What makes a Harley different?

[jimired]

Originally Posted by kawboyCAFE

you want to know what makes a harley different? about $10-15,000 more for something that will last half the time.

ive put 240.000 miles on mine.how much do you have

[JakePoppa]

The loud pipes and and homosexual testosterone.

I ride one

[zmago]

They don't use metric fasteners.

[Eye_m_no_angel]

You're not required to wave anymore.

[Eye_m_no_angel]

Oh wait....wrong thread?

[phatguy36]

Harley's are the Coach bags of the motorcycle world. Every bee-otch has got to have one. Me personally, I don't care what name it has on it, as long as it has two wheels and it go forward.

[aaronrkelly]

Originally Posted by phatguy36

Harley's are the Coach bags of the motorcycle world. Every bee-otch has got to have one. Me personally, I don't care what name it has on it, as long as it has two wheels and it go forward.

Theres this 19yr old girl that works with me......she drives a Ford Ranger with Harley seat covers.

.....so it goes like this....

Me: "do you ride"

Her: "huh?"

M: "do you ride a motorcycle"

H: "no....why would you think that"

M: "the Harley seat covers in your truck"

H: "oh....those.....my boyfriend got those for me"

M: "oh....so he rides"

H: "no"

WTF?!

[Badlands-4-2]

At least the seats were in a Ford. I saw a big Harley decal that said American Pride on the back window of a Honda SUV at the grocery store the other day.

[aaronrkelly]

Originally Posted by Badlands-4-2

At least the seats were in a Ford. I saw a big Harley decal that said American Pride on the back window of a Honda SUV at the grocery store the other day.

Wow.....

I ride foreign and American.....I understand the whole "global market" and I grasp that alot of Honda vehicles ARE made in USA.....but still.....Id never feel comfortable putting such a sticker on a Honda.....

.....but then I would put it on a Dodge anymore either.

[Badlands-4-2]

Agreed, my Ford was made in Canada, but the only decal I have on it was the Stargate symbol for Earth. (yes, I am occasionally just that geeky)

[Eye_m_no_angel]

You don't have to own something, or ride it in this case, to like it. Or even in some cases to just like the symbol for it's own sake. I've got a "Red Ember Cycles" shirt but have never bought a bike there, I just like the logo. I don't play for the Carolina Hurricanes, but I wear one of their sweaters. I like the team. You see that kind of thing all over with people wearing logos of colleges they never attended, biker bars they may not have been to, sports teams they never played for, and on and on.

But for whatever reason you just don't see as much of that happening with metric bikes, and some of the metric riders get a little jealous or resentful or something. Why that should be exactly, I don't know.

I've seen Victory logos on shirts, (nice looking,) and even a rare Honda or Kawasaki now and then. Did the people wearing them ride that brand, or even ride at all? Don't know, don't care.

Originally Posted by aaronrkelly

Theres this 19yr old girl that works with me......she drives a Ford Ranger with Harley seat covers.

.....so it goes like this....

Me: "do you ride"

Her: "huh?"

M: "do you ride a motorcycle"

H: "no....why would you think that"

M: "the Harley seat covers in your truck"

H: "oh....those.....my boyfriend got those for me"

M: "oh....so he rides"

H: "no"

WTF?!

[gsxralex]

In my opinion its the air cooling which is a huge disappointment.

I am into sports bike rather than cruisers. But i know that Honda makes a bike which is much more reliable and durable than a Harley. The biggest benefit is that they are liquid cooled.

AND cheaper too. So you get the performance, durability, and a reasonable cost all in one.

[aaronrkelly]

Originally Posted by gsxralex

In my opinion its the air cooling which is a huge disappointment.

I am into sports bike rather than cruisers. But i know that Honda makes a bike which is much more reliable and durable than a Harley. The biggest benefit is that they are liquid cooled.

AND cheaper too. So you get the performance, durability, and a reasonable cost all in one.

