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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | One of the supervisors here at work was talking about how he went Harley shopping last week. (He balked at the 9.5% interest rate.) He's 50-ish, fairly short, overweight, never ridden before. Would have dropped over $30K on an Ultra. He had checked out the Goldwing because their interest rate was around 1%. Said he had a hard time reaching the ground on a Goldwing and like the Ultra better anyway. I piped in: "Hey, if you're looking at those bikes, you really need to check out the Vision." He said "Yeah, I know you ride one but I just don't like the looks." I said "So what! Half the guys who own Visions couldn't stand it the first time they saw it! Sitting in the saddle changes your whole perspective on that bike." "Eh, I don't think so." "It'll flat run away from a Harley and has the big V-twin feel to it that a Goldwing lacks." "Eh, they're all fast enough for me. It's not about that." "The seat on the Vision is really narrow and makes it a lot easier to put both feet flat on the ground." "Eh...." I could tell he wasn't going to budge. I stared at him for a second. "You know, you're right. You don't know enough about motorcycles to appreciate the Vision. You need to buy the Ultra, watch how much you'll spend in upgrades just to make it more rideable and reliable, and then dump it in a parking lot with your wife onboard. As your parking lot full of new Harley buddies are helping you pick up your bike (and you sickeningly analyze the damage done) remember these words "I could have spent about 10 grand less, picked it up myself and ridden away without a scratch on the bike." Go get some miles on a Harley, then tell me how the Vision looks."
Edited by SongFan 2011-03-20 11:16 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Michael,
You're spot on there. "Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it... well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men." If he gets his Harley, he'll take his lumps, in his wallet and otherwise. |
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | People are funny. Some have open minds, some have closed ones, and then some just can't stand for you to think they are willing to learn from you.
Here's what I think took place in this situation. 1. He is open minded enough to consider other brands, but probably got some similar advice prior to your conversation with him from somebody that's cool (harley owner). 2. Even though he resisted everything you had to offer in the public setting (probably thought others would find out he was listening to a vision owner), he will secretly go out and compare just because everything you said will eat at him until he does.
If he is foolish and deep down is only wanting a bike to be cool in the minds of others, he will get a harley.
If he is logical and wants the best experience in riding, and honestly compares all that's out there, he will eventually by a vic.
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Cruiser
Posts: 199
Salt Lake City | Doesn't bother me at all than anyone purchases another bike, whatever their reason. I've ridden many others, and in the VV found the bike that is perfect for me. The first time I saw one I was smitten by its looks, and the V-Twin. Then when I sat on it, that sealed the deal. What the guy alongside me rides........no big deal. The average guy will spend a lifetime wanting to own a motorcycle, and I know he wishes he could be me, regardless of the motorcycle I'm on. So. I'll tip a cold one to him, and anyone else who doesn't like the looks of the finest motorcycle I've ever ridden, because I'm enjoying the heck out of all this!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 216
Danville, CA | Well said guys and I couldn't agree more.. I have owned to HD's, 02 Road King and 07 Ultra Classic. Once I took a demo ride on a Vision it was over for me. The handling and performance blew me away for a big bagger. I actually like the looks, very unique and progressive. Glad I had an open mind.
Cheers to Victory the HD 2.0. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 123
NE Florida Jacksonville | You are right about your friend's closed mind. Some people have such a narrow mind they can look through a keyhole with both eyes. Only experience will teach him so let him learn that expensive lesson. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | stupid is as stupid does... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | If this guy's NEVER ridden before, I'd be steering him towards a used sporty, big enough to get you your M3 for 501cc and over, you can pick one up for $3500 ride the wheels off it and sell it for $3500. Then, once he's got some time on the sporty, invite him to putt your VV around the parking lot @ lunch. I'll bet once he gets some time under his butt on the 883, he'll appreciate the VV. I look @ older guys who buy an ULTRA or any other huge bike and have no experience with what a BIG bike can, and can't do, they get behind the curve and the bike crashes because they lack general experience and have no well of experiece to draw on to save themselves. 'Aw heck, my car has more horsepower than this does' yeah, and weighs about 3 times as much and has four tires. If you mention 'push steer' they give you the complete blank stare like you were taliking to them in Ethiopian. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| You can lead them to water but you can't make them drink.
I have owned harleys for thirty years and feel in love with the vision and traded my brain new harley in on VV and will never go back.
