How do Suzuki riders feel about Harleys?

[Clintoysterwood]

4 Harleys later and now riding a 05 C50, if I had $ 23,000 doing nothing and could not spend it on anything else but a motorcycle I would get the Harley deluxe as it looks like my original Harleys. But the mods..thats why it is $ 23,000. Lower pipes so you can add good sized aftermarket quick detach bags. I like the pipes on the springer. Quick detach windshield, Quick detach sissy bar to hold my t-bag. But it is still easier to ride the C50 everywhere but the highway at 70. Also, while the thumpitythumpity is nice, I don't want loud pipes. Lost too much hearing already. As far as who waves, there are as many rockets that don't wave as Harleys. Many do, if fact most do. But the only ones that wave at everyone are the 'Jap' cruisers. We bridge the gap for both extremes. Rode around Mt Rainier yesterday with a Harley Springer and more than 80% gave the bikers wave. Makes you feel safer. The more that ride the more the cagers learn to "see" any of us. Clint

7-18-06 Just rode nearly 300 miles with a Harley. One thing that became obvious is the Harley's 5 gallon tank. I was 170 miles and had .5 gallons left. He was not even on reserve. I am either going to get a reserve tank or stop riding with Harleys! 4 gallons just ain't practical out West./Clint

[texrider]

I like Harleys, they taste like chicken...

[d_m50]

i like the softtail springer and the xl1200r

[Optic]

Hey I love HD, Nfact I was sitting in the Finance Mgrs office about to sign the papers on a softail but I just kept hearing "that's $18,000 - for a toy". So I didn't sign and went to look at some other bikes. Got the M50. Debaffled and accessorized and I just love it. I really don't mind the payment either (Pretty reasonable after looking at $375/mo). I ride with and look at HD's and if money wasn't a problem I would have one now.

By the way "Hey" I'm new here

[roysclockgun]

Optic wrote: "Got the M50. Debaffled and accessorized ......"

Hi Optic. No flames here, just seriously wondering why you would want to make your motorcycle offensively loud to everyone around you? When I hear straight pipes go by and look up at the bike and rider, I reason that perhaps the loud pipes make him happy for all the wrong reasons. First, he is causing his own hearing to go south. Secondly he is drawing negative attention to all motorcylists. And thirdly, he is indicating to many educated folk that perhaps he is seeking some identity that without the loud pipes, he could not achieve in any other way. Lastly, are not loud pipes on motorcycles illegal in many states?
The idea that loud pipes save lives is bogus, because most of the noise is projected into the wake of the motorcycle and not forward, where it may do some good, in terms of avoiding an accident by blasting everyone out ot the way.

[Ext1jdh]

I debaffled because I liked the sound. just sounds better to me that way. the stock baffles sound to breathy to me. And I've been drowned out by plenty of HD's several cars away. And most of the harley riders I've seen don't wave. bastards.

[hammersfan]

I'd definately consider buying a Harley if money was no object but i can't see myself spending so much on a bike in my present or forseable future. Idon't like to hear people knocking Harleys for being unreliable because I really think that that is a thing of the past. I ride with Harley owners and they love thier bikes.Also you don't often hear of someone selling their harleys to buy a metric bike but you do often see metric owners moving onto Harleys.Plus I can appreciate the brotherhood thing amongst Harley owners. Just one more thing, most Harley riders up here in Ontario wave to non Harley riders, just the odd outlaw wannabe type guy doesn't wave back.

[DragonRider]

I don't care what anyone rides as long as they are out there riding and not letting it set collecting dust. Makes no sense to me to spend all that money and not get anything out of it. You can buy so many bikes with no miles on them. Brand new but used.
Most bikers I pass of all kinds do the underbar wave. Some don't ,so what. Too bad for them. Sometimes I don't ,I am trying to stay alive by watching all the freaks out there trying to kill me!
I may have bought a Harley if money was no object. But most likely it would be a V Rod. I like the looks of them and they have fuel injection,which is a big point for me. I like the reliability and the performance of the the injection.
No offence to anyone,but one reason I bought the M50 is I liked the way it looked and I can't see tearing all the brand new stuff off of it(headlight,rear fender),throwing that away and spending a fortune on all new stuff.

[Apertureguy]

I 2nd that motion Dragonrider. I think you said it very well.

[Rickster]

DragonRider, FYI. Most Harleys are fuel injected, not just the V-Rods. In fact starting with the 2007 models, every Harley made is going to be injected. And the price for the bikes isn't that much more than for a lot of metric bikes. I just bought a new 06 Road King for $16,600 + tax & title. Where they start getting expensive is after you start putting a bunch of extras on them. Harley has a catalog that looks like the L.A. phone book full of parts. The factory Suzuki parts for my M-50 only took up about 3 pages.

[Navar]

I'm not sure how everyone else feels but...

