Disappointed in Honda

[mustangman]

Today, I went with my babysitter to the local Harley Dealer. She is looking to buy an 883. (I tried to talk her into a Honda, but she won't hear it). Anyway, I'm simply astonished every time I go into this dealership, or any other Harley one, at the amount of apparel they have available for their riders. Harley jackets, Harley shirts, even Harley baby clothes. I've been looking for a Honda riding jacket for two seasons now to no avail. It's very disappointing that I can't show the pride I have in my ride like Harley riders can. Honda needs to "get in the game". Just my two cents.

[Outlaw1800]

I think most of us Honda owners buy Hondas for four basic reasons:
They are fast
They are reliable
They are priced right
We love to ride them
Half the people that own a vtx wind up taking the emblems off the tank as part of the mods they do to the bike.
Being in that yuppy biker club with their designer bike wear just isn't as important as knowing they have a better all around bike than a Harley. I look at those people and wonder why they'd want to advertize that they bought an under rated bike for way too much money. JMHO. :choppersm

[roadhag]

hey outlaw....strong thoughts.........but pretty much on the mark...would be kinda nice to flaunt the vtx though, but is not necessary....the bike talks pretty well on its own

saw the pics....nice ride, very nice!

[BlurpleX]

I found some very nice jackets on Honda Diriect thru the VTXOA website.

[Big-X]

When we were in St Thomas the HD store there had HD reading glasses...yes reading glasses. It would be cool to have VTX stuff but I'm simple and don't care much either way. Even if I did ride a HD I would not dress up like some do.

[chazb458]

I'm not into the brand gear either. I didn't wear Izod, Members Only, or Oakleys for the same reason. The bike speaks for itself and I don't need to advertize that I know how to spend money to get brand names. I do appreciate the quality of an item and if a brand name has the best quality for the price I'll buy it.

Give me old wranglers and a Walmart polo shirt and I'm good to go. :)

[zipgarrett]

Hey guys I agree with all of you!! I bought a VTX jacket from Hondadirect, I didn't know if I was going to like it or not, but it is great. Lightweight you can roll it up put it in a saddlebag pull it out shake it and is good as new. I don't use my leather jacket anymore. Take Care/Ride Safe "Zip"

[shadango]

When we were in St Thomas the HD store there had HD reading glasses...yes reading glasses. It would be cool to have VTX stuff but I'm simple and don't care much either way. Even if I did ride a HD I would not dress up like some do.

HD reading glasses!?!?! Whats next.....HD-branded walkers, depends undergarments and potty chairs?? :)

[NC Hammer]

Today, I went with my babysitter to the local Harley Dealer. She is looking to buy an 883. (I tried to talk her into a Honda, but she won't hear it). Anyway, I'm simply astonished every time I go into this dealership, or any other Harley one, at the amount of apparel they have available for their riders. Harley jackets, Harley shirts, even Harley baby clothes. I've been looking for a Honda riding jacket for two seasons now to no avail. It's very disappointing that I can't show the pride I have in my ride like Harley riders can. Honda needs to "get in the game". Just my two cents.

Disappointed?? Get some Harley stuff. Don't you like it when someone asks what year your FatBoy is? LOL Then you can tell them it's a Honda and it cost half as much as a HD. I think that's pretty cool, just stickin' it to 'em like that.

Personally, I don't need a sweater for my dog that says "Honda" or a coffee mug or any other usless item that doesn't actually attach to the bike and make it look better.

Harley, dinette set, Harley, dinette set, Harley, dinette set. Buy a Honda AND the dinette set. AND you'll still have some $$ left for accessories.

[roadhag]

got my bike from a gent about 2 months ago (off ebay)...pretty much have agreed with outlaw and hammer on this thread concerning accessories, etc...and then yesterday i got a box delivery (from the gent who sold me the bike)...it had in it,
a vtx bike cover, 2 vtx t-shirts (black), 1 vtx hat (black), and a vtx WALL CLOCK...that was just way too funny and coincidental...am not sure where he got the stuff from....anyway, thanks Mr. Bob...will be put to good use

[MadCal]

Don't need the HD stuff either. I have a Virginia VTX rider's club T - that's about it. We went on a USO ride and won a couple of harley t-shirts and a BMW hat. That's mostly what they were giving away, even though our group (a large one) started at the Honda dealership. I was disappointed. Gave the shirts away wondering why Honda didn't even bother to provide some sponsorship doo-dads at the least.

[Captain X]

Too bad that your friend wouldn't listen to reason. I've gone through the same thing with a friend recently. (Just wanted a "Harley", not a great motorcycle - and didn't even want to try the others...) When I found my X, I rode Harleys and Yamahas too, just to see what was out there.

