How do Suzuki riders feel about Harleys?

[hammersfan]

Boy some of you guys are really living in the past. I have friends with very high milage Harleys and they have proved to be just as reliable as the Metric bikes. They don't leak oil anymore than any other bike. In the club I ride with there are quite a few Harleys and there is always friendly banter going on among the Harley and metric riders about what is best ! But it isn't seroius . I don't believe it is right to knock any type of bike, we should just respect the other guys choice and leave it at that.

[DaveMc]

I think HD motorcycles are just fine, and bad attitudes are not unique to Harley riders, but it sure does seem that a Harley rider is more likely to be judgmental about what bike a person rides.

My C50T looks like an older Harley Fat Boy in many ways, but that is not why I bought it or why I like to ride it. Reason #1 was price, reason #2 was that I'm not into loud motorcycles (the Suzuki with stock pipes is pretty quiet), and #3 was the mechanical reliability of the metric bikes.

[S83]

I want an '07 Ultra Classic with the new 96 CI engine and 6 Speed tranny! But it would have to be a second bike to my Suzuki.

[4dtvman]

After 20 years of not riding went on my first big trip with my new to me LC1500 and got lost in springfield ma> I stopped in a donut shop parking lot full of bike (HD) When I stopped most of them turnned there back I walked up and asked for directions and one guy told me direction but come to find out he send me in the wrong direction. Well after find this place I parked in this lot in one car spot well when I went to leave 2 HD road kings had me blocked in. After finding the owners I waited for 35 min for them to move there bike. So it was a bad day with HD owners.

[hammersfan]

Originally Posted by 4dtvman

After 20 years of not riding went on my first big trip with my new to me LC1500 and got lost in springfield ma> I stopped in a donut shop parking lot full of bike (HD) When I stopped most of them turnned there back I walked up and asked for directions and one guy told me direction but come to find out he send me in the wrong direction. Well after find this place I parked in this lot in one car spot well when I went to leave 2 HD road kings had me blocked in. After finding the owners I waited for 35 min for them to move there bike. So it was a bad day with HD owners.

I don't think I would have given them a second longer than 5 minutes

[IntruderCruiser]

1) In my opinion, BMW Riders are much more snobby than Harley riders followed by the squids.

2) each group(sport, crotch,squids, cruisers etc) of riders has jerks and knuckleheads
3) I belong to the local HOG chapter and will get a Harley in the next year or so -- probably keep my Intruder LC

4) Its not what you ride, its that you ride.

[S83]

Remember it isn't what they ride that makes them "snobs". It's there up bringing, personality, who they are. It's an individual problem and those types of individuals tend to group together. You will run into snobbery in every group of people, even on this site.

[kbsnow]

I only have a problem with some wannabe owners of HD. I would buy one if I had he cash and liked the styling which I don't reallyexcept the v series. Lady across the street is diehard HD fan. Says she has riden for years. When I brought my M50 home for the first time she totally thought I was lying when I told her it wasn't an HD. She looked it over very clearly saw the shaft drive and suzuki written all over it but still thought it was an HD. A few months later she bangs on me for not buying a HD. I just ask her what kind of bike she has. Gets annoying after a while. Most of the real owners I have met ar really nice and are openminded about all bikes.

[dcstrng]

Being a newcomer and not owning a Suzuki I’m not sure I’m allowed to post in this thread, but I found this thread interesting... although not universal, a quick scan seemed to reflect my own opinions that people/riders/wannabees can be more of a challenge than the bikes (either...). Between my current Nomad and Ultra I’ve got about 100K and neither has any particular advantage over the other that I can tell (except that my wife prefers the ergoes on the Nomad... same saddle builder for both, same King tour pak, but the pillion positioning just makes her more comfortable on the Nomad).

