"We are amazed at the friends you have made here on your trip. Ride, Captain, Ride, upon your mystery ship
on your way to a world that others might have missed."

- BLUES IMAGE, "Ride, Captain, Ride!"

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PEOPLE WHO FEEL THE SAME WAY AND AREN'T AFRAID TO SHOW IT

Submit your feelings and support to BLACK ECHO

I stumbled across your site by accident during a search for some other information. I must say that you have produced some of the funniest, thought provoking, and verbal ass kicking that I have had the pleasure to read. I have visited the site over the last few days and have had to keep a supply of tissues handy to wipe the tears away from laughing. I own a Honda CBR1100XX and live in Central Florida. I have experienced the behavior that you describe by the typical Harley rider on a number of occasions. I believe the reason for this is my proximity to the regional capital of posers, Daytona Beach, Florida. This area has to endure the migration of lemmings ( as you have so aptly named them) twice a year. I refer to the commercial orgies that are Bike Week and Biketoberfest. I wanted to drop a few lines to show my support and thank you for the American Angst site. Please keep up the good work and the updates coming!  Sincerely, RDeGore

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I LOVED your site. My sides hurt and the tears won't stop. You did one hell of a job on this site and congrats on the finest tribute to Harleys I have ever seen. Proud owner of a VF1100S -PH

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Nice site. I agree with quite a bit of your logic. I do however fall somewhere in the middle. I like Harley's but not for the En Vogue reasons. I'm only 31but I would fall into the traditionalists that you describe. Hell people might even call me a Poser for buying a slightly used yellow Ducati 900ss. But I love the bike for everything it is and isn't.  I believe as you do though that the bike from HD are overpriced, overrated and just not a viable alternative to import bikes. But with that said I have been a big twin lover for years. More specifically Ducati's. I recently have been able to make a 10 year dream come true and purchased my first Duke. It is a
1999 900ss with only 6200 miles. Yep, 4l4 lbs, 2 cylinders, 4 valves, air cooled, and only about 90 HP.  It is loud (but it is a different loud than the annoying Harley's), since it came with "ducati performance CF Pipes"

Can a GSXR 600 or ZX 750 kick it's ass? Sure, but I still love the design and look of the bike, and it has plenty of power for me. It may also have antiquated technology, but I don't care I still love the bike.  Besides it has the same core technology that their WSB
998's have and they have won more WSB championships than any other manufacturer.

Anyway, good site! I appreciate someone stepping up and telling it like it is. -Leo

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Best damn biker website! As a Harley rider (what a minute, I'm not one of the dick head RUBs, I'm a PUB-a poor urban biker), I've just got to say that your website totally rocks. I ride a Harley cuz that's what floats my boat but I cannot believe the H-D mentality. Those idiots have got to have their official H-D do-rags on too tight. Cuts off circulation to the brain. Oh, wait, if they are riding a Road Queen decked out in their official H-D crap they don't have a brain to cut off circulation to. But anyway, speaking from a Harley owners point of view, you and your contributors and supporters couldn't be anymore right. H-D's are overpriced, ancient technology with a shit load of parts from other countries. There is nothing funnier than seeing a fat balding middle aged guy decked out in his official H-D crap trying to look, act and talk cool. If ya want to dress up like a biker, wait for Halloween. I don't wear official H-D crap so I stand out in a crowd of bikers. I have a T-shirt design that I made on the computer using a qu ote from Calvin of the comic strips. Calvin said, "My identity is so wrapped up in what I buy, that I paid THE COMPANY to advertise their product." I've used that quote and images of Calvin peeing on a burning H-D symbol. I know that when I put that design on a generic H-D shirt I will piss off H-D riders but hey, the truth hurts. When it comes to riding, I could care less about image unlike the H-D idiots. Ya know these people wear H-D crap when they're not even riding.

I ride a beat up 24 year old Harley that was a full dresser (gack). I stripped it down to the simple basics of a motorcycle. Frame, tires, motor. 7 wire electrics and kick only. Done three top ends and one bottom end on it and I know where every single nut and bolt is. Most of the H-D riders today can't even cancel their turn signals after turning them on. Some idiot even said "Nice Road King" to me one day.

I listen to these people rattle on about the Hi-Tech H-D hop ups their local dealer did for them and how they'll find some rice burner and smoke em with their 30,000 dollar glitter barge. When I ask why they spent all that money on performance and still have a belt final drive they have no clue at all. When I say that they lose allot of horsepower because of the belt they act like I am a heretic and mutter something about, well, it's factory. Whatever. I know what it takes to make a killer bike and H-D doesn't have it.
Well, enough of this anti H-D rant from a Harley rider. I don't know if you have heard this one before but it's one of my favorites.
If H-D had as many engineers as they have lawyers, they'd have a better bike. -Claysbury

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Just a quick note to say that I enjoyed the rant because it articulated what I have thought for - probably - ever. Why anyone would throw that much money on a mirage of a motorcycle? I don't understand.

HD motto:  If it breaks, make it bigger.  If it sticks out, chrome it.

That seems to be the extent of their engineering prowess. I, myself, own a 99 Kaw Concours that I bought salvage and repaired. Great fun! Spent a total of around $2500.

My neighbor has a HD QXZZYX or something under a cover IN THE GARAGE so it wont get dusty. He called me over and carefully unwrapped it so I would be duly impressed. As he waited, I was wondering just how I could diplomatically tell him that $27K or so for what I was looking at did not make me want his sons dating my daughters. Gene pool worries, you know.

Anyhow, thanks for the site and hope you have fun with them trogladytes! -GP

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Let me tell you, I ride a harley and just got connected to your site through the Indian forum. You have some FUNNY SHIT on there that made me HOWL. Keep it up.

I had always wanted a harley. I love my bike and it suits me for my riding.

Can it outrun most of the other bikes out there? - No. But I'm not out to do that.

Is the technology outdated? - Yes. But, I still like the bike.

Is the cost of the thing ridiculous? - HELL, YES!! Local shop has a used 2002 bike for $22K which is $6K over what it cost NEW!!! Shit!!! And when I look at some of the crap they charge extra for because it says h-d on it, I really get pissed. Stock oil filter is almost $10 while Fram PH-6022 is only about $5. And, like I really need a fucking $5,000 grill to cook burgers on.

I'm pissed at h-d(I REFUSE to capitalize their name) because they claim "We cannot control prices at dealerships(referred by most of us as $tealer$hip$) because they are independent shops". BULLSHIT!! If you have a custom bike that is built with h-d parts and has been titled as a h-d and try to sell it as h-d and they find out, then they COME DOWN on you. It has happened to quite a few E-bay people already.

h-d MoCo has recently tried to take a website from a guy who has one called www.harleydavidsonforum.com. It's been up for over a year and all of the sudden they get a bug in their ass that he's going to make it a commercial site(selling ad space and offering a 'For Sale' section) and 'ruin' their good name because people will think it's an official h-d site. Hell, that ain't possible!! On the 'official' h-d site, there is no way to contact them via email about problems, comments, etc. You can't even get information about recalls, maintenance issues, etc. Their 'good name' is already ruined.

I no longer take my bike into a $tealer$hip for repairs or maintenance. I change my own fluids(and use all synthetics which h-d says is a no-no) and anything I can't fix, I will take to an independent non h-d shop to work on.

And HOG(Harley Owners Group) is a bunch of crap. They were charging $55 per head down here in Hampton, GA for the 100th Anniversary Open Road Tour. Now since I am HOG member, $55 was for all 3 days. But wife is not a HOG member and she would not be allowed to certain exhibits which were ONLY open to HOG members. Plus $55 for EACH DAY she attended. Yeah, like I'm going to leave her standing out in hot fucking July weather in the sun. I live about 15 miles from where this event was held and have lived here since 1969. I know how damn hot it gets in July. And no damn way I was paying $55 for h-d to ADVERTISE to me. I've since read that  ticket prices have been dropped to $35. I passed on the event and kept my money.

I've been a member of local HOG chapter for about 18 months and attended only about 6 meetings. Why? Because not once has anyone come over to me and said "Howdy, I notice you're new here and I'd like to welcome you" or even "Kiss my ass". Hell, I'd rather ride alone anyways.

Keep up the good work ragging on h-d riders. I'm not offended about it at all. Maybe one day h-d will FINALLY pull its head out of its ass and decide to change. They think they have because of the V-Rod(German engineering) but that's bullshit. -NEasler

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I LOVE THE SITE, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.......THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY HAVE CHEAPENED THE HERITAGE OF WHAT WAS ONCE A LEGEND IN OUR RIDERSHIP. -Mrheatinc

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Great job Your site is great! I told all my riding buddies about your site and everyone of them finds truth in what you say. May I request more frequent updates?! -Troy

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J.C. Whitney knows that Harleys aren't motorcycles! Check out their home page, they have hardley's in a separate category from motorcycles. I'm still crying (Laughing) from the truth and humor of your writing skills, I love this site! -alex hatcher

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I emailed you a few months ago. Said I had recently bought a H-D XL1200S, but that I more or less agreed with the points you made. Well, I turned away from the dark side. I traded my little Sportster for a Kawasaki ZRX 1200R.

Man, talk about night and day. I love the Rex. Radial tires! Over 100 hp! Helmet locks! Tools came with the bike for Christ sake! Over 5 gal gas tank! STORAGE SPACE UNDER THE SEAT!!! Bungee chord anchors! I could go on and on. But, you get the point.

Maybe owning the Harley has allowed me to appreciate the Rex more than I would have if I hadn't owned the Harley first. (These are my first and second bikes). Your humorous rant made me look at things from a different perspective. It may have even been the burr under the saddle that made me keep thinking about changing to a quality ride. Hopefully, Harley or one of the other American bike makers will some day get the picture. Until they do, just call me Rice Boy.  Regards, KTuthill

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I've always lumped most cops in a category with Harley riding, Nascar worshipping, TV addicted, no life having, illiterate chimps.  Thanks for proving me wrong, I hope you're not the exception that proves the rule. I found your site today and have laughed non-stop for hours. I was however surprised to not see any use of my favorite HD moniker "Hardly Ableson". Thanks for the laugh. - Gary

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What do they think they have? I have to laugh every time me and my bud go for a ride. He rides a HD, I ride a Victory. I bought my first bike in 1967. A HD, since then I have had Honda, BSA, Ducati, Triumph, Royal Ensfield, Kawasaki, Indian, Velocetti, Montesa. I liked something about every ride I ever owned,but where do these guys, (most of whom have never ridden before) get off telling me that Harley is faster and better? I am guessing that they talk themselves into believing that , to justify the fact that they paid 5 to 7 thousand over MRSP. And my Bud, along with a few other first timers can't ride to the corner bar without dressing. You would think they were heading out on a cross country ride. Then, when they get there ,they think t hey have to rev em up at least 4 or 5 times, then let them idle at least another minute ,to make sure that everyone noticed that the obnouxios warriors had arrived. And then when they start to walk inside, you would think they had ridden in onhorse back , or had fallen in a corn field , if you know what I mean. Thanks for letting me vent, ;LIVE LONG,RIDE SAFE -Annma

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Great site! Thanks for having it! I'm sick of the loud pipes saves lives attitude, especially at 12:30am when they wind it up 200 feet to each stop sign. Thank you, just thank you. humbly, -ahatcher

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"American Angst" is one hell of great site! Loved it.  -JSwitz

'97 Harley Fat Boy (FLSsomethingsomething)
'92 Honda ST1100 (that'd be my fast one)

P.S. Except for the Fat Boy's keychain, everything I own that has HD on it is bolted to the bike or is on my bookshelf. Don't even have a HD T-shirt. The keychain is kinda cool, though. If I wanna go fast and far, it's the ST. If I wanna go slow, look at the cows and ride something that pulls like a farm tractor (charming in its own way), it's the HD.

