What's wrong with Harleys?

[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!

[bat4255]

It's more of an "Image" thing with a lot of people.

Doctors and Lawyers posing as bad boys on the weekend.

[Clint]

It's not the bikes. It's the group (majority?) of riders who hold a superiority complex just for owning them (or maybe that's WHY they own them).

Let's keep this civil, please.

[M50er]

I've had many different brands including Harleys and had fun riding them all. It's all about the persons attitude and who they hang with, not the bike. Here is a quick story. I had a HD RoadKing and sold it two years ago, during this time my buddy had a Vulcan 1500 and we rode together often. The year after I sold my bike my buddy bought a new HD Heritage, nice bike. He has been bugging me to get a new bike, so this year I bought a new M50 Black, ($12,000 difference in price). He said he was not going to ride with me, cause I didn't get a HD. I'm sure he is kidding, but I bet some folks feel that way. Doesn't matter to me as long as I can ride - that's the important thing.

[stp1971]

I agree with Rowdy and bat. They nailed it on the head. Just as I said a while ago a lady I know went out and bought herself a brand new Harley and her husband did the same. Neither know how to ride. I asked her why she was dumping all that money in a Harley and why not buy a older bike or at least a cheaper Metric bike,, she basically said if you ain't riding a Harley then you ain't riding.

Great advertising over the years on Harley's part. When the majority of the public thinks of a bike they think Harley.

As far as the older bikes,,, well it is a well known fact they love their owners attention. They like to be tightened, tweaked, patched, and they love their garages even better.

But in reality,, go price a Harley. Then go price the exact same comparable bike at Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, or Kawasaki. Then look at the price difference and you decide is it worth it to spend almost double the money on something that does the same thing and almost looks identical??? Or is riding with a name make you feel like a better rider???

It's about the ride and if you are more concerned with an image you will never know the ride.

[viper94bite]

Price, performance, quality thats enough reason for me to stay metric.

[RampageRider]

There are several personal factors for not having a Harley in my book.

Price, I can buy two nice metric bikes for the price of a new HD or Polaris Victory. Sort of the His and Hers bikes for a economic price. I'm always for the bottom line.

Noise level, I really dislike the idea of having to have load pipes. If I can hear you from a 1/2 mile or more away, your to loud. Which for some reason is standard for most HD owners, (not all). I really enjoy the HD at 3am as it goes down the street (not!).

Technology levels seem to be better with the metric bikes, can you get a liquid cooled, EFI HD in a 800-1200 cc range?

The Howdie Wave, Most HD riders don't wave back, might have something to with that superior attitude.

Other than a few items their not to bad of a bike, but I'll never own one.

P.S. If you don't drive a FORD...........

[azoazc]

The thing I have against Harley rider's in my area is this:

When I see a group of bies in front of a bar, guess what, they're Harleys. I don't support the "get loaded and ride the streets" mentality. Other than that I find the bikes to be terribly underpowered for the displacement carried. I don't mind cruisers at all. I ride an 05 Warrior Midnight Version regularly.

[Rockhead]

I like Harley’s just fine but can’t afford a 20k bike. I could use that extra 13k for some other toys. If it makes them feel good that they have an expensive bike so be it. If money wasn’t an issue id probably own one or two.

I do like the Harley commercial were all these guys are striking out on their dates. Then you see a Harley parked out front of a house with a bra hanging from the handle bars with a trail of cloths to the front door.

[Jip]

I'd like someone to prove this two for one arguement, I hear it all the time but I don't see it. Lets compare apples to apples, the C/M50 should be compared to a sporster and the 90s with a dyna or softail.

[The Teach]

+1 for pretty much everything you guys wrote.

It's a name and club you're buying into, not a bike.

EDIT: Have a buddy with a 883 and I out accelerate him, out handle him, have a higher top speed, and have more comfort then his vibrating nightmare. His Screamin' Eagles do sound better, but that's about it. I also keep up with a lot of the 1200 sporties here too.

[cjjtulsa]

Originally Posted by bat4255

It's more of an "Image" thing with a lot of people.

Doctors and Lawyers posing as bad boys on the weekend.

+1. Too bad the manicure shows with fingerless leather gloves. I've never ridden one, so I can't comment on how bad I hear the handling is, or how top heavy they are. I just don't know. I do know that a guy at work just traded his '02 V-Rod for an '05 V-Rod, and it is one damned-fine looking bike. It will no doubt blow my 1600 in the weeds, but with the probably $9000+ difference, I can stand to let him pass. I'd take a V-Rod in a heartbeat, but I wouldn't pay the assinine prices. Plus a lot of the RUB crowd and the HD poseurs don't consider a V-Rod a "true Harley" anyway, so that's one mark in it's favor.

