Does anyone at all here like Harleys?

[FastAndy]

Love mine but couldn’t have it as an only bike but to ride around locally or to the pub it’s great.

[Gixer968CS]

A couple of years back I hired a HD Ultra Glide for a 3 week road trip - California, Nevada, Arizona, UTAH. Big tourer with boxes and fairing 1800cc. Typical Harley. I was really surprised at well it handled and stopped (and I was riding a GSXR 1000 at home at the time). It was really well set up and great fun on the twisties out of California up in the to Nevada mountains. And, of course, it plodded along comfortable on the long straight desert roads. However, at 1800cc the engine was absolutely gutless. I seriously couldn't believe it when I started riding up a long long incline in to Flagstaff as the bike was getting slower and slower. This was not a steep hill or mountain, just a long upward incline and it needed to drop a gear and be revved out. Just how they manage to get so little power from an 1800cc I don't know as they're not really that torquey either! Also, as with American cars, the materials used are very hard-plasticy and cheap looking with poor fit and finish. All that said I really enjoyed the experience of riding it and after c3000 miles was very sad to hand it back.

[bunchofkeys]

I felt a bit camp once and took a VROD Muscle out for a test ride.
In a straight line it was ok, reasonably comfortable and not as wide as it looks.
However, first bend was terrible and the pegs ground out on roundabouts.

Never looked at them again after that.

[Bob_Defly]

I don't mind the newer ones at all, but they aren't that reliable, and in North America everyone treats them as a status symbol and can't wait to tell you they own one.

I have two main issues.

1. Harley riders never wave back to any other bikers, only to Harley riders.

2. The straight through exhausts are so loud as to be painful when they drive past cafes etc. I don't mind a loud exhaust at all, but these are off the scale.

Just like the 'ear plugs' thread, I find some, not all, harley owners to be complete w@nkers that equate their antiquated bikes and loud noise to being 'real men', and everything smaller is a toy for girls.

Personally I'd rather buy an Indian.

[Salted_Peanut]

HD Adam said:

This Harley is more like it, and I'd happily have one if I could afford a second bike. (Although the price of many Harleys puts them in XDiavel territory, and the XD beats them hands down.)

However, it's a shame that Harleys don't handle well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9MVY8swO5M

[mike-v2tmf]

Not for me thank you .........But i'd like to try a Buell

[Zarco]

Jazoli said:

The older I get the more they appeal, I can see myself getting one someday.

Same.

[Pothole]

HD Adam said:

FNG said:

Lastly I can't be doing with cleaning something more than you use it. So I'd destroy the value of a chrome-everywhere Harley within the course of a summer

That would be the same for any bike with chrome everywhere but it seems harder to find a blacked-out HD than an equivalent other cruiser and it would properly put me off ownership cos there's no way I could keep it like they need to be kept if they're to hold their value.

Mine doesn't have any chrome apart from the trim ring round the headlight, speedo & mirrors.

Speedo bezel, handlebar clamp, etc etc...Looks good, though.

[NMNeil]

bunchofkeys said:

I felt a bit camp once and took a VROD Muscle out for a test ride.
In a straight line it was ok, reasonably comfortable and not as wide as it looks.
However, first bend was terrible and the pegs ground out on roundabouts.

Never looked at them again after that.

When the VROD was introduced it was met with cries of "Not a real Harley"
Designed in part by Porsche with DOHC and liquid cooling, I tended to agree, as did the buying public as the production only lasted 6 years.
The self same cry was heard when they recently introduced the electric LiveWire bike, which has sold literally hundreds so far.

[Pothole]

I've ridden a few Sportsters about 100 yards and tested a Street Bob a few years ago. They did nothing for me. I always had a hankering for a 70s Electra Glide after seeing one at the American Auto Club Summer Nationals one year



Without the silly pinstriping.

But these days I'd rather have a Moto Guzzi California:

and be a bit less cliché.

[bogie]

NMNeil said:

bunchofkeys said:

I felt a bit camp once and took a VROD Muscle out for a test ride.
In a straight line it was ok, reasonably comfortable and not as wide as it looks.
However, first bend was terrible and the pegs ground out on roundabouts.

Never looked at them again after that.

When the VROD was introduced it was met with cries of "Not a real Harley"
Designed in part by Porsche with DOHC and liquid cooling, I tended to agree, as did the buying public as the production only lasted 6 years.
The self same cry was heard when they recently introduced the electric LiveWire bike, which has sold literally hundreds so far.

Perhaps you mean the original VRSCA from 2002 to 2006? there were many subsequent versions of the V-Rod and it was in production from 2002 to 2017 when euro5 killed it off. The new liquid cooled HD engine in the Pan American looks pretty good with 150bhp, the most powerful production HD. The new naked they plan with that engine could be decent.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley-Davidson_VRSC

[bogie]

I quite like the newer Guzzi California, with 100bhp and decent handling, it looks like a fine Sunday cruiser. They are a great VFM used buy now, nearly 1/2 price £7k up for early standard models

[KTMsm]

I don't hate them but I've never been a fan of paying more for a brand.

I associate Harley with over priced - under performing & mid life crisis, it would have to be head and shoulders better than it's rivals for me to buy one.

If you want one, buy one.

[Al Gorithum]

Nope. Don't like Rolex's either.

[MT10-SP]

rode one for 11 years

[black-k1]

Zarco said:

Jazoli said:

The older I get the more they appeal, I can see myself getting one someday.

Same.

A cruiser, then yes, me too. A Harley? I doubt it simply because there are always a number of better alternatives.

Nothing specifically against Harley, just that they sell on their name/image and I prefer to buy on capability/function.

[NMNeil]

bogie said:

Perhaps you mean the original VRSCA from 2002 to 2006? there were many subsequent versions of the V-Rod and it was in production from 2002 to 2017 when euro5 killed it off. The new liquid cooled HD engine in the Pan American looks pretty good with 150bhp, the most powerful production HD. The new naked they plan with that engine could be decent.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley-Davidson_VRSC

Euro5 doesn't apply to the US or Canada which is the main sales target for Harley. It was killed of due to lack of sales.
But the question is; is it still a Harley as it's not an air cooled V twin?
They went down the rebadging route with the Aermacchi, and this was met with disdainful cries of, "A 2 stroke Harley!!!!"
It's like asking, is it still a Rolls Royce if it has a BMW engine?

[gareth_r]

Zarco said:

Jazoli said:

The older I get the more they appeal, I can see myself getting one someday.

Same.

I'm already old, and a big twin is on my list, although current circumstances have interfered with the search.

I like twins (Ooer missus!), I've never owned a Harley, and I'd like to try one before I'm too old and decrepit to hold the bloody thing upright.

Quite fancy buying a cheap high mileage one (cheap for a Harley, that is) and having someone build a high performance engine for it (high performance for a Harley, anyway), although I'm sure that's an expensive proposition, particularly this side of the pond

[Pothole]

55north1west said:

Although I’ve never owned one I’m a massive fan of H-D,[snip] it’s a great brand with a loyal customer base

They've nailed you, then. Exactly half of what they're aiming for.

[Biker 1]

Harley Ferguson? I would dearly love to do a US road trip, maybe Texas, Arizona, California. Would I have one in the UK?? Absolutely no way!!! Very expensive, appear to rot at the slightest sign of British autumn, let alone winter, & judging from some of the fails I have seen here at roundabouts or naggery back lanes, they look downright dangerous!!!