Buy a Harley....??
Discussion
I recently went on holiday with friends to vegas and while there we rented some harleys for acouple of days and did about 400 miles (3 of us had v-rods 1 had a heritage softail) really liked the v-rod but the softail felt quite old fashioned in its ride and braking, While talking to a guy who works there said he was planning to take softail on a 2000 mile round trip and said they were very reliable . It depends on your taste and what sort of harley your after but obviously recomend taking a couple out for test rides. Cant really pass to much comment beacause of limited 1st hand experience but i'd love a v-rod as a second bike.
You deffo want a cruiser style bike then?
Plus's to a Harley include image, the opposite sex liking them !, the re sale value and the fact they are the "real" mccoy IMHO thats where it ends
Minus include (unless its a V Rod your after) un believably gutless engines (IE the 883 sportster makes around the same BHP as a de restricted 125 2 stroke)that require an application of lots of £££ to release some poke, the need/desire to buy every HD "performance" part and clothing possible and the high initial purchase price when you look past the 883
For me, the worst things about HD are the terrible sub standard suspension which makes them less than comfy over distance, despite the comfy looking and feeling seats in the show room the suspension ensures you feel every lump/bump in the road,the brakes are terrible
The jap bikes are superior in those respects but I fully understand the view of HD owners just thinking of them as bland copies..they do however have reasonable suspension and brakes in comparison.
Try em both before you buy
Plus's to a Harley include image, the opposite sex liking them !, the re sale value and the fact they are the "real" mccoy IMHO thats where it ends
Minus include (unless its a V Rod your after) un believably gutless engines (IE the 883 sportster makes around the same BHP as a de restricted 125 2 stroke)that require an application of lots of £££ to release some poke, the need/desire to buy every HD "performance" part and clothing possible and the high initial purchase price when you look past the 883
For me, the worst things about HD are the terrible sub standard suspension which makes them less than comfy over distance, despite the comfy looking and feeling seats in the show room the suspension ensures you feel every lump/bump in the road,the brakes are terrible
The jap bikes are superior in those respects but I fully understand the view of HD owners just thinking of them as bland copies..they do however have reasonable suspension and brakes in comparison.
Try em both before you buy
newberry said:
I recently went on holiday with friends to vegas and while there we rented some harleys for acouple of days and did about 400 miles (3 of us had v-rods 1 had a heritage softail) really liked the v-rod but the softail felt quite old fashioned in its ride and braking, While talking to a guy who works there said he was planning to take softail on a 2000 mile round trip and said they were very reliable . It depends on your taste and what sort of harley your after but obviously recomend taking a couple out for test rides. Cant really pass to much comment beacause of limited 1st hand experience but i'd love a v-rod as a second bike.
i had a go on a v rod but did not like it to much like a jap bikejust look in the states the v rod has never sold well
dont ever buy 883 you could walk faster !
Edited by black1 on Sunday 13th January 16:48
Sorry, but I just don't like them. Personal choice, I understand that. Never ridden one, but just don't think I'd enjoy it. Ready to be roasted here, but they appear to be a bit of an old mans kinda ride. Don't get me wrong, if a mate pulled up on oe, I'd admire it for what it was....just would never buy one
I love bikes cause of the speed, and love the look of a modern sports bike. If ws were living it te states, where a road travels in a straight line for 80,000 miles, and the weather is always sunny, then fair enough.
I love bikes cause of the speed, and love the look of a modern sports bike. If ws were living it te states, where a road travels in a straight line for 80,000 miles, and the weather is always sunny, then fair enough.
Chilli said:
Sorry, but I just don't like them. Personal choice, I understand that. Never ridden one, but just don't think I'd enjoy it. Ready to be roasted here, but they appear to be a bit of an old mans kinda ride. Don't get me wrong, if a mate pulled up on oe, I'd admire it for what it was....just would never buy one
I love bikes cause of the speed, and love the look of a modern sports bike. If ws were living it te states, where a road travels in a straight line for 80,000 miles, and the weather is always sunny, then fair enough.
pretty much exactly how I feel about them, though I must say I've ridden a nightrod special and they really surprised me. I love bikes cause of the speed, and love the look of a modern sports bike. If ws were living it te states, where a road travels in a straight line for 80,000 miles, and the weather is always sunny, then fair enough.
