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The truth about harley davidson

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20K views 18 replies 16 participants last post by  darkstofknightz  
#1 ·
What is the deal with Harley's these days?
People that dont own a harley call them outdated, overpriced junk and the people that do ride harley think they are gods greatest gift to man. Are they crap bikes that are kept alive by brand loyalty or are they actually good bikes?

















Please give unbiased facts or opinions about the actual quality of the motorcycles, not your opinions of the harley crowd.
 
#3 · (Edited)
I test rode a Sportster 48 last year because of wanting to build a bobber for myself and would be a 50th birthday gift to myself, soon as starting it up I was pretty much ready to get off this bike. Vibration was stupid at idle and made me want to pee, did go away once rolling down the road, rear shocks bottomed out on a semi small bump, seating position was not good for my lower back, etc. There was just no way I could spend money on something that was not much of a bike when being able to get a metric cruiser for the same price or lower and get twice the motorcycle, better everything. Even used Harley's where over priced and there where a lot of low mile sportsters for sale, not even 2000 miles on some of them.
 
#4 ·
This subject has definately been beaten to death but I'll bite.

Their quality used to be crap. As in so unbelievably bad that the ripple effect of it still affects public opinion 30 years later. Currently, they make a darn good bike. Their overall quality and reliability are on par with anything Japan makes. Their fit and finish is absolutely the best in the industy. Their paint, metalwork, and attention to detail (hidden wires, switchgear and overall apaerance) are the best of any mass produced motorcycle.

All that being said, they also tend to carry a price premium, not as bad as they used to as the japanese cruisers seem to be coming up in price, but they are still typically $1,000-3000 more than a comperable Japanese bike (by comperable I mean in size, performance level and overall style, an S40 is cheaper than a Sportster but their hardley "comperable).
They have a very limited scope of products. Harley sells heavy classic cruisers and that's it. If you don't like heavy classic cruisers you're not going to like Harley. There also tends to be a serious tradeoff in comfort for style on some bikes (like the 48).

Also, they have the appearance of being "underpowered" as all of the competition has more powerful options in their lineup (not even including sportbikes) but if you compare "comperable" bikes the Harleys are about on par. Example: a Yamaha Raider (1900cc) will smoke a Dyna Wide Glide (<1600cc) but a Stryker (1300cc) will have a tough time with the Dyna. The Stryker carries the price advantage though so it's give and take. Harleys can be made to be quite quick (there are 103" and 110" big-bore kits available from the factory) but that's even more money on top of the already more expensive Harley. Harley only has one "powerful" option and that the v-rod. I think that hurts the general opinion of them (at least on the non Harley loyal side of things) as almost all of their lineup are mediocre performers.
 
#5 ·
They are not "bad" bikes. They just are not "good" bikes.

You are paying 2011 prices, for 1970s technology suspension, engine, and brakes. The only fairly current stuff on them is the FI models.

They do what they are meant to do well enough though, and that is provide a smooth comfortable, relatively stable ride, and look "cool".

Most of their appeal is the stigma that surrounds them. If you are interested in the bike itself from a performance an tech standpoint, it is garbage by todays standard.

I compare it to paying for a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro, but it has 1968 Camaro engine brakes and suspension underneath.

Granted, the 1968 Camaro is a bad ass car in its time, and the nostalgia is worth something. But buying/building one "new" as current and paying current new market prices would be ridiculous.
 
#6 ·
The new harleys are pretty nice and they have actually come down on there prices big time. I used to ride a sportster 1200 not a bad bike but im 6'1" and this bike is made for someone way smaller then me. So about an hour into the ride I would want to rip my lower back out because it hurt so bad, then ill hop onto my gf's fathers low rider and its like riding a huge lazy boy. Personally I have been looking at getting another harley but only if I can afford to keep the gixxer also.
If your thinking or looking at cruisers I would definitely try a victory out, there a little expensive but the looks and performance is outstanding. The s and s motors are great and u can get them fully customized from the factory. If u like old bobbers check out the high ball shit is bad ass!:punk
 
#7 ·
I think its both brand loyalty and quality improvement. My Dad was looking for a bike last year and we checked some out, I believe factory warranty was 2 years and the extended was up to 7. Price was the determining factor and he went with a japanese cruiser instead. Nice looking bikes though IMO.
 
#8 ·
I dont think their quality, as in does the bike stay together, is bad at all these days. The old "leaking" issues have long since been gone. That is an old tag they just cant drop really.

But quality of components, like brakes, suspension, etc leave a LOT to be desired, especially at the price.
 
#9 ·
Two times I've ridden Harley's (don't recall which models) they were just too damn small. Very uncomfortable. They look big from the ground with all the gear and saddle bags and crap on 'em but in the saddle, it's REALLY cramped.

I didn't care for the shifter, either. Two arms so that you can just kick it down with your toe or your heel. I suppose this can be easily modified but it made it a pain in the ass to work with.

Slow, too. I ride sport bikes for the acceleration more than anything. The Harley's just couldn't get out of their own way. Red line was, IIRC, about 5500. Kept red lining it.

Plus, I probably looked really stoopid with all my Suzuki gear. :shifty :lmao

After an hour on the bike, I had to verify that my teeth were all still intact. My kidneys were complaining loudly. The vibration was horrible. My back was killing me too from the straight up seated position. Just awful. I think I understand why Harley riders always have another bar for their next destination so they can drown their pains in some booze.

Might explain why they have such bad tempers, too. I mean, if *I* spent boku bux on a motorcycle and it kept beating me up that bad, I'd be pissed off all the time too.