Call me bipolar.

And yes, I wrench 'em both. Neither needs much wrenching.

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Hey!  I ran into a link to your site through a Honda Shadow Sabre forum. I must say that it was quite the amusing experience. I am not rabidly anti-harley, but I do feel that they are a waste of money (especially considering my Shadow Sabre looks better, runs better, has more power, sounds better, it cheaper to accessorize, is lighter, contains more American made parts, etc. than a comparable Harley Softail) and highly overrated.

It always makes me feel good to pull away from a stop light, leaving the 30000 dollar softail in the dust, after the inbred jackass who just gave me the finger and insulted my jap-crap rice-burner just revved his engine and embarassed the hell out of himself while tryin to drag to the next light.  -Chris

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Someone posted this link in a thread on the sabregroup forum - really glad I came here!!!! Enjoyed your comments regarding those people from Wisconson.  Reminds me of a comment the Wizard of Oz made to the Tinman - he called him "a clinking, clanking, collection of collagenous junk." Pretty well sums them up I think!!  I look forward to returning!!  -BK

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Your HD website is one of the funniest I've ever seen.   If you really are a police officer you could really save your jurisdiction lots of money by just verbally insulting and berating any criminals that are arrested. I'm sure they, like many of these HD riders/owners, will slink away in shame never to rear the ugly heads again. It could define a whole definition of the terms "police brutatility" and "official misconduct". I stared at my monitor in open mouthed shock at the acidic replies that some of these guys received (and deserved).

BTW, I'm saving up money to buy my first bike, and I'd like to get a used Honda CBR. One of my friends has a harley with six tons of chrome and thousands of dollars of official gear and such has been trying to convince me to buy one. He won't succeed.

Have fun. Stay safe.

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Damn, dood, I love your website!  I'm an electrical engineer working for the Air Force and a member of the Army National Guard. I ride a 1983 CB1000 Custom--last of the big fours. I rode a self discribed 'Harley Bitch' on the back of it and she remarked:
"Damn this bike is smooooth and really powerful!" I laughed and laughed.   -'Scythian'.

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I like this site. It brings out what smarter people already know in the most blunt way possible. I can only imagine what your hate mail looks like. I have spoken to HD posers and more real HDbikers but no real HD bikers and they either ride to get women, or just cause they are stupid.

In Canada (where I am) a sportster costs $11,000 minimum. I test rode one and that put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Forward controls is an oxymoron. I hung on for dear life with my fingers. The seat made my leg fall asleep. For $11,000 the stock seat should be at best comfortable.

I test rode a whole bunch others (don't ask which, can't remember the letters they used) ranging from $18,000 to $30,000and they all pretty much suck. The Buell I rode blew smoke on the way back and I didn't mistreat it much.

For $11,000 here you can buy an R6, CBR600... or if you like the cruiser but want power and performance you can get a magna, each for about $11,000. And once you buy them you won't have a desire to spend $10,000 in upgrades. Unless you feel guilty about not spending at least $20000 on your hobby. But then you can't fix it as much since it's reliable and have no choice but to ride it on the beautiful days. Oh the horror.

Don't get me started on the $7000 HD BBQ . I actually saw a moron ask about it. He was a moron. A happy Jap and his happy wife showed up (camera and all, no joke) in a ferrari, magnum PI model. He called his buddy to check out the v-(nim)rod he was about to buy. His middle age moron buddy shows up in a ferrari testarosa that scraped the bottom of the driveway when he was coming in. I guess HD owners have raised pickups not ferraris.

So he hops out with his golddiggin cougar (canadian for 45 single lady trying to look 35 with plastic) bleach blond and they talk to a sales guy about the grill. I overheard him say "i don't understand how it works without charcoal" to which the sales guy responds "It's PROPANE!"

Moron.

Take care and keep it blunt.  -Joe

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Black Echo, Your site is a breath of fresh air. I thought I was the only person left on the planet that didn't drool over a gaudy, over chromed, overweight, overpriced reject from the fifties. After riding to work this morn on my '80 Kaw 1000 LTD, (not cutting edge but far ahead of a HD) and being snubbed by two HD riders who looked as though they had been riding for every bit of a week. I did a search for Harley + Sheep and guess what came up. Needless to say I have a new favorite site. Keep up the great work! Someday the American public will look back and see how stupid they were... or not.  -Jim

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I've read some of your website and I must say it's convinced me to not get a Harley. You'd be interested to know that coincidently I was actually considering getting a Sportster but even before seeing your website, I changed my mind (for the better). You're right. These bikes are junk and there is something wrong with the company that makes them. I particularly am tired of not being given the proper courtesy of a greeting from a fellow biker when we cross paths when that other biker is riding a Harley. I have a friend with whom I rode on a long distance ride and he has an old HOG. The other HOG riders passing us by would make sure that their wave of their arms was directed at him and not at me because I wasn't riding one of their brand. This truly makes me sick. Was I chopped liver? Anyway, I used to own an F2 and owned it without a hitch. Never had to check the oil or never once failed to start. I took it twice to Mexico and it was even worth crouching over the whole way with the low handlebars. I now own a BMW K75c and it's a great bike, although part of me actually misses the performance of a Japanese sport or something akin to the Suzuki Bandit or the new Honda Nighthawk or Kawasaki muscle bikes.

I enjoy your site and I want you to know that I belong to a club that caters to all makes of bikes and people from all walks of life. Our mission is to promote motorcycling and racing, and to continue the general tradition of motorcycling. I'm also aspiring for a law enforcement career (coincidently). Well, that was my two cents. Take care. Cheers.   -George

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Mr. Echo SIR,...I'm speechless...(too much laughing!) I have attempted to repeat a few of your sentiments to the sheep I know, but the words just don't flow as eloquently as I might imagine they would coming from the Master........Do I have to go back to school???....

p.s. Your site is at the TOP of my "favorites list"...keep up the good stuff!! -Dean

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I want to thank you for taking the time to create this web site.I thought I would die laughing if it weren't so sadly true. I bought a new Harley Sportster Custom 1200 last year and spent $7000 on chrome and other goodies. It was still a piece of garbage, and I sold it at a terrible loss after three months. So much for the resale value of a Harley. I now ride a new Valkyrie Interstate and a new Shadow Sabre. I couldn't be happier. I'll relate a funy story to you. Last fall I was in for my physical, and my doctor-who rides a BMW- asked my why I had sold my Harley. I told him I didn't fit in with the Harley image. He asked me what I meant by that. I replied that I bathe every day, I can read, and I've never been to jail. I thought he would die laughing. Keep up the good work. -CKelley

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First time to the site, so I'm a little green, but having fun. I am also a LEO, working in South Jersey who last year sold my 1997 Softail Custom and bought a 2002 Kawasaki ZX12R, shocking many people who had me tagged as a "Harley guy". I however was not a victim of the HD marketing machine, and refused to buy another wobbly underpowered machine that required $5K in accessories to meet the "criteria". I rejected the rhetoric of all my Harley buddies and am a much happier rider. Granted it was a little bit of a leap, buying a non-American made bike for $10K but your logic is flawless... if they don't build one that's even remotely competitive, why settle. The same logic dictated the reason I ride a Honda 400ex off-road, and owned a Yamaha jet ski back in '95. I do my best to buy American, and my cars are all of domestic origin (2000 Chevrolet Camaro SS, 2000 Jeep Wrangler). Some of my friends have been selling their HDs and switching to the American sportbike (Buell), but honestly the things are ugly Rubbermaid sportsters that blow oil and overheat. I am glad the company is at least trying to move the American motorcycle in the right direction but they better have a steep learning curve to match pace with the Japanese and Italians. I could go into the ways my new rocket is superior but I know I'd be preaching to the choir. Power, responsiveness, reliability, convenience, value, safety and that shit eating grin that gets stuck on my face for at least an hour after I get off of her. -rdrkt171

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Black Echo -

I'll start with the usual accolades: I found your website two days ago while doing Google searches for info on my next imported motorcycle. I've read most of it now, and I can't think of the last time I've laughed so damned hard. As a fellow cop, I was immediately struck by the letters that the HD riders have sent you: Gramatically, they bear a striking similarity to the prose spoken by the horns we throw in jail nearly every night.

I just wanted to fill you in on what happened when our own police department started a motorcycle patrol unit this summer:

Harley offered us a deal at $1-per-year to lease a motorcycle from them. Money talks, so Harley was selected.

After a few months, our officers went to the dealership to pick up our two brand new patrol motorcycles.

An officer stradled the first huge, chrome machine, flipped the ignition, and thumbed the starter. He didn't even get a click. Dead. Nothing. Mechanics on site couldn't figure out the problem. Total miles on this Harley: 0 before it failed.

The second officer, though, fired up the rattling machine, triumphantly lurched it out of the dealer's parking lot, and headed for the police station for the grand entrance. The new Harley made it to the highway before it just quit. Killed. As the officer coasted to the side of the highway, the electrics continued to work, but the engine would not start or run. Turns out the fuel pump blew. Total miles on this Harley: 1.7 before it failed.

Sadly, we've still got those two bikes. It's a good thing that we get new ones every year though. I only hope they last that long.

Please keep my name/email anonymous...I'm sure you understand. Keep up the crusade! -E (undercover LEO)

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I was looking at web sites trying to figure out how to re-vamp the HD V-rod passenger foot peg set up so my wife does not feel like she is giving birth when she rides with me. The bike has less then a hundred miles, and I am asking myself if I did something dumb here.......

I'll give you a little more info on my feelings on HD, as for years, I was around them, left them (I am over 50, so I'll claim old timers disease) and went back and got another. In between, my wife and i rode a Honda 500 4 cyl accross the USA, and did tons of dirt double up on a Suzuki 250 enduro, both great running bikes with the minimum of problems.

The first jack hammer I rode was a 54 panhead stripped to a chop, then a 50 panhead custom show bike (this was in the late 60's early 70's), and last was a 39 knuckle head. The knuckle was the best of them all, and even the latest lead sled I got a couple years back, my 89 evo Sportster. Let me tell you, nothing has changed. That damned Sportster has the vibrations like a dykes dildo, and it seems every couple thousand miles, it is another 300 to 500 bucks to keep it going. I was mystified in my early riding years about the speed one could get from a Sportster, and being in my early 50's I thought, one last project.

Yea, it is the last one, it ain't done, and I think it won' t be either. I worked for MoCo back when, and god, how many pains in the asses the machines and people were. I forgot, and now I am paying. I have the parts to set up the Sportster for an 11 second quarter miler street bike, but why should I? It is like owning a AA/FD class race car. Make a run, work for 10 runs to keep it going. What I can't figure out is, how did the 39 knuckle run so well, with hardly any work on it, and these new HD's, well, it is no where close. Everybody I talk to says, oh the new ones are even better......hell, I'll bet. The 39 was set up with the factory Daytona system, it was their racing version, and I rode it on the street, no, I beat on it on the street, and it held up.

