harley and the davidsons

[cookiedough]

who is going to watch it next week on discovery?

http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/harley-and-the-davidsons/

[Gavin_Sons]

I'd rather not watch a show about bikes rattling apart  I'm sure it is a lot of history and will be interesting. I'll probably watch it and not be very impressed. Guess you have to be a Harley guy to appreciate the show.

[98valk]

another propaganda show to help increase their lagging sales.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/harley-davidson-q2-2016-sales/

[baldo]

who is going to watch it next week on discovery?

http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/harley-and-the-davidsons/

It doesn't look like we get that particular Discovery channel. Looks interesting, maybe.

[Alpha Dog]

I am looking forward to it, heck I watch any history motorcycle show. I am sure it is a great story.  I will not be rushing out to by a Harley.  I see my buddy working on too many of them that are 3 years old and less, but they are gorgeous.  I am taking a hard look at Victory's and Indians, maybe for next year.

I read the article 98 valk posted.  Jeepers total American sales down over 8 percent in Q2 is not good.  Harley did increase it's market share.  As has been recognized by the industry over the past five years the average rider age is increasing, new people are not entering the market.  As a side note I have heard rumblings from drivers in the trucking industry that business is falling off.  It is always felt there first.

[Glenlivet]

It would be a shame if fanboy-ism so controls a person that they won't watch a story about a make that they do not themselves choose to ride. I've read a few books on Harley Davidson (among many) and there really is a fascinating story there. I hope this series, if I can get it, does it justice.

Hey, it was in a book about Harley Davidson that I learned about Soichiro Honda traveling to Europe and returning via plane with a suitcase stuffed with motorcycle parts that he intended to study.
He'd packed his bag so full of various bike parts Honda was told the bag was too heavy and he couldn't bring it on the plane.
 Honda was unwilling to part with his treasures and so he reasoned that in as much as he was a skinny little guy anyway, he'd just stuff his pockets with as many of the parts as he could, and in doing that his bag was now down to legal weight. They let him and the bag on the plane. No problem.
Honda fumed about how silly the rules were, "...After all the plane is carrying the same weight!"
He was right, of course.

Wouldn't have learned that without reading the Harley book.

[F-six]

who is going to watch it next week on discovery?

http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/harley-and-the-davidsons/

I hope they run this serie in the Netherlands. Looks to me a very interesting story. Doesn't matter if you like Harleys or not, you have to admit that Harley and Davidson are a substantial part of our motorcycle legacy. Right up there with all the other great pioneers in the motorcycle industry.

[Popeye]

I will be watching.  It's about motorcycles. I try to watch anything related to motorcycles, no matter the brand. Looking forward to it.  

Still love my Harley but like most, would like a new one.

[Bronxboy]

I don't feel like that. If it has to do with Bikes I am interested. With all the crap on TV this would be refreshing. I owned a few HD in my time, and never had an issue with them.

When I found the Valk it was a machine that does everything well, so I stuck with it 

[cookiedough]

I thought the first episode last night was worth watching so gonna try to watch the next 2 nights as well.

That Harley guy was well ahead of his time, very smart young engineer for sure.   We may think now of HD being outdated, but back in the early 1900s,  for sure groundbreaking.    Some history in there as well knowing that Indian was the major player back then. 

[MP]

I thought it was good.  Certainly not "propaganda".

Lots of chances to catch first episode again if you missed it.

[Hooter]

   Not unlike many others I've read the stories of Harley and other bikes as well. Mention Harley here is like dumping an "F" bomb  at a church social.  Never understood that thinking and there is virtually never any negative reference made toward any other brand or v-twin. Kinda like mentioning Honda In a Harley forum.  And the band plays on.  

   Anyway, as for Harley and the Davidsons, I enjoyed watching the internal struggle to get somewhere in an what seems to be a flooded and crooked market of the time in the good ol U.S.A. More than dog eat dog. I will watch the series to see where it goes progressively and compare it to what I've read. I'd watch if it was about any brand of motorcycle just because I like bikes.

[Bronxboy]

Thought it was good, looking forward to the rest. It seems like "Pay To Play" has existed a long time in our history.

[Pappy!]