Personally if you're after something massive that can do miles, I'd look at a rocket 3
HHmmmm. A mixed bag of comments there.
I like the look of the 2008 Softail Rocker C.
Take a look at it on the web site. Its a semi chopper but looks lovely.
Being a complete novice I intend trying bikes first to compare.
I'm not so sure about the whole issue about buying into the harley 'family' thing........
I like the look of the 2008 Softail Rocker C.
Take a look at it on the web site. Its a semi chopper but looks lovely.
Being a complete novice I intend trying bikes first to compare.
I'm not so sure about the whole issue about buying into the harley 'family' thing........
Edited by bomb on Sunday 13th January 18:47
If you really want something agricultural, buy a Massey-Ferguson...
Harleys; crap design, crap build quality, crap performance, crap suspension, crap brakes... do you want me to go on?
Sure, excellent re-sale value (the only bike you can add tat to and make it worth more), but you're paying a heck of a lot of money for the name.
If you like the cruiser styling, have a look at some of the Jap versions; much better built, much more reliable etc, etc.
Alternatively be really different and go for a Victory or even the Triumph RocketIII; absolutely mad!
Harleys; crap design, crap build quality, crap performance, crap suspension, crap brakes... do you want me to go on?
Sure, excellent re-sale value (the only bike you can add tat to and make it worth more), but you're paying a heck of a lot of money for the name.
If you like the cruiser styling, have a look at some of the Jap versions; much better built, much more reliable etc, etc.
Alternatively be really different and go for a Victory or even the Triumph RocketIII; absolutely mad!
bomb said:
HHmmmm. A mixed bag of comments there.
I like the look of the 2008 Softail Rocker C.
Take a look at it on the web site. Its a semi chopper but looks lovely.
Being a complete novice I intend trying bikes first to compare.
I'm not so sure about the whole issue about buying into the harley 'family' thing........
nice 1 bombI like the look of the 2008 Softail Rocker C.
Take a look at it on the web site. Its a semi chopper but looks lovely.
Being a complete novice I intend trying bikes first to compare.
I'm not so sure about the whole issue about buying into the harley 'family' thing........
Edited by bomb on Sunday 13th January 18:47
Everyone is entitled to an opinion and I think HD is a bit of a like it or loathe it marque. I enjoy riding all sorts of bikes Jap and American, to give you an idea of variety I just sold my ZZR1400 for one of these and a Versys
I think HD have come on quite will in the last few years, the sporsters are using rubber mount engines and the latest revision 'Big Twin 96' is a great engine, components are better as is finish of the chrome etc....they are however expensive when you start to look outside the Sportster line. For me a Harley was the only cruiser I looked at because it has the heritage and the right motor, I have easy access to Kawasaki cruisers and cheap prices but for me it's not the real deal, as metioned on this post they are also reliable and hold there value well. Best of luck with your choice, if it was me I would be going for the new Nightster (great bike), i had one on order but decided on the larger Dyna in the end for mileage.
I think HD have come on quite will in the last few years, the sporsters are using rubber mount engines and the latest revision 'Big Twin 96' is a great engine, components are better as is finish of the chrome etc....they are however expensive when you start to look outside the Sportster line. For me a Harley was the only cruiser I looked at because it has the heritage and the right motor, I have easy access to Kawasaki cruisers and cheap prices but for me it's not the real deal, as metioned on this post they are also reliable and hold there value well. Best of luck with your choice, if it was me I would be going for the new Nightster (great bike), i had one on order but decided on the larger Dyna in the end for mileage.
I just love all the Harley's are crap comments from people that then admit they've never ridden one......
Sure they arn't for everyone, but it personal choice, I don't like Jap bikes, but I won't say they are crap because they are not, and nor are Harley's.
