What's wrong with Harleys?

[bajaraider]

Maybe they are bribed. It is all a great big conspiracy!

[MagnumForce]

I'm telling you guys, it's all MARKETING!!!

[Hardware]

I've been to a couple of Harley Test Ride days and ridden just about everything except the V-Rod. I've also ridden most of the Buell line.

I can't justify paying, 50-100% more for a comparable bike (if we're just talking cruisers) that makes less horsepower & torque, has a spotty history in terms of reliability and is an insurance nightmare (thefts). AND THEN you need to start adding expensive accessories to make it even moderately functional (in comparison to other brands).

There are lots of nice people riding Harleys, but there are lots of asshats too that are too hung up on the whole Harley "mystique". I've also been in too many Harley dealerships where bikes occupy about 20% of the showroom space while the rest is apparel - and not necessarily riding apparel - just image crap. That says a lot about the mindset of the "motor" company.

Despite their marketing, they're all about making money (which is fine) and occasionally some of that comes from motorcycle sales.

[Hardware]

...I forgot to add...

If I see cheap raffle tickets for a Harley I'll usually buy one. I do that for most vehicle raffles I see (SOME DAY I will win SOMETHING!)

Any Harley I would ever win I'd more than likely sell immediately and then buy a couple of Japanese bikes - a big trailie for sure and maybe a touring bike.

If I won a Fatboy though, I'd consider keeping it...

[MagnumForce]

Originally Posted by Hardware

I've also been in too many Harley dealerships where bikes occupy about 20% of the showroom space while the rest is apparel - and not necessarily riding apparel - just image crap. That says a lot about the mindset of the "motor" company.

That's because HD makes most of their profits from apparel, whether it's genuine riding gear or t-shirts for the poseur crowd.

Oh yeah, I'd rather keep a "Rod" bike if I ever won one.

[texrider]

Although I've ridden H-D out of neccessity and sometimes curiosity, they were and remain something I choose not to own. Aside from the circus atmosphere associated with them, sometimes a freak show, they do indeed bite. I've in fact noticed the look of "what was I thinking?" on H-D owner's faces, when they look at my bikes, then back at theirs. I can only imagine the sickening feeling in the pit of their stomachs, as they consider how deep they are into their iron, and have to live with a harsh crappy machine. It's called DISAPPOINTMENT. But misery has lots of company, so park the dang thing out front and go get drunk......

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by texrider

Although I've ridden H-D out of neccessity and sometimes curiosity, they were and remain something I choose not to own. Aside from the circus atmosphere associated with them, sometimes a freak show, they do indeed bite. I've in fact noticed the look of "what was I thinking?" on H-D owner's faces, when they look at my bikes, then back at theirs. I can only imagine the sickening feeling in the pit of their stomachs, as they consider how deep they are into their iron, and have to live with a harsh crappy machine. It's called DISAPPOINTMENT. But misery has lots of company, so park the dang thing out front and go get drunk......

Keep dreaming

[texrider]

Originally Posted by Rickster

Keep dreaming

I see you're a person of few words, perhaps you would use a few more to make clear your feelings about my posts concerning H-D. There don't seem to be any such machines listed in your bike stable, or are you hiding some?

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by texrider

I've ridden several H-D's, and never felt safe enough to be taking one hand off it to wave at anybody!

Keep practicing your riding Tex, you'll get there. Developing skills takes time.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by texrider

I see you're a person of few words, perhaps you would use a few more to make clear your feelings about my posts concerning H-D. There don't seem to be any such machines listed in your bike stable, or are you hiding some?

Over the years I have owned bikes of all makes, 3 of them were Harleys. I didn't have any more problems with the HD's, than I did with any other make, and I still have friends that own them. All nice people, and not a drunk in the bunch. My coments were because of your broad statements, you admit to having limited experience with them, than condemn them all as being unstable, and twitchy. Than you claim to be a clairvoyant, and that you can imaging the sickening feeling in the pit of their owners stomachs becaus of there crappy machine. Than you insinuate that all HD owners are drunks. Well guess what, there are bad apples everywhere, and yes some of them do ride Harleys, and yes some Harleys are crap, but to condemn them all baised on an admittedly limited experience gives me the impression that you are a very small minded person. By the way, what race track were you on when you rode your V-Max as fast as it would go?

[texrider]

My H-D "experience" began when AMF ran that show, so I will agree that since then they have improved. I said I choose not to own another. You can do what you want, I will continue to do so. I do not care if you find me small minded, you won't have to listen long while I speak my mind. I hope there is difference between getting drunk and being a drunk where you are. So, you planning to vote Democrat again?

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by texrider

My H-D "experience" began when AMF ran that show, so I will agree that since then they have improved. I said I choose not to own another. You can do what you want, I will continue to do so. I do not care if you find me small minded, you won't have to listen long while I speak my mind. I hope there is difference between getting drunk and being a drunk where you are. So, you planning to vote Democrat again?

