down and seriously talk to someone who "Hates the mindless machine", I think you will find that the hatred always boils down to the noise.

Obviously the machine doesn't make noise on its own. The owner had to put those open pipes on it. The owner is the one sitting there in the parking lot or at the stop light revving the snot out of it in order to get people to notice them. It's the owner of the bike that feels the need to always announce their presence, disturbing the solitude and peace and quiet while people sit out on the patio or relax in a quiet park enjoying nature.

Not every Harley rider installs open pipes. And some Jap cruiser owners run open pipes too. But despite the exceptions, this is a problem primarily associated with Harleys, and for very good reason. If you own a Harley, you WILL be stereotyped.

As long as law enforcement allows the childish, self absorbed behavior to continue, and as long as Harley owners continue to force themselves into other people's lives, the distaste and hatred for Harleys will perpetuate. Whether you partake in it or not, you will always be associated with them. You want image, camaraderie, lifestyle, or whatever? Well that's the image that many non Harley people have of you, hatred. With few exceptions, Harley riders are respected and revered only by their fellow Harley owners and prepubescent teenagers. When heads turn as you rap the throttle, do not confuse this with admiration. They just want to know who the rude person is that interrupted their conversation. It isn't the Harley marketing machine that created this image. It is the riders themselves.

Many people on this board have made the silly comment that it is primarily Goldwing owners that hate Harleys. And somehow they are disillusioned into thinking the hatred is out of jealousy. But it isn't Goldwing owners that are banning motorcycles from parks, hotels, and beachfront rental properties. It isn't Goldwing owners that are creating city ordinances in an attempt to discourage Harley riders from traveling to their towns. (Myrtle Beach) We go to the Outer Banks for vacation every two years. Many of the rentals do not allow motorcycles. I have to beg and plead, and even email the agent pictures of my bike to show them that I do not ride a loud Harley. Sometimes they concede. Sometimes not.

These people don't care how slow or fast a Harley is. They just don't like having their lives disrupted by the noise. And the hatred by riders of other types of bikes increases every time they are denied access to something just because they are on a motorcycle. The longer the noise problem persists, the wider the gap between Harley and non Harley people will continue. Fortunately, since their are so many Harley riders out there, this isolationism will not be accompanied with loneliness.

Any Harley rider who does not understand where the hatred comes from, just isn't paying attention. If you want respect, you and your fellow riders have to act like you deserve it.
 
#163 ·
you have to look far from where the bars and gas stations are. Thats where the Wing lives...

yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, you have an Electra Glide and don't go to bars. I am not talking about you.

Look in the bar parking lot and the ratio of HD's to other bikes is 99 to 1. maybe 2.
And any other public place or ride. Poker runs, weekend rides, moving wall, rolling thunder, 9-11 rides, PGR activities, etc are ALL 99 to 1 HD's. The last PGR duty that I participated in there were about 75 scoots. 2 wings...I was one of them. I also noticed that a lot of the riders , like me, are vets but choose a different ride. We have lost our local Honda dealers here....I guess that selling lawn mowers and $12.00 oil filters just wasn't enuff to keep them going. I VERY rarely see a person under 50 on a wing, and usually they are 60 and up. Then comes the road tank trikes. Someone noted that HD riders are dying off...I think that a look at the wing ranks will reveal that age and/or the reaper has devastated the wing market also.
 
#164 ·
I VERY rarely see a person under 50 on a wing, and usually they are 60 and up. Then comes the road tank trikes. Someone noted that HD riders are dying off...I think that a look at the wing ranks will reveal that age and/or the reaper has devastated the wing market also.
About a month ago, a friend of mine was helping her daughter look for a car. She suggested a Honda Accord. Her daughter's reaction was. "No way. That's a car for Old Farts." She bought a Honda Civic instead. So yes, to the younger generation, the Goldwing is an old man's bike. That should not be taken as an insult, but rather just a generation gap thing. Young people are not attracted to the same things that older people are attracted to. I'm not trying to fit in with the younger crowd. So that's ok. I don't see too many young people driving Cadillacs, Lincoln's Taurus's, and Lexus cars either. Those are for us older people. Would you stop listening to Jazz, or Bad Company, The Eagles, or other old classics just because it is not young and hip?

You are making the same mistake in your comparison that many others make. You are comparing one model of Honda against the entire Harley lineup.

