What is wrong with Harley?

[MarJay]

This was a question asked in another thread, and I didn't really want to drag it off topic so I figured I'd start a new thread.

So, what exactly is wrong with Harley? Well. A number of things.

First and foremost, a reliance on 'nostalgia' over technology to sell bikes. The people who remember the 1940's Panheads and similar will soon all be dead. This means that when the kids of today grow up and look wistfully at bikes, it'll be Japanese bikes, Ducatis, MV's and the like that take on the classic status. If they do not learn how to make higher tech bikes, then they will be left behind. Pure and simple. They will not be able to meet emissions standards with air cooled motors, and then they'll go to the big ir'n hoss stable in the sky.

Secondly, corporate protectionism.

They had a great product, which was innovative and capable and yet they ditched it in order to save their 'core' values. I think this was more down to saving jobs in Milwaukee when they can eliminate jobs at the Buell factory down the road. Buell was clearly under resourced and underinvested for years, they were aware of and could have sorted their build quality issues, but obviously didn't have the investment. The only American sport (sic) bike that existed, and it has now been finished off by corporate fear.

Anyone got any other things they want to add?
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Paxovasa]

Personally I have nothing against Harley's or Harley riders. Just not my cup of tea.
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Marmalade]

I have, they get in the way, deafen me with crap sounding exhausts and look at me like a shit from their 2 wheeled tractor on my bike thats twice as quick, twice as comfortable, twice as fuel efficient and half the price. Wankers

This does go for only about 95% of harley riders though
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Livefast123]

Um..........

Yes i think the management at Harley D's seem to be living in the past and don't seem to want to take their bike design forward. The bikes look the same as they did back in the day. Surely they could push their designs a bit and get increased sales.

Every Harley owner I have met has been a tool and you never get a nod from a Harley rider.

Many are owned by rich bankers who have them because they 'look cool'.

You need to spend 1000's of man hours a week keeping the thing clean.

It is obligatory to have a straight through pipe that wakes the dead. To be a true Harley owner you must accelerate as hard as possible in town to impress the chicks. You must do this before the engine blows at 60 Mph.

Cornering is optional.

You must congregate in a chapter of leather waistcoat wearing men.
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Current ride - Yamaha MT-07

[truslack]

Not ALL Harleys are bad ...

https://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w215/impreza_2007/photo-4.jpg


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Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

[Kickstart]

[N cee thirty]

wild hogs.
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Kickstart]

[truslack]

[Polarbear]

I like the v-rods. My brother in law has a Buell 1125? The last one anyway and he loves it.

However if I was to get a cruiser it would be a Triumph or a Victory. Harleys have just too much 'Look at me I'm a rich wanker' status
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[sickpup]

[LeeR]

I won't claim to know anything about 1940's american bikes, but I do know that as a discerning (read tight, or expecting vfm) consumer, I won't pay their prices for what is essentially in my opinion a throughly impractical machine.

Small tanks, small tank range, poor weather protection, and poor visibility from the seat make them a no go from my perspective. And whilst I love the look of the Night Rod Special, and would consider the Sportser if they put a proper sized tank on it, they'll not get my money while there are "better" bikes on the road.

But this applies almost equally to any cruiser and/or sports bike, I don't have an unfounded hatred of them, they just don't do the job I want at this moment, and might never if they're not what I would consider "affordable".
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[kawashima]

-I still don't find forward control position comfortable at all. Hip ache!
-Too heavy. Why does sportstar weigh 260kg?
-Inch screw bolts and No tool bag
-poor front brake and poor detail quality
-Modifying and Bettering little by little every year(they don't think of previous model owner?)(enlarge tank size, engine size, 6 speed etc)
-Narrow Panniers and Low square Top case of FLH series
-some old model owners laughing at new model beginners
-Over priced in Japan compared to US price.
-Expensive service and parts at HD dealers(I understand it's their business style though)
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own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[Kickstart]

[bacon]

fags

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7hQN4Amaeg

[chris-red]

If I wanted something that was slow and weighed a ton I would buy a Car.

[Gone]

[stinkwheel]

I don't have a problem with people selling bikes based on designs made in the 1950's and I don't have a problem with the way they ride, sound and handle. It'd be a funny world if everyone liked the same thing and there is actually something quite refreshing about pottering along on an underpowered, overweight bike that simply looks, sounds and feels good. Kind of harking back to a byegone era and enjoying the ride for the rides sake without feeling you have to be gong at it hammer and tongs all the time.

What I object to is that they set themselves up as a cutting-edge, premium brand and charge astonishing amounts of money for what amounts to a slightly updated post-war bike of dubious relaibility and build quality. Most owners land up replacing half the parts on them as soon as they roll out of the shop.

Hell, I own a bike of 50's design which performs astonishingly poorly compared to modern machines and is of dubious build quality. It's a Royal Enfield. The thing is, it's not pretending to be something it is not and is priced accordingly.

And for the record, I have ridden a Harley. They are overweight, underpowered, underbraked and handle poorly. They do however turn heads and are a pretty comfortable way of cruising a lot of miles at 55mph on American highways. That was riding the model that several Harley enthusiasts recommended to me as the one to try if I wanted to see what it was all about. I didn't get it. You could buy a 650 Dragstar for less than half the price of the bike I was riding that would fulfill the exact same purpose and outperform the Harley in every measureable way.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/heritage.jpg

The Americans really do believe they are something special though. When I rented that one they asked what bikes I rode at home. I told them a GPZ500 ("huh?" "A 500 ninja" "Oh right, one of them.") and a MZ supermoto ("Huh?" "Like a 660cc dirtbike with road wheels" "A what?" "Oh, never mind."). I then got a huge speil about "Well you're riding a proper bike now son, not that crappy small Jap. stuff. This has an 82 cubic inch motor in it. Just take care how fast you open the throttle or it'll bite ya.".

Yeah. 95mph flat-out up a shallow gradient. I for one was shitting my pants (no really, the brakes were apalling).
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[stigg]

You have to remember that Harley's are for Americans! they dont like complicated things that you have to think about like sportsbikes. Harleys don't go round corners, great don't have to set the bike up! Harleys dont stop, great don't have to think about braking or going fast ect, ect. Made from pig iron for the good old boy's!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hetzer]

They are crude cheaply-made piles of low-quality material sold for obscene amounts of money that are not even remotely reflected in the quality of what you get.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[ms51ves3]

[Rogerborg]

90% of Harleys ever made are still on the road.

The other 10% made it home.
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GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[ZRX61]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not surprised, more aimed at the front brake comment. Low and far back centre of gravity will bias things towards the rear brake whether the front is dire or just poor. Stick someone on used to using the front for most things and it will be even worse.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[hmmmnz]

my step father had a harley when i was growing up,
when i turned 15 and got my licence i bought a rgv250,
he only went for 1 ride with me
i think being beaten by a 250cc "jap crap" bike by a 15 year old didnt do much for his manlyness
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