What's wrong with Harleys?

[MagnumForce]

Originally Posted by Shea

Funny thing is, Harley STILL won't actually be racing a true Harley in any super bike races any time soon. The newst addition in the AMA is the Buell, and once again, it has the Harley name on it, but was not even close to being designed by Harley.

Sadly, that is true... and as I have said before, only Buell can improve a Harley design. I'm looking forward to seeing Buells compete in the AMA tracks.

[tlwisner]

Harleys are very nice, but my budget says that Suzuki's rule. I'd love a Geezer-Glide.

You can find buttholes riding any brand of bike. Heck, I ride a Suzuki...

[hammersfan]

I do know some Harley owners and they all say that once you have ridden a Harley , you will want one. I don't know because I have yet to ride one !

[GSX1100FL]

Originally Posted by 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!

I like HDs, I just don't care for all the hype that is put into HDs. I guess this is because I never really got into the "this is better than that because it just is" bs.
There are times I will say things against another brand of bike or vehicle but it is in jest.

If I was to go cross this great nation I live in I would want a cruiser type bike, that means one that is or looks like a HD, for me the bikes that puts the rider in a reclining position is better for long distance riding.

Brand is not the deciding factor in what I ride or drive.

[inspiron]

Originally Posted by shea

Funny thing is, Harley STILL won't actually be racing a true Harley in any super bike races any time soon. The newst addition in the AMA is the Buell, and once again, it has the Harley name on it, but was not even close to being designed by Harley.

Eric Buell worked at Harley Davidson before he left to start designing his own line of sports bikes using Harley's motors.

[inspiron]

Originally Posted by hammersfan

I do know some Harley owners and they all say that once you have ridden a Harley , you will want one. I don't know because I have yet to ride one !

They say the same thing about Arai helmets, but I'm very happy with my Shoei.

[Trapper]

I've ridden a Dyna and a V-Rod. I'd take my po lil chain drive, carbed Marauder over the Dyna. But I'd take a V-Rod any day.

[IncubusIncarnate]

I don't buy into the "HD Family" thing, but if i had the cash i would definately get a buell. May not be as fast, but are superior in other ways. Handeling, Brake efficency, weight distribution. The gas is in the frame and the oil is in the swingarm, if i remember correctly. Besides it's rare enough that i break 80mph, i'd never need to push 200.

[James_C50]

Originally Posted by 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 .

Are they still 100% American made? If so, that probably has alot to do with there popularity and alot to do with some of their owners attitudes towards metric bikes.

[inspiron]

Originally Posted by James_C50

Are they still 100% American made? If so, that probably has alot to do with there popularity and alot to do with some of their owners attitudes towards metric bikes.

C'mon ... is ANYTHING really 100% from anywhere? The US is one of the leading steel manufacturers - Japan doesn't have any natural resources to produce their own steel. So even Metric bikes are built with US steel. On the other hand, many components are built in the far east or in Europe and sold in the US.

Where does the rubber for the tires come from? Probably South America.
Where does the oil come from? Maybe Texas or Alaska, but probably Saudi Arabia.

Even many metric bikes aren't made in Japan anymore. Kawasaki has a manufacturing plant in Italy - they build the low-end models there (there is a visible difference in quality between Japanese and Italian manufacturing!).

[azoazc]

Steel is produced in the majority of the world’s nations, though over 96% of world
steel production in 2000 was produced in 36 countries. Mainland China was the
largest steel producing country in 2000 with 127.2 million tonnes. Two other nations
produced over 100 million tonnes of steel in 2000, those being Japan at 106.4 million
tonnes and the United States at 101.5 million tonnes. Together, these three nations
account for almost 40% of world steel production. If consideration is extended to the
top 10 steel producing nations, just over 70% of world steel production is accounted
for. The top 20 steel producing nations produced almost 87% of the world’s steel in
2000.

This text was taken from here

Appears china is the largest steel producing country with Japan following second. The US ranked third. Granted this was from 2000 but the US steel industry isn't exactly growing.

[inspiron]

Yes, but Japan has to import the raw materials to make steel. They don't have the ore mines on those little islands. I believe much of the ore comes from Viet Nam, another reason why the US wasn't allowed to use full military force back then - it would have hurt the Japanese economy.