I went as far to check on prices for a Hayu, none was in stock with a wait till october, but my curiosity got the better of me, and sunk some money into a new v-rod. I never had a new HD amazingly, I was not and am not yet excitied about the same design as in 39 being in a 03 bike, but somehow the v-rod got me thinking. If I ever would get a new HD, maybe the V-rod will be the choice.

Well, having my wife ride on it immediately told me, more money for the right seat. The dealer told me that, but damn, I just had to have one. So about 550.00 more & since I am in Hawaii, the dealers can rape their customers more, the complete 2 up seat hardware is on its way. After that, I am not sure what this bike, a knock off of a Porche motor, with an obnoxious frame (kinda like giving all other bikers that stick your tongue out face) and too much aluminum. Why? Cause I could.

After all the years, and watching what HD has done and been, I just could not bring myself to spend 18 to 20K on somehting that I bought as a basket case for 150.00 back in th early 70's. With 03 models, nothing has changed, it is the same. Like buying 2% skim milk, the things are the same. Except the MoCo has figured out that people who are dumb enough to tatoo themselves with their logo, are stupid enough to dump their wallets out of all their cash. I want to tell myself that is not me, but hell, I have a v-rod and an 89 sporty in the garage. The Sporty is down, because the electrics went out. Like a termite eaten house, the problems get worse.

If the v-rod experience is any resemblence of the past rides from HD, this will be my last HD. A friend who bought a Honda Valk told me "If you want to ride, and not work on your bike, don't buy a Harley"  -RMoran

PS, the reason I wrote this was the tool kit with the hammer, square and other 39 knuckle head tool essentials is mine, I have been looking for my tool kit for years, where in the hell did you find it?

(the tool kit he is referring to is the one pictured far below.  :p  -BE  )

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Hello, i love your site! I own a brand new Sportster for about 4 months now (i guess i bought it in a moment of 'temporary loss of consciousness'... the 'Once in your life you should own a H-D' crap..). I am very glad i didn't already fork out money for a pair of official Squealing (eh.. 'Screamin') Eagle mufflers.

I think i will buy a Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog (it has a V-Twinkie as well, but it's technically far better), and i will feel GOOD about it! (The only minor problem is: how can i remove that glued and sewn-on H-D patch from my jacket without spoiling it..).

Thank you, and keep up the good work!  -Frans, The Netherlands

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Thank you. no really, that's all... and a big smooch... you're good, doll.  You're good.  -Stefanie 86 Virago 750

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Being English and basically growing up with British and Japanese bikes, as well as a few German imports, I never really got to see a Harley, except in the movies. Unfortunately, the British manufacture of motorcycles has all but ceased, with only Triumph rising from the ashes of a once great industry where even America imported those wonderful machines. I thought that most American motorcyclists (even Harley riders) would be of the same genre of people I was so used to meeting on European travels on two wheels, until I actually arrived in the US in '94 and found out that it simply was not true. I am 38 now, and after being here in the US for nearly 8 years, it seems the gap between true motorcyclists and Harley Davidson riders is growing ever wider. The general friendship, camaraderie, helpfulness and acceptance of the majority of riders in the US is second only to that of the same ilk in the UK and most of Europe. Unfortunately, it is marred by the HD community and their overall attitude to people who ride "other" makes of two wheeled hardware. They are rude, insulting, idiosyncratic, objectionable and incredibly ignorant for the most part. I have to admit that the care and attention to detail they display for their chosen ride is admirable, but since most of their bikes never see rain, and are only ridden at weekends it fails to surprise now that I know what "lifestyle" really means. I have been on two wheels since I was 14 and have recently downgraded my CBR929 to an XR650L which is in the process of being converted to a Supermotard (if you have to ask why, buy a Harley) and even though I was enamoured of the HD as a child after seeing many films and the history of the bike, I don't think I would ever own one, and not because of the hardware itself, but because I would not want to be associated with such a narrow minded closed segment of the motorcycling community. We are all motorcyclists, irrespective of the hardware we choose to ride, and unless we stick together, Congress is going to see to it that we all end up riding bicycles if we are not careful. Take a look at pending legislation on the AMA website for details. Imported bikes outnumber Harley Davidson by about 10 to 1, which should come as no surprise. I'm glad to be a member of the AMA, a riding club here in CA, and the proud owner of a couple of imported bikes. I've had my rant. Maybe you wil post it, maybe not, but keep up the good work. For the most part, the site is funny, objective and honest, and supportive of a group of riders that excercise their right to choose what mode of transport they desire, lifestyle excluded, age ignored. I wonder if HD will ever produce a reliable and appealing machine? Even Buell seems to be making progress with the new bikes for '03. I wish them well.  -RJB

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I enjoyed reading the site you have there all about harleys and the dispensible bullshit that surrounds them. Albeit the core of the issue is that they are too expensive, thus giving them Beemer status, and thus being bought by the same assholes who drive BMW's and Jags. I agree with what your conception of these machines are: Junk. I myself will never own one. On the other hand I have to say that harley does something nobody else does: Make Motorcycles as an artform. Anyone buying one for it's dependability is only fooling themselves. Most know they are undependable, but that's besides the point. They are true to a heritage of classic, old, and old fashioned motorbike. I can say that it is true that japanese makers are on the verge of making almost spacecraft like bikes, weighing much less, being very fast, and of new materials. technology and speed they have, but for sheer aesthetics, forget it. All the jap bikes look alike at this point, with hideous plasticy bodys,bulbous headlamps, and almost generified styling. I cant tell the diffrence in any of them. I collect and work on classic Japanese bikes. There is a lot to be said for the older ones when japan was trying to do it's best. these bikes last for decades and keep going forever. I have seen many of the plastic bikes split to pieces or wrecked by some teenage kid . To put it simply, these new bikes are ass ugly. I agree that lot of people ride harleys for sheer prestige. These same people also wear t-shirts and useless skull hemlets. Since these people are only weekend riders, a good wreck and they're dead. That is what bothers me the most. Stupid people who shouldnt be on a bike in the first place with no protection. I guess a comparison could be made between British and American bikes. The British caved in and desighned their bikes to look just like the Japanese bikes. The "British " bike is no more. If anything can be said about harley, it's that they havent submitted to change, and as a company in a land that throws away everything, That deserves a deal of respect. Thanks for the web site. Seth
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If I bought a new bike tomorrow, Harley would be my second choice. ANYTHING else would be my first choice. -Bob

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Can't believe I didn't see my favorite of all time:

Q:How do you get a Harley to go fast?
A: Throw it off a cliff.

By the way, I went thorugh my Sportster phase (technically, I suppose, still finishing it), still think your site is funny as hell, and I'll laugh even harder as soon as I can find someone dumb enough to buy my Buell Pizza so I can afford the R1 I should have bought years ago.  -Craig

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Black Echo,

Really enjoying your site and wanted to chime in with a funny little piece of info that I picked up while attending the Suzuka 8 Hours race in Japan at the beginning of August. As you may know Harley is trying to exert its brand into the Asian market, particularly Japan...but it's not working. Oh, how it's not working.It's a pretty spectacular failure from what I could understand while speaking to their reps. They've poured massive bucks into this effort to almost no avail. At the races, for the two main days (Sat. and Sun.), there were over 100K in attendance each day and Harley had their booth in the main courtyard...but no one was going there! Maybe you had to have been there to fully understand the premium placement they had there, it was incredible--I could have attracted a larger crowd with dog crap on a stick! The Japanese "Big-Four" booths were up in an obscure corner of the track, but they were just deluged with visitors checking out the latest bikes.The problem isn't something that Harley can likely ever solve. For one, Harleys are waaaaaaay too expensive for the Japanese public who are suffering through the country's biggest postwar recession. As for the "Harley lifestyle," it's effect is largely negated by the impracticality of the product itself. Obviously Japan is not a huge country and its cities are tight, so people need and want smaller sized bikes--a simple fact of life that anyone who's been there can see. Pretty much rules out any Harley...The whole situation there makes me really wonder whether or not Harley even did any market research at all before jumping in. Dumbass hill scoggins... -MLopez

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A friend told me about your site and I have only just stopped laughing long enough to send you an e-mail.

I was riding my Yamaha FZR1000 through town when a man stuck his head out of his car's window and yelled at me, "Buy America! Get a Harley!"

In disbelief I whipped my faceshield up and screamed back, "You're driving a Volkswagen you fucking idiot!"

Thanks for the great Web site and keep up the good work.  -KPenzig

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I love your website and I 100% support your voice and your opinions. Keep up the good work.  -Mrollins

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This year at 35 years young I bought my first bike, V-star 1100 classic, I love it! I based my decision on reviews, word of mouth, and common sense, not my ignorance. I didn't see the joke I see all the time. What does HD stand for? Hundred Dollars, as in $100 a part for that sucker!

Keep up the good work!!! Kenny

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ROTFLMAO! Oh you are the guru of Harley Humor and will do my best to follow and pass along to my fellow man the wisdom of your writings! This is one of the best sites I have seen in a while. The only thing I hate more than Harley's is Harley attitudes. You have to admit though Harley Davidson must have one hell of a marketing team. How else could you sell a piece of 1920's technology for more that it is worth. The week before Sturgis I was going down the highway on my 1984 Goldwing with 265,000 miles on the original motor now and noticed many trailers going down the road with Harley's in them. Traffic stopped and as I came up next to one of them I asked where all the Harley's in trailers were going and he told me they were on there way to Sturgis. My bike has been there 3 times from Calif under its own power towing its own trailer. I also saw a GL1500 Goldwing later that day towing a motorcycle trailer with get this A HARLEY ON THE TRAILER!! Headed for Sturgis. I would have paid $5000 dollars for a throw away camera right then. I was laughing so hard I had to pull over and clear my throat. Great site! take care and may the Schwartz be with you!   -Mark

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Hi from New Orleans, Echo!  We exchanged welcoming emails to your Angst forum a while back.

HD of New Orleans runs a radio ad every day, several times, advertising their HD "motorclothes". Usually, I change the channel the moment I hear their BS ad. Today I listened for once.

They never mention the bikes, only the "motorclothes".  In conclusion,they say something like "when you wear the HD motorclothes, you can adopt the "HD ATTITUDE"" !  WTF????? Why would anyone with half a brain want to buy an attitude??????? I got to thinking about it....If you take the HD motorclothes off at night, do you revert to your previous ignorant attitude, or does the lame ass "HD ATTITUDE" linger in your addled brain for a few hours?

Man, our country is really going down the tubes if we have to start buying an attitude!!!!!

Just wanted to vent in an email to you.

I saw the etch a sketch picture on The Spirit World forum(devoted to the Honda Spirit750), and thought you might get a smile from it!

A big fan of yours,  -JHoffert

(Ah, yes.  Another one of my original graphics that will become infamous on the Internet as it is plastered over site after site and claimed by many to be the their own work.  You can tell I did it by the "Troglovision" line on the bottom and the graphic originally appeared in this feedback.  I really, really need to start watermarking my graphics, but ...  John, one weekend in the next couple of months, the Dark One is going to ride down to New Orleans (you're only about 90 miles away) and we will link up for some unlimited mirth in the Big Easy.  -BE)

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Great web site. I wish I had found it earlier.

