People admire the Harley Davidson Marque' for a number of reasons.
1. At it's introduction and for many years, it was the highest quality motorcycle money could buy. Obviously the AMF years wiped out that legacy.
2. Of the dozens of American motorcycle manufacturers in the teens and twenties, they are the sole survivor of both world wars, the depression and Jimmy Carter's trashing of America's respect in the world.
3. There is no other manufacturer that is so strongly associated with the American culture, with the exception, perhaps, of Coca-Cola.
4. It's a company staffed by garden variety Americans, not Case Western geniuses, not Ivy League MBAs or mega billionairs.
5. It's now run by the descendants of the company's founders.
6. Their product has evolved, but not radically changed, in almost 100 years.
People identify with such a company.
I would own a Knucklehead or a 45, but not much else they have ever made has captured my imagination.