Vette or Harley?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 55
Hey rickko,
Your observation of me never owning a Harley is completely incorrect and assuming because of a simple question regarding Corvettes and Harley's. I've been riding HD's for 23 years and have owned more then ten of them. Two of them I built from the ground up! Been riding with the same crew since 1991, rarely missing a Thursday night or Sunday ride. Been to Sturgis 8 times, rode there and back 7 of them, the 8th time I followed a hearse back with my best friend in it after he died in Lacrosse, Wisconsin from a heart attack.
Believe me, I understand . . .
Bottomline is they both make me smile!
Your observation of me never owning a Harley is completely incorrect and assuming because of a simple question regarding Corvettes and Harley's. I've been riding HD's for 23 years and have owned more then ten of them. Two of them I built from the ground up! Been riding with the same crew since 1991, rarely missing a Thursday night or Sunday ride. Been to Sturgis 8 times, rode there and back 7 of them, the 8th time I followed a hearse back with my best friend in it after he died in Lacrosse, Wisconsin from a heart attack.
Believe me, I understand . . .
Bottomline is they both make me smile!
Obviously LAYNLOW has never owned a Harley else wouldn't be asking but...
The simple answer is, if you can afford both, own both 'cuz they are like apples and oranges.
But, if you can only afford one ...,
Owning a Harley almost ALWAYS requires a lifestyle change (I've been riding longer (47 yrs) than I've been driving (45 years) cages)
The words in the pic above say it all but until you own a Harley you'll never know.
Owning a Corvette is owning another cage no matter how you look at it. I own both. Love both for what they are and represent (i.e. American icons).
In a nutshell I'd compare the ownership experiences of each to the experiences of tent camping vs. staying in a motel. You need to be prepared to camp and willing to suffer/enjoy a few hardships from day to day and expect to strike up temporary friendships with your camp neighbors.
Whereas it takes no skill to spend the night in a motel and you'd be hard pressed to even find the opportunity or desire to talk to whomever is staying in the room next to you .
Have you ever parked your Corvette IN your motel room?
And slept along side it? 
Done that with the Harley many times! 
When driving your Corvette, how often do you see little kids press their noses up against the back window staring and waving at you hoping to get your attention back?
How many times have you passed a school bus and had 1/2 the bus wave at you as you go by?
How many times have you driven your Corvette through a small country town and had residents sitting on their front porch look up from their afternoon tea and wave or lift their cup to you?
Or had the kids chase you on their bicycles?
For every time its happened while driving the vette, its happened 20 times (probably more) while riding the Harley.
Every had soldiers with automatic weapon's guard your Corvette while you stop to use the john?
Like I said, owning a Harley is a lifestyle change...
Now you make the call!
Bottomline: It's all good!
..rickko..
The simple answer is, if you can afford both, own both 'cuz they are like apples and oranges.
But, if you can only afford one ...,
Owning a Harley almost ALWAYS requires a lifestyle change (I've been riding longer (47 yrs) than I've been driving (45 years) cages)
The words in the pic above say it all but until you own a Harley you'll never know.
Owning a Corvette is owning another cage no matter how you look at it. I own both. Love both for what they are and represent (i.e. American icons).
In a nutshell I'd compare the ownership experiences of each to the experiences of tent camping vs. staying in a motel. You need to be prepared to camp and willing to suffer/enjoy a few hardships from day to day and expect to strike up temporary friendships with your camp neighbors.
Whereas it takes no skill to spend the night in a motel and you'd be hard pressed to even find the opportunity or desire to talk to whomever is staying in the room next to you .
Have you ever parked your Corvette IN your motel room?
And slept along side it? Done that with the Harley many times! When driving your Corvette, how often do you see little kids press their noses up against the back window staring and waving at you hoping to get your attention back?
How many times have you passed a school bus and had 1/2 the bus wave at you as you go by?
How many times have you driven your Corvette through a small country town and had residents sitting on their front porch look up from their afternoon tea and wave or lift their cup to you?
Or had the kids chase you on their bicycles?
For every time its happened while driving the vette, its happened 20 times (probably more) while riding the Harley.
