What's wrong with Harleys?

[dcstrng]

<I did discover that only approx 87% of the Harley is american made...>

Actually that’s quite high – check “North American content…” at one point the GL1500 Wing had a higher North American content than the then big-twin Harley… Since then, the Big-Twin drive train is almost exclusively red-white-and-blue while the GL1800 is less so… of course Harley has used off-shore suspension parts for years, as well as other miscellaneous smaller items… When I was replacing the speedo-cable drive gear I was laying on the ground, the front discs (after market), the drive gear and the cable assembly (all freshly purchased from the dealer) were all stamped “made in Japan…”

Of course therein lies the rub… if oriental parts make a Harley inferior in some way – just imagine how mediocre a bike that is 100% afflicted with that oriental-parts malady, like my Kawasaki Nomad… oomph, must be a sorry piece of machinery indeed… but it ain’t, so either I just got lucky (we’ll ignore my Nomad’s current mechanical ill health), or the theory is a tad haywire…

[Dave Nadeau]

Ok so now because I am a very experianced Harley rider.....70 miles since Thursday I can tell you that there is nothing wrong with Harleys.

The differancne between the C50 and the Electra Glide Classic can not be over stated. I realize that I am comparing apples to oranges. A $7,000. bike to a $20,000. bike The attention to detail is un believable. First there is very little plastic as compaired to my Suzuki. 2nd the small details like the nuts on the bolts holding the tour pak on. They are nylon lock nuts but with a small crown of a plastic cap that covers the threads built into the nut. I have been it the mechanical trades for almost 40 years and never have seen that amount of detail. The engine is as smooth as silk. It does shake and rumble but once the clutch is out and you are under way it is REALLY smooth. Powe wise it is not the fastes bike or the slowest. Cruising is great....80 mph in 6th gears is about 2800 rpm. All the controls and there are alot of them are very ergoninc correct. The radio is awsum. It is heavy off the stand and don't even think of pulling in front first down hill for parking. You cannot muscle it back like the C50. It has long legs and is not made to swoop the twisties but is balanced very well. Low speed handling is a absoulte dream.
Now If I can just get behiend this 6-10" of snow tomorrow maybe I can think of riding again.

[4dtvman]

It's going to snow tomorrow so I can expect to see you on 495 right. An old fart on a new Hardley.

Good luck with you new bike.

[Jerryzuki]

Nutin' wrong with old folks on Harleys. It's hard to explain the difference between the C50's and a HD touring bike but dang, there is a difference. As Dave said it's not the power, it's comfort. Are they over priced, Hell yeah. But I don't regret a dime of it.

[Dave Nadeau]

Hey they dont call them geezer glides for nothing!!!

[omegajim]

Less plastic, now you have my interest.

Although, in all fairness, plastic can't rust either.

Lastly, if you use the right kind of engineered resin (fancy word for plastic) it can actually be tougher than steel. It usually isn't due to cost, but it can be.

[Low&Slow]

Fatboy, that's all i have to say about that.......Forest Gump.

[KD57]

You are not really comparing a 7K bike to a 20K bike, you are comparing a 7K bike to a 12K bike that cost 20K. But I agree, there's just something about a Harley.

[dcstrng]

<they don’t call them geezer glides for nothing…>

Ain’t that the truth… actually, to varying degrees the adage applies to most cruisers – they’re just plain straightforward to ride, generally easy on the posterior and not likely to get the rider into serious trouble unexpectedly; at least not without some work on their part…

I can’t see me waltzing into Harley dealer and dropping $20K – not that the asking price isn’t comparable to the more-or-less comparable scoots in the Ultra class, but there are just too many garage queens out there for noticeably less… one of the major contributions poseurs make is populating the lightly-used, over-polished bike market with bargain priced scoots…

[IntruderCruiser]

as a reply to a post from a while back - yes there is at least one Harley dealer in China - I happened to meet him at a Harley Primary Officer Training in Las Vegas -- they had some interesting problems to deal with -- one being that many towns outlawed motor bikes and they had to find alternative routes and gas stops.I think they had sold only 20 bikes in the first year mainly because of the exchange rate cost.

[omegajim]

but there are just too many garage queens out there for noticeably less

Yes, there are quite a few aren't there?

If you're not really picky, and can live with a metric garage queen, that's a pretty big field.