First, Honda not only builds motorcycles for every age group, they make ATV's and watercraft too. There is a natural progression to their lineup. Dirt bike, to naked bike or sport bike, to cruiser or sport touring bike, to Goldwing. And if you don't like motorcycles, they have the other products. Even though the Goldwing is important to Honda's motorcycle division, it wouldn't kill their powersports division if they lost it. From top to bottom, Harley's lineup target basically the same type of rider and age group, whether it is a Sportster or an Ultra.

Honda is also not reliant on selling nostalgia to a specific generation of riders to sell Goldwings. Since our population continues to grow, there are more people entering that 50-60 year old age group than there are leaving it. There is always a new influx of buyers. And since Harley doesn't make bikes for those young age groups, most riders grew up on Japanese bikes. Most of them are naturally going to continue with Japanese bikes.

Once the Easy Rider era is over, where are they going to go? What's the plan?

Honda made it clear when they introduced the GL1800 that they were targeting a younger audience by making the bike sportier than the GL1500. By younger, that means affluent buyers in their 40's. Only Honda really knows how successful that strategy has been. But based on the number of younger couples in our GWRRA chapter, I would have to say it has at least been marginally successful. (Remember, to a young person, someone in their 40s is still old. So the old man's stigma will not go away.)
 
#165 ·
All I know is there were 50 or 60 of them damn pieces of crap. Oops I mean those wonderful Harleys, waiting in line on 44th ave in front of my shop and all of then were professional riders. I mean they got that Harley image, ride with a Tshirt, which doesn't bother me, but sit there reving their fart **** engines, Rum, RUM, rum, RUM, Rum, RUMM, Rum. 60 of these pieces of crap! I still call them piles and always will. I wish hunting season, I'd be out with a 12 guage aiming at the bastards. Why do they think we want to listen to them rev their engines eternally, constantly non-stop? I don't hear goldwings going rum,rum, rum? Junk don't idle without operator input I guess. If you think I don't like Harleys, you're mistaken, I just live to hear them things, NOT. Back in 1983 when the government bailed out that crap of this world, would have been the best thing to happen for 1000 years if they would have let them slip into the deep dark forgotten past and never be seen or heard from again.
Why don't you tell us how you really feel toward HD's? :doorag:
 
#168 ·
Many people share their reasons why they don't care for Harleys from a technical standpoint. But that is not hatred. If you were to sit down and seriously talk to someone who "Hates the mindless machine", I think you will find that the hatred always boils down to the noise.

Obviously the machine doesn't make noise on its own. The owner had to put those open pipes on it. The owner is the one sitting there in the parking lot or at the stop light revving the snot out of it in order to get people to notice them. It's the owner of the bike that feels the need to always announce their presence, disturbing the solitude and peace and quiet while people sit out on the patio or relax in a quiet park enjoying nature.

Not every Harley rider installs open pipes. And some Jap cruiser owners run open pipes too. But despite the exceptions, this is a problem primarily associated with Harleys, and for very good reason. If you own a Harley, you WILL be stereotyped.

As long as law enforcement allows the childish, self absorbed behavior to continue, and as long as Harley owners continue to force themselves into other people's lives, the distaste and hatred for Harleys will perpetuate. Whether you partake in it or not, you will always be associated with them. You want image, camaraderie, lifestyle, or whatever? Well that's the image that many non Harley people have of you, hatred. With few exceptions, Harley riders are respected and revered only by their fellow Harley owners and prepubescent teenagers. When heads turn as you rap the throttle, do not confuse this with admiration. They just want to know who the rude person is that interrupted their conversation. It isn't the Harley marketing machine that created this image. It is the riders themselves.

Many people on this board have made the silly comment that it is primarily Goldwing owners that hate Harleys. And somehow they are disillusioned into thinking the hatred is out of jealousy. But it isn't Goldwing owners that are banning motorcycles from parks, hotels, and beachfront rental properties. It isn't Goldwing owners that are creating city ordinances in an attempt to discourage Harley riders from traveling to their towns. (Myrtle Beach) We go to the Outer Banks for vacation every two years. Many of the rentals do not allow motorcycles. I have to beg and plead, and even email the agent pictures of my bike to show them that I do not ride a loud Harley. Sometimes they concede. Sometimes not.

