Is it the gas tank? The air filter cover? The frame? There are so many motorcycles that look like a Harley. Some even better and cheaper. For example, Independence makes a beautiful bike that uses mostly the same parts. Custom bike builders use the same parts. But what part makes the bike a Harley?
2007-09-07 23:32:04 · 28 answers · asked by GenO 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
Primarily, it it the badge on the fuel tank. There are some bikes with Harley engines, but that does not make them a Harley. Even though HD owns Buell, many of the HD "purists" won't accept these bikes as Harleys. Then again, there are some bikes without Harley engines (such as the Aerimachi-built HD Sprint 350 - a really cool bike) that are technically Harleys also.
It is all a bit convoluted to me - just ride.
Oh, and don't buy the bit about resale. That is an old saw that doesn't fly anymore. Harleys depreciate only slightly slower than Japanese bikes these days, due to a glut on supply.
2007-09-08 01:26:56 · answer #1 · answered by CafeTBird 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What makes a Harley a Harley? Well there are many opinions on what is and is not a true Harley Davidson motorcycle. For me, if it rolled off the Harley Davidson assembly line it is a Harley Davidson motorcycle. End of opinion.
What makes one a true Harley rider? To me I say a person whom rides a motorcycle that came off a Harley Davidson assembly line. End of opinion.
What makes a true American rider? That is what this all leads up to and I think that is what the perception is all about. Do I lose my true American status if I bought aftermarket parts for my Harley Davidson motorcycle? How about the apparel I wear? Must I always have a leather vest, a tattoo, and a bunch of pins and patches? The answer to me is no, no, and no again. You bought a Harley Davidson, you have shown your pride for buying an American product. But, ant this is a good one, if you go into a Harley Davidson dealership, look at parts that say "Genuine Harley Davidson Motor Accessories" and look at the back you may sometimes see the words "Made in China." With that said is Harley davidson a true Harley dealer? Boy this is getting confusing. End of opinion.
Wrapping ia all up I have driven Honda, Yamaha, and Harley Davidson. I only own a Harley Davidson and the reason why is that it is the bike I want. Sure the Hondas are better on gas, have more accessories, cheaper, and lighter but i like the ride, the rumble, and the sound of my fat boy over any other bike I have seen or heard. I am a Harley owner, I am a Harley rider, and I am a true American but I have no grudge against anyone that does not ride the same bike.
2007-09-12 11:09:50 · answer #2 · answered by Brian P 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Look for belt drive first, most Harley's have belt drive rather than chain except the Sportster. If you need to have the pedigree absolute on your bike then check anything with a VIN number that corresponds to the manufacture (Harley) will identify the bike as a Harley.
Badged Chrome items that say Harley do not necessarily make a bike a Harley. Also there are a lot of V-twin engines out there that look like the Harley but are not. (S & S makes a lot of clone engines).
Last check the title or MSO and see what it says. Lastly bear in mind over 30% of a Harley now has Japenese components ( brakes, forks, rotors)
2007-09-13 21:21:13 · answer #3 · answered by greybeads 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Harley-Davidson is a motorcycle built by the Harley-Davidon Motor company. Anything else is not a Harley.
Even if you put a Harley engine into a custom built bike, it's not a Harley. Ditto for any other parts. Even if you buy all the parts separately and build it yourself it's still not really a Harley, but you can say it's a home built Harley.
2007-09-08 17:25:46 · answer #4 · answered by rohak1212 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A Harley is a Harley when obviously a Harley Davidson badge is somewhere permanent after all for what someone pays for a Harley your really only buying the name, you say " I ride a Harley" most people think your a hardass patriot and people pay alot just to make others think that. And secondly when everything that is bought for a Harley costs at least $100 or more, ask for receipts thats how you'll know for sure.
2007-09-13 18:40:30 · answer #5 · answered by machinisthale 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Harley Davidson is a brand of motorcycle, just like a Ford is a car. It is not about a particular part. Just as if you have a Ford Mustang, and someone built a car similar, with similar or mostly the same parts, it would not be called a Ford Mustang because it was not built in a Ford factory
Custom bikes can look like them but if they are not manufactured in a Harley factory, then they are not Harleys, regardless of what parts they are made of.
2007-09-08 06:44:37 · answer #6 · answered by simmychick 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
These days, it's a motorcycle that started life as being built by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
There are enough aftermarket parts to replace just about everything on your old Harley motorcycle -- but if it didn't start out as coming from H-D, it's not really an H-D motorcycle, it's a "custom cruiser" or a "knock-off."
2007-09-08 17:44:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What defines a Harley as an original product?
The VIN must start with 1HD.
First digit = country of manufacture, 1 = U.S.
Next two = name of manufacturer, HD = you guessed it, Harley Davidson.
There are many aftermarket and reproduction parts available, and used by custom builders. But to be a genuine Harley, it must have been (at least) assembled by Harley and that is reflected in the VIN.
2007-09-08 15:44:04 · answer #8 · answered by Firecracker . 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the Vin# and where it was built makes it a Harley..
this is the ramblings of someone that just sold there Harley
As far as the resale value life doesn't work that way anymore Harley has upped supply and screwed over the people by making it easy to get a bike...........remember the days of a waiting list..................... as far as American made look under the fork covers betcha it say "showa" hmm that's the company that makes fork for imports........... I've been all around Milwaukee and haven found the showa plant. With recent talks about a plant opening in china they will soon be in line with the prices of the Japanese bike.
A company can't strive on nostalgia alone
2007-09-08 10:29:47 · answer #9 · answered by unaturalyaspirated 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
bottom line: if it didn't roll off a harley assembly line it aint a harley. ya know what else? i can't believe the "expensive harley" myth is still alive! do a little research: i looked for independence cycles and found them to be in the 20k+ range... 20k buys a LOT of harley! a superglide is around 12k. an 883 is about 6k. an electraglide standard is about 16500. the cheapest goldwing is about 19600 and a shadow 750 is gonna set you back 6500 minimum. comparing bikes shows harley to be priced comparable to most imports, and when you figure cost of ownership (including resale value) a harley starts to look like a real good deal. just my .02, i could be wrong.
2007-09-09 00:13:04 · answer #10 · answered by skullbikemike 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