Who rides more miles Hondas versus Harleys?

[Amos Iron Wolf]

Originally Posted by CrazyDave

rather large broom you are pushing that assumption with..there are more Sporty pilots alone then there are Honda Shadows period. Most Sporty pilots are not prima donna dentists or doctors out for weekend luxury. Then take into account all the old running Knuckles, Flatheads, Pans and Shovels.. if they are used regulatory you can bet they are not trailer queens.. but here's the real truth of it all.. I WILL bet money that the average under 250 cc SCOOTER rider.. out does BOTH!

Yep, at the last place I worked that had a full bike parking area it was mostly filled with Harleys, a few sport bikes, and a few other cruisers. Many of those Harleys were Sportsters. From the fancied up ones to the bikes that looked pure ride lined the curb.

I'd have to agree with the scooter theory. People who have commuter scooters have them for one reason. To ride. Day in and day out, to work, the store, and all over.

We could even take things farther and wonder how many miles, or in this case kilometers people in Asia countries put on their scooters and motorcycles per year. I'm guessing they would shame the 3K a year average rider in the States for saddle time.

Rhetorical question. Why do people always keep feeling the need to compare Honda or any other non HD bike and rider to Harley bikes and riders. I pretty much figure it's a strong sense of inadequacy and insecurity and therefore they need to always be making assumptions and creating myths about Harleys and their riders just to sooth and reassure their aching egos.

Why no constant comparisons of Honda vs Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, etc.? Personally, a guy in our riding club downsized recently to a Star 950 cruiser. It's freaking sweet and I'd love to have one like it. Maybe that's why we don't compare metrics so often.

Okay, enough high horsing around. Back to the queue to await the next Honda/Harley comparison.

[Scaredofmyownshadow]

Originally Posted by Amos Iron Wolf

Yep, at the last place I worked that had a full bike parking area it was mostly filled with Harleys, a few sport bikes, and a few other cruisers. Many of those Harleys were Sportsters. From the fancied up ones to the bikes that looked pure ride lined the curb.

I'd have to agree with the scooter theory. People who have commuter scooters have them for one reason. To ride. Day in and day out, to work, the store, and all over.

We could even take things farther and wonder how many miles, or in this case kilometers people in Asia countries put on their scooters and motorcycles per year. I'm guessing they would shame the 3K a year average rider in the States for saddle time.

Rhetorical question. Why do people always keep feeling the need to compare Honda or any other non HD bike and rider to Harley bikes and riders. I pretty much figure it's a strong sense of inadequacy and insecurity and therefore they need to always be making assumptions and creating myths about Harleys and their riders just to sooth and reassure their aching egos.

Why no constant comparisons of Honda vs Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, etc.? Personally, a guy in our riding club downsized recently to a Star 950 cruiser. It's freaking sweet and I'd love to have one like it. Maybe that's why we don't compare metrics so often.

Okay, enough high horsing around. Back to the queue to await the next Honda/Harley comparison.

Uhh.. this is a Honda forum. It would be silly to ask who puts on more miles, Yamaha or Harley.

Sent from my C5155

[CrazyDave]

Originally Posted by Scaredofmyownshadow

Uhh.. this is a Honda forum. It would be silly to ask who puts on more miles, Yamaha or Harley.

Sent from my C5155

It's even more silly to care who does

[PA Dave]

Originally Posted by CrazyDave

Most Sporty pilots are not prima donna dentists or doctors out for weekend luxury.

This made me smile because my dentist rides a full dress HD and his new associate rides a Sportster. I'm not sure about the dentist, but his associate is no weekend warrior...she rides.

As far as the miles per brand, it really boils down to the rider, not the bike. The previous owner of my Shadow logged approx 800 miles a year. I logged over 800 the first month. Same bike. So the question becomes, which brand do serious high mileage riders tend to buy? Seriously, I haven't a clue. I know for certain that both brands have their riders who measure their annual miles in hundreds and also those who measure theirs in five digit numbers. The final answer can't give an accurate portrait of riders of either brand, only a statistical average, and is therefore of little significance. That's how I see it.

[CrazyDave]

Originally Posted by PA Dave

This made me smile because my dentist rides a full dress HD and his new associate rides a Sportster. I'm not sure about the dentist, but his associate is no weekend warrior...she rides.

As far as the miles per brand, it really boils down to the rider, not the bike. The previous owner of my Shadow logged approx 800 miles a year. I logged over 800 the first month. Same bike. So the question becomes, which brand do serious high mileage riders tend to buy? Seriously, I haven't a clue. I know for certain that both brands have their riders who measure their annual miles in hundreds and also those who measure theirs in five digit numbers. The final answer can't give an accurate portrait of riders of either brand, only a statistical average, and is therefore of little significance. That's how I see it.

serious dentist associates apparently ride Sportys

[1rusty1]

Either way, I love the people that buy bikes and barley pull them out of the garage. They can take the depreciation and I can buy a low mileage bike for a good price when they are tired of looking at it.

[wallasan10]

Originally Posted by 1rusty1

Either way, I love the people that buy bikes and barley pull them out of the garage. They can take the depreciation and I can buy a low mileage bike for a good price when they are tired of looking at it.

True that! I couldn’t afford a brand new Yamaha Stratoliner but I could afford one that was one year old and had 1,000 miles on it. I doubled the miles in a week.

[vzshadow]

This is a Shadow forum, who cares about Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
That said I put 11,000 on my Honda NT700V in 2011 and about 9,000 this year between my NT and my Triumph Bonneville. Saying that we have a 7 month riding season here in Maine is being very generous.

[Bowie-]

Originally Posted by CrazyDave

rather large broom you are pushing that assumption with..there are more Sporty pilots alone then there are Honda Shadows period. Most Sporty pilots are not prima donna dentists or doctors out for weekend luxury. Then take into account all the old running Knuckles, Flatheads, Pans and Shovels.. if they are used regulatory you can bet they are not trailer queens.. but here's the real truth of it all.. I WILL bet money that the average under 250 cc SCOOTER rider.. out does BOTH!

I didn't think the question was about how many Hondas have been sold vs Harleys. I was thinking in terms of how much each owner rides them. And, from the ones I've known, the Hondas have been the workhorses vs the Harleys which are weekend bikes more than half the time.

[CrazyDave]

Originally Posted by Bowie-

I didn't think the question was about how many Hondas have been sold vs Harleys. I was thinking in terms of how much each owner rides them. And, from the ones I've known, the Hondas have been the workhorses vs the Harleys which are weekend bikes more than half the time.

The question isn't who sold what, it is the fact that in sheer volume there are more everyday riding Harleys out there, as most Harley riders are not the dress up and pose at the bar type. Look at it this way.. most every serious 1% patch club requires that the bike be PRIMARY transportation.. most every 1% patch club member rides a Harley.

There are literally thousands upon thousands of members and chapters of various such clubs.. all who do not play weekend warrior.. then there are the non one percent clubs who also have a like requirements.. police clubs, military clubs, etc.. many of which also have a Harley only rule..All of whose members must to the best of their ability use their bike as primary transport.. and to that the millions of independents.. people like you and me who ride Harleys and ride them for more then just a once a week trip to the local bar.. so no Harley riders are not for the most part weekend warriors, even if your area seems has an abundance of such.