Good lord. So many posts in such a short time. lol.
Thanks guys.
Here's why I asked. I just ordered some new tires (Avon Venom). The Yamaha shop, of course tried to rip me off if they ordered teh tires as well as the price for the install.

There's a HD custom shop less than 7 miles from my house. I brought the tires there on Wednesday and Thursday morning, I picked the bike up. It's a great shop, full of HD's, cool t-shirts, they BBQ out back and there's a party there almost every night.

I'll admit, I was embarassed riding my metric bike (although it's heavily modified) around the guys there. The majority of guys were cool. They came over and chatted with me about bikes in general and pointed out what they like about my bike. Of course, there was an a-hole or two who made dumb comments.

But I've always wondered if there was a serious difference in the engine to justify the cost of a HD. And of course, they have much better looking modifications for the HD. To be honest, in my opinion, a lot of the Roadstar bolt ons look cheap. But anyway, thanks for the opinions.

kryinggame wrote:
....................I'll admit, I was embarassed riding my metric bike (although it's heavily modified) around the guys there. The majority of guys were cool. They came over and chatted with me about bikes in general and pointed out what they like about my bike. Of course, there was an a-hole or two who made dumb comments.
..................

Nothing to be embarassed about. There will always be an a**hole in every bunch. I sometimes catch it from both directions at times since I ride both brands.

I rode Hds for 20 years and I loved them.They were older bikes 1 a 1949 fl and the other was a 1979 80" flh.Then I quit riding for 13 years and last year I bought my 2002 Road Star.Except for the added power I find the Road Star feels almost identical to my 79.I love this bike,yamaha really did their home work copying Harley Davidson.About the only thing imo that HD did better with their motors was the use of roller cams.The price difference is a big factor I'm not saying Harley's are better but they are the originals.Some people need to spend a million dollars for a Picaso and leave it in a museum.And then there are the rest of us that would be happier paying a few thousand for a could copy we can have at home and show it off.

Kryinggame, no need to be embarrased of what you ride into anywhere. If it puts a smile on your face, thats all that matters. I have only rode about 3 different harleys. The first was a sportster, rode it a block, parked it and walked back sending the owner to get his scoot. Was way uncomfortable on it, to narrow and felt unstable. Second was an Ultra Classic, even though it was kinda "plush" and was nice in a few aspects I really didnt care for it much. Im 6' and felt like I was balled up riding it. Also rode a Dyna WG, which considering the others had to be about the best out of all. Not a bunch of added weight in accessories, fuel injected, pretty sleek and much more comfortable, as well as snappy/better throttle response.
Alot of us in the Road* world have alot of time and money invested in our scoots, in which probably is worth the amount of a new Harley, but the way I see it is, I have made my bike mine, the way I like it and I might have as much invested as what a new Harley would cost, but making it yours is going to cost to, so im happy with what I have. Dont sell yourself short on your scoot man, its a beautiful bike and it shouldnt matter what anyone thinks of what makes you happy!

Not trying to be a wise guy here but I have been thinking about you being embarressed. I think you might have a problem that's going to take more than a Harley can cure. I can honestly say one thing and this coming from a HARLEY man. I never looked down on anyone's bike including Vespa's. The Harley guys I rode with seen people riding restored Triumph's BSA,'s, Enfields and Norton's and everyone of us on Harley's would salivate over those bikes. We would hold those guy's hostage with questions about their ride. They weren't on no Harley and I don't think THEY were embarressed. They had us stepping all over our tongues.

What I am saying is sometimes you carry as much or more weight in this world as the next guy even though you might feel "light". Every man is embarressed about something sooner or later in his life like accidentally putting your boxer's on backwards in hunting camp. What someone else thinks about my personal decisions I consider their problem and will never make my face red....but that's me.

Do not take this post personal. I guess I was made to feel a bit uncomfortable when you said about being around the Harley's guys. I was one of those guy's and hope no one ever thinks I would feel that way towards someone else because of the bike they ride. The bike don't make the person and vica-versa no matter what the HD braintrust may try to sell. I don't know.....maybe getting old does make you philosophical.

Do you really meet the nicest people on a Honda?

Here is my thought.............I saw a post on here just the other night and I really think that it fits this topic. I hope I get the quote right.

"Ride what you Love and Love what you ride"

Ride on and ride safe, chin held high neath blue skies

Midnightrider59 wrote:
Here is my thought.............I saw a post on here just the other night and I really think that it fits this topic. I hope I get the quote right.

"Ride what you Love and Love what you ride"

Ride on and ride safe, chin held high neath blue skiesRight on Bro.

kryinggame wrote:
I'll admit, I was embarassed riding my metric bike (although it's heavily modified) around the guys there.

For Pete's sake! I can't believe you said that here... don't tell us you admitted it to them!

Ain't nothing about these bikes to be ashamed of ya jackwagon!

As Midnight Said...Ride what you LOVE AND lOVE WHAT YOU RIDE..
Its your Ride ...Be proud of it..Doesnt matter what you ride as long as you ride...
IF YOU DONT RIDE..THEN YOU DONT KNOW

The biggest difference I have noticed is when i had a HD it got stolen and stripped for parts and the parts were sent to Europe.
I forgot and left the key in my R* and when I came out of the pub after having lunch it was still there. They can be bought at a economical price are readily available and no one wants to steal it for parts, not to even mention that the insurance is cheaper for the same reason.
I don't know if my 04 R* is better than anything else but I do know 2 things...
1. Starting with the one piece 45 pound crankshaft it is built to last.
2. It is a very very good riding machine with built in reliability.
IMHO