Since the demise of the shovelheads (had one, several decades ago... just wasn’t up to modern standards), I think most Harleys big-twins have been vastly improved... if not necessarily bullet-proof... certainly since the middle of the Evo model run, they are a different breed of cat... but I think the worst thing anyone can do to either the Vulcan or the Harley (no experience with Suzuki, other than curbside...) is start splitting the cases or asking `em to put out buckets of more power... but short of ham-fisted shade-tree wrenchin’ I find both to be about equal in reliability (neither has come close to making me walk, although both have given me moments when the silence from the motor department was momentarily unnerving...

Both have busted motor-mount bolts, both run essentially the same CV carb and neither likes that corn-mash gas, the Nomad has leaked a lot more oil than the Harley (truly), but has better brakes... neither has increased my testosterone level one iota as far as I can tell, but both are entirely comfortable for as many miles as I can keep my eyes open, rain or shine... (upwards of 1200-1300 miles if I’ve a mind) and neither cost over $10K (I buy garage queens... okay, so I’m cheap... never had a new bike in my life... and I can’t recall the last time I was in a Kawa or HD dealership – actually the local dealership I use when I use one is the Yamaha dealer – he just holds his nose on both of `em...).

But I think the biggest problem with Milwaukee products was already sorta mentioned – the riders... but that isn’t all that peculiar to them...

My $.02... <grin>

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by dcstrng

Being a newcomer and not owning a Suzuki I’m not sure I’m allowed to post in this thread, but I found this thread interesting... although not universal, a quick scan seemed to reflect my own opinions that people/riders/wannabees can be more of a challenge than the bikes (either...). Between my current Nomad and Ultra I’ve got about 100K and neither has any particular advantage over the other that I can tell (except that my wife prefers the ergoes on the Nomad... same saddle builder for both, same King tour pak, but the pillion positioning just makes her more comfortable on the Nomad).

Since the demise of the shovelheads (had one, several decades ago... just wasn’t up to modern standards), I think most Harleys big-twins have been vastly improved... if not necessarily bullet-proof... certainly since the middle of the Evo model run, they are a different breed of cat... but I think the worst thing anyone can do to either the Vulcan or the Harley (no experience with Suzuki, other than curbside...) is start splitting the cases or asking `em to put out buckets of more power... but short of ham-fisted shade-tree wrenchin’ I find both to be about equal in reliability (neither has come close to making me walk, although both have given me moments when the silence from the motor department was momentarily unnerving...

Both have busted motor-mount bolts, both run essentially the same CV carb and neither likes that corn-mash gas, the Nomad has leaked a lot more oil than the Harley (truly), but has better brakes... neither has increased my testosterone level one iota as far as I can tell, but both are entirely comfortable for as many miles as I can keep my eyes open, rain or shine... (upwards of 1200-1300 miles if I’ve a mind) and neither cost over $10K (I buy garage queens... okay, so I’m cheap... never had a new bike in my life... and I can’t recall the last time I was in a Kawa or HD dealership – actually the local dealership I use when I use one is the Yamaha dealer – he just holds his nose on both of `em...).

But I think the biggest problem with Milwaukee products was already sorta mentioned – the riders... but that isn’t all that peculiar to them...

My $.02... <grin>

Your welcome to post, and welcome to the forum. I like a man that thinks things through, and I think you said it just right!

[C50Hexy]

Just wanted to say I love my c50c and never even looked at HD. I've talked to too many co-workers who have had problems. I am certainly no small engine mechanic so (for me) it was a no brainer and I still have a lot more cash to take the wife to the islands!

[hammersfan]

I was out riding with my buddy tonight . He rides an Ultra Classic fully decked out. Later after leaving him I had a nice chat with a Road King owner in a gas station , so I have to say that my experince with Harley owners is generaly good.

[geoffsimpson]

Originally Posted by dcstrng

Being a newcomer and not owning a Suzuki I’m not sure I’m allowed to post in this thread, but I found this thread interesting... although not universal, a quick scan seemed to reflect my own opinions that people/riders/wannabees can be more of a challenge than the bikes (either...). Between my current Nomad and Ultra I’ve got about 100K and neither has any particular advantage over the other that I can tell (except that my wife prefers the ergoes on the Nomad... same saddle builder for both, same King tour pak, but the pillion positioning just makes her more comfortable on the Nomad).