These people don't care how slow or fast a Harley is. They just don't like having their lives disrupted by the noise. And the hatred by riders of other types of bikes increases every time they are denied access to something just because they are on a motorcycle. The longer the noise problem persists, the wider the gap between Harley and non Harley people will continue. Fortunately, since their are so many Harley riders out there, this isolationism will not be accompanied with loneliness.

Any Harley rider who does not understand where the hatred comes from, just isn't paying attention. If you want respect, you and your fellow riders have to act like you deserve it.
Glad you didn't forget about the metric cruiser loud pipe crowd, Larry. You forgot to include the metric crotch rocket crowd with their obnoxiously loud pipes.

Around here, there isn't one single sport bike that has the factory exhaust it was equipped with. They are as bad as the Harley "loud pipe" crowd you mention. They too have to rev the crap out of the engine so they can garner attention and look at me in my ricky racer suit or squidly me dressed up with a helmet, tank top, and sandals with my hot babe on back with her thong undies.

Around here, I'd say 90% of the metric cruiser crowd have aftermarket loud pipes trying to be a HD wannabe. People are just as annoyed with the loud exhaust noise from the metric crowd as they are with the loud HD crowd, and their behavior is just as childish. :doorag:
 
#169 ·
I kinda like those hot babes in the thong undies. But I am too old to catch them with my old mans Wing. :joke:

Live and let live. Enjoy the day.

It is a big world, a lot of people, you cannot regulate what they do, and I have no wish to. We are still presently a free nation.

I kinda like that. Being free and all.

As we get a bit older we gain a little common sense, but we used to be just like the youngsters, some of them will survive to be us, some will not.

Just enjoy life and not worry about silly things, the rest of the world is doing a good job of that already.

Each day they put up more rules to protect us from ourselves. Soon there will be a warning on toilet paper......please wear rubber gloves. :evil:
 
#170 ·
First, Honda not only builds motorcycles for evFrom top to bottom, Harley's lineup target basically the same type of rider and age group, whether it is a Sportster or an Ultra.
I don't agree with you that HD's lineup target basically the same type of rider and age group whether it's a Sportster or Ultra.

The XR1200X definitely is not targeted at the geritol HD crowd. Neither is the Superlow or the Iron 883. At the local dealership here, there are plenty of younger guys coming in with a wife and kid in tow and buying an HD. :doorag:
 
#171 ·
Glad you didn't forget about the metric cruiser loud pipe crowd, Larry. You forgot to include the metric crotch rocket crowd with their obnoxiously loud pipes.

Around here, there isn't one single sport bike that has the factory exhaust it was equipped with. They are as bad as the Harley "loud pipe" crowd you mention. They too have to rev the crap out of the engine so they can garner attention and look at me in my ricky racer suit or squidly me dressed up with a helmet, tank top, and sandals with my hot babe on back with her thong undies.

Around here, I'd say 90% of the metric cruiser crowd have aftermarket loud pipes trying to be a HD wannabe. People are just as annoyed with the loud exhaust noise from the metric crowd as they are with the loud HD crowd, and their behavior is just as childish. :doorag:
I obviously am not aware of what is prevalent in other areas of the country. I can only go by what I see locally and when traveling.

I don't have a problem with tuned pipes with baffles. They sound nice, on cars and motorcycles. I even had a Borla exhaust on my 2006 Mustang GT. I'm not a stuffed shirt prude.

Some of the crotch rockets around here have aftermarket pipes, but it is rare to see one with the baffles removed. They don't want to attract the police when they are getting on the throttle. They are more interested in the adrenaline rush of speed than attracting unwanted attention. It doesn't make sense to have open pipes on a sport bike.

Many cruisers around here have aftermarket pipes, but most have baffles and are not objectionably loud. Whether the label is accurate or not, when the people I ride with see a cruiser with open pipes, we refer to those as Harley wannabe's.:lol:

Around here, and throughout the Midwest, where I travel most, this is a Harley epidemic.
 
#173 ·
I just watched the video a few posts up (posted by Slayzen) and I found out that some Wings have AC and an automatic transmission...really?:joke:

Concerning the noise ordnance they are enforcing it in Daytona for their Bike Week and Biketoberefest too, so for those of you who have two or more bikes (I'm jealous) don't bring the loud one to Florida.