Id like to preface this with Im NOT a Harley fan. Im not a hater.....Im just not a fan. I dont think they make anything that interests me at all (current production).

****

Lets start out with "Honda makes a bike more reliable and durable than a Harley".

Which Honda.....which Harley - thats one HELL of a blanket statement and one I could argue the other way.

I say "Harley makes a bike thats more reliable and durable then a Honda". I could compare a Harley Street Glide to a Honda CRF250F. I guarantee you take those two bikes out on the highway and ride till they blow......your going to pick the Honda up in bits.

......broad brush, long strokes....your comment was about as pointless as mine.....see my point.

When your making a point try to be more specific.....like a Honda Goldwing is more reliable and durable then a Harley Ultra Glide.

On this comment Id agree they Honda is more reliable....but I wont agree its more durable. Anywho....on with it.

********

Next comment "the biggest beneift is they are liquid cooled".

Well Harley actually does make a liquid cooled bike (VRod), but that aside what benefit are you talking about.

There are pros and cons to liquid cooling vs air cooled. I wouldnt say liquid cooling is a overall "benefit".

Ive got bikes both ways.

When Im hammering away doing my adventure riding I HATE the fact my KLR650 is liquid cooled....Id much rather have a Suzuki DR650, which is air cooled....because every time I drop it, tag a tree, find myself in the bottom of a ditch etc I have to stop and make sure I didnt ruin a radiator.....loose a **** load of coolant etc. Liquid cooling adds more "complication".....more wear parts, more fluids.....extra weight....etc.

How when where in stop and go traffic.....in the blazing heat......and my air cooled (actually oil cooled, but we wont get into that) Victory is baking the inside of my legs to a crisp and I look over and my GF is riding my liquid cooled BMW happy as a pig eating ****, cool as a cucumber.....thats a hell of a pro for liquid cooling.

Its has its places.....buts it not "overall" better.

**********

"AND cheaper to"



Lets actually do a real world comparison of similar sized bikes.....lets say a Honda 1300 Custom.

The VTX line has has prices ranging from $12100 to $13200 for base prices. 1300cc is about 80ci.

Harley doesnt have anything 80ci.....but they have bikes 1200cc. Next they have 96cu in bikes.....which is 16ci MORE motor. 16ci is about 260cc. So these bikes are 1560cc.....thats quite a bit more displacement.

Both the 96ci (1560cc) Street Bob and Super Glide cost $12999. The 1300cc Honda ranges from $12100 to $13200.....hmm....seems comparable price wise....despite the fact the Honda has a much smaller displacement.

Now if we compare the 1300cc Honda to the 1200cc Harley (hey THATs not fair.....I can hear it already)......the HD 1200 Custom is $10200. That seems to be about $2000 LESS then the Honda.

Harley....well, just as cheap as Honda.

Wanna compare a Goldwing to an Ultra.....

The Ultra starts at $21,800.....the Goldwing $23,990.....WHAT!!!!

.....yeah, the Honda is MORE expensive.

************

"So you get the performance, durability, and a reasonable cost all in one."

Thats true with almost ANY currently produced motorcycle. Im a realist.....not a Honda or Harley fanboy.

[Dodsfall]

You forgot to compare the CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations- limited edition models) prices to the base model competition.

[gcbengal]

Am I just weird or different because I pretty much like all brands? I have owned Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki and plan on looking hard at a HD and a Kawasaki the next time I buy.

[Critter]

Let's be honest folks, is there a rider out there that doesn't want a Harley. They may never buy one but they also wouldn't throw it out with the bath water either.

I started riding in the 60's on Hondas. Graduated to a BSA, then back to a Honda. Why, cost of a used bike was the only reason.

I quit riding about 25 years ago and I am getting back in the saddle next month. What will I be riding? A Yamaha, why? Price. Picked up a used 04 VStar Silverado for a price I couldn't pass up. At the price I paid I won't be upset if I drop it practicing slow speed manuvers.

