Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms That's Not Nice

As used by the Irish comedian Jiminy Cricket.

Over here the auto parts store NAPA:

Never Any Parts Available

Which is so true.

Sorry Graham, Jimmy Cricket

An Australian riddle.
Q. What does a Harley Davidson have in common with a cattle dog?
A. They both like to come home in the back of a ute after a long run.

For anyone who does not know what a cattle dog is:


Ozbike - Old Dog New Tricks

Harley Davidson, its horses for courses. Used in the context on roads they were designed for ie the USA with massive expanses of nothing (outside of urban conurbations) on straight roads with vast distances to cover with low speed limits, and the Harley is in its element. Features like the screw to grip open the throttle grip/cable (in effect a manual speed hold) to allow you to rest your right hand off the bars, which cannot be used safely in Europe, are absolutely right for the vast expansion of the USA interstate highway. The hard U shaped tyres allow you to cover vast distances on the freeway, where the more soft V shaped European tyre will square out in no time at all. The real issue with Harleys is that the Japanese with their Goldwings etc., produced a better machine for the exact same roads.

Interesting you say that - this popped up on my FB feed this morning....

Comparing a Goldwing to a Harley is like comparing a Mercedes S Class to a Morgan. There is no emotion for me.
When buying a Harley, I was told you pay for a lifestyle and get a bike for free.
I find the comparison of Harley and Morgan more and more similar. You accept many technical shortcomings but you just want to have the toy.

The Goldwing in its earlier iterations was a better machine than the Electra glides, Harley has reduced the differential advantage since they introduced water cooling their V twins, in warmer climes its less a case of the potential of heat exhaustion and burnt inner calf's from the proximity of the rear cylinder. The lifestyle of a Harley is interesting having had a succession of Harleys from FXRT, Dynaglides, Electraglides, Fatboys' Springer etc. its more the people you meet, facilitated by the Harley HOG network that puts colour on the myth.

I had 3 Harleys in the garage when I eventually gave up riding, and from my many decades of riding experience there are equally interesting people who ride all sorts of other bikes, that create an equally rewarding form of lifestyle experience and interaction outside of Harleys and their cult.

To put in some form of context I remember in 1991 chatting with a Goldwing owner that sailed up the Susten Pass, where my Harley struggled to get up the pass, whilst I was doing a tour of Italy and Switzerland he was doing a world tour on the Goldwing having already done the North an South America and now working thru Europe, now that was a true biking experience and done in much more comfort and ease than on my Ultraclassic Electraglide, The Harley myth wears a bit thin when you are saddle sore after only a few hundred miles. many of my miles across the USA in 93 have me sitting on a square of leather on top of my leather sundowner seat, trying to deflect/deal/cope with the engine heat.

As I said before, it's not about the better technology but about the emotion... just like Morgan

I would never swap my Harley Road King for a Honda