What's wrong with Harleys?

[frostbitevinnie]

Just to throw in a little different perspective concerning buying a HOG. Down 30% mostly due to a heavy hit by the sub-prime meltdown. Could be a good buy. I will be looking into it.

HOG - Stock Quote for Harley-Davidson Inc - MSN Money

HOG: Summary for HARLEY DAVIDSON - Yahoo! Finance

S&P Cuts Harley-Davidson Ratings Outlook: Associated Press Business News: HOG - MSN Money

How to Retire on Less

[MTVolusia]

I rode an 01 Volusia and then moved up to a Harley Ultra Classic. The Volusia had lots of head bobble and my wife could never get comfortable on the stock seat and needed adapters to lower the pegs so her knees wouldn't hurt. The Harley has a comfortable stock seat and the passenger pegs are adjustable from the factory. I looked at GW's and found the cost comparable to the Harleys. A GW costs from $20,000 to $25,000 and the Harley Ultras run around the same. I find it is so much easier to find page after page of accessories for the Harleys versus a few pages for Suzuki. The ride is what is important to me no matter what bike you ride. Compare apples with apples.

[RED CELL]

Originally Posted by James_C50

I'm not trying to start an argument...but...I hear so many people bad mouth Harley's (not here), and I think they are specifically attacking older Harley's. Now aside from human nature that makes some Ford people not like Chevy's and some Dodge people not like Ford's, what is it about Harley's that people shouldn't like or should like aside from cost? Just curious!

It's like asking what's wrong with communism?! LOL =) (I'm kiddin' here but read the rest)
I know of at least a dozen former HD riders who were sick and tired of wrenching on them all the time. My co-worker bought a brand-new (in 2003) 100th Anniversary HD Road King Classic, and not 200 miles into the BREAK-IN period...the damn thing broke down! The dealer had to crack open the engine to replace some internal seal that busted, and was causing all sorts of trouble. He was peed-off to say the least. Majority of the Fanatical-HD riders in my MC have been lately switching to RoadStars, Statoliners/Roadliners, VTX1800's or Vulcan's. I keep asking them why they are switching from their beloved HD's, and they all pretty much agree that a HD is good for riding around town, but they can't trust it on long distance trips and they're uncomfortable in comparison. The other argument majority gave was PRICES. HD rips people off like there is no tomorrow! 2007 Road King Classic costs at least $17K out the door. For two to three grand less you can get a higher-quality, more comfortable Yamaha RoadStar or even a Stratoliner with a 113-Cubin Inch motor (good luck gettin' that from HD!). That's my two cents though. I respect all riders, and all bike makers, but I won't buy a HD just because the cool crowd thinks its the bike to own/ride!

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by RED CELL

It's like asking what's wrong with communism?! LOL =) (I'm kiddin' here but read the rest)
I know of at least a dozen former HD riders who were sick and tired of wrenching on them all the time. My co-worker bought a brand-new (in 2003) 100th Anniversary HD Road King Classic, and not 200 miles into the BREAK-IN period...the damn thing broke down! The dealer had to crack open the engine to replace some internal seal that busted, and was causing all sorts of trouble. He was peed-off to say the least. Majority of the Fanatical-HD riders in my MC have been lately switching to RoadStars, Statoliners/Roadliners, VTX1800's or Vulcan's. I keep asking them why they are switching from their beloved HD's, and they all pretty much agree that a HD is good for riding around town, but they can't trust it on long distance trips and they're uncomfortable in comparison. The other argument majority gave was PRICES. HD rips people off like there is no tomorrow! 2007 Road King Classic costs at least $17K out the door. For two to three grand less you can get a higher-quality, more comfortable Yamaha RoadStar or even a Stratoliner with a 113-Cubin Inch motor (good luck gettin' that from HD!). That's my two cents though. I respect all riders, and all bike makers, but I won't buy a HD just because the cool crowd thinks its the bike to own/ride!

So what your saying is that you really have no personal experience at all, and all you can relate to us is hear-say.

Go back and read the over 300 posts before you, all the points you brought up, have already been debunked.

[palanon]

OK, I still say theres nothing wrong with Harleys. If you have to have something, here you go.

1.) Harley golf carts kinda sucked ( mostly AMF years but still counts )

2.) The Harley " high ball " glasses are cheaply made.