--Wag--
 
#10 ·
Ya u must have ridden a 883 or something small like that, which are pretty much there beginners bike. Most of there bigger cruisers have a ton of low end torque, enough for me to sometimes taking off going to 2nd gear is a little tough for me to keep up. Once I hit third im gone obviously, but ur talking about 2 different beast between a cruiser n sport bike. I agree they do raffle a shit load, mostly because of there rubber mounted motors. But it is what it is can't really change it.
 
#11 ·
Fact: Hardley has been on the verge of bankruptcy quite a few times now, both because of their quality and because of the japanese competition offering a lot better for a lot less. The company is like a terminal patient on life support, on the edge of the brain shutting down, with the life support being subvensions of taxpayer monies by the gov and restrictive/protective laws and import restrictions their lobbyists force out once in a while.

As Joe said, you're paying 2011 prices for 1940's technology. The only competitor nowadays is the V-Rod and that's only because it has an engine that was not designed and built by Hardley, but by Porsche as in GERMANS. But even the engine doesn't save the V-Rod from the fact that you'll spend several times more of it's price on chiropractors with that legs-and-arms-forward position.

I had a cruiser and loved it. Would get another cruiser again? Sure, any day, but never a Harley.

But if you want old technology and tradition and heritage, buy a Royal Enfield, where you'll be paying what the technology and materials are actually worth and not 20 times as you do with Harley.
 
#18 ·
But if you want old technology and tradition and heritage, buy a Royal Enfield, where you'll be paying what the technology and materials are actually worth and not 20 times as you do with Harley.
I passed one last week with a sidecar rig on it. For sure a VERY different way to go.
 
#12 ·
I honestly like the Road King but I haven't taken out any Japanese cruisers to compare for comfort level. I rented a Road King at the beach for awhile and liked it. It's hot though, like REALLY hot (temperature on legs). Sitting at a stop light also can give you a headache w/ all the rattling. I DO love the sound of them though. However, if I can get similar sound on a metric cruiser, then there's no question.


When I'm ready for a cruiser ( next few years ), I'm going to shop around and test ride a lot of models. More than likely I won't be getting a Harley but they aren't bad bikes. :dunno
 
#13 ·
their vrsc line is really nice, and the street glide models continue to sell very well and are nice. imo harley does not spend alot of time trying to develop state of the art bikes because they dont need to. they can come out with the same ol air cooled technology as they did years ago and still sell. i guess they like the philosophy if it aint broke dont fix it. in my opinion they tried to get ahead technically with the liquid cooled vrsc line, but most of the traditional harley parking lot pimps frown on that bike, so i guess when they saw their loyal fan base still wanted old technology, they probably said the hell with it lets keep on selling them the same bikes of old for more money. this is coming from someone that switched from sportbikes to a harley vrsc.
 
#14 ·
i never rode a harley but i do ride with this older guy (60, who has a s1000rr) and he owned a harley b4 and doggs the shit outta it. he said that just as soon at harleys get some decent power in a gear you have to switch up to the next one. and he said they over heat terribly.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Harley's seldom "over heat". If his overheated he needs to learn how to tune the darn thing or stop sitting in the parking lot reving his motor for hours on end.
Now, they are air cooled motors so they most certainly can get hot, VERY hot, but show me an air cooled motor that doesn't. You could fry an egg over my old GSXR despite the HUGE oil cooler (air/oil cooled) but that didn't make it any less reliable or a bad motor in any way.

As far as the power goes, he has a point there, to a degree. It's a long stroke, air cooled twin; pretty much the worst possible setup if you're looking to make big power. But complaining about it's HP is like buying a flathead Ford and then complaining that it doesn't make power like a new DOHC V8.
 
#16 ·
I've ridden a handful of them, 883, Streetbob, Road King, Ultra Glide. The right tuner can have them making TONS of torque down low-what do you expect out of a 1300cc motor?? But the experience has always been the same-pretty comfortable, heavy and generally underwhelming. Subsequently, for me it comes down to this:

If you buy for performance on the road (or track-obviously)-you buy a sport bike.

If you buy for image and some level of comfort while also feeling like you're part of a "biking community" you buy a Harley.

Pretty much everything else is peripheral to those two core issues.

My worthless personal opinion of course!

The one issue that continually pisses me off about HD riders in particular is the need for obscenely loud exhausts and BBRRRAAAAAAAPPPP in town, or in the hills or wherever-at what ever time of night or day. I have a neighbor who parties it up pretty good on Saturday nights and he and his buddies are all HD guys and it seems they are incapable of starting those bikes up and leaving our residential area quietly and without several "blips" of the throttle. Even if it is 6:04 am on a Sunday. Making friends for the motorcycle community everywhere...........:sad
 
#19 ·
My two Cents....

My father has a softail deluxe. I take it out whenever I can and I thoroughly enjoy it. It has a comfy seat, its got a loud throaty sound, it has comfortable highway footrests, its loaded with chrome, it doesn't have a tach, it feels like you have to drop kick the shifter, its a Harley and thats what you are buying.

One thing to keep in mind, the resale value of a Harley compared to its asian counterparts is nice, it seems the second a metric rolls off the showroom floor its already depreciated a few grand.

I think there is a few people here trying to compare street bikes to a Harley, which is really stupid. It's a completely different style. The comparison lies between metric cruisers and Harleys. And between those, you are going to get 2011 performance in metric, and nostalgic, loud, comfy, chrome in the Harley.

As for Harley being on life support, imo they are only surviving is service and accessory sales......I bet you could get a sweet deal on anything they had on a floor.