Harley and the Davidsons

[Jughead]

Did any of you see this mini-series on the beginnings of HD?  I just watched it last night and if it was true to history, I definitely do not feel sorry for Indian!  On the other hand I had a bad experience with HD and the local dealer here which disappoints me from the great story of their beginnings. 

I wonder if there is a similar semi-documentary on Triumph out there?  All of the survivors of the motorcycle industry have some wild stories from their beginnings to world wide prominence I would imagine.  H and the D's was well made and entertaining, I just wonder how much of it was blatant advertisement and how much was truth!

   

[DaMonk45]

I seen that a few weeks ago.
They did a good job of it from my reading.
I loved all the true to period clothes and living and stuff.

If you have not seen it and get a chance it is work a look.

[1150newguy]

It was entertaining. I liked how they tried to make HD more than just buying a motorcycle right from the very beginning. If the film is true to form the guys were setting the stage for such things as the Harley Owners Group and the "lifestyle" from the very beginning. It is a system that has served HD well. I don't own an HD not my cup of tea, but here's to another hundred years  It would be a boring sport without them.

[Jughead]

Yeah NavyDad I agree 100% with you.  I did notice the lifestyle and hog group stuff very early on.  HD tried to push that on me as well and tried to get me to sign on the dotted line without a test ride!  There are a couple models I'd like to try, but don't try to sell me a lifestyle and image, I want a motorcycle!  Plus that crap may sell a noob or a squid, but not us that have been around the block a few times. 

[1150newguy]

Never been much of a group rider even when we had our Goldwings. My job was one in which I was ready to strangle some idiot several times a day and my motorcycle was my "anger management" class. I rode to work and often took a fifteen minute ride at lunch or the long way home after work to let the bad karma flow away. I don't have the patience to stand in one spot while ten riders have an hour discussion about lunch, gas stops, etc. Thus the HOG or other groups have never held much appeal for me. Now that I am retired I am coming around a bit and getting a bit more social with my motorcycling, but I still prefer just the wife and I on a longer ride. To each their own.

[twowheeladdict]

I enjoyed the show, but went into it knowing it was a dramatization of the Harley beginnings.  There was a lot of fact, and a lot of now that we know, wouldn't it be cool if so and so said that back then.

I never knew about the lifestyle except that it looked like thugs rode Harleys.  I did know Evel Knievel rode one, and they were cool looking.  My second bike (first new one) was a 1985 Honda Shadow 700.  It was just cool looking.

Got my first Harley in 2016 after riding just about everything out there.  I don't group ride, or go to rallies.   I just think it is rolling art.

Harley has been offering test rides since at least 2010 in my area.

I am drawn to the retro looking bikes more than the modern plastic covered bikes.

My Moto Guzzi V7 Café  Classic sits on a bench so I can enjoy the look as much as the ride.

[Xsv]

Originally Posted by NavyDad

My job was one in which I was ready to strangle some idiot several times a day and my motorcycle was my "anger management" class.

Oh my....I can relate 100%.  Thank god for getting away several times a year for days at a time in order to maintain my sanity.

[1150newguy]

Originally Posted by twowheeladdict

My Moto Guzzi V7 Café  Classic sits on a bench so I can enjoy the look as much as the ride.

Mmmmmm, Guzzi V7 Cafe.