I couldn't have said it any better except that I have totally given up on HD and Buell. I'm passed the point of hope that a US company will ever step up and build a real bike - only more HD type clones with the same sorry twin motors. At this point I see myself buying Jap bikes for the rest of my life. Even if I wanted a "cruiser" type bike - it would be Japanese built. IMO - they build a better cruiser than HD. They build a better HD than HD themselves!

I hate the HD riders more than the bikes themselves but in the end, HD should be held accountable for the monsters they've created.  - Tshelton, 2000 Hayabusa

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Thought you might like to see this shirt.  -MGreenham

"IF THEY HAD MORE ENGINEERS THAN LAWYERS,
THEY'D HAVE A BETTER MOTORCYCLE"

ROTFLMAO!  Oh, how true!

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You are unfucking believable!  I laughed so hard I wet myself.  Honest.  And I've never done that before, not even when I went and saw Eddie Murphy live in concert.   If you keep this up, I'm going to have to get a box of depends when I surf your site, and I'm only 28 years old, ride a CBR900RR.  Keep up the great work!   -MSmith

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Thank you for having the balls to stand up to those retards and give them a taste of the medicine that they have been giving to us for so long!  Excellent site!   -JCharles

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I ride a '98 Sportster but I have to say that after 2 years with the Harley crowd, you have more originality in the first page of your site than in all of Sturgis put together.   Can I have your love child?  The last thing I want is to breed with one of those 'redneck stumpfuck hill scoggins'.  LOL!  I used that term on a guy who tried to pick me up the other night at a bar.  You should have seen his expression!   His friends laughed at him when he had to walk back to his table.  He thought that since I rode a Harley that I would be attracted to some redneck like him.  These people are all retards.  Maybe it's time to get a Honda.  -Stella.

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Your sordid site... It's hilarious and so fuckin' true, and I've owned 2 HD's!! A Shovel and a Sportster. They were 2 of the worst machines and were nothing but bottomless money pits. If I ever went over 60 miles without dying of rigormortis and numb hands, it was a miracle. I wouldn't own another one if you gave it to me. Harley must be secretly run by Mao Tse Tung. I bookmarked your site. If you put this letter on your site, please sign it 'anonymous'.  Thanks.  - "Anonymous"  : )       

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I would just like to mention how much i enjoyed browsing through your site. I havent laughed so much in ages. You have an enviable command of the English language. Thanks for being so entertaining!   -John

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I had a whole lot of fun on your site. Very entertaining. I personally have a rather odd mix of bikes, a '98 Moto Guzzi EV11, a '73 CZ250, an XS650 Yamaha chopper, and a '70 FLH bobber project (pic attatched of the tank, I think it'll get a smile out of you). -LBruns

ROTFLMAO!  "Briggs and Stratton"!

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I liked your site.  Very good read. I know, you must get tons of mail generated by that site, so if you're reading this, I know you've dedicated serious time to  reading e-mail today and I thank you! But, being the chatty mofo I am, I simply couldn't go with out sending you a fewcomments. First, let me tell you where I'm coming from, my bike stable consists of a 97 CBR 900RR, a 93 and 97 CBR 600, a 90 VTR 250, and a sweet 1983 RZ 350 Canadian import. It's wicked. I also make my living selling Honda, Yamaha, and *dramatic pause* Harley Davidson. Yup, the Motor Company pays my bills, or helps to, anyhow.  Before moving to sales, I was a mechanic of the above mentioned brands for few years. So I have a unique perspective. The reason I write is to tell you that you're right, mostly. A lot of what you say about HD ownership is totally true. And it really is an inferior product for the money. They do serve their purpose, and they do offer a different riding experience from a Japanese cruiser. I guess I'm saying is that there is valid reasons for owning one. If one had the money, HD ownership can make sense. As long as you don't buy the retarded bullshit that you're buying "The Best Motorcycle on the Planet". That just isn't so, and I'll look a prospective buyer in the face and tell them that. I like your insight and I totally dig your writing style (...)  -Justin

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howdy, I just wanted to say that I love your website. me and my riding buddies have been screaming about Harley's for years, and it seems that someone FINALLY agrees with us. BTW, I ride a 94 Honda Magna (the original power cruiser) and while it does weigh in at 500 lbs. wet, it does have more stock HP than any V-twin cruiser (minus the recent power cruiser explosion) and will smoke-check a Harley on my worst day. I've been through the basic and advanced MSF courses and I have made my bike do sh*t that had my sportbike riding buddies giving me standing "O"'s. anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I respect you for having the balls to tell it like it is. -PLooker

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Your site is all too true about the average harley rider. The acts of stupidity these guys perform is beyond me. For instance - I was just learning to ride, and I am out poking around the lovely (not) suburbs of chicago. Stopped at a light, this fellow in a deafening loud HD pulls up next to me. I assume he wants to chat or something, so I flip up the visor on my helmet and say hello to him. He does not even look over. I figure he cant hear me over his straight pipe shotgun exhaust so I yell louder "HEY!" at which time he proceeds to rev his bike in typical HD fashion and continues to ignore me. I gave up attempting to communicate, and as the light turns green I begin to roll, and he launches hard, cuts left, and literally runs me into oncoming traffic. Luckily for me we still had the turning arrow in my direction, so I did not end up as grill dressing on some SUV. It really made me think about the whole mentality of your typical HD rider when they will attempt to get you killed because you ride a sportbike (the kicker is that I own an SV650S which has a V-twin in it of all things!!!).

Anyway thats my rant. It would have been nice to catch his licence but that would be pointless, as the average chicago police officer is your typical harley rider and would probably applaud the moron for what he did. I wont even go into the way the police here act towards non-harley riders. Situation - you get a ticket for having "too loud of a pipe", and while you are showing the friendly neighborhood officer the little engraving on the stock pipe on your bike that says "Suzuki" a sonic boom belching HD rolls on by setting off every car alarm in a two block radius. I asked "Is that bike too loud as well?" to which his shit eating grin response is "What bike".

I realize that not all police are a$$holes. I spent time with some coppers out in Utah, and they actually believe in enforcing the law in service of the public, not to generate revenue or inflate their egos. It just seems that 99.995% of the police here are like that.  Thanks for the web site. I was laughing my ass off at the "Stage 3 Race prep" vs. Valkyrie. You can polish a turd till it shines, but it is still a turd. It brings a smile to my face every time I read one of the canned lines, like "If Harley made an airplane, would you really want to ride in it?".  -DHrnciar

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Yo Echo,

Reading your site is a real lift whenever I look outside at my brand new GS500 and realize that, because of bureaucratic error, I won't be legally able to ride it for a few more weeks. Patience will pay off...Every time an airhead "trend-humping fashion lemming" comes roaring down my street at ungodly hours I always think of what your web page says... and I go back to sleep, at peace now that I know why people ride those obnoxious machines. Keep up  the good work, man.  -GGleason

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You're web page is great .What you write about is right on the money.  HD and IDIOTS are one in the same.Of course I have had nothing but Jap bikes because they handle,performe and don't break down.Keep up the good work!! -JBayert

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Will you run for president?  If so, you have my vote!  CDion

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I was impressed and amazed at your essay describing the reality of the Harely-Davidson-mania that has swept the country. As my friends and I stumble into middle-age we are, one-by-one, gripped by this savage and insidious disease. I've watched in amazement as they plunk down 16, 17, 18, grand and more for these ridiculous thrashing machines. As you describe, the doo-rags, key chains and leathers soon follow...

You'd have thought that I shot my mother when they all learned that I drug a '78 Honda CB750 from the junkyard for 600 bucks and spent the winter restoring  it. And now, the last-of-the-first-of-the-superbikes runs rings around them all. They can't stand it.   When they look at me in puzzlement, I try to explain the historical significance of the Big Jap Fours of the 60's and 70's. I know I'm wasting my time. Maybe I'm the one who's thick. I just don't get the notion of spending 20-large for a throbbing wheelchair that can barely get out of its own way...

Occasionally, as I'm sure you have, I'll run into the true American motorcycle enthusiast. They guy who found the old '47 Indian in his aunt's garage and lovingly and painstakingly restored it. This guy has a lot more in common with me than he does with "them".  Can't picture this guy with tassled saddle bags and a POW-MIA doo-rag double-parked in front of the Dairy Queen....

Anyway, it's a long way to go to tell you how much I appreciate your thoughts on the matter.  All the best...  -Joe

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I read your "rules of conduct", you missed the other half of the mansteak bit, needing a "big american vibrator" to satisfy their spouse / girlfriend / sister / mothers big fat ass! You RULE with an Iron Fist!  -A Friend and Fan for life, Paul.

I would gladly buy American if there was a big motorcycle worth buying (maybe the boss hoss, just because it looks cool). I've read recently that American ownership of Honda is actually greater than Harley Davidson now. Here's another good one. Motorcycle Consumer News (MCN) has revealed that total sales for 2001 for on and off-road bikes (no ATV's or scooters) was 759,000. Honda grew 30% and sold 214,558 and Harley sold 177,125 while only growing 13%. Honda has 28.2% market share and HD has 23.3%. Indian grew a staggering 81% but that's from sales of 2042 in '00 to 3701 in '01. For my money I ride a F6 Valkyrie. It'll smoke any American cruiser on the road like a cuban cigar. -HonestJohn

Honda Valkyrie- the "Made-In-America" cycle that America wishes it could make. -BradP

I know you get this a lot, but if more people thought like you, this country wouldn’t be in the shit it is in today. You are a dying breed, Black Echo. Someone who cares and who has the balls to stand up and say that you do. This country used to be about kicking ass and taking names. Now it’s about kissing ass and dropping names. Keep up the good fight! God bless you, sir! -RichK

how about a VALKYRIE, not as fast as a sport bike but comfort out the wazoo http://www.valkyrieriders.com/ I hang around this site alot, I'm sure you've heard of it, since I found my way here from there. :) you crack me up buddy, keep up the good work. with people like you out there it gives me hope that we can break the dogma psyche that Harley holds over the populace. Regards –TomR

I love it!!! Talk about hitting the nail squarely on the head! This weekend I rode my 20 year old Yamaha XJ1100 Maxim along with a friend on his new Harley and two other Hardley guys. All of them are less than a year old and none of them had ridden anything in decades before buying into the chrome thang. When we got to our destination they all dismounted and stood there staring at their overpriced under techno'd chromed POS's. Not for a short while either - it was for the long term. I gave up and walked inside. Amazing - the mental state of these folks. Sound and shiny - unimpeded by progress of any sort. That's the well selling myth. Me - I'm eyeing that 2003 FJR1300..... Thanks for the laugh, Deano K.  (82 XJ 95HP walk any HD any time)

You’re funny and intelligent. Did I spell that right?? I never laughed my ass off so hard and yet what you were saying is soo true !! I own 2002 ZX-12R and and can't even begin to explain to the ( YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND CLUB ) Now I know that I am not the only person who was luckily not aborted ! -Chris

I found your web site on www.zx12-r.org, i can't believe you're a police officer as smart as your writing sounds. I am really impressed (not that you care), by your intelligence, I wish I could sound 1/2 as smart as you. What really impresses me is that you're not just bashing harley, your actually challenging them to improve their product, and make America build the machines they are capable of building. If more people thought like you America would be a different place. I almost see the stagnation you spoke of Harley possessing in several aspects of this country. It's almost like we have changed, lost our work ethic, pride, and have lost our sense of adventure or challenge. thanks for a great site, I know you could crush this e-mail, I can't articulate my thoughts as well as you, but I would like you to know your site is more than just about harleys and i am impressed. To try and be clear, I admire your effort. –Skeeter1277