[inspiron]

When I was shopping for a new bike two years ago, I initially wanted a Harley V-Rod (V-2 1130ccm, 117 horsepower, 14 liter tank). In Switzerland, the list price was CHF 29,950.-

I then found the Suzuki GSX 1400 (I-4 1403ccm, 106 horsepower, 22 liter tank). List price: CHF 13,990.-

The Suzuki could carry 50% more fuel (giving me 50% more range between tank stops), and cost one-half of the price of a V-Rod.

I still think the V-Rod is a great looking machine ... but I am very happy with my Suzuki!

[Shea]

Harley has improved by leaps and bounds. Originally it was all about the American motorcycle. They were hand built by Americans and used no foreign parts. It was just a raw bike, but like many raw bikes, for instance, custom choppers, they do need attention. The heavy V-twin naturally shakes alot and is just a very hot running engine. Combine those two things and you will have things coming loose.

Harley now uses rubber mounts for their engines and it has greatly improved the rider's feeling of the shaking. They have also gotten better and finding torque specs and materials to prevent things from coming loose. The bike has gone into full production now though, so you no longer have to wait for a Harley unless you want something custom. The bad thing is, the supply goes up, but the demand goes down, this will drop market value of the bike, since you can just buy a new Harley right off the floor instead of buying a used one because of the wait.

As for the rest, it's simply attitude. My bike may have a Harley emblem on it, but it's not about the Harley name, its about having a bike that I enjoy riding. Sure I have some pride about it, but it would not keep me from talking to other motorcyclists .

[Bluecruzer]

Nothing wrong with them other than pricing. I'd rather spend a whack of coin on a bike, gear, and accessories.

Something to add... try buy parts for a Harley.

[stp1971]

I went into the Harley dealership right down the road from me to look at the V-Rod. After going to bike week and seeing a couple of really sharp V-Rods I just knew I had to have one. Went in there and there was a Screaming Eagle edition of the V-rod sitting there. I sat on it and a couple of other bikes when this saleman came over to me and said "These are not toys and unless you can come up with the money for them then you need to get off the bike." The bikes are for paying customers only.

WTF!!!! I looked at him,, walked out to my car,, grabbed my checkbook,, walked back in there,,asked for the manager and then asked that saleman to join me. I then opened up my checkbook and said "Look at this,,, yep,, that's $28,750.00 in my checking account. I was going to buy a V-Rod,, but because of that remark you made,, now you can kiss my ***."

The manager was all apologetic and stuff as I walked out. I told him I would tell everyone about that. He didn't know that I was going to pay off my debt with that money (I won an insurance settlement,,it's all gone now.) but he did see the balance. Priceless!!!!!!

I went the next day and decided that the V-Rod was "Probably" too much bike as a first bike and started looking at C50's and M50's. Was going to buy the C50T when the dealer offered me the "LC" for almost the same price.

SOLD!!!!! Now I have a really nice dressed out Cadillac bike that looks just like any Fat Boy out there for less than half the price. Tell me why would I pay double for that????

I still bought too big of a bike as a first bike though!!!

[The Teach]

Even though Buells have the Harley emblem on them, I really wouldn't put them in the same class. Buells have become such a forward thinking bike in so many aspects. I love what they've done to that bike and applaud them for their innovations with it and I'd be proud if I had a Buell.

[stp1971]

+1!!!!!!!!! They are pretty SuWeeeeet bikes!!!!!!

[Clint]

Originally Posted by stp1971

I looked at him,, walked out to my car,, grabbed my checkbook,, walked back in there

That is so cool! I'm still smiling!

You:

Them:

[stp1971]

Thanks!!!!! I was SOOOOO PEE-ED about that at the time. If I ever buy a Harley it will be a depreciated used V-Rod. Can't see myself EVER buying any other cruiser they make.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the LC!!!! Rides great,, looks good,, great over the road bike, and handles great too!!!!

But honestly I think the next bike I will buy (for me) will be a M109R or I really liked the new Ninja 650R that they have come out with. It just sits too dang good. A great cross between crotch rocket and an older sport bike. I sat on one this past weekend and it just "Felt" right. I would sure love to carve out some twisties with that bike.

I keep thinking about it everyday,,,, might end up getting one in a few months or around the end of the year when they are trying to unload the 2006 models. Will have to save my pennies.

I figure a 650 should have plenty of giddy up for playing.