I had a Honda as a teenager, but it had been a long time. It was great to find what I wanted in a bike. The money was NOT the issue, as many Harley riders believe it to be. I have spent another $4 to $5K in accessories for my VTX that brings it up to Harley range anyway. I bought the X because of PERFORMANCE and style, not some biker "image". It kind of makes me laugh when I see some of the Harley guys in their little Harley "costumes". They think that they are really impressing everyone, but they are just being let around by the nose and spending way too much money on a sub-standard product. Of course, I wouldn't tell them this and bust their bubble. Not worth the effort.

I love motorcycling... not just Hondas. Find one of them that feels the same way and I'll buy you a beer. Most of the Harley guys cannot converse with you on any aspect of motorcycling except Harleys. Too bad - They are missing out on a lot of good things in life.

[WoodBrother]

Try here.

http://www.hondadirectlineusa.com/stores/byProduct.asp?prd=Jackets&str=8&ID=867556325

[Blue]

hey outlaw....strong thoughts.........but pretty much on the mark...would be kinda nice to flaunt the vtx though, but is not necessary....the bike talks pretty well on its own

saw the pics....nice ride, very nice!

I have to agree with ya. It reminds me of the guys that have the name of the car across the top of the windshield. :hmm2:

[southernmaine]

I have to agree with the original post. Not that I want to buy all things VTX, but it would be nice to find a leather jacket with the logo on it, rather than buying a patch and having it sewn on...I doubt it would have pro look.

Just a few more goodies, OK Honda? :)

[bgreer]

I found some very nice jackets on Honda Diriect thru the VTXOA website.
Try this for leather
http://www.leatherup.com/
Compare these prices to your Harley Dealership, the Quality is great, the price is right..kinda like buying a Honda over a Harley

[RDaneel]

Bought a nice VTX jacket from the stealer (dealer closeout as they're pushing the Goldwing jackets). Nice 3-season jacket although it lacks armor. The VTX logo and piping are nicely reflective at night and there's a half-dozen zippers that can make hot Florida rides more bearable.

[dirtdobber]

There are several places one can get honda/vtx jackets and other clothing. i would just use google and see what you find.
leathercup
www.motorcyclecloseouts.com
and the list goes on.
If Honda kept clothing in stock the the costs of staying in bussiness would go up. So the the prices on their bikes would go up. up up and away is how I see it. :icon_peac

[hijulian]

My friend and I are constantly going at each other over Honda and Haraley. My statement still stands. If you want to follow the fad, go Harley Davidson, wear the proper attire. But if you want performance, reliablility, go Honda. If your confused, get and emblem like Honda Davidson on your Honda crusier. Once when we were in a dealer, my friend was eating me up with his comments, I asked the dearler representative straight out, " Which bike is more dependable?" As we all know, that is exactly why we ride them all over as opposed to putting them on trailers, carrying wrenches, pulling over and using them, and staying in town for fear of breaking down. Honda performance is a statement they cant aggrue with.

[rrlavigne]

One person in this thread mentioned people taking off their badges. Personally I've always disliked when people do that. My feeling is love what you ride and ride with you love ... and BE PROUD of it. I
ll tell you one thing i know for a fact from being a member of a Harley forum for a while, Harley riders think people remove the badges from their metric bike gas tanks because they're ashamed and they wish they were riding Harleys. And I believe to some people that's true which is why it bothers me. Honda (or any other brand) doesn't need to make excuses for itself. You you're not proud of what you ride I say sell it and buy what's in your heart. But don't be ahsmed of your ride because it looks bad for the rest of we PROUD VTX owners!

[HeadGuess]

They don't pay me to wear my name so why should I pay them to wear thier name?
These manufacturers actually have counters at races and other functions to count how many times thier name is shown on tv and such. That is what they are about, not quality products.

[dirtdobber]

If you are vever in Chattanooga, Tennessee stop by southern honda there. you will see there are some Honda shops that match the HD shops. over 3,000 bikes in stock almost every type of clothing to. The shop is a warehousehttp://www.southernhonda.com/images/southernhonda/new%20image190.jpg

[rrlavigne]

I guess you have a point but I can tell you on the HD forum that's what they say. that we Honda/metric riders remove the badges and try to fool people into thinking we're riding HD's because we're ashamed. For that reason I keep my badges on and show them proudly. But like a lot of things in life it's my choice (like wearing a helmet) and I'm all for freedom of choice. :patriot: ....................... But it urks me when i read the HD riders feeling superior and claiming riders who remove their badges do so because they're HD wanna-bees. .......... Guess I shouldn't care :bleh: ... but it urks me!

I remove the plastic badges for one reason. I think they look cheesy. Most customizers always remove the badges from their bikes and cars because it makes them look sleeker and smoother. Most of us that remove our emblems aren't doing so because we are ashamed of what we ride. On the contrary. I WOULD be ashamed if I rode a harley though! By the way, you ever notice how many HD's with custom paint remove their badges too? I don't need no stinking badges :D

[rrlavigne]

Ride metric - ride proud ... YES! Or as i like to say ... Ride what you love and love with you ride!