I agree that some of the most level headed posts come from Kit Carson.

I always wanted a Goldwing going clear back to 1981 but could never afford one until recently so we go against the demographics of senior citizens on Goldwings. I'm more of a practical thinker than one who follows the crowd. Our last bike was a Kawasaki Voyager 1200 so that is probably the best proof that we make our own decisions.
 
G
#175 ·
I just watched the video a few posts up (posted by Slayzen) and I found out that some Wings have AC and an automatic transmission...really?:joke:

Concerning the noise ordnance they are enforcing it in Daytona for their Bike Week and Biketoberefest too, so for those of you who have two or more bikes (I'm jealous) don't bring the loud one to Florida.

I agree that some of the most level headed posts come from Kit Carson.

I always wanted a Goldwing going clear back to 1981 but could never afford one until recently so we go against the demographics of senior citizens on Goldwings. I'm more of a practical thinker than one who follows the crowd. Our last bike was a Kawasaki Voyager 1200 so that is probably the best proof that we make our own decisions.
Good for you! The majority, even here, mindlessly follow the crowd. It's nice to hear of someone who actually thinks on their own.
I would guess you will never own a Ferguson. :thumbup:
 
#176 ·
Many people share their reasons why they don't care for Harleys from a technical standpoint. But that is not hatred. If you were to sit down and seriously talk to someone who "Hates the mindless machine", I think you will find that the hatred always boils down to the noise.

Obviously the machine doesn't make noise on its own. The owner had to put those open pipes on it. The owner is the one sitting there in the parking lot or at the stop light revving the snot out of it in order to get people to notice them. It's the owner of the bike that feels the need to always announce their presence, disturbing the solitude and peace and quiet while people sit out on the patio or relax in a quiet park enjoying nature.

Not every Harley rider installs open pipes. And some Jap cruiser owners run open pipes too. But despite the exceptions, this is a problem primarily associated with Harleys, and for very good reason. If you own a Harley, you WILL be stereotyped.

As long as law enforcement allows the childish, self absorbed behavior to continue, and as long as Harley owners continue to force themselves into other people's lives, the distaste and hatred for Harleys will perpetuate. Whether you partake in it or not, you will always be associated with them. You want image, camaraderie, lifestyle, or whatever? Well that's the image that many non Harley people have of you, hatred. With few exceptions, Harley riders are respected and revered only by their fellow Harley owners and prepubescent teenagers. When heads turn as you rap the throttle, do not confuse this with admiration. They just want to know who the rude person is that interrupted their conversation. It isn't the Harley marketing machine that created this image. It is the riders themselves.

Many people on this board have made the silly comment that it is primarily Goldwing owners that hate Harleys. And somehow they are disillusioned into thinking the hatred is out of jealousy. But it isn't Goldwing owners that are banning motorcycles from parks, hotels, and beachfront rental properties. It isn't Goldwing owners that are creating city ordinances in an attempt to discourage Harley riders from traveling to their towns. (Myrtle Beach) We go to the Outer Banks for vacation every two years. Many of the rentals do not allow motorcycles. I have to beg and plead, and even email the agent pictures of my bike to show them that I do not ride a loud Harley. Sometimes they concede. Sometimes not.

These people don't care how slow or fast a Harley is. They just don't like having their lives disrupted by the noise. And the hatred by riders of other types of bikes increases every time they are denied access to something just because they are on a motorcycle. The longer the noise problem persists, the wider the gap between Harley and non Harley people will continue. Fortunately, since their are so many Harley riders out there, this isolationism will not be accompanied with loneliness.

Any Harley rider who does not understand where the hatred comes from, just isn't paying attention. If you want respect, you and your fellow riders have to act like you deserve it.
:agree::agree::agree:

I think you nailed it right there - the noise issue. That really is my main issue. It's obnoxious and childish, just like some of the sport bikes these days as well. If it wasn't for the fact how desperately they are trying to get attention through the noise and the bully/arrogance image I would find the live and let live attitude much easier to adhere to. But Harley riders are interfering with my quality of life. I just spent the day trying to support a worthy cause on a charity ride and am half deaf after several hours behind them. Why do I have to put up with that??? :wrong: As a Goldwing rider you simply enjoy a nice ride without upsetting anybody else. No wonder these discussions about Harleys become so heated.
 
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