Ya know, if it weren't for motorcycle forums, I would have never known Harley riders have a superiority attitude.
I ride in a Meetup group with nearly 300 members, I never witnessed any attitudes from any owners and there are few Harleys. Actually I take that back; One guy who went from a Harley he'd had trouble with (bad cam shaft) to a Victory went on and on how about what a POS Harleys were to the point where he wore me down, all the same fables we've heard 1000 times. Finally I said to him, I can appreciate anyone being pissed at a brand after a bad experience, but you're getting on my nerves. Besides, with all the beautiful machines to pick from, you picked a Victory Vision? Some say futuristic looking... I think its incredibly ugly, it was designed by the sales prevention department! But normally, I would never say that to the owner of one, but for you, I take exception!
I have looked at some 300lb rider and thought to myself, damn her butt needs a hell of a lot bigger seat than that little_____ .

 

Besides, with all the beautiful machines to pick from, you picked a Victory Vision? Some say futuristic looking... I think its incredibly ugly, it was designed by the sales prevention department!

No. That would be the Can Am Spyder, lol!!

 

It was a joke son, lighten up!

 

Hey Floyd, 2nd place is sometimes referred to as the 1st loser.... so... maybe that's worth something, lol.

 

2nd place = nothing. 1st loser = Priceless.

I am liking that and will forever cherish that title with honor, dignity, pride, and reverence. My wife sometimes tells me, "you're so full of cr@p that your eyes are brown." Okay, I checked the mirror and eyes are still brown. I guess that she might be right. As always and above all...ride safe.

 

I ride both. Bikes are just cool all around. I have more miles on my honda though....

 

I spent more money on the Harley than all of my other bikes put together for parts and service

My Sportster is getting its first service since I've owned it as we speak. I sure hope you are wrong!!

 

Got my first Harley when I was 14. ( M-50) I'm 70 now . Since then I've had a couple Knuckleheads and Panheads, Several years ago my cousin needed some cash so Iire boughtd his 1998 Shadow Areo VT 1100C3. Absolutely trouble free. Normal maintenance ia all required. Other than that I spent a small fortune in parts ( couple bucks for drain plug gaskets). With all my Harley friends waiting weeks on end while their bikes are in the shop. I find it real hard to ever go back

 

Ive never riden a true Harley but I do own a Buell and its great! Comparing it to my shadow doesnt make sense though and comparing it to a Honda sport bike it falls short, but its a blast to ride and a well built machine. Harley Davidson has been producing motorcycles for over 100 years and they are very good at giving their customers what they want. So good in fact that they inspired copy cat versions of their style and image from almost every other motorcycle manufacturer on the market. Yes, there are better machines out there but Harleys are iconic and always will be. They are ingrained in American culture.

 

Having owned 7 bikes, 4 Harley's (3 Sportys and an Electra Glide) and 3 Hondas (2 CB400Fs and my current VT750cd2), I can tell you I loved every one of them. There's a mystique about a Harley unmatched by any other bike save possibly an Indian. Hondas have a degree of engineering excellence and reliability unmatched in their price class. It's not what you ride that matters... it's that you ride that counts.

(Did you know there are two kinds of Harley riders? The first type are guys like you and me, just normal guys. The second type are fat guys who dress like pirates. It's a joke, Harley guys, a joke!)

 

I have owned my Ace since 2003. I really like the bike, always will. it was my first "real" bike . I did take advantage of a Harley Demo ride day with a buddy, he swears harley , rides a cross bone, loves it to death. I tried the sportster, road king and Vrod Muscle. Out off the 3 the Vrod was my favorite. I loved everything about it except the the way it would look with a 2up seat and back rest. If I can't take my wife, it's a deal breaker. I've always like the look of Harleys, but not eanough to buy one. My ACE is based on the Road king and I like it. Now If you offered me a Dark Horse I'd run over.

 

Last I heard is that Harleys are/were at the time manufactured using Japanese machine tools.

 

The "they leak oil", "they are too expensive", "they are unreliable" lore is now being replaced with "they are made with Japanese parts" and "manufactured using Japanese machine tools"

Who gives a f*ck. Christ, go ride and enjoy the bike you wanted to throw a leg over. Who has time and energy to worry about that kind of stuff?

 

......... "they are ....."manufactured using Japanese machine tools"......

I made that statement because the Harley owner to whom I stated it threatened me. You meet the nicest people on a Harley!!! HA!

 

Well put. Personally I have ridden a few bikes and have enjoyed most of them. Had a Buell that was one of the originals with the Sportster engine and had no issues with it at all.

Right now if I was to buy a bike it would not be a Harley but not because I don’t like them. I think one of the sharpest bikes around is a Fat Boy.

I can’t justify or afford the extra purchase price of a HD new or used. Clearly they hold their value and have a great following but right now I just want to get a bike and ride.

All I care about is dependability and comfort.

 

Someone resurrected a 7 yr. old thread folks. Let it go back into the archives.

 

Let me start off by saying that I am NOT Harley-bashing. There are some HD's out there that I would love to have. But, my 1986 Honda Shadow VT1100C is 33years old, and it has been in and out of the shop less than several of my friend's HD's that are only 10 to 15 years old. Well, other than tires,... I eat up tires!! lol

 

Also, on a side note. The first HD was made in 1903, and then in 1968 was the 65 year anniversary edition. And... EVERY 5 years since (1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018....) is an anniversary edition. To me (and this is just a personal thing to me) it kind of takes away from having an "Anniversary Edition"... Do that once every 15 or 20 years, and then I'd feel like I had something special, not every 5 years.