Every had soldiers with automatic weapon's guard your Corvette while you stop to use the john?
Like I said, owning a Harley is a lifestyle change...
Now you make the call!
Bottomline: It's all good!
..rickko..
Last edited by LAYNLOW; Mar 13, 2007 at 05:18 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 3
From: Hawaii
After 40+ years of riding I decided to give it up. Highly modified Harley Electra Glide and a whipple blown Silverado where sold and a C5 now takes up the space in the garage. Miss um both, but the vette is a "winner".
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
Yep, I got me a brick in front of the library in Sturgis.
Gotta pass on what happened to me today. Fits this thread perfectly.
We are having gorgeous weather this week so after posting my g-friend calls and wants to take the Harley out for a ride.
I stop at Costco for some gas. There are two Corvettes in other lines about parallel to me. One's a Lemon yellow C6 coupe and the other a torch red C5 coupe. Both look outstanding in the bright sunshine.
I pull up to the pump and notice the attendant across a couple of isles. He walks by the C6, crosses behind the C5 comes up to me and asks, "What year?" You know how the conversation goes from there...
Like you know, and like I said, owning a Harley changes your lifestyle.
Sorry to hear about your friend.
Here's the hearse they use in San Diego.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,119
Likes: 272
From: SC
That's true, but considering Harleys are all over the road now, you would think the demand for new ones would drop. Grab any bike trader type of magazine, and their full of used Harleys.
My main complaint though, is when you compare the material used to make a bike with a car, it isn't even close, yet the prices are not that far apart.
I agree with your assesment of the price of a Roadstar, yet it's funny at the same time, because for every Roadstar I see, I'll see twenty Harleys !
My main complaint though, is when you compare the material used to make a bike with a car, it isn't even close, yet the prices are not that far apart.
I agree with your assesment of the price of a Roadstar, yet it's funny at the same time, because for every Roadstar I see, I'll see twenty Harleys !
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
From: Chicagoland IL
I owned a bike before the vette and can say I enjoy the vette so much more.
After having a good number of people cut me off and getting caught in the rain a few times really makes me enjoy the vette so much more.
I miss the bike sometimes, but nowhere near as much as I thought. and I never miss it while driving the vette.
After having a good number of people cut me off and getting caught in the rain a few times really makes me enjoy the vette so much more.
I miss the bike sometimes, but nowhere near as much as I thought. and I never miss it while driving the vette.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 446
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Fl
This thread has sure received a bunch of looks and comments. I certainly have nothing against Harleys and did enjoy mine for several years. I will say however that folks who think their Harleys still hold their value well will be sadly surprised when they try to unload it. The market is just flooded silly with them. It is not the old day of more demand than supply. Every yuppy and wannabe in the world has a Harley now. Bike Week just ended and it is pretty funny to watch the people who want the image and have the bike just for that. While the Harley image and lifestyle of old was very unique it certainly is not any more and the sad fact is that Harleys are slow, poorly handling and underengineered compared to other bikes on the market today. I have always been a pretty die hard American product guy but there are some things the Asians just have down pat Lexus', motorcycles and outboard motors. If I want to ride in comfort it will be in the LS430 not a Harley , if I want to ride a bike for fun it will be a fun good handling and fast bike not a Harley and if I want to drive a fast fun car it will be the Vette!
Notwithstanding, I think it is great that many of us enjoy all types of motorsports. What does crack me up is the snotty nature of many Harley riders with regard to sport bikes and the snotty nature of sport bikes with regard to Harleys. Everybody has their own view of what is fun and excites them. I always wave to every bike just like I do to every vette. We all have similar interests! Enjoy
Notwithstanding, I think it is great that many of us enjoy all types of motorsports. What does crack me up is the snotty nature of many Harley riders with regard to sport bikes and the snotty nature of sport bikes with regard to Harleys. Everybody has their own view of what is fun and excites them. I always wave to every bike just like I do to every vette. We all have similar interests! Enjoy
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: atascadero ca
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
From: Surprise Arizona
This thread has sure received a bunch of looks and comments. I certainly have nothing against Harleys and did enjoy mine for several years. I will say however that folks who think their Harleys still hold their value well will be sadly surprised when they try to unload it. The market is just flooded silly with them. It is not the old day of more demand than supply. Every yuppy and wannabe in the world has a Harley now. Bike Week just ended and it is pretty funny to watch the people who want the image and have the bike just for that. While the Harley image and lifestyle of old was very unique it certainly is not any more and the sad fact is that Harleys are slow, poorly handling and underengineered compared to other bikes on the market today. I have always been a pretty die hard American product guy but there are some things the Asians just have down pat Lexus', motorcycles and outboard motors. If I want to ride in comfort it will be in the LS430 not a Harley , if I want to ride a bike for fun it will be a fun good handling and fast bike not a Harley and if I want to drive a fast fun car it will be the Vette!