Most guys buy harleys cause they want to fit in with there friends and pear pressure. You buy a Vision and you find out who your harley friends really are and they go from 18 to 4 in the ones that stick with you are true friends. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | synstr you bring up a good point and I always encourage folks who have not ridden in a long time or just learning to ride to get a small easy to ride and cheap bike, brand immaterial. However, some think they are "big boys" and don't have to do that. One went straight to an Ultra Glide and got hit within the first two weeks. Sure, it was the cagers "fault", but I can't help but think it could have been averted if he had started out with something smaller and easier to handle. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 109
Sturbridge, Ma | I remember when I owened my 03 VTX, and all the boys would say get a real American Bike!!!
So I did last year getting every name possible you can think off, Jetson's Bike, Bat Mobile...etc.
Went to a trip to NY with 32 bikes Goldwings and Harleys and more harleys than any and I was the only Victory.
They had the 103 limited edition $26K +, I got to the Bronxs with all of them and the people Jumped to see my Bike while No one had no interest alone on thos $26k bikes? I actually felt bad for them as they also walked up to my conversations just to hear peoples interest..lol
I Love my Vision since they came out in production.!!! I'm all set with HD's... |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | I've worked with this guy for a long time. Extremely hard-headed. Other guys who have talked to him (Harley guys) mentioned smaller/cheaper bikes but he says he's not gonna "waste his time" on a starter bike. "Sportsters are for kids and women. I want somethin' I'm not gonna outgrow." I'm not sure how many guys are going to ride with him if he actually gets one. That's why my end of the conversation was so short. He is a statistic waiting to happen. p.s. - He crashed on a bicycle about two months ago "'Cuz I couldn't get my feet down fast enough!"
Edited by SongFan 2011-03-20 4:30 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 206
Lumber Bridge, NC United States | I find the more that the other brands talk to me they always say how can you steer that thing with the bars inside like that? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | The day he rides it in, be there to give him a very gushy 'Get Well' card, when asks "WTF?' tell him, "you ARE going to need this very soon'. Be sure and tell him all the old timer, long term riders on this site are going to want to know when he has his first crash- I just love guys whose scrotums are bigger than their brains, they're Darwinian and will cul themselves from the herd soon enough. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | I would let someone tell me what to ride if ....... they were paying for it. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 152
Litchfield Park, AZ | Not to piss on everybody's umbrella, but why do we all want this guy to ride a Vision so badly??? Maybe he actually does HATE the looks of the Vision....maybe a Cross Country or Cross Roads, or Kingpin would have been better....and maybe, just maybe one of those bikes would have interested him.
A guy who is 50, short, overweight, and has never riden before should NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER be thinking about a Goldwing, or an H-D Ultra Classic, or a Victory Vision. I don't know this guy so I could give 2 F---- about him, but a Vision? Really? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 804
Perry Hall, MD | Show him a cross bike and see if he still uses the 'looks' excuse. If not, suggest that when he test rides one that he takes the time to follow-up with a ride on a Vision to feel the difference. Then again, is it worth sacrificing a perfectly good Victory just to get this guy to see the light? |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | All the reasons above are why I willingly sent him over to Harley. I had a sick flash of him crashing a Vision. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | surviveability increases on a Vision... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Salina, KS | I ride with several H-D riders (who doesn't?) & they have all ridden a Vision & ALL have commented on how nimble/powerful/confortable it is....BUT it's not a Harley! They will never give up their idea of what a "real" motorcycle is & it's fruitless to try & convince them otherwise. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 21
Indiana | I imagine we all had at least one HD on the list when we looked for a bike. However, most of us (all of this?) bought something else, a Victory. HD makes some good bikes. The new ones are much better than the old and you got to admit that the HD sound is magic. Think of the thousands of dollars (or is it millions) guys spend to get the HD sound on their non-HD bike.
One of the best things about the Vic is the way the HD owners get kind of pissed when others look at our bikes and ignore all the HDs. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | I got the HD sound, and it only cost $70. Thrush mufflers! Yeah!!!!
(Actually, they sound better than my HD Ultra Classic with Screamin' Eagle mufflers did.)
My dad has a new HD Ultra, and stock sounds so tame. Even HD owners have to spend a lot to get that HD sound. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | Sounds like another wannabe... besides are there really enough trailer queens?
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Cruiser
Posts: 162
Northern NJ | You can't convince everyone the Vision is THE bike. Only the smart people. lol
On Sunday I had 2 riders all around my 2009 Street Vision, taking pictures of it and gushing compliments.
The really impressive thing is the one guy is a Kawi Concours 14 rider, no slouch in the sport touring segment. I was flattered. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | And my favorite - I CAN'T FIX STUPID!
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | He falls into the saying that "HD'S are like assholes, in Milwaukee everyone has one. We cannot protect anyone from them selfs......
Ride hard, ride fast, but above all - ride safe and free....... |
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Middle Aged Harley Shopper