Did I look at Harleys? You bet I did, but in the used bike department, Harleys still demand top dollar. I have ridden many different Harleys, some I liked some I didn't. When I upgrade to a larger bike I will look at Harleys along with the others.

What will I buy? Don't know depends on the price or if Eye wants to sell his hotrod. You guys will know what I get when I get it.

[Eye_m_no_angel]

It's always for sale if the price is right. OR....you could start collecting parts and build your own. As long as you don't want me to turn a wrench, advice is always free.

I've had many different kinds of bikes too, and I have enjoyed every one of them. I prefer Harleys for many reasons, but if I had more room and more money there would be a few different brands in the garage as well. But since that isn't the case I'll stick to what I know and what I love.

Not everyone wants a Harley, that's for sure, and I get that. What cracks me up though are the people that feel so threatened by the brand that they have to constantly make comments about them. Usually they're the ones that have never owned one and know very little about them too, which makes it even more silly. The Japanese and the Brits and the Italians and others make some nice motorcycles, I'll admit that, but just because I don't own one doesn't make me feel the need to talk chit about them. If you have to denigrate someone else's ride then there's something you're not happy about with your own.

And no matter what brand you ride, if you park it and don't turn around when you're walking away, give it a glance, and think, "Heck yeah...." you bought the wrong bike.

[Critter]

Originally Posted by Eye_m_no_angel

And no matter what brand you ride, if you park it and don't turn around when you're walking away, give it a glance, and think, "Heck yeah...." you bought the wrong bike.

^^^^^^^^^what he said^^^^^^^^^^^


Dollar down, dollar a month?

[Eye_m_no_angel]

I'm sucker-free. Cash on the barrel head, Jack.

[Eye_m_no_angel]

"Motoracist. motoracism and motobigots suck, IMO."

Great terms.....lol....But I would use them to describe people that drive cars and don't like motorcyclists.

Just because someone chooses to ride a Harley, or a BMW, or a Kawasaki, or whatever, doesn't automatically make them a motobigot. It's a personal preference and a choice. I know what I like and that's what I chose and there's really no point in trying to kid anyone that I'd choose anything different.

Same as you: A Harley is not on your list and that's cool. That doesn't bother me in the least.

[Eye_m_no_angel]

They take less routine maintenance then about any other major motorcycle brand, and up through the Evo's they are relatively easy to work on. Like any engine, you still have to be precise, exact, and careful, and for a complete rebuild there's still some specific tooling you'll need, but most jobs are pretty straightforward.

TC's, on the other hand, are a bit of a different geranimal. They require a whole different level of precision and tooling, and other then appearances they have almost nothing in common with the older engines. Rebuilding a Shovel vs. a TC is the difference between a mechanic and a technician. (But still relatively easy if you know what you're doing. lol.)

FXR's are great frames and highly sought after by some folks. If I had room and money I'd have an FXR Shovel in my garage too, but it would be another hotrod and not a "t."

[Tobacco Road]

Originally Posted by V8Thrasher

Nothing actually I am a new rider currently on the prowl for a first bike! My options are between the Yamaha VStar, Kawasaki Vulcan, Suzuki S40,or Honda Shadow. Just looking for the right bike/price.

I would love to learn on a Harley Sportser, and end up keeping the bike, but Im not going to find one for under 3k. I hate how everyone thinks their HD is worth so freakin much. Puts us guys on a budget in a slump

Gotta love these guys who have never owned a bike, probably ownly ridden a pedal bike yet seem to have all the answers and know what is the greatest bike in history. Youngsters, they've always been too intelligent to realize they know nothing.. Come back when you grow up dude...

[Eye_m_no_angel]

I think V8 Thrasher rides a VRod now. I haven't seen him post in awhile, (but I do miss a lot here,) but he seems to be a pretty good egg. I believe he's in a profession that teaches a huge amount of maturity in a very short time.

[Critter]

Eye,
Are you saying you think he is in the sandbox?

[Eye_m_no_angel]

Nope. Much more dangerous: L.A.