Also watched it. Thought it was well worth watching.

[Gavin_Sons]

i started watching it then the kids wanted to watch cartoons. i got it on DVR so i'll try to get to it tonight

[Alpha Dog]

I too liked it so far being a history nut and motorcycle nut.  Heck after first episode it had me hankering for a Harley.  Look forward to episodes 2 and 3.

[Patrick]

I watched the first part, didn't want to stay up for the second.

I thought it was pretty good, which surprised me.

It didn't seem to me to be very historically accurate. It seemed as though the show inferred that they were the first with a V twin which didn't show up until 1909 after others were already producing them. That makes me wonder about parts of the movie.

[Bronxboy]

I watched the first part, didn't want to stay up for the second.

I thought it was pretty good, which surprised me.

It didn't seem to me to be very historically accurate. It seemed as though the show inferred that they were the first with a V twin which didn't show up until 1909 after others were already producing them. That makes me wonder about parts of the movie.

It's good u didn't stay up for the second part, that's on tonite 

[Patrick]

I watched the first part, didn't want to stay up for the second.

I thought it was pretty good, which surprised me.

It didn't seem to me to be very historically accurate. It seemed as though the show inferred that they were the first with a V twin which didn't show up until 1909 after others were already producing them. That makes me wonder about parts of the movie.

It's good u didn't stay up for the second part, that's on tonite 

You know what, I believe you're right. I looked for tonight and the second part is on 3 times one after another. [ 7pm-1am].  It probably was the same last night. So I might have figured it out in about an hour or so if I had stayed up to watch it. 

[MP]

And, they repeat ALL the episodes throughout the next several days, so if you missed an episode, you can catch up.  Just check the scheduling.

[G-Man]

So far - So-So

[Hoser]

Very entertaining, I plan to watch the next one.  Hoser

[hukmut]

Just remember that it is "based" on a true story. A lot of "artistic license" just to jazz it up a bit.
BTW most of the bikes shown in the movie were built for the movie. No antiques there!



Ride safe, y'all.

[specialdose]

           Don,t know enough about HD history to know how much is factual or not. Never had the desire to own one. The show was entertaining and it certainly makes you appreciate their love for their dream and admire their tenacity to fulfill it.  Had to have a large pair to ride the board track I will definitely watch the other two.

[Jersey mike]

           Don,t know enough about HD history to know how much is factual or not. Never had the desire to own one. The show was entertaining and it certainly makes you appreciate their love for their dream and admire their tenacity to fulfill it.  Had to have a large pair to ride the board track I will definitely watch the other two.

I had the same thoughts which I was going to post when I read this.

With all due respect I can appreciate the American spirit to design,market and build a dream. Without Indian and Harley where would we be now as motorcyclists, just as just as R.E. Olds and others were to the auto industry.

As for the show its ok, I've seen worse over the years. I don't know what's fact,fiction or embellishment but it's ok so far. I caught the 1st and 2nd shows back to back.

[98valk]

hmm they stole somebody else's design?...and used somebody else's engine?

"Work on a second prototype began immediately, with the help of a third Davidson brother, William.  It was patterned after the Merkel, another Milwaukee motorcycle, and used an engine provided by Ole Evinrude, the inventor of the first practical outboard motor.  Ole’s story will be covered in a future post. This motorcycle competed at a motorcycle race in Milwaukee at State Fair Park in 1904."

[cookiedough]

well now at the end of episode 2 and sounds like one struggle after another.   First making it thru the war and now being sued by Indian and other mfgs. over copying parts/patent rights. 

Goes to show you there were cut throat businessmen way back then, just like today.

At least this mini series has some storyline behind it and one of the better tv shows worth watching lately.

[Jersey mike]

Ok now I'm confused I think.

I thought they were sued over designs which the one brother designed (but never patented) years prior.

[MP]

Ok now I'm confused I think.

I thought they were sued over designs which the one brother designed (but never patented) years prior.

Yep.  That is what they were sued for.  It was not a brother that forgot to patent his designs, but Harley, their engineer.

[jdp]

There is a good article ( why not to buy a Harley ) by James Russell, everyone should read it.

[98valk]

Ok now I'm confused I think.