GREAT SITE ! I`ve never got a headache before from laughing so hard . I thought I was the only one that thought Harley Davidson was treating the American public like circus elephants ( trunk-to-tail ) in a single file line to become one of the mindless sheep. Anyway I could go o about the mindless, I do live in Ohio and we have a bunch of them out here! love the site! .ohh B.T.W, I ride a 2000 kawasaki zx-12r. and my favorite thing to do is to ride into a pack of wannabees and show them what a REAL bike looks and sounds like !...............jeremyS

I think I wet myself. I have never in my life laughed so hard. I have never owned Harley, but I've ridden and been around more than a few. Everything you state regarding the attitude of their owners is spot on. I had ridden a '81 CB750K for nearly ten years, it was what I could afford, and it did everything I wanted, daily rider, long distance trips, (1000 mile plus rides, with never even a hiccup) But some of the Harley owners I know were always giving me sheet about "upgrading to a Harley" When I finally did save enough to upgrade, it was to a ZRX 1100 Kawasaki. They all gave me hell for not "buying American" and "you shoulda gone for Harley... twice the torque" 'Twice the torque?' I just laughed...and they got strangely quiet about speed and performance after I let them talk me into a drag race with a "modified" Harley...the numbers they threw at me were ridiculous, "It's putting out 94 foot-pounds of torque and 167 horse power...your gonna lose.." MY Z-Rex not only out ran it, but we had to use it as a tow vehicle to get his Harley back to the bar after the second run...because the first time he.."missed a gear" the second time..the engine in his 25k dollar, modified, suped up Harley went boom. Funny...my unpatriotic, rice burning, $3200.00 dollar, completely stock jap bike is still running fine. -RedJohn

Dude, You definitely brightened my otherwise drab day........... Your site is friggin funny and quite well thought out. I stumbled across this site by accident, and wanted you to know that in all of my years of riding and teaching, I have never had such a good laugh. Robert J. I. II

Great site. I laughed and laughed as I read it. I'm a forensic psychologist and I think you have much better diagnostic skills with at least one (maybe more????) disorders than I. Keep it up (by the way, I ride an 86 intruder. I keep trying to find a bike old as me but those steam powered jobs are pretty expensive). Thanks again for all the laughs. -Dan D.

You have driven the final stake in my Motorcycle nightmare. Riding a 16 year old GL 1000 with a group that included one Harley with about 18 months on it was the penultimate stake. We got passed, on an upgrade, by a tractor trailer rig, and the five cars following it. The ride was to a barbecue and motorcycle show. The Hog Owner came home with the same intestinal gas as the rest of us, and the first place trophy from the show. I'm still trying to figure out how a security guard earned enough money to buy a dressed Harley. But I don't generally investigate my friends finances. Now that I have had his low speed explained I will quit thinking it was just cause he did not want to leave the old guy on the Goldwing behind. -B10Four.

Just forwarded your site to some of the HD 'wannabes' I know in my area. I've been calling them "BAAAAD Boys' for years. Bought one of them an inflatable sheep at the XXX book store and the dumb ass didn't know what to do with it! They don't like my 'rice burner' and I don't like the fact that they're too stupid to know what a 'good' motorcycle is. Good site, good info, and great presentation! cjay

I LOVE your site! I've been riding since I was 17 in 1987, a yamaha, a Beemer, now a Suzuku sv650, and have the misfortune of living in Milwaukee. Honestly, about 90% of the cycles on the road are harleys. And the flack I get here is unending. People who've never ever ridden a cycle, like someone's gradma, will see my helmet or jacket, and say "do you have a motorcycle?", then ask "is it a harley?" and when I tell them what it is, they say "I (or my husband or such) only likes harleys." and walk away. A roaring herd of individuals, all deep-throating a crappy trademark and begging for more, plastered head to toe with that stupid logo. -Mr.B

Great Website, You are right on about Harley posers. I was at the Daytona Supercross this year which unfortunately is the same time as bike week. Actually motorcycle racing used to be the main focus for bike week. I went just for the day to watch the races. What a miserable experience once you get outside the Daytona speedway. On the way there traffic sucked because all the Harley riders drive well below the speed limit so the can be seen and pose. There were a few cool people but for the most part the majority were just peacocks strutting their feathers. The winners are guys hauling their Harleys on trailers behind their SUVs, then sitting on them in parking lots. What a joke. Good job on the site. -MikeE

Howdy, nice web site! I hope you piss off a lot of flag waving yuppie harley "h.o.g." riders. Very entertaining. I personally like to ride shitty old Japanese or Italian bikes that are on the verge of being rat bikes to the local "Hells Angels" bar. I get there at 6am when it is still dark and raining and drink with the bartender. Usually I build my own wire harnesses and I always wrench on them myself. The faggot Harley yuppies show up at the bar on some Saturday or Sunday afternoon after a big poker run. Phuk them! I do nut ride for phun! I ride a bike because I can't afford a car. I got goddam oil cans and tools  strapped to my cycle (pitch fork, shovel, saws ) and I got to drive it to landscape jobs. I want to strap a lawnmower on it sometimew. Well at least the bartender laughs inside when the Harley pee ople show up. I tell them to go buy a new Ford Explorer, their cheaper. They get pissed off, but they never get into a fight. Well, my brother and I are working on Motoretard site under Yahoo clubs. Best of luck, watch your back for the leather boy h-d owners with their sleeves rolled up and their fists caked in axle grease.... –DanF

Regarding your thoughts about Harleys and motorcycles in general: The only reason I think why HD is still in business is because the owners of the company sold their souls to Satan. -RobertL

A friend of mine emailed me your site . I Love it it is great. –BobC

nice site BUT please don't pick on sheep even they're smart enough not to associate themselves with anyone who rides a HD! -Don

I own a 1990 Yamaha Radian (600cc, inline 4). It's amazing how Harley riders always display an attitude of superiority. My very friendly, very humble neighbor sold his Honda Interceptor 500 and bought a Harley. He totally went overboard and completely Harley'ed himself out, complete with leather apparel and lifestyle to match. Bandana-covered, shaved head and all ("butt pirate" nazi style). It was amazing and hilarious. Though we remained good friends, I noticed his attitude immediately change to "Jap bikes suck", even though his brand new Sporty was always breaking down on him and his 1983 Honda ran like a champ with zero problems. My personal take on this is that the reason they don't wave to other bikers is because they're too busy fixing their bikes on the side of the road and too pissed off to wave at a person who owns a bike that ALWAYS RUNS. BTW, he had to sell the Harley because it never ran right, and he got himself an SUV instead - so we see that there is hope that these lost sheep can be converted back to reality and intelligent lifestyles.  To this day, I've never met a Harley owner who's garage had not been converted into a full-blown maintenance and support shop for the bike out of NECESSITY. If you own a Harley, it will FORCE you to become a professional mechanic. You can tell a Harley owner before you even walk into the garage because of all the oily hand print stains all over the garage and fridge (cheap beer) doors. And worst of all: Look at the pure losers HD's attract. They are scum magnets. Bob

I got a real kick from your site. Some Harley owner's are so brainwashed they don't realize how stupid they sound. Especially when I am on my bike and they ask me, "Why didn't you buy a Harley?" I always reply, "Which one?" They start rambling through the alphabet soup of HDs and I always say, "I don't like that model" after each one. Or they will ask, "When are you going to buy a Harley?" I reply, just as soon as I want one. They act as if I should buy a Harley to please THEM even though I don't like any of their models. Who knows...in 5 years they might make something I like. But if the same number of jerkoffs ride them then as do now I may blow it off just to avoid the association with such mind numbed animatrons. -PRH

Touche, that is some funny shit and unfortunately all too accurate for the seeming majority of h-d riders these days. I've been riding British bikes, Indians, and h-d's for more than thirty years and really wish the yuppies would find some new fad to sink their cash into. Until they do, please keep whipping them with their own fringe. Lee P

Hi, my name is Sjaak S from Holland, and must tell you that I've just had the best laugh in days. The officially licensed stuff was a real shocker, too, even if I knew it was out there. Well, let me get it out; I ride my sportster and am, and was since at school deeply in love with it, and ride the piss out of it, day in, day out. Looks like shit to a Harley poser, looks great to me. Rides like shit honestly, but I love every shimmy, wobble, spitback and what have you. Wanta say that you are obviously right about a lot of things pertaining to HD's and their oftentimes very stupid, rude owners, who ask me when I get a real one, and tell me not to dispair: they also started out on one like that, and "that my time will come..". When I think of the last time the Official Dealer thought I would pay $15 for the 2002 catalog, I get deeply depressed or a rush of white anger, depending on my mood. Still, what I would like to share with you besides the above, is my concern for motorcycling as a whole, when I talk to other motorcyclists. I find an equal number of non-bikers riding non-Harleys as do Harleys, and I can mirror every description from you regarding stupid Harley riders on to riders in general. Jeez, look at them, on their new shiny CBR's or Milles; new, but dried out already leather, gassing their bikes,( talking about noise from a race can), smirking at the Sportster. The smell easy pray. A moderately well ridden bike like that would stay ahead of me in second gear with one hand on the bars, but not those people, and knowing a poser when I see one, actually leave him in the curves, can you imagine that? Talking to those people is even worse, friendlyness is awnsered with harshness and just rolling in the gas station is met with studied indifference. Rode my 2.25 gallon tank ( very unpractical but gives me pornographically lustfull view of engine) dry and started pushin', and NO ONE stops to ask what gives, Harley or other alike. After 22 years on the road on bikes, for the last ten years I have turned away from the rest of the biking community, hardcore Harley; no reasonable conversation possible, or others riders; good ones too few to bother, and Harley posers; worst of all. Thanks for listening, Regards Sjaak S, Holland.

