I always see stuff like "all harley dealers charge thousands over list" or "harley uses 50 year old technology". I don't remember the twin cams or evos on the earlier harleys. The only 2 motorcycles I seen on the side of the road this season were both hondas. Yeah , I know your sportbike or your goldwing (minivan) can smoke my lowrider, my girlfriends chevy blazer can smoke a school bus too. BFD.
2006-08-22 15:27:59 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
Because everybody has to have something to complain about and what better than something they probably know nothing about. Yes, the basic Harley engine "technology" is old. But, then again, so is the 2007 Dodge Viper, with it's basic cylinder, piston, push rod, and crank shaft combustion engine that has been in every gasoline powered car for the past 100+ years. The one mechanical aspect that needs to be updated is the cooling system, or lack of one. I would like to see, at a minimum, an oil cooler come standard on all the big-twins. Water cooling would be even better, but I'm in Houston where plain air-cooled just doesn't cut it in stop and go traffic.
The price of Harley accessories is no more outrageous than the price charged for metric bike accessories. I know, I currently own one of each (2006 Harley Road King and 2003 Suzuki Intruder 1500). In fact, my Harley accessories have been cheaper than my Suzuki accessories. The only legitimate complaint I can see about Harley is the price of the motorcycle compared to a comparable metric bike like a Yamaha Roadstar. There is about a $3,000 - $5,000 base price difference between them.
As far as quality, the Harley is solid as long as you don't abuse it, just like a metric. I have 24,000 miles on my Road King in nine months of police duty use and funeral escorting, which puts the bike through a workout. Hard acceleration and hard braking. These are not leisurely highway miles. The bike has been outstanding with nothing breaking or leaking. A co-worker logged over 100,000 miles on his last Road King in less than two years. So all this "Harley is junk" B.S. is just that, a bunch of B.S.
2006-08-22 16:51:28 · answer #1 · answered by jkc6229 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I feel your pain! Given, my 800 pound Road King only puts out about 65 hp compared to, well, pretty much any other bike out there, but its a Harley man! Plus, Harley did a great job improving their engines years ago. People are dumb! Why would you want some 160 hp Japanese or German lightweight bike when you can have the beast that is the Road King. Plus you can't buy all the cool accessories and logo clothing for all the other bikes. And I only had to spend a little over $25,000 for this priviledge!
2006-08-24 04:23:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've rode Harleys since the mid '70's & there is no comparison to what they put out now compared to the "yesteryears" Yes, there was a time when all harleys leaked oil, if you didn't take care of them. They were never meant to just gas & go, like they are now. There was actual maintenance to do, adjust lifters, primary, and drive chains etc. My '97 Road King has 45,000 & still runs like a top. I'll be the first to admit that I've never owned anything but a Harley & am proud to say that I always will. If fast is all you care about, don't buy one. There are lots of fast bikes out there for you.
2006-08-22 16:16:34 · answer #3 · answered by Uncle Joe 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dude, I can't answer this. I clicked to post, but most of the people who answered this have confused their brain and mouth with their colon and anus. They think they're giving opinions, but they're actually dumping their sh'it.
I've had a few good years, so I'm lucky enough to own 3; an 05 XL1200, an 05 Lowrider and an 06 Road King Classic. I love them, and the feeling I get from riding them is indescribable; hence the saying "if I need to explain it, you wouldn't understand". People keep saying these Japper Hawgs are better, cheaper, etc. Well, they aren't. Plain and simple.
My advice to you; keep enjoying your ride, and f'uck what these as'swipes say. And for that dumbass chick, no HD riders I know downtalk Ducatis, etc. That's more a practice for owners of euro and jap crap who won't ever admit to it, but they're all jealous. How many times have I seen guys swearing by their ricers putting down HD, only to show up on a Sportster as soon as they can afford one.
Ride safe, Man!
2006-08-22 17:07:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because there are less then 1/10 of 1% of people out there who are bikers! Sure there are allot of people out there who own bikes of all shapes and sizes but there are very few of them who can actually ride them, work on them, use them as everyday transportation in all types of weather........etc etc
I have more respect for some kid just out of high school who is taking a two week tour on a 20 year old (put your favorite flavor here) that has "saddle bags" that are milk crates supported by hockey sticks that are tied on the frame, then someone who has a 2004 (whatever) with $3500.00 of chrome trinkets hanging on it and even less miles then that, that sits in there garage, undercover all shined up and ready to go.
Displaying ignorance is usually done by that other 99.9% no matter what they ride.
2006-08-23 10:24:28 · answer #5 · answered by Greg P 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to test drive harleys for 8 hours a day. Biggest pieces of crap since the Ford truck they are usually being hauled home on. Something is always rattling loose, or leaking, or the tires wearing out because of the weight. The engineering at Harley is decided by the 'visual arts' committee more than by good science. The markup on accessories is unbelievable. Like 1000 percent. A lot of the parts are made in Japan, not "The Good Ole USA" like the drughead loud pipe jerks want to believe.
Loud pipes don't save lives if they scare my cows and piss me off.
The only thing good about a Harley is the big cushy seat for all those lard-butt lawyers who own them.
Harley isn't a motorcycle company. It is a t-shirt company that sells motorcycles to maintain the licensing 'mystique' money from all the leather accessories and plastic piggy banks they sell. Motorcycles are much less than half of their revenue.
2006-08-22 15:50:18 · answer #6 · answered by auntiegrav 6 · 4⤊ 4⤋
I’m sorry, true bikers don’t trailer their bikes to Bike Week, and ride in the last 20 miles. Yeah, I do have a hard time with the idea of paying a ton of money for a bike that isn’t as fast, and doesn’t handle as well as my Honda. I guess I’m just more interested in riding than all the fashion accessories.
Hey, some of the lame answers disappeared, oh well.
2006-08-22 16:14:34 · answer #7 · answered by Rockvillerich 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
'Harley Davidson' bikes have an allure that never interested me. After the movie "Easy Rider", that allure grew stronger.
Now that 'smart ***' guy & his son on the "Discovery" channel, or one of those channels that build choppers have rekindled that feeble minded allure for 'choppers' again.
Also, it gives 'bikers' ( the Harley riders ) something to tinker with when they break down.
With that said, they are NOT cool bikes at all to myself.
Gimme a 'crotch rocket' anyday over a HD.
Mack
2006-08-22 15:46:15 · answer #8 · answered by Mack 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
HD's are way over-rated and over priced.
The Harley mystique is pure marketing that has worked well, nothing less! There are better choices out there.
2006-08-22 16:31:16 · answer #9 · answered by randyrich 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i just watched a documentary about harley's on the history detectives, i love going to bike night,i would own one if i could equip it with oxgen tanks,i love the older ones more than the new ones
ride on easy rider
2006-08-22 15:33:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