[azoazc]

I live in Buffalo near a steel plant. Also an old family friend was CEO of Gibraltor steel headquartered is Cheektowaga, NY. I can tell you from reading the sides of ships and talking to people in the biz that the US imports most of its materials too. Yes we have a good supply of coking coal but the iron ore is mostly from overseas.

[Shea]

Originally Posted by inspiron

Eric Buell worked at Harley Davidson before he left to start designing his own line of sports bikes using Harley's motors.

Partly correct. He was working for Harley, but did not use Harley engines that whole time. He was actually building bikes before he ever worked at Harley.

The whole story is on Buell.com. Eric tells the story in a written interview.

[Shea]

Originally Posted by James_C50

Are they still 100% American made? If so, that probably has alot to do with there popularity and alot to do with some of their owners attitudes towards metric bikes.

Also correct. I left that part out unintentionally. It is my understanding that Harley also gets alot of electrical parts from out of country. But, I know for a fact that quite a bit of the parts themselves are still made in the US. In fact, Harley has many small, local machine shops making some of their parts too. For instance, a friend of mine worked at a machine shop that made the exhaust pipes for Harley in York. Well, that was before the shop blew up because of dust and bad ventilation. Not sure if they are up and running again.

[bajaraider]

Well if we are just going for looks and a "name" etc. Who cares. I just got my first "Is that a Harley?" It was great. I love my suzuki M and wouldn't trade it for a harley.

Also I was talking to a guy who has ridin forever and used to race bikes raod and drag, and asked him what was so special about Harleys. He said
1. "American Made" with Japanese parts
2. THe 'feel' of a Harley. The felt vibration of just sitting on it. This is because the engine rotates towards the driver. However the metric bike rotate forward to eliminate the unneccessary vibrations.
3. the name and 'fam' aspect of it all.

[cjjtulsa]

Originally Posted by James_C50

Are they still 100% American made? If so, that probably has alot to do with there popularity and alot to do with some of their owners attitudes towards metric bikes.

A guy on another forum is a mechanic at (I think) a dealership. Here's what he said about H/Ds and where their parts come from:

"The sad thing is, most of the posers have no idea what parts of their "American" motorcycle come from where. HD sources wheels, kickstands, frame necks and related castings, front forks, handlebars and grip assemblies from Kawasaki. Honda supplies the carb and air cleaner, the rear shocks, brake components, CDIs. The lights, tires and wiring come from red China, Japan, or Taiwan. Fuel injection from Chevrolet. Toyota or Mazda starters. The "Milwaukie" bikes are assembled in Pennsylvania or Kansas City Missouri. Only the engines come from Milwaukie (well, maybe some touring bikes). The V-rod motor was designed by Porsche. American made my butt..."

Very interesting....

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by inspiron

Even many metric bikes aren't made in Japan anymore. Kawasaki has a manufacturing plant in Italy - they build the low-end models there (there is a visible difference in quality between Japanese and Italian manufacturing!).

Most US Hondas (Wings, VTXs, etc) are built at Marysville, Ohio. Kawasaki Concours have always (since they came out in '86) been built at Kawasaki's factory at Lincoln, Nebraska. My Suzuki GZ 250 was built in Spain. That's all I know about first hand, so there are bound to be more examples - and I really don't know what other Kawasaki models come out of the Lincoln, NE plant.

[texrider]

I've ridden several H-D's, and never felt safe enough to be taking one hand off it to wave at anybody! Come to think of it, I was unknowingly being a brand snob, wasn't I? In fact, renting and riding newer H-D models made me almost not want to buy a bike, too unstable and twitchy feeling for my taste. Then I found my two new sweeties, the 2005 VMax and M50. I can ride them as fast as they'll go if I want to, with out fear of the bikes. What's even better is I have both for less than one optioned out bar hopper bike.

[Rickster]

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! Come to think of it, I was unknowingly being a brand snob, wasn't I? In fact, renting and riding newer H-D models made me almost not want to buy a bike, too unstable and twitchy feeling for my taste. Then I found my two new sweeties, the 2005 VMax and M50. I can ride them as fast as they'll go if I want to, with out fear of the bikes. What's even better is I have both for less than one optioned out bar hopper bike.

I guess all the professional motorcycle testers were wrong than.