Harley vs. Japanese big four. Which is better? Consider reliability and price only.?

Answer 1

Someone mentioned the HD haters but what's interesting is the exact opposite, yet, the HD lovers fail to see this with their tunnel vision. This is simply called "hypocrisy".

A few replies favoring the metric market have received nothing but negative ranks. This is a clear indication of a biases attitude. All these people did was provide an opinion based on the question asked. They happen to favor a market which perhaps the asker or others do not. You failed at maintaining an open mind and criticize because you didn't like the answer. The real haters appear to fall in the HD group.

The bottom line is simple. If you enjoy Harleys, then ride it. If you enjoy Japs, German, British, the same applies, then ride it. The real factor many people fail to realize is we all have different tastes in brand and style, but we all have the same taste in the hobby. We all love to ride. Shouldn't that be enough? We are united with the interest of riding on two wheels. Let's focus on helping each other stay alive and enjoying the hobby we love so much. There's enough hatred in this world as it is.

Answer 2

Do you really buy a motorcycle based only on price and reliability?

My bike is not my primary transport. It is an expression of me. It's very personal. I have owned Hondas and now a BMW-K1200. I will say this: If I ever buy a cruiser, it will be a Harley. The Japanese do a good job of copying (I used own a Sabre) but, the Harley has a look and feel like no other.

I'm sorry but, no Yamaha or Honda vtwin cruiser can match up to a decked out Fatboy. And this statement is from a hardcore metric guy.

Answer 3

First off, uf29_, not all Jap bikes are water cooled. Check your facts before you state something. All Suzuki C90/C90T are air cooled or oil cooled!

Also, an "all decked out" Harley Ultra Classic Electra Glide will run you $22,110 plus destination and taxes and all the other crap they add on. A moderately "decked out" Honda Gold Wing Audio/Comfort/Navi will run you 22,099 plus all the other crap. So yeah, you're right, the Harleys are more money! ( : I'll pay the $11, thank you.

Whenever this question is asked, you are going to get both camps fighting over "which is better". It like the Chevy/Ford/Mopar fight that's been going on for decades! Ride what feels comfortable to you. Just because half of the answers on here say the Harleys suck, check them out, maybe you'll find one that is comfortable to you. They don't leak oil...anymore. It's not leaking, it's marking their territory. ( : Also, just because the other half says that Jap bike suck, go and sit on them. To me, the Harley Softail was very comfortable, as is the Road King. What did I buy, a Suzuki C50. Why, because it is my first bike and I didn't have the $17,000 for a Road King Classic.

So, to answer your question, really only you can answer it by sitting on a bunch of different bikes, and deciding how much you can spend.

Answer 4

What kind of answer are you looking for? If you are talking 10-15 years ago, when Harley was a branch of AMF, then the Jap bikes would be more reliable. Today, they are about equal. The jap bikes are probably cheaper also, but ask yourself one question...how many people have you seen in your life with a tatoo on their shoulder or chest that say, "Honda"? Harley Davidson is a way of life, as well as the name of a motorcycle.

Answer 5

I worked for HD for a time. I think they make a pretty good product. Pretty old school and rustic in design. Yamaha. Not bad either. They did a pretty good job of dumbing down their designs and did well to copy the old American Iron. Never got much into the Honda's. They are reliable. I got out of the Harley riding in 1996. I was on a trip out west and a fella passed me on a BMW like I was parked. I have driven one ever since. K1200 LT. Better? Who really knows. Find something you like. Be open minded. These chest beaters that flat out go with a certain brand may not know any better.

Answer 6

Harley makes a dependable bike. Don't believe what these haters tell you. If you want a bike you can keep for a long time, spend the extra $$$$ for an H-D. If you want to rely on ebay for parts 10 years from now, go metric.
For the guy who only sees Harleys on the side of the road:
You don't ride much do you? I see more sport bikes than anything on the berm.

Answer 7

u forgot another american bike: victory. but i cant comment on the victory's since i havent ridden them yet.

the japs have always had lower prices vs hd, and depending on just what bike ur looking at, even victory's seem a bit high. harley has done a 180 degree comeback from the mid-evil days of amf....from about '72 till about '82 or '83, amf had control of hd and dam near sent em to the happy riding ground. nowaday's, they're just as reliable as any jap bike with 1 notable difference.....except for the v-rod, all hd bikes are air cooled. all jap bikes...every one of them....are water cooled. water cooled engines would have more power than an air-cooled engine of the same cc size.

if u want a big bike...like a tourer...for under 19 grand, its either jap or victory. not a gold wing tho...they're running at this time $22,000...more than an ultra classic. a decent tourer from hd can be had for about 19 grand after all the taxes and stuff like that is squared away. i dont think i'd want a water cooled bike tho. that's just 1 more item murphy's law can play with.

Answer 8

big 4. the harleys arent reliable. you have to tighten bolts after a long run over the vibration. there bad in the rain too. an price harleys should be half the price. japs are soo soo much better

Answer 9

Considering reliability & price only: it is hands down definitely Japanese bikes. Harleys are finally starting to get some credibility back on reliability, but that's after many years of garbage. Stay away from any of the AMF Harleys.

Answer 10

6 weeks from now, I'll have been riding the same '63 Panhead for 34 years, longer than most Ricky Rocket Racers have even been ALIVE! And I've got close to a quarter million miles on it!
That's 250,000 for those who can only speak Japanese!
Any of this Jap junk out there can claim anything close to this? ! ! !
By the way, I can walk out to the barn, turn on the tap, and my Hog will fire on the first kick, WITHOUT going RRARRRARRAARRRARRR like most all RiceGrinders!
Like the Old School saying goes,"There are only Two Kinds of Bikers, Those who ride HARLEYS, and those who WISH they did! ! !"