Notwithstanding, I think it is great that many of us enjoy all types of motorsports. What does crack me up is the snotty nature of many Harley riders with regard to sport bikes and the snotty nature of sport bikes with regard to Harleys. Everybody has their own view of what is fun and excites them. I always wave to every bike just like I do to every vette. We all have similar interests! Enjoy
Notwithstanding, I think it is great that many of us enjoy all types of motorsports. What does crack me up is the snotty nature of many Harley riders with regard to sport bikes and the snotty nature of sport bikes with regard to Harleys. Everybody has their own view of what is fun and excites them. I always wave to every bike just like I do to every vette. We all have similar interests! Enjoy
As an owner of a Honda CBR 1000F, I couldn't agree more!
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Junction City Kansas
I have both and wouldn't give up either one of them (unless a wife and lil ones come along, then the Harley goes.....you fall in love with a Vette you just love a Harley). I would still have the CBR 900RR that was bored, jetted and piped if my not so 2 wheel inclined buddy hadn't layed 'er down. Way I see it everyone needs at least one of each.....
Last edited by scooter94mp; Mar 14, 2007 at 01:37 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 880
Likes: 0
From: Detroit Area Michigan
keep the Vette......
I love my 100 year anniversary ultra-classic, but, got the Vette convertible a year ago (1st convertible) and now, I think that I would keep the Vette, never thought that this would happen to me..I'm gettin old....bob.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 55
This thread has sure received a bunch of looks and comments. I certainly have nothing against Harleys and did enjoy mine for several years. I will say however that folks who think their Harleys still hold their value well will be sadly surprised when they try to unload it. The market is just flooded silly with them. It is not the old day of more demand than supply. Every yuppy and wannabe in the world has a Harley now. Bike Week just ended and it is pretty funny to watch the people who want the image and have the bike just for that. While the Harley image and lifestyle of old was very unique it certainly is not any more and the sad fact is that Harleys are slow, poorly handling and underengineered compared to other bikes on the market today. I have always been a pretty die hard American product guy but there are some things the Asians just have down pat Lexus', motorcycles and outboard motors. If I want to ride in comfort it will be in the LS430 not a Harley , if I want to ride a bike for fun it will be a fun good handling and fast bike not a Harley and if I want to drive a fast fun car it will be the Vette!
Notwithstanding, I think it is great that many of us enjoy all types of motorsports. What does crack me up is the snotty nature of many Harley riders with regard to sport bikes and the snotty nature of sport bikes with regard to Harleys. Everybody has their own view of what is fun and excites them. I always wave to every bike just like I do to every vette. We all have similar interests! Enjoy
Notwithstanding, I think it is great that many of us enjoy all types of motorsports. What does crack me up is the snotty nature of many Harley riders with regard to sport bikes and the snotty nature of sport bikes with regard to Harleys. Everybody has their own view of what is fun and excites them. I always wave to every bike just like I do to every vette. We all have similar interests! Enjoy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
follow a school bus on the on ramp of an autobahn in a vette, then move to the fast lane and go WOT to triple digit speeds and tell me the kids aren't falling over themselves to get a good look
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 158
Likes: 6
From: Edmond ok
This thread has sure received a bunch of looks and comments. I certainly have nothing against Harleys and did enjoy mine for several years. I will say however that folks who think their Harleys still hold their value well will be sadly surprised when they try to unload it. The market is just flooded silly with them. It is not the old day of more demand than supply. Every yuppy and wannabe in the world has a Harley now. Bike Week just ended and it is pretty funny to watch the people who want the image and have the bike just for that. While the Harley image and lifestyle of old was very unique it certainly is not any more and the sad fact is that Harleys are slow, poorly handling and underengineered compared to other bikes on the market today. I have always been a pretty die hard American product guy but there are some things the Asians just have down pat Lexus', motorcycles and outboard motors. If I want to ride in comfort it will be in the LS430 not a Harley , if I want to ride a bike for fun it will be a fun good handling and fast bike not a Harley and if I want to drive a fast fun car it will be the Vette!
Notwithstanding, I think it is great that many of us enjoy all types of motorsports. What does crack me up is the snotty nature of many Harley riders with regard to sport bikes and the snotty nature of sport bikes with regard to Harleys. Everybody has their own view of what is fun and excites them. I always wave to every bike just like I do to every vette. We all have similar interests! Enjoy
Notwithstanding, I think it is great that many of us enjoy all types of motorsports. What does crack me up is the snotty nature of many Harley riders with regard to sport bikes and the snotty nature of sport bikes with regard to Harleys. Everybody has their own view of what is fun and excites them. I always wave to every bike just like I do to every vette. We all have similar interests! Enjoy
By the way, I’ve been looking a lot and I don’t think Harley owners are going to be sadly surprised when they sell because they are not coming down much in price. I agree there are hundreds, if not thousands of them for sale, but for whatever reason, they are holding in that $15000 range, give or take. And with summer just around the corner, well I don’t see much of a break. Must be more yuppies and wannabes coming on line or something.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 139
From: center of Kalifornia
This thread has sure received a bunch of looks and comments. I certainly have nothing against Harleys and did enjoy mine for several years. I will say however that folks who think their Harleys still hold their value well will be sadly surprised when they try to unload it. The market is just flooded silly with them. It is not the old day of more demand than supply. Every yuppy and wannabe in the world has a Harley now. Bike Week just ended and it is pretty funny to watch the people who want the image and have the bike just for that. While the Harley image and lifestyle of old was very unique it certainly is not any more and the sad fact is that Harleys are slow, poorly handling and underengineered compared to other bikes on the market today. I have always been a pretty die hard American product guy but there are some things the Asians just have down pat Lexus', motorcycles and outboard motors. If I want to ride in comfort it will be in the LS430 not a Harley , if I want to ride a bike for fun it will be a fun good handling and fast bike not a Harley and if I want to drive a fast fun car it will be the Vette!
Notwithstanding, I think it is great that many of us enjoy all types of motorsports. What does crack me up is the snotty nature of many Harley riders with regard to sport bikes and the snotty nature of sport bikes with regard to Harleys. Everybody has their own view of what is fun and excites them. I always wave to every bike just like I do to every vette. We all have similar interests! Enjoy
Notwithstanding, I think it is great that many of us enjoy all types of motorsports. What does crack me up is the snotty nature of many Harley riders with regard to sport bikes and the snotty nature of sport bikes with regard to Harleys. Everybody has their own view of what is fun and excites them. I always wave to every bike just like I do to every vette. We all have similar interests! Enjoy
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Marion Ohio
By the way, I’ve been looking a lot and I don’t think Harley owners are going to be sadly surprised when they sell because they are not coming down much in price. I agree there are hundreds, if not thousands of them for sale, but for whatever reason, they are holding in that $15000 range, give or take. And with summer just around the corner, well I don’t see much of a break. Must be more yuppies and wannabes coming on line or something.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 15
From: Loxahatchee Florida
Cool rides.
Who cares about resale value,gas mileage,or what's more comfortable. I'm 50 and still ride a hard tail shovelhead chopper. It's your life so live it any way you want. Just don't get too caught up in "doing the right thing" if it leaves regrets. There isn't anything else like a Vette and a Harley. Keep both as long as your still enjoying them both.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 3
From: Hawaii
Bought it new in '95 ($15.8k - OTD) Three engines (more POWER) and tons of crap later (vested $15k in "parts") sold it last year for $10.5k . Dunno if I'll ever get another. The vette satisfies my needs.........