25 Years and then the Light Went On:
Posted on the VRCC Board by harleybob on Wed - Oct 20 - 1:38pm:
Article by Spirit member #123I rode HD for 25 years, tried to buy a new Classic in 97 but just wouldn't fall for their new attitude and marketing
approach. When HD pulled the franchise from my favorite dealership because he wanted to stay a bike shop and not a
clothing store, I was forced into attempting a purchase from the new style dealerships. They decided they were going to
glue on $1200.00 in God-awful accessories they can't normally sell, (on top of being way over list price). It seems they had
forgotten the loyal customers that stuck with them in their lean years. I offered their asking price and to buy their $1200.00
in extra accessories, just let me pick them out, after all, shouldn't I be the one to customize my own bike??Guess not if you want Milwaukee iron. They had 2 of the model I wanted in stock. I stuck to my offer and left."The next
guy we call will take it" was their reply. Four weeks later they called and asked if I was still interested. I assume the "next
guy" didn't answer the phone. I restated my offer and said "sure". They said, "Oh no, you'll buy it the way we want, no
exceptions. I asked why they bothered to call me back if nothing had changed.They said, "You must not realize that
Harley-Davidsons aren't for everyone" That frosted it - with that attitude they sure as ---- aren't for me!
Two blocks down the street they offered me a test ride on a 98 Valk Tourer, threw in some accessories (of MY choice),
discounted seriuosly off list, and I was on the street in one hour on my first non-HD in a couple of decades.
Thank you Harley Davidson, they finally repayed my customer loyalty by gettting me mad enough to look elsewhere and
buy the best bike I have ever owned.True - Honda add-ons are just as costly. True - HD fit & finish is hard to top. But more true than anything - HD has
nothing that compares to the Valkyrie. One by one (4 total) my HD riding buddies have switched to Valks after swapping
bikes with me for a day. And each of those days I couldn't wait to get my Fat Lady back. HD had better change either
their attitude or their machine, because one by one the riding public is getting hip to their B.S. Even hard-core HD fanatics
have a hard time hating the Valk-she is her own girl, not an imitation or a wannabee.The only time they can gripe abouther is when she draws the attention of admirers away from the long line of Harleys parked with her. This is just my long-winded way of saying I love my Valk. Meeting my Fat Lady was a stroke of luck and no HD will
EVER take parking stall #1 away from her in my stable. Live and Ride Free!!