Since the demise of the shovelheads (had one, several decades ago... just wasn’t up to modern standards), I think most Harleys big-twins have been vastly improved... if not necessarily bullet-proof... certainly since the middle of the Evo model run, they are a different breed of cat... but I think the worst thing anyone can do to either the Vulcan or the Harley (no experience with Suzuki, other than curbside...) is start splitting the cases or asking `em to put out buckets of more power... but short of ham-fisted shade-tree wrenchin’ I find both to be about equal in reliability (neither has come close to making me walk, although both have given me moments when the silence from the motor department was momentarily unnerving...

Both have busted motor-mount bolts, both run essentially the same CV carb and neither likes that corn-mash gas, the Nomad has leaked a lot more oil than the Harley (truly), but has better brakes... neither has increased my testosterone level one iota as far as I can tell, but both are entirely comfortable for as many miles as I can keep my eyes open, rain or shine... (upwards of 1200-1300 miles if I’ve a mind) and neither cost over $10K (I buy garage queens... okay, so I’m cheap... never had a new bike in my life... and I can’t recall the last time I was in a Kawa or HD dealership – actually the local dealership I use when I use one is the Yamaha dealer – he just holds his nose on both of `em...).

But I think the biggest problem with Milwaukee products was already sorta mentioned – the riders... but that isn’t all that peculiar to them...

My $.02... <grin>

Nicely Said...and welcome

[4dtvman]

Yesterday had to be ones of the nicest days to ride a bike. My wife the dog and here friends went to the park/beach and asked me to ride there after work. On the way there I stopped at the loacal bike watering hole in Bristol RI near the water. And the parking lot was full of beautiful bikes, about 25 Harley's and 4 metric's. After looking at the bikes and the people that were riding them with there HD clothing I can't fiqure this one ou. Do these people ride these things or just go from one parking lot to the next because there were beautiful ton's of crome no dirt no were not even a spec of dust. I keep my bike clean but these things look like they just came from a detail shop. To me my bike sounds loud with a set of cobra pipes but these things were straight pipes and LOUD.
And alot of them with husband and wife with a bike of there own (just working people like me) about 40 to 50 thousand between them. The bank must love them. So I must say either there so busy working, cleaning and adding extra chrome and paying the bank and don't have time to ride. Maybe there waiting for me to take there picture because that what I do for a living.

I don't think I'm picking on true HD riding just the group I seen yesterday.

[qtib]

I know I haven't been riding long. But generlly the HD people I ahev talked to have been good even some of the rough ones. The big thing for me is like alot of other poeple the price. I mean I like the idea of having my bike paid off in less then 5 years at less than 200 a month. Not like when I went to HD they said they could get me on a Dyna for about 200 a month but for something like 8 years. It just doesn't make since to me I know the engine size is bigger but the over all size of the bike is't much. But I guess if I could afford it I might own one but that isn't in the picture I have my C50 and wouldn't give it up for anything right now.

[RicoChet]

Seriously I have no problem with Harley Riders, or Harley bikes. What I have a problem with is peoples attitudes that somehow procede the bike. I dont assume that if im going to meet A bunch of guys who like harleys that they're all jerks, but if they are thats a big shame. I think if you like to ride a bike, then its something we all have in common and should enjoy no matter what you ride.. Riding is riding.

[LCA_koolaid37]

I feel very much torn about responding to this thread.

Yes, I feel that Harley's are overpriced. However, I believe that's due to a strong affability and dedication to the American name that Harley bears.
I also believe that Suzuki's and foreign, namely Japanese, bikes are superior in quality.

However, and I can't believe I am saying this as owning a Suzuki myself, after reading Michael Crichton's novel, "Rising Sun", detailing Japanese business practices and the completely unfair, and not really even free, market with which Japan deals with the U.S., I don't respect the Japanese companies all that much. Yes, they sell a superior product at a lesser cost, yet at the expense of the integrity of their business practices and undercutting U.S. companies by engaging in "dumping", or selling products below production cost to drive off native competition. Much of this went on during the 90's with electronics.

So, I feel as if American motorcycle manufacturers, and in earnest all American companies period, are fighting a battle with one hand tied behind their back.

[renier8]

I am very new to the scene, so my opinion does not really carry much weight - however, it is from a very objective point of view.

I like the Harley bikes, and like everyone else, I do think they are overpriced. For my first bike, I am NOT going to get a Harley. Maybe one day if I really think it is justified.

I do have something else to say. When I decided on a bike for myself and my wife, there was another factor besides price, which made us look away from the Harleys, and that was the Harley community. Now I am generalising here, and, and I think and hope it is isolated to this really crappy country that I live in, where people really don't care about each other anymore.

To make a long story short, we have been to 2 or 3 gatherings of the "bikers" , and without exception, the Harley guys could be heard a mile away - after they turned off their bikes. Loud, rude, swearing, obnoxious, and arrogant is the best way to describe what we heard.

Perhaps I am just a softy, but for now, my wife and I will through our weight with the crowd in the other corner.

Renier

[texrider]

Originally Posted by LCA_koolaid37

I feel very much torn about responding to this thread.

Yes, I feel that Harley's are overpriced. However, I believe that's due to a strong affability and dedication to the American name that Harley bears.
I also believe that Suzuki's and foreign, namely Japanese, bikes are superior in quality.

However, and I can't believe I am saying this as owning a Suzuki myself, after reading Michael Crichton's novel, "Rising Sun", detailing Japanese business practices and the completely unfair, and not really even free, market with which Japan deals with the U.S., I don't respect the Japanese companies all that much. Yes, they sell a superior product at a lesser cost, yet at the expense of the integrity of their business practices and undercutting U.S. companies by engaging in "dumping", or selling products below production cost to drive off native competition. Much of this went on during the 90's with electronics.

So, I feel as if American motorcycle manufacturers, and in earnest all American companies period, are fighting a battle with one hand tied behind their back.

It is our federal government's job, pervue, baliwick, responsibility, and duty to regulate trade, especially foreign trade. Period. If the 90's sucked for us with foreign trade, then the blame lay squarely on the politicians who were/are in charge. Giving unfair advantages to Japan and others has screwed us good, but the best is yet to come with China...

Just think globally, your politicians and corporations have, and it's made them wealthy beyond imagination. If the crumbs tossed to the stupid masses are affordable, well made bikes, I guess we'll have to be happy with them...

[Captain Steve]

Originally Posted by renier8

I do have something else to say. When I decided on a bike for myself and my wife, there was another factor besides price, which made us look away from the Harleys, and that was the Harley community.

To make a long story short, we have been to 2 or 3 gatherings of the "bikers" , and without exception, the Harley guys could be heard a mile away - after they turned off their bikes. Loud, rude, swearing, obnoxious, and arrogant is the best way to describe what we heard.

It's funny, I almost paid too much for a Harley... because of the community. The Harley guys around here are very supportive of each other and really have their poop together when it comes to organizing rides and such. There's the odd scumbag on a Harley, but for the most part, they're shunned by the Harley folks.

My uncle has a Road King Classic. I went on a group ride with the local H.O.G. chapter. It was really fun, and they were a great bunch of people. Mostly in their mid 30s and up.. it was a really mature bunch. They totally defied the "Hells Angels" stereotype.

I think that alot of people buy a Harley for the community aspects. I just don't see the same kind of group organization for the metric bikes around here. Harley folks will go out of their way to get together, metrics tend to go their own way around here. In my admittedly limited experience so far.