Harley Davidsons: Love them or hate them?

For me, Harley Davidson does not make a machine that fits my needs as a motorcyclist.

I too was taught that it is not what you ride, it is that you ride. I was taught those words about 35 years ago. Still true today.

While my big bike is a '01 GL1800 Honda Goldwing, I am dismayed at the lack of "perfection" by the major motorcycle manufacturers.

Let me explain. There is not a single motorcycle except perhaps sport bikes that you scratch your head and ask "why in the world is this obvious problem still not fixed".

Example: the use of ball bearings in the headset of the 1800 Goldwing. Previous 1500 used taper roller bearings. Many, many 1800 riders have spent the money and installed the taper roller bearings with good results.

How about the problems with the cam bearings in the Twin-Cam 88 engines?

How about the turbulence problems from the windshields on the Suzuki DL-650 and DL-1000 V-Stroms? Many install the Madsted brackets with good results.

Why is there a lack of those small improvements that make a big difference on how a bike is operated?

Look at how many riders have to upgrade the suspension due to mediocre performance? That would rarely happens in the auto industry.

How many would like to see a choice in saddles on a new bike? Thin padding, standard thickness, and extra padding if you are a tall rider. The choice of handlebar risers should be standard fare with a new bike. Instead it is left to the after-market businesses.

Just my thoughts.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Love them. Yes, it's better to ride something than nothing. In my book you can't do better than a Harley and Harley is what I prefer to ride, and do ride. But, if you can't afford one you may have to riding something else. I always wanted a Harley but could never afford one, so I rode Jap bikes. Once I could afford one I got one. I can't feel sorry for anyone who's paying $450/month on bike payments. They knew when they purchased the bike what the payments would be, so don't complain. If that was too much, they shouldn't have bought it. Some people don't know how to manage their money and for whatever reason don't think about the fact that they are responsible for paying a loan back, even if times get tough. This should be considered when purchasing, not after the fact. Don't blame the cost of the bike, blame the buyer's stupidity.

i agree it not what you ride but the fact you ride ,i presume you are in the U.S well im in good ol UK , i have a kawasaki ZRX1200R eddie lawson colours of courseand yes i ride all year round inthe last month its been fun high winds , frost ,torrential rain ,back wheel spinning out on the desiel splashed roads , front slid yesterday nearly dumped me and the xmas shopping all over the roundabout ,can i afford a harley as our economy is **** up as well yes but instead in the last 3 months ive bought the ZRX £2900,a triumph speed triple(2000 model) £1900, and a little honda CD175 classic £495,3 bikes 3 times the fun and half the price of a harley,

so dont tie yourself down with finnance

PS now a bit short of readies but happy

jo58

the lack of a few to attraction to close the advertising device that's no longer often Davidson is remarkable. HD has created a "existence form" that revolves around procuring their antiquated motorcycles, and becoming a badass. walk right into a showroom and the revenues human beings won't deny that's what you're buying. Nevermind that the motorcycles themselves are 10 years in the back of something on the marketplace - something on the line is waaayyyyyy technologically better. would not count - its no longer a Harley. So what "we" bash, isn't unavoidably the bike - that's what that's. Its the un-bashable Harley proprietor which could say, "howdy, i comprehend that is an underpowered, obese, technologically inferior motorcycle that has a reliable proportion of its areas made foreign places, yet i like it". subject is, there are basically a number of those human beings. maximum are the form that think of its "American" to ovepay for an uncomfortable, unreliable motorcycle with a three gallon gas tank, that think of they seem reliable in chinese language made HD emblem chaps and frilly leather-based, and that 70 hp is extra useful than one hundred sixty hp. Has no longer something to do with jealousy, envy, manlihood, wallet-length, and so on. At one time I seen procuring one, yet after doing the homework i found out that one million) they are not one hundred% "American", 2) the HD outfits and garments that is needed to purchase so as to slot in seem unquestionably fruity, 3) loud pipes do no longer = skill, 4) bigger fee would not = high quality, 5) Harley will finance anybody which could fog a mirror, 6) convenience and reliability are no longer component of the equation. So - on the top of the day, what we bash is the lack of the conventional Harley rider to attraction to close what that's they're driving. in case you want to place your 500 miles a 365 days on your overpriced motorcycle, positioned on your goofy overpriced chinese language made outfit with Harley trademarks throughout it, finance it at exorbitant costs of pastime and pay it decrease back on your warehouse worker earnings of $55k in line with 365 days, and then spout off approximately Harley being the "ultimate", then definite - you're an fool that merits bashing... and we can proceed to bash you until eventually you compromise to attraction to close reality.

I love Harleys; always have. They are comfortable to ride, have a bitchin' exhaust note and are among the best looking bikes on the market today.

Do I own one? No, and I probably never will. I have nothing against them except for the fact that they do not suit my riding style.

I love Mine. I also loved my first bike...a Honda CM 400. Got made fun of to beat all hell on it. I just sort of liked my second. Suzuki 650 savage. Really liked my third. A 78 BMW R60/7 that I restored from frame up. Too tall of a bike for me though. I now Love my Harley.

Whatever man, just keep your knees in the breeze.

From what I've seen in my 50 yrs. of riding, the question should be " Harley Davidsons: Love them or be jealous as hell because you don't have one." I feel the same as you " not what you ride it is that you ride". I can see a person that owned a HD hating it, ( maybe he lots of trouble with it etc.) But why would some one hate a HD if he never owned one? Don't put all HD riders in the same class as RUBs. Most HD riders I know don't like'em either. Fact is I see a lot of Goldwing type bike riders who could be classified as rubs, but I never hear that mentioned. Then you have Sport bikes riders. Alot of them need their butts smacked, but I'm not gonna hate their bike because of their actions.

Love em, after riding for 28 years finally got a 05 Road King Police Edition. I have wanted one for at least a decade but with the kids growing up sucking every penny out of my hand before it can be counted. The time was right and the bike condition and price was right. I cant tell you how pleased I am to finally get this awesome touring bike.

I don't feel one way or the other about the bikes, its the self rightous owners I can do without. Harley this and Harley that. Harley is the best b.s. you know what I mean, but when you ask them why they believe that Harley is the best, they can't answer. I personally love the imports-Italian sport bikes are the best-end of story, Japanese bikes are just great all around bikes, and will usually end up beating italian bikes because the italian bikes can't last the entire ride/race.

For touring I like the BMWs-but they have their issues too. So for just great all around performance and economy and good looks, put me down for Japanese.

Harleys are a good beginners bike. They have very little power but are stable at low speeds. Harleys are the mini-vans of the motorcycle industry. Practical but do nothing very well.