Modern Vespa

The link refers to a current article in the NY Times about Harleys. But be sure to read the last few lines about scooters too...

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/harley-davidson-takes-its-lumps/#comment-96021

And the following long group of comments from readers I also found interesting, and added one of my own to the end. I hope they accept and show it..

The motor company sells enough t-shirts and do-rags, they don't really need to sell bikes. I have been in numerous Harley shops that had nary a single bike, but plenty of marquee pint glasses and dog leashes and etc... If people quit buying branded harley gear then they might be in trouble.

Yas...
But I gotta say, as unpopular as it may be here, that I've also seen the same kind of crap in the Vespa 'boutique shop' scene...

In any case I thot there was a lo more interesting stuff in that NY Times article than put-downs of the so called "Harley mystique", and I much enjoyed the ending remarks about scooters...

Fron the article:

"But Harley's business probably can be expected to suffer more than many motorcycle manufacturers, because of the lack of diversity in its lineup of mostly cruiser bikes. Mr. Antonius noted some of the drop in Honda's motorcycle sales have been offset by increased sales of scooters.
"Scooters," he said, "are flying off the shelves."
Wonder what a Harley-Davidson scooter might look like? "

Wonder no more. Vintage HD scoot

[quote="Paperino"]Fron the article:

"But Harley's business probably can be expected to suffer more than many motorcycle manufacturers, because of the lack of diversity in its lineup of mostly cruiser bikes. Mr. Antonius noted some of the drop in Honda's motorcycle sales have been offset by increased sales of scooters.
"Scooters," he said, "are flying off the shelves."
Wonder what a Harley-Davidson scooter might look like? "

Wonder no more. Vintage HD scoot[/quote]

FLIPPING SWEEEEET! My [u]whole[/u] family rides Harleys and if you dont own one or have never been on one you cant fully grasp the quality and craftsmenship of a Harley-Davidson expecially compaired to a china made bike. I told my husband that if Harley made scooters I would be riding one of those BUT the Vespas are the HD of the scooter world (my exact words!)

That Topper always looks to me like Yamaha stole the design of it for their C3 50cc scoot!
I'd like to see a USA co. design and sell a scooter. Harley did show some active imagination with their V-Rod that they co-designed with BMW; maybe they could also do this with a scooter someday?

A Harley Topper that was offered on eBay earlier this month
(and used as a noncontender in one of my threads )

Hahahahaha!
And how...........crap indeed.

"Mr. Dealer,
I dont look goofy enough on my sea foam green scooter with a snakeskin seat....is there an accessory that could possibly get my ass kicked a little quicker?"


"Well....that settles it then....I will take 4 sets of of Tucano Cow horns for my pastel green ill fitting helmet please.....let the beatings commence."

And FTR: I bought a set of devil horns for my helmet a few years ago so I have zero room to talk.....

Ahah! Finally found my favorite pics of a Harley scooter
Again from eBay, but from back in March: