What's wrong with Harleys?

[TumbleWeed]

Well, you are right, there isn't anything I can say bad about the Bandit. But all I have to compare it to is the VRod. Of course, I wouldn't imagine the VRod is anywhere near as cheap as the suzuki The 1200 sporty isn't really the same class bike, but still it costs more. Probably because of the name.

[introriff]

Originally Posted by POE-BOY SAMICH

(bending the subject slightly)

introriff,
have you ridden the '07's yet?
I demo'd several '07 H-D's and actually thought their transmission and braking were 2 of the positives for the models I rode. I think the 6-speed trans is a major improvement for H-D. Give 'em a shot. If those were truly the 2 primary things you didn't like about them, you may be pleasantly surprised.

It may have been something that could be adjusted, but it was the amount of distance required to shift and the brake seemed to lag. No, these were not 07's, the latest model I have ridden was an 06. The other years I couldn't tell you, but they were similarly setup.

[introriff]

Originally Posted by drgibson

Now where did I put that gif...


Ah here it is.

[cowboyup75146]

Well their on strike in York PA as of midnight.

[omegajim]

cowboyup75146

Well their on strike in York PA as of midnight.

These guys must not be reading the paper and certainly not the business section. You know the business section that keeps reporting how mfg jobs are draining out of the north to the south (and to mexico, but not so much anymore) and right on overseas. A lot of these guys get good coin for assembling anything, much less bikes.

I couldn't even begin to list all of the businesses around here (southeast WI) that were big players 20 - 30 years ago that a) either moved out or b) got bought out with the local operations shuttered.

These strikers should go to Detroit or Philadelphia and look around how bad things can get after operations like their's fold up shop. If you don't think Harley doesn't have a contingency plan to move these operations to other locales in the long run, you are living in a dream world.

Remember, just because Harley is an "American Bike" it doesn't have to be built in Milwaukee, or York (Pa). There are lots of places that would give them huge tax breaks to move on in. Georgia, Mississippi and the Carlolinas to name but a few.

[introriff]

Originally Posted by cowboyup75146

Well their on strike in York PA as of midnight.

Have a nice weekend.

[CruisingRam]

Someday, as gawd is my witness, I will make an American bike that kicks H-Ds ass.

[omegajim]

CruisingRam

Someday, as gawd is my witness, I will make an American bike that kicks H-Ds ass.

Got $5 bucks in my pocket for that.

[CruisingRam]

5 dollars down, 10,000 years of payments- now, what would it take you to get on a bike today?.....

[JRoc]

Originally Posted by Apertureguy

In my opinion...the only thing "wrong" with Harley's is their price.

They'll need to be cheaper if they want me to buy one.

Talk about hitting the nail on the head!!! For me, direct hit!
I was looking into buying a big sloppy cruiser and checked out everything. I had test ridden the entire harley '05 line (with the exception of the skirtster, not intrested) and really liked the softails. The Metrics (Jap bikes) were more difficult as they don't offer test rides or rentals in my area. I must say price had a huge role in my decision!!!
Some of the things I liked about harley's is the: Ride, fit and finish, ground clearance, wow factor.
Some of the things I didn't like were: Brakes, Serious lack of power, Very heavy at slow speed, price. In '06 Harley changed the displacement and tranny and this made my decision even more difficult. I didn't want to feel like I should've just spent the extra money and bought a "Harley". I settled on a Star (Yamaha) Stratoliner and literally couldn't be happier I did!!! I rented a Road King one month after buying my liner. I tried to keep an open mind about whether I had made a mistake or not but I'm sure I was biased. I wasn't impressed with the power improvement, it didn't seem smooth for some reason. I actually prefered the '05's in this regard. I also REALLY didn't care for the six speed tranny, seemed VERY cheap. I didn't expect a baker tranny but I don't know where they got that crap they put in! I'd take the five speed any day of the week.

Anyway, harley's are great bikes and if they offered the Screaming Eagle Softail (minus the horrible paintjob) for under twenty, chances are I would've went with Harley. My bike is lighter (thanks in part to the aluminum frame and swingarm), Much more powerful (thanks to the 113 cubic inch 1900cc engine) Brakes better, and REALLY stops traffic with it's appearance (which pisses off my riding buddy who's got a Road King w/an OBSCENE amount of money in it)

Harley Davidson doesn't really sell bikes as much as it sells patriotism (and t-shirts). They better watch out, if there bikes become MUCH more inferior to the rest of the cruiser market, and/or they're forced to move production out of the U.S., they're gonna have a hard time selling t-shirts!