That's what I thought, your bad mouthing a product that you only have limited 20 year old (AMF) experience with. Oh, and another thing you are wrong about, no Democrats here. Anything else you want to stick your foot in your mouth about?

[azoazc]

E-thuggery. The wave of the future.

[1eggy1]

My father-in-law bought a harley. The only reason he bought that is because all his friends have one. If they all had a suzuki or a honda he would have got one of those. So its not the bike it the image in his friends eyes!!

[Scott58]

Nothing wrong with harleys or any 2-wheel vehicle as far as i'm concerned. It's when people look down at others for riding something other then a harley that a line gets drawn. then comparisons are made and harley doesn't standup to the "holy grail" be all that some pretend it to be. Ride what you want and to hell with everything else.

[TechJD]

When I got my old Honda a friend who is in a club (they dont call them gangs anymore) told me he sold his Harley and bought a Suzuki 1500 and that several of the other members have and are doing the same, because they are tired of having to spend $$$ every year to keep them going
he said if mine had been a harley I would have had to put about $1000 just to put it on the road
then he quoted me this "Buy a Harley to Show, buy a Honda to GO!"
I get waves from all sort of riders Harley included, I guess they can figure out what I'm on LOL so they wave.
The old Silverwing is as big as a Goldwing just smaller motor and sideways to boot and the 500cc 50hp will move it
If it would just carrie more weight I'd be completely happy, 475lb max addon (rider/s and gear)

[jkersh]

When I was searching for a bike all I saw was Harleys. Everywhere for sale here and for sale there. Check ebay. there will be more harleys for sale than any other bike. I dont know but I think people buy them for the image and then they arent what they thought it would be like and then let them go. Just my opinion

[CruisingRam]

I don't think the modern H-D is badly built at all anymore- the oil leaking and high maintenance are pretty much gone. However, apples to apples- the metric crowd wins every time. Say, an 883 vs a Honda Shadow Spirit 750. Honda wins that race with room to spare. Cheaper, awesome bike!

H-D has really made progress in the power cruiser, and this arena, the "big four" need to go back to basics. ALL of the big four 1980s power cruisers are better all around bikes than any of the V-rods, faster, lighter, better handling, braking. A V-65 magna, A V-max, a ZL Eliminator, even the wierd madura would make any new V-rod hang it's head in shame in every performance category.

The new street rod is going in the right direction though- USD forks, Brembo brakes, clearance for a 40* lean angle! But, as usuall, only about 20 years later than all the other brands LOL

I am hoping the whole V-twin group think lemming idea starts to wear off soon, so the "big four" stop putting so much bloody effort into it, and start making REAL power cruisers again.

Something that wieghs under 600 lbs, over 130 hp, and cruiser styling!

H-D isn't a bad bike, but it is not a competitive bike price in an apples to apples comparison.

So what are you buying- well, a name. Somebodies good name on your ***-just like designer jeans!

If you have noticed- all H-Ds for 2007 are going EFI, and I believe 96? cubes? for the big twin?

That is another thing I really, really don't like about H-D, the seperate tranny-motor idea. It really, really puts alot of unneccesary wieght on the bike.

If you are a big person, you sit on a buell, it seems like a pocket bike, it is SOOO tiny (Ulysses excepted of course) - they are great hooligan bikes, but they still suffer from those darn overwieght H-D V-twins. Buell is behind the power curve on power plants all the time, because they insist on that H-D motor. Honda has proven you can win races with a V-twin, as has Ducati, and the SV Suzuki is the standard measurement of a well designed track bike and street bike!

So, for me, H-D has straight jacketed themselves with the very marketing ploy that saved them- "heritage"- they can't really innovate thier power plants, as they sold themselves as a piece of American heritage.

I wish they would re-start the Nova V-4 program again (which is another part of the V-rod program as well, porshe was in on that as well) and look past the heavy V-twin they make now.

[Apertureguy]

You know I really like the lines on the softail and some of HD's other models too. In fact it's the exact reason I bought my M50...it's got very similar lines. There were really only a couple of things which kept me from buying an HD. The first was the speedo on the tank, I can't see them too well there. The second was the price. The bike I picked out & what I wanted with it would have cost me nearly 20k and that's not including taxes & junk.

I got all the bike I needed for 7k. After looking into things more closely I found that I wouldn't have to deal with a chain or belt drive, my bike is close to 100 pounds lighter, and insurance is a couple of hundred bucks a year cheaper. I'm very happy with my purchase.

I ride with Metric & HD owners all the time...we're just happy to be riding. In fact, while I was breaking it in for her...I used to ride my wife's 250cc scooter with these guys. They didn't care, in fact it worked out pretty good, because I could carry all sorts of stuff on the scooter (has some major cargo areas)....which now the wife does.

[Clint]

Great post, 'Ram.