Good job! You have aired out the stupidity of harley owners for all of us! Man, I just love it! I ride a Suzuki VL1500LC because it is the best bang for the buck for the style of machine I like. Just the engineering alone in the Suzuki V-Twin, makes Harley just like Clinton, something America should be ashamed of and bury as soon as possible. I love to ride and the Japanese have it down pat. So far I have logged 25K on my 1999 and no problems at all. The only problem was that I installed a jet kit (made in America?) that had abrasive needles that trashed the Carbs. I love the V-Twin, and this Suzuki Twin has been just a dream. Hydraulic lifter's, no oil leaks and lot's of chrome on the engine stock. I make the Fat Boy look like a Little Boy when I park my LC next to one :) Thanks, Paul

I found your site most entertaining. You have some very creative descriptions of Harley riders. It's unfortunate that there are a lot of HD owners out there who live up to your description. –Walter

I have to admit that, even being a card-carrying Harley owner (HOG is the term), I was practically rolling on the floor laughing as I read your diatribe. I agree that some of the Harley-worship reaches the point of being kind of absurd. I'm sure that I have done things that, if I looked at it objectively, I'd think were silly. – SteveH

I wanted to be angry with you, and totally disagree with everything you said. But in the end, I just couldn't because frankly...a lot of what you say it true. And, you do have a way with words that I found really humorous. I found the Milwaukee Burger thing a hoot! That being said, I am still going to keep working on my Sportster. I guess that sort of makes me a "lemming", but I still just want one. Like you say though, Harley's have become so expensive and semi-exclusive, that an outright purchase is impossible. I am purchasing my Sporty one piece at a time off ebay. I figure I will know this bike really well by the time I'm finished! Lol I do like other bikes though. I really like the BMW Cruiser bikes. I've also been interested in the Chinese knock offs of the old BMW bikes. My sergeant (I'm a cop too) has a v-twin Suzuki that looks and sounds really cool. So while I may not agree with everything you say, you did give me a chuckle and food for thought. Stay safe, and keep it shiny side up. –JohnH

Ew. BAHHHHHHHHH BAHHHHHHHHHH – Kittsharley

Let sleeping sheep lie... We don't want them riding bikes that have acceleration or dependability. Let them spend their money on stupid crap... let them stimulate our economy and our laughter. There's nothing more hilarious than watching these redneck dingo's thinking there part of something cool! I own three bikes combined I paid less than the custom paint job on the RUB cruiser next door. I would take anyone of them against a Harley any day! Don't wake up to many sheep. The wolves need something to hunt! Paul

Hi there, Your site was linked from a letter to the YAM650 list; as you ask for comments: Thanks for providing a most amusing site, I really do understand that your tongue is in your cheek, but as Sun Tzu (or was it Musashi?) said:- "To overcome your attacker you must become him." Ride safe, FredH.

Hey bro, if you get a chance just to glimpse this email i will be happy. i'm writing this even before i get through half of your web site. just reading your code of ethics made me want to write to you. I love what you've done. it takes an honest look at HD and most(not all) of their owners. I myself don't believe in HD either. I have a Honda valkyrie myself. please keep up the great work and the fact that you're a cop just makes it that much better. take care and have fun tearing new assholes in those stuck up snobbish HD owners who's bike is less American than my valk. I think the most American HD is the fatboy at 76%. my valk is 84% built in the US. just has the Jap name. keep flaming them. -rob in NJ

A friend just turned me on to your web site. Allow me to compliment you on your command of the English language. Very well written and fun to read. A shop I used to work in was cursed with the presence of a H-D owner/rider. He couldn't utter a single sentence without the word "Harley" in it somewhere. I got fed up one day and yelled across the shop to another Harley hater, "Hey, Ben! Do you know why they invented Harleys?" He said, "No, Why?" I replied, "So that guys with little, tiny dicks would have something to brag about." Unfortunately, we only got about 5 minutes of silence out of it, but it was worth it. Keep up the good work. PaulE, motorcyclist on my third Goldwing.

A friend of mine rides a KY-OICU812 (or whatever the model name is) Heritage Softail - I'm sad to report, with windshield, tassels and ... wait for it! ... a Harley FLAG sticking up on a flag-pole out the back. His wife has also recently bought a 1200 Sportster too, so they have well and truly bought into the image. What I find highly amusing is that he privately admitted to me that the Intruder was not only better looking, it was also a damn sight more comfortable! -NickS

As an owner of a Yamaha-Road Star, I totally agree as your statements was right on the money-regarding H-D of tricking the (moron) public ,that their product is superior. The answer is =THEY HAVE ONE HELL OF A PROPAGANDA MACHINE!!!!! where as Japan gives conviction in their machinery as proof by test and endurance through time and error to achieve perfection./and quality. –Brower ...bashing son of a gun. I just spent a good hour outta my taxpayer funded day perusing your web site. I had never plumbed the depths of my reasoning for not wanting to ride a Harley, but I have seen all the arguments I have superficially considered explained in crystalline clarity. I ride a Valkyrie. Not the sporty type bike you ride, but I chose it after long-term deliberations as to what I wanted in a bike...performance, reliability, and it's unique character. I am writing to say that I laughed my a$$ off for a good hour reading your rants, the replies you get, and your response to them. You make sense. I run into a lot of HD owners, and I occasionally encounter the brain dead "trend humping" HD owners with something derogatory to say about my "rice burner" (made in Ohio). My usual response is to show them my taillights as I pull away from them. I am pretty much a 'to each his own' kinda guy, and rarely make comments about other bikes. I have ridden a bunch, six in all, all different types. I ride the bike that suits me at the time. Never found much use for a Harley...since whatever I was looking for at the time in a motorcycle I found in better quality/quantity in other bikes. My Ninja outperformed any HD made, My Intruder 1400 was a better quality V-Twin, My V-Max was a better muscle cruiser, and My Valk runs better than any HD made on long tours. I have had others, and never looked at a Harley rider with any envy. I like your site. Its vehement, witty, smart smackdowns of the lemming mentality so prevalent among HD riders is right on target. You put a fair amount of thought into it. Next time I get some flak about my Valkerie, I will have a little more to say. Thanks for the fun. Good web site. Sergeant First Class Billy Scott

This is the first time I have seen your site. If you are truly a H D hater, I would like to know why. If this is intended as a humorous site you have done well, and I will be returning. Having owned more than a few bikes (foreign and domestic) I have no real allegiance to one manufacturer. If you feel the need to "take me apart" go ahead as I have a lot of miles and could use a rebuild any way. ;-) -NJThomas

Love your site! Coming from Canada, we suffer the same Harley 'attitude' and we don't even have an indigenous motorcycle industry here! No patriotism involved in the purchase and loyalty to any particular brand, just the typical marketing brainwashing, but it exists here too. Even Sonny Barger, the prototypical biker, in his autobiography 'Hell's Angel' said he would have ridden Jap bikes instead of Harleys if it was acceptable to his 'brothers'! I ride Japanese because they are cheaper and better built than H-D. However, I do own shares of Harley-Davidson and have gotten an excellent return on my investment thanks to the lemmings! BrianK. Wanted to say that I really enjoyed your 'angst' site. Very provocative and funny stuff. I forwarded the link to several of my riding friends Harley and non.. I'm not at all surprised at the passionate (and poorly written) replies you've gotten from the HD zealots. Blasphemy in the eyes of the Harley faithful :) -

I don't know how much of your ranting is pure flame bait and how much of it you're serious about, but I would like to add my thoughts regarding some of your writing. I wish motorcyclists would not divide themselves into camps. Sure some of the Jack-ass Harley types have been snubbing us for years, don't let them drag you down. There are still plenty of sensible ones out there. Instead of "Rice vs. Hogs", it should be motorcyclists against the mini-van soccer moms, and the yuppie-SUV crowd that are clogging the highways and nearly killing us while obliviously yakking away on their cell phones. As hard as it is for the performance oriented to conceive of.. for the cruiser guys, it's really not about speed and power. Some people actually like to thump along, seeing the sights and smelling the smells. Hp numbers mean little to them as long as the thing has enough power to get up that   next hill. In my experience, late model (evo and newer) Harleys are really not the poorly constructed rolling junk piles you make them out to be. In fact the ones that I've ridden seem very sturdy and well made. I don't even know anyone who has a real basis for an opinion, HD fan or not, who would dispute this. Not a high-tech marvel by any means, but solidly made at least. Fwiw, I currently have a couple old Yamahas. a sport bike and an old '76 UJM. I completely agree that the Harley price / performance is so far below   what the Japanese offer, It's simply not justifiable. If (and a big IF at that) I ever wanted a cruiser, I'd buy a used Road Star or Shadow for MUCH less and if I were of a mind to drop $15k or better on a bike, I think I'd go for a beemer and get the high tech susp and heated grips along w/ my prestigious marque. Thanks for the cool site, ride safe. –Dlewis

Although you may not think it possible, there is a 'scoggin' even dumber than a Harley rider, and that is an Indian rider. No, not the beautiful Indians of yore, the new crap of today passed off as an Indian. Lessee, you take an S&S, stock Harley frame and accessories, plus an Indian looking front wheel, then add an Indian logo, plus $10,000 more to the already ridiculous price of an HD, and you get an Indian Idiot. Had one of 'em at my waterin' hole about 6 months ago, proudly showing off his new Indian when
I pulled up on my Valk. I would have kept quiet except he kind of sneered at my Valk, which permitted me to ask him what kind of idiot would pay $25,000 for a Harley. He hasn't been back since. Keep it up WHerbert

Just thought I would tell you, that I love the site. I ride a Harley, and I love the site - go figure. I love all bikes, and have had all sorts. What I think I like best about the site is that 1. you didn't pick the argument. If you had picked the fight I would think you were an argumentative prick, but since you are defending yourself - well then, hit back hard. 2. you have your own opinion. You like what you like, you don't like what you don't like. So many Harley riders claim that it is a free American spirit that makes HD great, but then fail to realize that this spirit is indeed to let people have their own opinion. 3. I am glad to see that someone other than me sees that the river of BS out of Milwaukee flows faster than any of their bikes. Sorry to read that you have been insulted and threatened. I can't apologize for the HD riding morons who blow insults your way, but know that you won't get any from me. I just thought you might like to hear that some of us who ride HD, know what they are, what they are not, and like to see people who have an honest opinion. Would you believe that I almost bought a Hayabusa? But then I decided that I didn't want to die, and on the busa, it would take me a week to kill myself. I needed to slow down. What better way to slow down than on a Harley? <g> I bought the sportster (an oxymoron), cause I didn't want it weighed down with useless chrome, and I wasn't going to pay over $15G for chrome. In the end I got mine for less than the busa, and I only paid MSRP - a challenge in and of itself. I think the next bike will probably be a VFR - it's quick. light, decently powerful, yet kind of mild, not overly flashy and not way out there on the price. Thanks, mike

You rock. I've had this on my web site for some time now: Perhaps the real blame lies as it always does with us, the uncommitted citizenry. When our leaders leave us with poisoned drinking water, we re-elect them. When our children tattoo and pierce themselves we call it self-realization. When our spouses leave, we call it the best thing that's ever happened to us. But now our motorcycle rebels have abandoned their colors steeped in motor oil -- in the blood of bike, for all that is sacred – in favor of Harley-brand personal grooming products. Well, whom do we have to blame but ourselves? I personally rebuilt a '77 XLCR [cafe racer] that had been bastardized and turned into a "up-to-date machine" by the previous owner, complete with "Live to Ride, Ride to Live" mirror. All of that chrome crap went in the bin. I really respect HD's racing years, but since they jumped ship on the VR1000, they can go fuck themselves. Since it's rebuilt, I've logged 20K on it in two years [hard to do in Michigan]. It's never left me anywhere, and pulls a consistent 82 RWHP at the dyno. Next year I plan on doing a land speed record shot at the ECTA. My other bike is a '85 Yamaha RZ-350. Two-stroke terror. Anywho, thanks for being the extremist that I don't have the time to be myself. SOMEONE has to do it. Cheers, PeterH

Your web site was actually passed to me via an HD(tm) mailing list. I've never read something so offensive about a group that I am a member of... and agreed. (With almost all of it) Five years ago, I flipped my Harley(tm) stickers upside down on my bike because I was so sick of the posing faddish Genuine HD(tm) apparel wearing shits that think Arlen Ness was actually a gift to us. –David

Let sleeping sheep lie... We don't want them riding bikes that have acceleration or dependability. Let them spend their money on stupid crap... let them stimulate our economy and our laughter. There's nothing more hilarious than watching these redneck dingo's thinking there part of something cool! I own three bikes combined I paid less than the custom paint job on the RUB cruiser next door. I would take anyone of them against a Harley any day! Don't wake up to many sheep. The wolves need something to hunt! -Paul