Harley should've increased the price of there bikes over seas and kept them affordable here in the U.S. IMO that would've helped fend off the metric cruiser craze here.

[4dtvman]

Very well said.

[Clint]

Of course we'd all like to know what this light, powerful bike is.

Fill out your profile!

[texrider]

Only a Yamaha Roadliner would fit...

Ok bike, with some interesting features. But, big bucks for another air-cooled vee twin cruiser.

The Stratoliner version has some cool hardbags, but the money is a real problem for what the bike really is. IMO

[geoffsimpson]

Yah...um what he said.

This is like a cockroach thread...you cannot kill it. Nothing wrong with Harley's or any bike...all bikes are glorious, viva la motorcycle!

[JRoc]

Originally Posted by 4dtvman

Very well said.

Thanx.

Originally Posted by Rowdyred94

Of course we'd all like to know what this light, powerful bike is.
Fill out your profile!

Sorry Red, I didn't make it REALLY clear which bike I had chosen. I did fill out the profile now.

Originally Posted by texrider

Only a Yamaha Roadliner would fit...
Ok bike, with some interesting features. But, big bucks for another air-cooled vee twin cruiser.
The Stratoliner version has some cool hardbags, but the money is a real problem for what the bike really is. IMO

When I was looking, I was VERY picky about which bike I was going to choose. I only compared it to bikes that actually existed, not ones I had dreamt about or made up in my head. I made the purchase solely on what I had read, as I couldn't test ride before hand, and I read alot! When I finally did ride the bike it was even better than I expected, and I expected alot. Yeah it is a air cooled v-twin and I think it is alot of coin, but what are the other options??? I think, all things considered, it's hands down the best cruiser out today and MANY people would be surprised if they rode one. So what's a fair price for the best cruiser available? If a Harley screaming eagle fatboy is thirty large and my Liner (which puts out WELL over a hundred foot pounds torque and over a hundred ponies before the Patrick Racing BAK) is about half the price I'd say that's about fair, given the market. Not to mention the entire Harley line, with the exception of the V-Rod, doesn't have a reserve tank on fuel injected bikes and mine does! How many FI bikes do??? Did I mention that my bike came chromed out, with a removeable windshield, removeable sissy bar, and hard leather covered locking saddle bags???

[Clint]

I missed your mention of the Star in that post. My mistake.

I'd venture that EFI bikes don't often have reserve tanks because running an EFI system out of gas (like a reserve is intended to do) isn't a good idea. It's better to have a warning in the digital display or something.

P.S. You might start using that little [quote] button. You had the words of four different people all lumped together there.

[MOTOHOLIC!]

I don't care for Harleys...

[geoffsimpson]

Originally Posted by TumbleWeed

Well, you are right, there isn't anything I can say bad about the Bandit. But all I have to compare it to is the VRod. Of course, I wouldn't imagine the VRod is anywhere near as cheap as the suzuki The 1200 sporty isn't really the same class bike, but still it costs more. Probably because of the name.

Tumbleweed, I'd be curious to get your take on the other side of the equation, I believe on HD-forums. I'm sure If we look over there we'll find "What's wrong with JAP bikes" as much as I hate the term. The whole thing really blows my mind, I mean I ride with harleys, we all joke back and forth, but it's all in fun. The reason I ask you, is that I know your in that forum...so what's the deal?

There's got to me more to it than some kind of my d**k is bigger than yours thing, like owning a ferrari or vette...(please note, owning these automobiles does not directly reflect the size of your p3nis). I've never seen anything quite like it, and I've never had an HD Rider say anything like that to my face. It's easy to be a man when your hidden behind a computer, but do these guys actually think this way?

That being said, I guess are there those of us here can act the same way I suppose. Glass houses and all that right?

[Clint]

Ever go on a Toys-for-Tots ride? You'll learn dang quick how ugly Harleyism really is. They treat you like crap and then boast about how they're the only ones doing charity work. Well, duh! You practically ostracize everyone else! Whaddya expect?

[Colorado Cajun]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Ever go on a Toys-for-Tots ride? You'll learn dang quick how ugly Harleyism really is. They treat you like crap and then boast about how they're the only ones doing charity work. Well, duh! You practically ostracize everyone else! Whaddya expect?

Next time one of them gives you crap, tell him "If everyone rode a HD then you wouldn't be so special would you?"