For the money it takes to buy a Harley, you could buy 2 japanese name cruisers that are built here in the good ole USA (Marysville, Ohio). You could then put one of them in your garage and ride the piss out of the other one until it absolutely falls apart (10-20 years), then pull out the brand new bike and ride it until it falls apart. 2 great bikes for the price of one.
I honestly think that half or more of the people riding Harley's are doing it for the status symbol, it's the trendy thing to do like hanging out at Starbucks.
It doesn't matter what you ride, as long as you ride. The true motorcyclists, will know what I'm talking about. I've met some really great people that ride Harleys, but unfortunately most have just been complete jerkoffs. I'll pull up to the biker hangout on my CBR and get remarks like "park your ricerocket somewhere else"
If I had a lot of money to throw around I might buy a Harley, I'd like to have one, but until then I'll keep on getting my Hondas.