Those right there are enough to bring down HOG.

[Dave Nadeau]

Going back a few posts and over 3 columns......

Mr. Nadeau. Not taking it too far out of context

Mister Nadeau...Is my Dad here!!!

[omegajim]

Which model does Harley put the big tank on?

That's one of my few gripes with them, the peanut gas tank. Last I heard, you couldn't just get the big tank either (for a sportster) without getting a different seat.

..........and when it comes to gas tanks, I'm still tempted to get a v-strom with the 5 + gallon tank onboard.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by omegajim

Which model does Harley put the big tank on?

That's one of my few gripes with them, the peanut gas tank. Last I heard, you couldn't just get the big tank either (for a sportster) without getting a different seat.

..........and when it comes to gas tanks, I'm still tempted to get a v-strom with the 5 + gallon tank onboard.

Check your PM

[omegajim]

BTW, what's this nonsense I've heard about an "o2" sensor on the new Harley's and you can't remove any of the exhaust?

[JmalB]

They'll just make an after market exhaust with housing for the O2 sensor.


Never thought I talk about catback exhausts on a motorcycle.

[dcstrng]

<I respect all riders, and all bike makers, but I won't buy a HD just because the cool crowd thinks its the bike to own/ride!>

Notwithstanding a faint intellectual incongruity, there is merit to what you say… Frankly anyone who buys a scoot, be it Vespa, Volusia or big V-Twin, because they think some machine is going to make them cool, probably never will be…

Bikes are bikes regardless of manufacturer, and although many riders of varying experience buy them for different reasons: to customize, to putter around on or (shock…) to ride, few can say what is the exact right reason to buy one… If one buys a Harley because they want to be a card-carrying HOG member, why is that a lot different than someone who wants to be a card carrying Southern Cruisers member, or a card carrying Corvette club member, or whatever…

Although it isn’t my style (or, at least I don’t think it is…), I see nothing wrong with someone buying a certain brand machine to belong to a certain organization… or to fit in with a certain group, if that flips their switch…

I don’t see very many threads on any forums that ask, “What’s wrong with a Nomad…” (although after over half a decade and crossing half the continent on a Nad’ more than a few times, I can discuss pertinent Kawasaki defects based on a modicum of personal experience), or what’s wrong with a Gold Wing, or any other of the innumerable Yamusuzihhaha bikes… fact is, few care… so why this thread with something like 350+ responses on what’s wrong with the poor beleaguered, Harley… Everyone, or so it seems, has authoritative opinions about Harleys… the rest, well, who knows…

And that – the fact everybody has an self-confident belief about `em – may just be the biggest thing wrong with Harleys...

[omegajim]

“What’s wrong with a Nomad…” (although after over half a decade and crossing half the continent on a Nad’ more than a few times, I can discuss pertinent Kawasaki defects based on a modicum of personal experience), or what’s wrong with a Gold Wing, or any other of the innumerable Yamusuzihhaha bikes

Give us time, one thing at time, we're gettin' there, we're gettin' there.

Which reminds me, I may need to start a new thread "what's wrong with a Goldwing."

[Dave Nadeau]

Originally Posted by omegajim

Give us time, one thing at time, we're gettin' there, we're gettin' there.

Which reminds me, I may need to start a new thread "what's wrong with a Goldwing."

Aw shucks..I am going to miss this thread!!

[Rickster]

Don't worry Dave, this thread isn't going to die. You know how people are always saying there are three subjects that all people have a strong opinion on, guns, religion, and politics, well in this community, I think you need to add Harley's to that list.

[Basso]

Aren't Harley's covered under religion?

[omegajim]

Why yes, yes it is and services are held every Saturday night until closing time at select venues.

[Kodatech]

I can't belive this thread is still going, so I feel that now I must add something to the conversation.
















....hey....I never said I was going to add anything useful.

[RideTrainer]

Good Post

[omegajim]

I don't know Vinnie, Harley stock is at the same price it was a bit over a year ago.

It may not go anywhere (the stock) for awhile.

[KD57]

What's sad is I see guys on Harleys riding to work in the rain, cold and snow, because they just HAD to have a $20K Harley, and sold their cager to buy it. Now, that's their only mode of transportation. There are a couple of them that live near me, I wave at them from a warm cab when it's 25 degrees outside and they are riding to work.