I thought they were sued over designs which the one brother designed (but never patented) years prior.

Yep.  That is what they were sued for.  It was not a brother that forgot to patent his designs, but Harley, their engineer.

I like a few yrs go HD was suing somebody else about their potato-potato sound that it was theirs only. They eventually backed off the suit after spending millions because they were told they would lose. can't own a sound.

[frosty]

Appears as H-D is using the series to reveal Indian as being a like said cut throat co. from the beginning. And when their racing shows the Indian wrecking as being unsafe. Not sure how true the show is but they definitely are using it to promote the H-Ds over their now threat Indian competitor.

[Jess from VA]

Harley has always (in more recent decades) been known for their active legal staff going after anyone who encroaches on their product.  Remember how Made in USA was on some 1999 valks and not on others?  I personally thought they went too far on some occasions.

However, if your corporate history showed you were nearly put under by having your designs copied and then patented (before you did), your corporate memory might result in a bit of proactive legal heavy handedness.  Never again,is not a bad corporate motto.

The show is OK, not great and not bad.  Most of us would like more bike/design/build/race detail and less Hollywood fluff, but I suppose Hollywood fluff is here to stay.  (who cares about their marriages and wives?)

It sure does show the fierce competition between Harley and Indian, and that is historically accurate.

I did not know Harley got out of gladiatorial board track racing early on due to loss of life and limb.  

[MP]

And it was not just riders killed.  Spectators also got killed.  Seems like I remember it was a big wreck, where several spectators were killed and injured, that finally put a nail in the coffin of the dome racing.

[czuch]

I'm liking it.
There are a few hard parts. Bill Harley looks like my son, somewhat.
The historical aspect is close enough to be palatable.  As a photographer/cine guy it flows well enough to be pleasing. The costumage is accurate and the characters are believable.
I'm catching bits and snatches but ill spend a Saturday binging it.

[LadyDraco]

We started watching it last night..
 Saw parts 1 & 2 straight through . ugh so many commercials .. But that is what it is .
 Makes it easy to get a drink and snack with out missing any of the show . 
  We don't have a DVR ...

 Tonight is the last one .

 It's nothing how I thought it was going to be . What a nice surprise !
 It's very well done , very enjoyable . And all about Motorcycles !!! 
 That can go anywhere ...  What more can ya want .
 Some history about Harley that I didn't know . Was great .
 The stuff I saw in Barber , now makes sense . Cool


http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/harley-and-the-davidsons/

They built something like 50  -  200 replica motorcycles from scratch for the show, engines and everything!
For  the show ..  Very cool indeed ..

[cookiedough]

3rd and last episode was not as good as the first two.  It seemed like the 3rd episode was more about family life and tons more commercials. 

Just think, if they took the deal with Ford to build 3 wheelers,  the knucklehead engine might not have ever been born?

And to think, some 75 years later the knucklehead is still around leaking oil...   

When my neighbor let that lady test drive his for sale 2003 ultra classic and tipped it over,  he said there was oil leaking all over that one side just by tipping it over at a stand still for a few minutes.  By the way,  that lady test rider who also lives in town did the right thing and finally paid my neighbor the 500 deductible for his insurance to fix his 4K in damages so he can now sell it eventually maybe?   He just got done having major hand surgery removing bones in back of his hand, etc. and giving up riding.

[Jersey mike]

Watched episode 3 tonight and on the whole it was ok. To me it seemed like they took the (older) Dodge commercials with the Dodge brothers driving cars and made it about Harley and Davidson.

On the whole not a terrible program, it was ok to watch.

[Hooter]

   If there would have been fewer commercials they could have done the whole series in one evening. As a whole it was OK.

[Alpha Dog]

I liked it.  Wish they had used a mini series of 10 to 12 episodes per year for a couple of years to get more of the story.  50 to 200 bikes - that is a lot of work to create .   What I took away is that they used the same style of bicycle type frame ( stronger of course for so many years ) until they introduced that knucklehead.  In the meantime auto evolved much faster as did airplanes.

I so agree about commercials.  It has gotten to the point I am about to turn off the TV except for football.   Better to divo everything and sort it out later.  By the way the same thing with commercials  has happened to talk radio.