As much as I'd hate to admit it, you've pretty much nailed it on the head, with truth after truth. I can relate to your line of thinking, police officer to police officer and it's humiliating to admit to each read line. As I own both a Suzuki Intruder and Harley Sportster, I try to remain objective in evaluating them. Bottom line, I paid a lot of money for something no more than a status symbol with the Harley. The Intruder rides nicer, less maintenance, out-performs and I didn't need to lather on the chrome and goodies. Thought I had a deal too good to pass up with the Sporty and for a 1999 it became a money drain. Fortunately, because of it's own "elitist" status, no money lost and a lesson learned as prepares to depart for another home. You are entirely correct in relation to the performance, stupid "Harley tax" right out of the box. Drop $600 on a bike to make it go fast enough to get out of it's own way. The "Evo" may have been an improvement but for 60 years in the making it certainly didn't leap as far as evolution goes. What Harley does having going for it in my opinion is the aura of it's history as it once stood as the icon of motorcycles. Throughout the fifties and sixties and even into the seventies it replicated America's desire to stand out, be different, ala the "rebel image". A poor economy nearly caused it's extinction and the lack of money for development left it sorely lacking in the performance arena. Yet, it's appeal remains simply because we as aging baby boomers continue to seek out things from our past, Mustang convertibles, Chris Craft rum-runners and Harley Davidson motorcycles. Does it really bust my balls that it doesn't do 130 mph and crank the quarter in 10 flat. NO, not in the least, my days of living recklessly are long past and I encounter enough thrills in that eternal fountain of youth, the ye old black & white. The Harley Davidson like anything else which is expensive, simply is because we allow it to be with our attitude of I want it, I deserve it and I really don't care how much it costs. Hopefully Harley will learn a lesson from the dinosaurs as they are continue to become one, once again. The well can run dry again as it once did for them and as we currently watch an economic downturn where fewer can afford a Harley and many have sold theirs. Harley Davidson has to no more than look in any newspaper to see that their product occupies 75% of the listings for sale and further realize that it doesn't necessarily translate to those wanting to move up, but rather get out of Harley Davidson motorcycles. Harley's quality and performance needs to go way and costs come down if they wish to continue selling cycles. Friends who were forced to sell their bikes due the recent economic downturn have all stated that they missed their Harley's. Equally stated was the fact that the monetary suffrage which accompanies owning a Harley was not missed and wouldn't be readily approached again even when cash was at hand in the future. Enough said, liked your site and I'll be back for more of your astute observations, and from one p.o. to another, Watch your ass out there!!. M.J.

Black Echo, I bin ridding bykes since youse was a gleam in you pappies eyes and Hardly Davidson's rule! So you tink you are a tuff guy huh? Just fucking with ya man. I also am in the public service field and thought I would write to tell you I enjoyed the site. Still shoveling through it all, but having some good laughs along the way. Your site was emailed to me by none other than Andy Goldfine of Aerostich. Quite an honor I am sure you agree. If you ever get up north (I am in Minnesota) and need road recommendations, please email me. I thought I would suggest a REAL biker's destination in the Parry Sound Sport Bike Rally in Parry Sound Ontario. It is a really good time and should not be missed. Think of it as Sturgis (gag) for sportbikes. For more info, just ask me. I will be riding my 93 900 Supersport this year. Give the R1100rsl a rest. Thanks for the laughs! -John

YOU ARE A RIOT!  I LOVE IT!  KEEP UP THE WORK, I DO THINK THEY HAVE GONE WAY OVERBOARD WITH MARKETING. -Mrheatinc

While agree I agree with many of your observations about the vast majority of Harley-Davidson culture and their owners (it is pretty silly when you think about it), I do not understand why it seems so important to you to complain about it. What is it that you hope to achieve? You're not going to change any sheep into shepards, they're barely trainable and certainly not teachable.  ... I have to admit your web site makes for some interesting reading ...   -Duff

Very, very nicely stated: succinct and to the point, doesn't pull punches, a brutally honest group of editorials about an American "Legend" that isn't very representative at all of America, except for it's marketing prowness. Thanks, you made my century! -DocM

This has got to be the scariest web site ever!  If you are a Harley Davidson owner, that is!  I've laughed so hard at your work that I've bruised two ribs!  Keep up the great work, man, and don't slack up at all on those rumbling flag covered retards! -Matt

Just came across your "American Angst" site, after having the link forwarded to me via a mailing group. What can I say?? It's gone straight to the bookmarks, and I'll be coming back frequently. It's high time someone debunked the 'Harley' myth in such a logical and clinical fashion. Keep up the great work, is all I can say. -NickS

This has got to be the funiest farqing wb site ever. Keep up the good work!!!!! -valkyrie_mi

Hiya there. I gotta agree with you on all that Harley stuff. I'm a cruiser guy (I ride a Honda Shadow VLX600 -- will probably be getting a bigger bike in the next year or so, don't know what yet -- but it will likely be a Jap bike). I can understand why you love sport bikes though. I have a '69 'vette. I like to compare my 'vette to a sport bike, while a cruiser bike is like having a '58 Impala convertible… and a touring bike is like a Cadillac. While the basic point of all the vehicles is the same (modes of transportation that are faster than walking! :), the fashion in which you do it is much different. The Shadow handles extremely well -- it's not a sport bike by any means, but compared to most cruisers, it's very responsive. I've ridden Harleys -- can you say 'drunken pig on ice'? I enjoy pushing the bike while riding sometimes, and other times just to enjoy the air, the scenery, etc. Anyway, I've had a long day at work and I realize the subject matter of my email doesn't flow very well, just sort of stream-of-consciousness in response to your page. BTW.. the two good things about a Harley, are, #1, the sound of the engine.. It's an inefficient design, and not reliable, and so I can't explain why, but, since no one is very happy with their Harley straight from the factory, aftermarket bolt-on goodies are plentiful and cheap (as long as it's not official Harley shit, good God). …   Anyway, keep it up, fun page to read. -Jim

I was really entertained by your piece on the Harley. I even forwarded it to a friend that rides one! As for me, I wouldn't have one. (I ride a 2001 Valkyrie, a cruiser with performance). -Dave

You know you're really going to hurt a lot of people's feelings with this site, don't you.  That means more business for Harley Davidson.   Thin skinned emotionally challenged people generally drown their sorrows with a credit card and a shopping spree.  Looks like a bunch of 'scoggins' are going to need some leather monogrammed official HD handkerchiefs to wipe away the tears.  Keep up the great work, man!  Great work!  -Mike

Oh, man!  Oh, man!   Thank you!  I am sooo going to forward this link to a guy at work who preaches on the virtues of Harley Davidson like that Harley and Davidson guy were the two guys they crucified with Jesus at Calvary!   Thank you for giving me some ammunition to go ape hunting!  I am so sick of his bullshit, now he's going to hear the REAL truth.   -Rick

I wonder how the diehard H.D. bunch, I mean the "hardcore" and or the store bought rebel types feel about the V-Rod? hmmm... Engine developed in Germany, by Porsche, liquid cooled, not a 45 degree V-Twin, aluminum frame, anodized aluminum bodywork, doesn't look like a Harley, or sound like a Harley. Apparently it doesn't handle, brake or "feel" like a Harley generally does. Does it still get to be a Harley?  Does it still get to be "American Made"?  Some Hondas are assembled in the States, how come they don't get to be "American Made". What (exactly) is the criteria to be "American Made" , I mean what percentage of the bike has to be phyisically built in America, 2%? 25? 62 1/2%, what?   They finally woke up from a 60 year nap and found themselves in the 21st century, thats' gotta suck. (and they need to brush their tooth). hahahahahahaha. -Pauly, Canada

I just wanted to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed your Code of Conduct write up. I think you're hysterical and most of what you said is too true. I ride a cruiser myself but definately not a Harley. I am a 5 foot woman and ride a 2002 1100 Yamaha V-Star. I love riding and totally believe it should be that you ride NOT what you ride. Unfortunately there are a lot of schmucks out there on Harleys that believe its Harley or die. The latter sounds like the better choice to me. I have a cousin that just got his first street bike at almost 40 because he believed Harley or die and couldn't afford one up to now. Thought he was too bad and after 200 miles on his brand new $18,000 bike, dropped it in a curve (too low...no lean). He's looking at surgery with plates and pins in his wrist and $8,900 worth of damage to his bike. That's more than mine cost!!! Thanks again, -Clare

 ABSOLUTELY the BEST fucking site I have been to in a looooooong time!  Thanks!  -SNelson

Damn, man.  Either it would be really cool to hang out with you or really scary.  Either way, I'd have something to tell my children one day!  Keep up the great work!  -MBryson

Well, my hat's off to you. Though i may live in wisconsin, the fact is, the worst sound in the world is a harley. I almost fell out of my chair laughing at your comebacks. Kudos to you, sir for telling it "the way it is". Big image. that's it. Next time i ride my zr7s to work and see a helmet-less super-luxo flxtxp riding sloth, i can just hope i wont fall off laughing at the remarks on your page! i lived in northern wis. where there was 2 hd plants. what a waste. i hate the crap they "build" if you want to call it that.sheep is right. ignorant ego searching people. hey, i've had a concours, nighthawk 700s 2)600 xl honda's a 650 xl honda own a zr7s now, a cb360 when i started driving... and started out on a xr 75 honda. never, had any problems. loved them all. dependable, fun affordable quality. i am ashamed to admit i test drove a buell, just to see if they were "sporty" sick. surprisingly, i did'nt end up with carpal tunnel. what a waste. anyways, congrats for telling the truth on how it really is. take care, guy –Ryan

I'm still laughing my ass off reading your site. Damned, I thought that I was the only jaded with the human race person around, but you've got me beat!   I'll give you your due about the Harley crowd (even though I own an '83 Virago and a '96 Sportster 1200); most are mouth-breathing pus-drooling idiots that somehow arose from the genetic cessspool to inflict their presence on others.... –Fbeaver

I thought I was the only person in the world who would openly speak out against the joke that has become Harley Davidson. I ride a V Max, for me it is the only bike. I ride it because it is what I want to ride not what everyone else has. Most of the people I ride with have two cylinder noise makers. It's nice to know that for all of the rice burner & jap bike comments I endure there is no feeling like cracking the throttle and watching them disappear in the side view mirror. Here's something that you might appreciate. I was in a bar one night and some girl said what kind of bike do you ride? When I replied a V Max she said oh, why don't you have a Harley. I said that I wasn't old enough to want to ride a 2 cylinder. Her response was what do you mean?, Harley Davidson is the fastest motorcycle on the road. After I stopped laughing I said, Who the hell told you that? Then I saw her boyfriend drop his head and turn away. While myself & my friend who rode up on his brand new R1 walked away still laughing. It's nice to know that I'm not alone. Thanks for some entertaining reading.  - RLubowicki