The Harley image has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. Back in the day Harley was the bike of American riders, made in America and priced resonably...moderately higher than the competition because of manufacture prices here verses Japan. Bikers were proud to ride a Harley and met "Rice Burner" riders with hate. Mostly due to the public opinion about imports of any kind.

Reciently, Harley has gone the route of the majority of bike companies. They buy components from import companies, they outsource...etc. Harley has even redirected their sales from the working man to professionals. All of these changes have not affected Harleys image in the eyes of most. Harley still enjoys the ability to set their prices at whatever the public is willing to pay.

All things considered, I'd rather ride a resonably priced bike.

[texrider]

Originally Posted by Rickster

DragonRider, FYI. Most Harleys are fuel injected, not just the V-Rods. In fact starting with the 2007 models, every Harley made is going to be injected. And the price for the bikes isn't that much more than for a lot of metric bikes. I just bought a new 06 Road King for $16,600 + tax & title. Where they start getting expensive is after you start putting a bunch of extras on them. Harley has a catalog that looks like the L.A. phone book full of parts. The factory Suzuki parts for my M-50 only took up about 3 pages.

Congrats on the new Road King! Curious as to why not wait to see the new ninety-six inch engine and six speed gearbox?

[Rickster]

The 6 speeds are not overdrives, final drive is still 1 to 1 just like a 5 speed. Seems to me that's just a lot of extra shifting, with no benefit to me.

The 96 inch motor may, or may not be a big jump in performance, I haven't seen any hard numbers. The last time HD increased their motor size by 8 inches, it resulted in about a 5 HP gain in power. Besides, if I really wanted power, I wouldn't have bought a HD, I would have gotten another Rocket111, or a V2K like yours (texrider).

[texrider]

I found the Road King to be the most appealing Motor Company product myself, last time I looked at them. Also wondered at the wisdom of 6-speeds, with none overdriven... And, 88 to 96 is no real big deal, on dispacement alone. Some radical change in engine architecture might have been significant...ala bigger v-rod motor.

Too bad I'm already bike-poor, I noticed your for sale stuff...

[Rickster]

I rode all 4 bikes back,to back,to back the other day. All of them are fun, and each one has something that I really like about it, and each one has something about it that I don't like. When I add it all up, I just like riding the HD best. Did you read my last entry in my "I'm back" post? I found out that all stuff you hear about HD riders being a big family has a lot of truth to it.

[intimid8er]

Rickster....Road King eh?

I'da pegged you for a Road Glide kinda guy.

(Whispering) Or at least a Ulysses!

[texrider]

Originally Posted by Rickster

I rode all 4 bikes back,to back,to back the other day. All of them are fun, and each one has something that I really like about it, and each one has something about it that I don't like. When I add it all up, I just like riding the HD best. Did you read my last entry in my "I'm back" post? I found out that all stuff you hear about HD riders being a big family has a lot of truth to it.

I did look back and read your trip post. I get your point about the travelling issues concerning service. My local dealers seem reasonable so far, but I've bought bikes from them... There are lots of shops I wouldn't spit at if they were on fire... There's good and bad in everyone no doubt, but it seems the Harley dealer network has become quite well organized in the last six or eight years.

Enjoy yours. I'd like to hear about it from time to time, if you've a mind to keep us posted here. ( I would have to keep the m50 around, myself).

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by texrider

I did look back and read your trip post. I get your point about the travelling issues concerning service. My local dealers seem reasonable so far, but I've bought bikes from them... There are lots of shops I wouldn't spit at if they were on fire... There's good and bad in everyone no doubt, but it seems the Harley dealer network has become quite well organized in the last six or eight years.

Enjoy yours. I'd like to hear about it from time to time, if you've a mind to keep us posted here. ( I would have to keep the m50 around, myself).

I still plan on hanging around here,(if you guys let me ) This is a great group of people . Even though I have them all for sale, I'm thinking I'll (fore a while) keep the one that is left after the other two sell.

[drgibson]

Originally Posted by Rickster

I still plan on hanging around here,(if you guys let me ) This is a great group of people . Even though I have them all for sale, I'm thinking I'll (fore a while) keep the one that is left after the other two sell.

Psst Rick

[MagnumForce]

Originally Posted by Rickster

Did you read my last entry in my "I'm back" post? I found out that all stuff you hear about HD riders being a big family has a lot of truth to it.

Rickster, first off, congrats on your new Road King. Hope to see pics soon.

Yeah, I read the post you're talking about and it's got me reflecting on the time I had my Sportster. The other HD riders I met were great people who would go out of their way to help you and make you feel part of the "family." I haven't had any bad experiences with a HD dealership or repair shop. Although not as profound as your experiences during your trip, it was still a positive one for me.

Now I'm really confused. I'd like to get a Harley again, but I'll do it right this time and get the one I really want. The problem is that I like the V-Rod, Fat Boy, and Road Glide. I just hope I'm not as confused a year or two from now.