Why do People Ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles?

Well, why do you? 

I am wrestling with this question seriously. I have owned five new Harleys over the last 21 years, and just sold my latest one yesterday (a 2018 CVO Streetglide). I loved it, being the best HD I have ever owned, but the miles were gettting up there, and the offer was too good to refuse, before it turned into scrap metal.

Harley Davidson motorcycles are not the most beautiful (Ducati), not the most reliable (undisputably Honda, especially the Goldwing), not the best engineered (probably BMW) not the cheapest (Enfield or Ural), not the fastest (Yamaha or MV Augusta), not the most classic (Indian or Triumph) and I could go on... So what is it about Harley Davidson that attracts buyers - seriously?

1. The Sound; yep because of that engineering structure, the engine has a very distinct sound - and yes it's great! It comes from the 45 degree cyclinder angle combined with a firing sequence that includes a pause created by a 315 degree to fire the second cylinder, then a 405 degree (the pause). The potato potato potato certainly will attract some and that I do understand.
2. It's Loud; well no the standard Harley is NOT loud at all, but many people change the exhaust pipes from day one - why? because the Dealer tells them to do so, and the margin on those little suckers is so much that any Dealer worth their salt will try very hard to ram them down your - manifolds! And of course, some people want to show off their bike by attracting attention. But real riders who cover any distance do not want this at all.
3. It's American. If you were born a Yankee or live elsewhere in the USA, then there is definitely an attraction to buying a bike made locally - even if it is just that there is a Service depot in almost every reasonably large US City. I get that. But if you live in Europe or Australia - that cuts no ice.
4. The Paint and Finish; well yes the paint is done very well, and overall the finish is not bad - but it no longer compares with any major manufacturer's offering. Just look a the paint job on a BMW "Option 719" model, their equivalent to a CVO from Harley - there is no comparison. And frankly, and I am very strong on this, the colour options from Harley Davidson are (currently) appaling! Black, Gray, Green-Gray and many other variations of gray - when many riders just want orange (which is sometimes available), royal blue or red, or even white which are hard to find. 
5. The Range of Accessories; - well yes, the range from Harley, is truly extraordinary, just flip through that very thick paper catalogue (Seers or IKEA style) that HD provide to every buyer - there is a huge range - if you want to buy from Harley Davidson. But that is no longer a leading point - for example the range of accessories for BMW is also extraordinary - especially from third parties. The quality and range of products from Touratech, Clearwater, Illium Works and a host of others is magnificent. More importantly this is a competitive market and the quality has become insanely good nowadays - just look at anything from those three companies! (And many others)
6. The HD Marketing; Harley does a great job of selling their stuff. Some of their TV adverts are paritcularly wonderful and cheeky. It all started with that "Number 1" logo from Willie G Davidson and went on from there. But do you really want to buy the Sizzle and not the Steak? Or purchase another T shirt for $60?
7. Modern Engineering; Let's face it, a pushrod engine is hardly "modern". True, the new "Revolution Max" engine in the Sportster and the Pan America Adventure bike is a huge step forward, but really - HD is about 10 years behind other manufacturers.
8. The Look, There was a time ten years ago, when everyone rode HD Softails, Dyna's and stripped down bikes with Springer front suspensions, so they DID look like bikies and that was an attraction for some - the "Tough Look". But if you ride a bagger, tri-glide or a sportster, then you dont have this look!

So if the performance of your new Harley Davidson is average at best, the power is low, the engineering is genuinely antique, the look is old fashioned, the reliabilty is questionable, the finish is just average, the paint options are minute - then would any of the points above change your mind and drive you to buy a Harley?