Historically, tumultuous times offer some of the best opportunities to unearth killer stocks, and the market's recent mess surely qualifies. While many investors avoid mainstay stocks today, some think heavyweight motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) is worth sticking with.

In our Motley Fool CAPS community, about 77% of the 1,870 investors who've rated the company are bullish. There's no shortage of reasons why Harley-Davidson will thrive, three of which I've highlighted below.

But here at the Motley Fool, we're all for looking at both the good and bad sides of an investment. Once you're done with this article, you can read the case against the stock, weigh in with your own comments below, or rate Harley-Davidson yourself in CAPS.

1. Financial progress
Like automaker Ford's (NYSE: F) recent steps in the right direction, Harley has also made aggressive moves to adjust to the current sales environment. It has reduced inventories, restructured operations, and impressed many with its ability to pull in positive cash from operations during a difficult environment. Some investors think the company's moves put it in a great position for long-term profitability.  

2. Strong brand
Harley-Davidson has had a long-standing iconic image that's as recognizable as Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) or General Electric (NYSE: GE) to many Americans. The company has attracted the confidence of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B), and its brand has generated a strong following of loyal customers over the years. A deep-rooted brand like that can't be held down for long, and it serves the company well in the long run.  

3. Tapping new markets
Harley wants to tap one of the largest motorcycle markets by introducing new models in India, where bikes from Honda (NYSE: HMC) and other homegrown brands have seen big growth recently. With Tata Motors (NYSE: TTM) seeing improving auto sales in India, and the Indian government making great advancements in fiscal progress, some investors see an early move into an emerging and rapidly growing market as a smart way to expand Harley's customer base.

To see details of what CAPS members are saying now about Harley-Davidson, just click on over to Motley Fool CAPS and have a look -- or add your own thoughts directly to this story in the comments box below.