Are Harley Motorcycles reliable? Why does everybody rip on them is it just jealousy?

Answer 1

you want one, don't you!

Answer 2

The newer Harleys are much more reliable than the old pre-evo models. The thing to compare is the cost of their maintenance (when you are paying some else to do it.) And if you are a dedicated Harley rider, you don't care. Harley is the bike you want to ride.
Brand rivery is nothing new, and is not limited to motorcycles. The sad part is when it becomes blinded, and nonsensical. I am a dedicated Ford owner. What ever it is that it takes to be a satisfied and happy GM owner, is not in me. Fords work for me.
There are like 3 primary camps of motorcycling design and engineering: Harleys, the Germans, and the Japanese sometimes wrongly stereotyped as all being the same as Honda.
The occasionally heated and embittered ragged of one group against the other based on brand loyalty misses the point. And the point should be to enjoy your ride, and encourage everyone else to do the same.

Answer 3

I don’t think jealousy has anything to do with it. Saying ‘you don’t like my bike because your jealous’ sounds like a 12 year old response.

If given the opportunity I don’t think Sportbike riders would purchase a Harley. The Harley is made for older folks and women and they have not developed a bike that would interest today’s younger crowed. Many will say good we don’t want then anyway but those at Harley know this must change if they want to keep producing bikes long term.

The price of the Harley always comes up because they are ripping off those who buy them and people are buying them like sheep. Today they are buying into a perceived lifestyle it is not about the bike anymore. The Harley guys used to be the young puck kids the cops where harassing. Today Harley riders are the good old boys and the sport bikes are the bad azzes the cops are chasing.

Speaking for myself I can say that I can afford a Harley, I own a motorcycle store and I have several vehicles and have owned dozens of bikes. I myself like performance, I also like competing. To compete on a track I need a vehicle that is economical to maintain, reliable, and can perform with the best of them. Harley does not make a vehicle like this and their attempt with the Buell has been less than good. I’m not knocking the Buell it is the best American attempt to compete in years just get away from the v-twin already geesh.

Buy and ride what you like, we ride for different reasons and believe me we all don’t want Harleys.

In my opinion as a shop owner Harleys are not very reliable compared to the jap counterparts. The technology is old still even after their upgrades thay is just the facts as I see it and based on the bikes that come through. On the other hand kids have a tendency to drop or crunch their sportbikes more often reducing their life span too.

Answer 4

Sure they can be reliable if you take proper care of them , I think its more in fun than jealousy ,I have a buddy that rides with us sometimes and hes a Harley man and will not ride any thing but a Harley ,we rip on him all the time but its all in fun ,yea he makes more money than I do but my wife is Hot and after he comes home from riding that 25 thousand dollar bike he has to hump a fat broad and I get to Ride my 10 grand VTX come home and bump and grind a big titted red head guess that makes us even /peace

Answer 5

Yes the modern Harleys are reliable, if correctly maintained, just like any other motorcycle. HD was bought by American Machine & Foundry (AMF) in the late 60's and the quality was very poor. They almost killed the brand back then. HD was bought again by a group of HD employees and they've done a lot to improve the quality of the product since then.

Answer 6

They are basically mediocre in everything they do. They aren't particulary "bad" but they are ragged on because they are so overpriced for what you get. Just about any other big bike will outrun, outhandle, and out-cruise it for half the price.

So mostly Harleys are ragged on because the owners have spent so much money on image and aren't really serious long distance high speed bikers anyway. They vibrate a lot and if you drop one, you need a bridge crane to pick it up. A big BMW bike is almost half the weight!

Harleys are great for putting around town and "lookin' good", if that's the kind of look you like....big heavy bike overdone in chrome and designed by people in prison.

Ironically, the Harley uses many foreign parts, including foreign-made fuel injection and front forks.

Why are they so expensive? Because people buy them at that price and because they do, admittedly, have great resale value.

"Jealousy" doesn't wash---a Harley is very unappealing to anyone interested in the latest technology, or in high speed and good handling.

Not everybody wants a two-wheel obnoxiously loud sofa to drive around in. Some of us want to stop and steer, too.

Answer 7

harleys are just like any other motorcycle out there, they all have or are going to have problems at one time or another. even old harley's are reliable if you maintain them, the key IS maintaining them. take care of your ride and it'll take care of you. as far as the jealousy thing goes it's just a bike thing , i've heard it all. if you own a jap bike , it's the best thing since peanut butter and harley's are just slow moving couches. then there are those that think if you don't own a harley , you should. then you have those who say when you buy a harley you bought the wrong type, "what the hell did you get a sportster for ?!? thats a girly bike !" or "shoulda got a bagger!" or fatboy or screaming eagle edition or v rod or the list goes on. get the bike YOU want and hell with everyone else!

Answer 8

I have an 02 Harley Fatboy..... I've taken many trips. some over 1500 miles in one shot. and I'll tell you that I wouldnt ride anything other than a Harley. Ive rode all the others. I personally would like to get a street glide. People forget that the high resale value of a harley makes them the most practical (Cheapest per mile) to own. If you can aford it. Trust me its worth it to save your pennys for a few years. And ya other people are just jealous.

Answer 9

im a motorcycle courier , i have done about 8000 miles so far on my harley sportster 883.
I have not noiticed anything go wrong with it yet .
just like anything maintence and regular running of the engine and oil changes are the key to keeping any motorbike realible .
i think most people get into modding there engines up, esp on harleys , so they break down more or have more problems, due to owner making the original engine do somthing it wasent intended for , but is easyley available parts to do anything to the motor.

Answer 10

Yes they are reliable and yes it is jealousy.
Granted ,the older (Pre-Evo) Harleys can be a bit temperamental, but Evo and newer bikes are" rock solid "
Here on Answers I have noticed that questions about break downs and mechanical problems for metric bikes out number Harley about 7:1, mostly Kawasaki and Suzuki.
Re jealousy: I notice many who bash Harley usually mention the cost and I believe they cannot afford a Harley, so rather than admit they would like a Harley they say they ride a Kawasaki because it is sooooooo much better.
I myself will admit that in my youth, even though I liked Harleys would slam them from time to time ( knowing I would ride one if I could)
15 or so years ago I scraped together enough cash to get my first, I loved it, I have 3 now and they've been great.

Answer 11

It's a memory from the 70s, when Hondas were much more reliable than Harleys.