Harleys and Rickenbackers - parallels?

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 7:00 pm

This post is inspired by another posting ("Harley For Sale"). I don't claim to know a lot about either company but as a foreigner with a passing knowledge of both, it seems that there are a lot of parallels - from a business perspective - between Harley-Davidson and Rickenbacker. For example, both are iconic, home-grown American businesses with a long, colourful history and an extremely loyal client base. Any comments or observations?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:13 am

Harley was not always family owned and virtually have a monopoly on their type of bike. They are slow, big and inefficient and have had quality control problems in the past, the majority of Harley owners are now aging well-to-do baby boomers, I think they're more like Fender.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 4:40 am

True Bob. Harley owners bought the bikes knowing the inherent problems (ie. oil channels which went nowhere -for years). Fender owners... you mean the guy who wants an electric guitar so he automatically purchases a Strat?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 5:29 am

Bill, that's where the parallels end. Harley Davidson received government protection in the mid-'80s, in the form of massive import tariffs being imposed on competitors' products. This was largely due to mismanagement and very poor quality control.

Rickenbacker has never needed, requested, nor received this sort of propping-up. Rick's quality has always been very good to excellent.

I find that Harley owners fit into two easy-to-characterize groups: the baby boomers mentioned by Bob and outlaws.

Harleys are supposedly symbols of rugged individuality. But Harley owners all look alike and dress alike, and apparently all dance to the same drummer, motorcycle-wise.

I saw a Laverda on the street yesterday. THAT guy gets my respect, at least for his taste in bikes.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:04 am

Paul, I take light offense to your statement about all H-D owners fitting into one of two catagories. It's like saying that everyone plays Rickenbackers either sounds like the Geddy Lee or Sir Paul. Period. There are still plenty of people who buy Rics just because they like them as a product and it suits their needs.....not because of an image associated with owning one or because "so and-so" has one. I just happen to like the '60's full fendered look, some chrome and large air cooled V-twin......I also hate the H-D cookie cutter biker image and overmarketed individuality brotherhood B-S. But I love some of the bikes (mine especially) so I have to take the bad with the good. I also happen to not be a baby boomer or outlaw

. I have a fondness for Ducati's and Triumphs so I do appreciate other makes as well.

For the comparison of H-D's and Rics.....there are more differences than parallels. You've already hit on what makes them similiar. The differences as a business are too many to list.

BTW.....I think comparing H-D to Fender was a low blow

.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:29 am

I ride a 1980 Motoguzzi V-50 (500cc)...it's a great bike for my needs and taste. My Harley-riding friends give me good natured grief about it, labelling it a 'pasta burner'...but I definitely feel like more of an individual (rugged or otherwise) when I park it next to a row of hawgs...

Harley's have their place, I s'pose...but I can't think of a guitar brand to compare them with...it would have to be something very high-priced, impossible to lift, and prone to dropping parts all over the stage...

During my recent trip to Alaska, I visited the town of Seward on July 4...saw a pair of BMW Paris-Dakkar's parked along the waterfront. They had full saddle bags and maps visible on the tank bags, and were completely covered with mud and dead bugs. I looked closer and could make out the Illinois plates...

Now those are some real Bikers...

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:43 am

It's true that they don't make Harley Davidsons in Mexico... It's still Milwaukee, right?

I work in the automotive industry; a few of our guys have come from HD over the years (interesting information they had to share too!).

Noel

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:26 am

Brian:

Good to hear from an individual and a thinker. I'm definitely in your corner. I like 883s and V-Rods; "regular" Harley guys diss both: the 883 is a "chick's bike" and the V-Rod is for "pu****s". Yet they express very well the past and future of V-Twins, brought to the present marketplace.

I, like Dane, am a Guzzi rider, although my last one was long ago. Also had a succession of BSAs and my very first bike, back in '65, was a Duck.

Brian, I like the '60s look, too.

Anyone who is interested in the ESSENCE of motorcycles, who isn't aware of this brand, have a look:

http://www.confederate.com

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:32 am

Paul...time to get 'back in the saddle', don't you think? I mean, there's more to life than just Rickenbackers, isn't there?

(I'm kidding with that second question, of course...)

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:45 am

I just thought I'd say that, regardless of what's been said in this thread, we all wish Sean W. well with selling his hawg...

You know, Phlemmy, everyone's entitled to their particular taste in bikes and everything else...but just to take your side (and that of all my ironworker hawg-ridin' friends) for a moment: I'd be dishonest if I didn't admit that among the reasons I don't ride a Harley is that I'm just too much of a "pu***"...

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:47 am

Nice machines Paul. I like the visual appeal of the Hellcat. That is quite a tough look. The Wraith looks like a rice rocket on steroids. I'll have to put one of the cats on my Christmas wish list.

LOL

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:52 am

Well, I like my strat...and dislike Hardly-able-to's.
But that probably has to do with my office being next to Rent-a-Harley's "world headquarters", and the stereotypes apply to the renters (all elderly, wearing distressed levi jeans and jackets, bandanas. You'll see dozens of them out there, identically decked out). Besides, the folks who work there are a bunch of slobs. For a short while, there was an Indian shop near my home, but I guess they went under (again?). But the Vespa shop thrives!

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:55 am

I think you could probably be written a speeding ticket just for standing at a light on that Hellcat...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 8:04 am

Now, let's dream up a Rickenbacker counterpart to the Hellcat...

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 8:20 am

Paul....you are preaching to the converted in regards to Confederates. The ONLY reasons I haven't had one for a few years is that it is not a great bike for my wife to enjoy being a passenger on AND they are more $$$$$ than I am willing to pay for a part year vehicle due to where I live. I'd also be pimping a Ducati 998 if it wasn't for the fact that I am a giant gork and it looks/feels like I am a freak from the circus on a mini-bike when I am on one

.

I'm actually more of the norm in my opinion than what you'd think.....it's just that the loudmouth stereotypical-biker-types draw the attention and make everyone else look bad or like a bunch of "tools".

BTW.....I'm currently debating trading my bike in for a new version of the V-Rod.....the Night Rod. It's a blacked out version.....plus it sounds "porn-like"

!

It's no Hellcat but it's all I gots.....