 

Wow. A seven year old thread! The original poster is probably in a nursing home by now.

 

7 years old or not, this issue comes up all the time. If you want a Harley, GET A HARLEY. Don't buy something because it's "just as good" or "it's more reliable" or "it's cheaper". You won't be happy with anything else. "Oh they are so expensive" - then save your pennies until you can afford one. I swear that the one's who bash Harley the most are the ones who want one the most.

 

To be absolutely clear. I like Harley’s but just can’t justify the price. If money was not a factor I’d Prbly get a Fat Boy.

For me though I want to ride. I’m not buying my bike for anyone but my wife and I to get out for a weekend cruise. It’s not to impress anyone and I have no intention of turning heads while riding.

Just want to get out and have fun.

 

Same here... Harley's are okay. I checked out a Heritage Softail Classic a few years ago and fell in love with it. My wife even fell in love with it. We both wanted it, but then we almost went into cardiac arrest when we looked at the little tag dangling on it, and saw the actual price!

 

Having owned 4 Harleys I promise you Harleys are worth every penny. They're neither better nor worse than a Shadow (or any other bike that catches your fancy). They're Harleys. Loved every one of them, but loved my 3 Hondas just as much. Currently riding a 1999 Shadow ACE 750....

 

12 yrs. and 415 posts later is quite a long time to realize none of these pertain to a Valkyrie being the best!
Of all the vtwins owned and rode, the Indian Thunder Stroke is my favorite but still a vtwin like 80% of the bikes on the road. There that post #416!

 

Well...I had a '77 FXE Harley from the AMF years. It was NOT reliable...giant pain in the rump.
Went back to Yamaha's after I gave up on it having tried everything I could for 2 years.
Cool as heck Confederate Edition tho...worth a dang fortune now.
As as aside, there were a few Mustangs I recovered & reparied during that same time period that I'd love to have now as well...that Shelby GT500KR in Blue & Gold would probably bring a cool Mill today

Currently on my third Honda. First two were CB360's in the late 80's, one had a dead engine, other had been wrecked...so I mated the two and enjoyed some good riding! Then went back to Yamaha's Think I've had over 20 Yams...Bunch of XS400's, a XV550 Vision, a XJ Virago 750...took a couple years off bikes after a crash, then got a Kawasaki 750 twin...then had a low-speed crash that annoyed the heck outta me...(sand in a corner) so got back out for awhile...then found a great deal on a Yamaha V-Max...had never had a 4cyl before, but enjoyed the Extreme Power that thing had...even Harley riders love the V-Max! Meanwhile I bought my Wife an XS400 Special II so she could scoot around on her own because they're unbelievably reliable and easy to handle. Then she got preggers with the twins and stopped riding cold...then I sold the Vmax after doing a little slip & slide...a decade later found a great deal on a Shadow 500 in Panama City and here we are

Harley actually did have a licensed preWW2 deal going on with Japan to make actual Harley Road Kings starting around 1932..called "Rikou" by Japan HD. There was a fight around 1937 when Japan was getting all cranky with the Military, (war with Chna & whatnot leading up to WW2) and they made RIKOU's without giving Harley their fair share. Around '62 Harley finally got back into Japan and then AMF took over in '69 and scuttled that. So when it comes to Japanese Harley's...well, they've got a legitimate history there. Many of those original RIKOU's that weren't destroyed in the War are still running, due to the Japanese tight tolerances when building motors...they expect them to work at a 99.9% reliability rate...far higher than Europe or the US requires.

Here's what'll honk off Harley and Honda riders alike...the new Indian motorcycles beat the heck out of ALL their current offerings in Style. There's just something about 'em that rings one's bell I can see hints of Honda/Yamaha goodness in the Scout...and the Big Indians just OOZE class on a level that eclipses any harley I've ever seen!! So chances are...if I can gather up the required cash...my next NEW ride will be an Indian

And yeah, i know that Victory is technically the New Indian...Bombardier/Victory really made a far better bike than Harley from the getgo.

 

The thread that won't die.

 

I have had 34 bikes since 2008.. I sold all but one Rebel 250 which is all I can handle at my age in my eighties.
I had one Harley..it was a 1200 Sporty fitted with a quality trike conversion. It was wonderful.

On Harleys in general, I do not care for the looks of them and if someone gave me one free (and I was not allowed to sell it) I'd decline. Some of the larger air cooled engines of the past were very prone to overheating...Harley even made it possible to turn off one cylinder when stopped so as to reduce overheating. After market vendors sell very high powered fans which blow air against the heads at stops. Due to the tallness of the engines of many models, Harley engines (some? all?) had a dry sump as there was no room for a crankcase, and oil went into a tank behind and below the back of the seat, with fill access on the side of the bike. Checking oil was next to impossible, literally. I believe a secondary reason for the oil tank vs no crankcase was to cool the oil by circulating it. I note that recent model premium Harleys are sometimes equipped with liquid cooling.

My slogan about Harleys is "Everything you would want in a bike in 1960." I note my comment is very broad brush, but that is my honest opinion...Overrated and very overpriced is my take on Harleys.

I do admire the fit and finish of the Harley motorcycles.

Regards,
Old Bob in North Carolina

 

I also just bought my first Harley that I have a Honda shadow and I agree with you 100 shadow runs and rides. Awesome very low maintenance.

 

11-year old thread still catching people