[dcstrng]

<If you're not really picky…>

My guess is we’re going to be in a buyer’s market for a year or two – maybe longer… I suspect one can be about as picky as they want…

I’ve never paid over $10K for a scoot in my life (except for about three years overseas, I've pretty much always had a scoot or two since the 60s) and the most expensive one turned out to be a metric… some old scooter lore doesn’t hold much water… It’s in the sellers’ interest (whether dealer or private) to convince me otherwise, but I’ve never bought a truly new bike in my life, and probably won’t at this late date… I think a buyer can be as picky as they care to be in this market…

Two things that can tie a buyer’s hands and get `em into an embarrassingly expensive scoot – having to use credit to buy a toy, and impatience…

[4dtvman]

Originally Posted by dcstrng

<If you're not really picky…>

My guess is we’re going to be in a buyer’s market for a year or two – maybe longer… I suspect one can be about as picky as they want…

I’ve never paid over $10K for a scoot in my life (except for about three years overseas, I've pretty much always had a scoot or two since the 60s) and the most expensive one turned out to be a metric… some old scooter lore doesn’t hold much water… It’s in the sellers’ interest (whether dealer or private) to convince me otherwise, but I’ve never bought a truly new bike in my life, and probably won’t at this late date… I think a buyer can be as picky as they care to be in this market…

Two things that can tie a buyer’s hands and get `em into an embarrassingly expensive scoot – having to use credit to buy a toy, and impatience…

same here

[omegajim]

the most expensive one turned out to be a metric…

Okay, dc, you have my interest, what make and model ended up being "your most expensive bike?"

[CruisingRam]

Well, I have to tell you- I may be looking to harley- or rather, buell, for sponsorship soon, I am going to hit them up first anyway- and I plan on torturing that bike to near death. If they give me sponsorship, and the bike lives, that will forever end the idea that Buells are not very durable.


I know they didn't do so well on my buddies stunt team, they were given the bikes, and, six months into the contract, cancelled the contract and gave the bikes back- too many problems. The F4i and the Gixxer continue to be the "bike of choice".

My trial by fire, or ice rather, doesn't involve the repeated crashing and smacking down of the bike, I hope.

the Ulyses, Tiger are about the same price, the DL is slightly less. We shall see!

[dcstrng]

<what make and model ended up being "your most expensive bike?"…>

In purchase price my ol’Nomad was the most expensive, but by only a few dollars… however, when factoring in elective accessories (travel pak, redone lighting, saddle, etc…) and unscheduled maintenance (plastic oil gear, clutch, myriad oil leaks and numerous busted bolts, particularly motor mount bolts, etc., etc…) the Nomad was noticeably more expensive – and right now it’s decision time, whether to dispose of the bike at salvage cost, or to pony up for a major engine rebuild (very noisy bottom end), which will make the true cost of ownership even higher…

The Nad has been a wonderfully comfortable scoot that has carried me right at 60K miles, but the quality on mine wasn’t consistent with the genre’s reputation and had I not done my own wrenching, I might have divorced her some years back… but I’m sorta fond of the cantankerous old wench, so she still lingers around the yard and we putter around local roads every month or so – just don’t trust her on the long pavement any more – use my other, older scoot for daily commuting and any out-of-the-county runs…

In constant dollars, however, I suspect my first Norton might be the most expensive – paid something like $2100 for a Norton with about a thousand miles on it back in 1968 or `69… not sure what that would be in 2007 dollars, but it might sorta top $10K, which is my threshold whether bike, car or whatever…

[CruisingRam]

My cheapest bike ever has to be a tie between the Z1 and the V65. I bought the Z1 in 1984ish and have about 50 thousand of the hardest miles you could imagine- I squided it up HARDCORE on that bike in the 80s. Laid it down a couple times, lowsided, wheelies, on the throttle like I stole it. I have spent less than 1800 bucks in it's entire life, including the 300 original purchase price- and that has all been in "consumables"- tires, brake pads, filters.

The V65, even harder. Been down the Alcan 3 times. over 100k miles. Bought it for 1800 dollars with 1800 miles on it. got studded tires on it now. Will ride it in below zero weather.

We will see if H-D will take that chance!

[dcstrng]

<Been down the Alcan 3 times….>

I’m envious – serious riding… A buddy of mine who has owned most of the more popular production bikes at one time or another over the past 45 years, and could probably pay cash for a small Harley dealership, has gone back to the V65… loves `em… He has a couple of `em ni primo condition -- redid the cam-oiling thing and has been to both the north and south borders of the lower 48… some bikes just were better than we knew at the time…

[Rickster]

It looks like Buell is finally ready to release their new 08's for sale. I was in the local HD dealership yesterday, and they had one on the floor with a sold tag on it, the salesman said it's the first one from there store that's been okayed for sale. he said they have about 15 people with money down waiting for theirs to come in.

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by Rickster

It looks like Buell is finally ready to release their new 08's for sale. I was in the local HD dealership yesterday, and they had one on the floor with a sold tag on it, the salesman said it's the first one from there store that's been okayed for sale. he said they have about 15 people with money down waiting for theirs to come in.

You gonna go down and cop a couple demo's when you get to feelin' better?

I heard they reworked the steering head (among other things on the '08 Uly). It's easier now to maneuver it around the garage or in the driveway. Plus they got a new computer in it. I'm not sure how much better it's supposed to be.

Speaking of computers. Should I be having to wait almost five or so minutes of warmup time before I can ride? It doesn't seem normal to me.