Happened to be surfing the Internet at work (shame on me), when I stumbled upon your Web page "Sportbikes Forever". Enjoyed it very much.  Wanting more, got back to your Home page and saw your "Harley ain't real motorcycle" rant. Wow, was I ever blown away! I couldn't believe what I was reading. A White American telling the truth about Harleys and their culture. Being a Japanese American born and raised in Southern California and an avid Sportbike rider, and hearing all the negative comments about Japanese bikes throughout the years, I thought I'd never see the day when someone would expose those Hee-Haws as the biggest joke on two wheels, and on the Internet no less. All I can say is you got balls. Growing up in America, I can't help but notice that there are many white guys out there that are emotionally insecure. It seems they have a need to put down non whites in order to feel good about themselves (or is that superior?). You Sir, on the other hand, don't seem to suffer from that weakness. Your the kind of man who is not afraid to give credit where credit is due and criticism when it is warranted. Even if that criticism is directed at your fellow Americans.  I too love this country. But what I can't stand is American arrogance.   And that's what the Harley culture is all about, arrogance. I will continue to visit your site often, you have a big fan in me. Also, thanks for the kind words you have to say about the Japanese motorcycle manufactures. I too am in awe of their engineering prowess. Take care.    -BTanaka

Wow! This is the best site I've been to on the web. I appreciate your honesty.   -PCampbell

Fucking harley riders are a bunch of ass grazing conformist sheep.  I've never met a Harley rider I liked, most were snob-nosed assholes who had more money than common sense, and could only be described as flag slathered shit-tards.   Bravo, man, for having the brass to point out what others won't or can't.   You've got my support.  I'm an American, Vietnam veteran, I live in California, and I ride a Ducati monster because America builds total shit for a motorcycle and I refuse to waste my money or time riding shit.  Fuck Harley, I didn't almost get my ass shot off so that ass-nosing nimrods can put an American flag on their leather jacket and claim to be bad-ass when they're nothing but average candy-ass pussies in leather drag who bought their reputation instead of earned it like the rest of us bikers. Damn I'm charged after reading your rant.  Big Salute, sir, your rant is a rodge!   -Rhanover

Get another sport bike.   Get your ass out to California.  Party and ride with us for a week!   We'll carve some canyons and make fun of Harley-tards until we pass out from mirth-overload!  The invitation is there, man.  Use it, for God's sake, use it! -Charold

Excellent site!  I loved the anti-harley rant!   Keep on telling the bozos like it is, only a total retard would ever own a harley.   -Rsmith

Mr. Echo:   Most webrants can't hold my attention that long, but yours is a masterpiece. You've raised the performance bar. In any case, keep up the good work. - Spamgrinder, "a lumbering ricecruiser rider"

Well, my hat's off to you. Though i may live in wisconsin, the fact is, the worst sound in the world is a harley. I almost fell out of my chair laughing at your comebacks. Kudos to you, sir for telling it "the way it is". Big image. that's it. Next time i ride my zr7s to work and see a helmet-less super-luxo flxtxp riding sloth, i can just hope i wont fall off laughing at the remarks on your page! i lived in northern wis. where there was 2 hd plants. what a waste. i hate the crap they "build" if you want to call it that.sheep is right. ignorant ego searching people. hey, i've had a concours, nighthawk 700s 2)600 xl honda's a 650 xl honda own a zr7s now, a cb360 when i started driving... and started out on a xr 75 honda. never, had any problems. loved them all. dependable, fun affordable.quality. i am ashamed to admit i test drove a buell, just to see if they were "sporty" sick. surprisingly, i did'nt end up with carpal tunnel. what a waste. anyways, congrats for telling the truth on how it really is.   -Rdhelmer

Hi, Just read your piece on Why HD is not American.....That is the most honest article I have ever read concerning HD. ... The marketing and fake bullshit coming out of the factory has turned a possible Harley owner into a "wouldn't be caught dead on one" rider. I would feel like an idiot to be spouting off about the superiority and Americanism of the product. I still like them for what they are not what the factory and the general public believe. Until America wakes up I'll be riding my Intruder, Shadow, and possibly a 'Busa in the near future.   Thanks for the message........I'll pass this to as many riders as I can. Of course if they already ride one they know its true and will probably deny it and if they ride something else....then they are the intelligentones.   later, GKruse

RE: Harley rant.  I love it! Totally agree 100%! Keep up the good work. I'm surprised the Harley Nazis haven't taken you into custody yet! ha ha -Eddie

I followed your Harley rant back from a newsgroup.  I must say, you have a talent for stirring up the rednecks.   "Scoggin"   I blew milk out my nose when I read that descriptive term.  Thanks, I've expanded my vocabulary.   GREAT article on Harleys, it put those scoggins in their place.  See, I'm using new words!  Thank you, sir, for the many laughs and keep up the great work! -Bsmith

Ha!, and I thought i dispised HD . You are an inspiration. Sory for the grama[im just learning to right in english]I ride an R6 year round Iused to love HD as a kid growing in Romania [ the image] but living in USA has opened my eyes. I like how you put them in their places. I hate when i dance with my bike in the mauntains and i get stuck behind some fat asses doing 40 on a 45 speed limit and waving oll over the lane with their laud fart machines. Foke'm, yea!!! Foke'm!!! PS sory for the grama again !!! -Ataranu

hey guy! i gotta tell ya that i been riding a harley for over 25 years and live in the mountains (hill scroggin) AND live in a mobile home! and you know "whut"? i think your site is the funniest thing i have seen in a month of sundays and i agree with you! h-d toilet seats and the like are a joke, and what about the h-d cigarettes that were being produced before the politically correct folks stuck it to them? tells you what harley really cares about their customers "sure, smoke these folks, only $5.50 a pack!" this is all a result of harley's greed pandering to the rub harley movement which started about 15 years ago. folks who never had any bike before decided that harleys were the in thing to do so why not buy your first bike at age 45, right? these folks got money and harley is glad to take it. the problem is, reality sets in when they realize that it hurts to crash! if you really want a laugh, get ahold of the new parts catalog and their clothese catalog. the people who wrote this stuff must be high on coke, talking about (fake) brotherhood between the factory and "rider", how only gen-u-ine harley parts can make your bike real and you a biker, etc. its a complete joke, but people are buying into it. back in the 70's i used to ride harley choppers. my local dealer would not work on them. about the only things they had then for sale was parts, oil, t-shirts and leather jackets. btw, i work on my bike myself, always have, never saw the inside of a dealership past its 10,000 "service" (a joke). its a 91 big twin, gear-driven blower, axtell cylinders/forged pistons and more go-fast stuff than i can list in an hour. for a harley its not too bad, about 100 horsepower. still won't keep up with the high eng jap or ducati bikes, but i'm hell to tell ya it kicks the snot of any yuppie's bike around here! anyways, great site. no hard feelings... -mike

I'm sure you've heard this before - but - I absolutely LOVE your website! -JLewis

After reading a few of your rants, I have to agree with you on quality of things today.  I currently own a Harley money pit.  Right now, the motor is disassembled for the second time this year.  I haven't ridden more than 2000 miles this year!  This is riddiculous!   The pit is a 1997 model with about 30,000 miles on it (I'm not sure, because the speedometer died at about 5000 and didn't get replaced 'til about 6000).  I am so dissatisfied with my Harley that I probably won't buy another, but I have too much money "invested" in this one to sell it.   You are right on the money about the Sportster.  To make it a bike that can even come close to competing you have to almost completely rebuild it!  What's up with that?!?!  ...  Your comments about stupidity almost sound like some of the things that I hear rattling around in my head.  Some people are just failed examples of Darwinisim and survival of the fittest.  I think of these people as OXYGEN THIEVES, stealing it from those of us that can really use it.  -ASmyth

Harley riders are a bunch of posing idiots.  I'm glad someone else sees through their pathetic charade and isn't afraid to tell it like it is.  American my ass, since when did America become so candy-ass?  Nice site, I'll be staying for a while.  - Rtaran

Thought I would drop you a note to tell you that you are one twisted and sick individual that has kept me in hysterical tears of laughter for the last three days solid.    Keep up the great work!  - Mbrown

I agree completely with you, Black Echo.  People ARE sheep.  I'm amazed at the fact that the human race has survived this long.  Thanks for the commentarys and for the humor. -Rjackson

You are one sick person.   I agree with all of your points of view and your humor slays me.  The world needs more people like you!   -BDaltry

Hey, Echo!  If you are ever going to be up near Scranton, send me Email.   I've got a group of sportbike riders who can't wait to meet you!   You rock!  -B Davis

Hardly Davidson!   Bwahahahahahaha! - K Peters

What's wrong with Waffle House and Harley Davidson?   Trailer park trash has got to have a place to park their bikes when they go out on the town, don't they?!  - D Smithe

You are obviouslly very talended and dementded.  I like your site a lot. - T White

Oh My God!  I actually fell out of my chair laughing when I read your article on Harleys and the replys from some of those idiots!  What a bunch of losers!   I was in tears! -G Castokyn, '98 Ninja ZX-6R

I find your views to be intelligent, right on target and often funny as hell!   So what if some people get their feelings hurt.  That's life.   Tell it like it is, Echo, and don't ever give up the power!  -B Smith

Damn you're funny.  I wish you live around here, then we'd hang out and ride.  I agree, "People ARE sheep!"  -Wjones

I laughed and laughed until my ass fell off.  I've sent a link to your site to all of my friends.  You've got visitors to your site for LIFE!   -R Roberts

Laughed my ass off!!!! Did 10 years of police work in the past and don't dislike Harley's as much as you, but have alot of the same sentiments towards them and the wannabe tough guys that pay those over inflated prices.. Now they get Porsche to help with devolopment of a new bike, but the dealers will add on a huge markup and they think this is a move on the preformance the foreign models are offering? I do have to admit I don't own a sportbike though. I ride a Honda Magna. Always amazes me how each year they can get 1 million bikes to go to some crapy town out in the middle of nowhere, in 115 degree weather, where there is nothing to do and they come back proud sporting a moron at Sturgis T-shirt and feel tough. Not my idea of a vacation. Keep it coming. –M R Woodruff

Man you are borderline Psycho, who let you out of your cage? You would be in good company in our mix. … If you are ever in the L.A. area give us a ring, we know all the good roads. -Russ

I used to own a Harley. A 72 custom. What a piece of sh*t. Nothing like having to tighten all the bolts up when you get home so you don't ruin your garage floor. I recently went to buy a new bike. Took the new Wide Glide out for a ride. Went 3 blocks..turned around and gave them the keys. Shocked ALL the bikers in the store when I said rather loudly "What a piece of S**T!" Went down the road to the Yamaha dealer...bought a new Royal Star. (V-Twin).  Ran across one of the bikers from the Harley shop at the next light. Of course he ranted about how I bought a Jap bike...and when the light turned green he nailed it.  When I blew by him in second gear I gave him a little wave and accelerated off.  American muscle indeed. -Brian

As a rider with 20yrs experience, I agree with almost all of your statements, and opinions. There are far to many sheep in the world today. ... As far as I'm concerned, you should be commended for shedding light on this massive display of ignorance. - D.Taylor

I normally don't give feedback, but...  Oh, man! You are the best thing since they cancelled Ed Anger from the Weekly World News. I love your site. It's on a par with The Onion for ironic humor. Look for more hits as I share it with my friends. -M.Pagan.

RE: Your Harley Article.   ROCK ON BROTHER!  AMEN!  -C.Lemi

About your Harley article... unf**king believable!  You hit that nail right on the head! --MBurns, '98 CBR600F4

God d*mn this site rocks!   I've spent three nights here and still haven't found the end and I've laughed my ass off more times than I can count!  - BrettF

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