Ray,
The first thing I'll say is, I entirely agree with you. I am very much in the mindset that the most responsible thing to do (and the cheapest in the long run) is to save and pay cash for consumer items, including motorcycles.
That being said, I think the people who devised all of these creative loans need to bear the brunt of the blame on this one.
Much of what bred many of us to be responsible was knowing the only way to ever get a loan for a house (or other major purchase, like property or a business loan) was to have good credit and be able to prove we're living within our means.
Up until a year ago, you could have a credit score in the 300's, have thousands in consumer debt, a divorce, child support and a bankruptcy
(no offense to those who singularly fall in that catagory, just examples of things that hurt your credit and debt to income ratio) on your record is still get financed for a car or a TV.....albiet at 25% interest or greater.
When institutions start loaning money to irresponsible people, I think they have become even more irresponsible, which at the end of the day, has contributed greatly to the ecomonic recession we're in now. It is my belief that all of these fancy financing schemes
(Banks preapproving for a house that is 10X someone's yearly income and then financing your with a no money down ARM and the title company is writing you a check when you sign, car loans that equal 40% or more of a persons monthly income, etc...) are criminal and now many of the banks that stood behind these schemes are standing in line for a government hand out, that at the end of the day is coming out of my pocket and eventually my children's pockets.
Again, I wholeheartedly agree with you, but when our financial institutions are not being responsible as well, it hurts those of us who are the most, and company's like Harley-Davidson.
[rant off] and I need a cup of coffee!