Ernie1 IMHO, it’s partly envy and blind prejudice…. For me, ever since seeing Easy Rider at an impressionable age, always desired a Harley.
I’ve owned over 50 motorcycles in my past, from a 1949 Matchie 500 (First bike, barn find) through a host of Japanese, several boxer twins and a couple of Harley’s - an evo 1200S and a customised Evo Springer, the only bike I’ve ever enjoyed doing the speed limit on. Corners how I like them were just off the menu, but while all my mates rode HDs, I could cope. When they all started giving it away bought a 1200 Bandit, which was a lovely bike, but a licence killer. Last bike was a monolever R100RS which I ended up trading for a boat (beach life)..
Gave it all away years ago and although I do miss the fun, getting too old and rusty and sure don’t miss the rest.