They are very good (and better than the Jap copies) at what they do best, you have to work out whether that is what you want out of riding...and they are very easy to ride with the very low centre of mass.
Sure, if your intent is going at mega-warp-factor-lots ALL the time evrywhere, a HD is not what you want to be buying.
That's why old blokes like me ride them.....we've all done the going too fast when we were young thing and the body can't do the crouch down over clip-ons style riding anymore. A lot of the guys I know with HD's were all rockers back in the sixties and rode RGS's, Tritons, Bonnie's etc.
So, if you just want to enjoy a ride out and like to socialise with others and don't want to be too worried about speed camera's...then a HD may be just for you?
And don't believe the crap about they have crap bits and are unreliable. I know a Dyna owner in the states that has done 155,000 miles on his bike in the 4 years he's had it, and it's not missed a beat... Remember, with the hude mileage's covered in the USA, that's what HD's are designed for. On the HD forums you will see more riders coming from Jap bikes to HD's because they can do the big milegae on a HD and not on a Jap clone.
And with soooo many aftermarket bits for them....if you want it to ride better, then yes you can fit decent suspension, and yes you can gets lots of horsepower out of them as well. The brakes are fine when you've learnt how to ride them and use the Harley braking method, not a Jap bike braking method.
And yes they are rather good at attracting the opposite sex....
Sure they arn't for everyone, but it personal choice, I don't like Jap bikes, but I won't say they are crap because they are not, and nor are Harley's.
They are very good (and better than the Jap copies) at what they do best, you have to work out whether that is what you want out of riding...and they are very easy to ride with the very low centre of mass.
Sure, if your intent is going at mega-warp-factor-lots ALL the time evrywhere, a HD is not what you want to be buying.
That's why old blokes like me ride them.....we've all done the going too fast when we were young thing and the body can't do the crouch down over clip-ons style riding anymore. A lot of the guys I know with HD's were all rockers back in the sixties and rode RGS's, Tritons, Bonnie's etc.
So, if you just want to enjoy a ride out and like to socialise with others and don't want to be too worried about speed camera's...then a HD may be just for you?
And don't believe the crap about they have crap bits and are unreliable. I know a Dyna owner in the states that has done 155,000 miles on his bike in the 4 years he's had it, and it's not missed a beat...
Remember, with the hude mileage's covered in the USA, that's what HD's are designed for. On the HD forums you will see more riders coming from Jap bikes to HD's because they can do the big milegae on a HD and not on a Jap clone.And with soooo many aftermarket bits for them....if you want it to ride better, then yes you can fit decent suspension, and yes you can gets lots of horsepower out of them as well. The brakes are fine when you've learnt how to ride them and use the Harley braking method, not a Jap bike braking method.
And yes they are rather good at attracting the opposite sex....
aeropilot said:
I just love all the Harley's are crap comments from people that then admit they've never ridden one......
Sure they arn't for everyone, but it personal choice, I don't like Jap bikes, but I won't say they are crap because they are not, and nor are Harley's.
They are very good (and better than the Jap copies) at what they do best, you have to work out whether that is what you want out of riding...and they are very easy to ride with the very low centre of mass.
Sure, if your intent is going at mega-warp-factor-lots ALL the time evrywhere, a HD is not what you want to be buying.
That's why old blokes like me ride them.....we've all done the going too fast when we were young thing and the body can't do the crouch down over clip-ons style riding anymore. A lot of the guys I know with HD's were all rockers back in the sixties and rode RGS's, Tritons, Bonnie's etc.
So, if you just want to enjoy a ride out and like to socialise with others and don't want to be too worried about speed camera's...then a HD may be just for you?
And don't believe the crap about they have crap bits and are unreliable. I know a Dyna owner in the states that has done 155,000 miles on his bike in the 4 years he's had it, and it's not missed a beat... Remember, with the hude mileage's covered in the USA, that's what HD's are designed for. On the HD forums you will see more riders coming from Jap bikes to HD's because they can do the big milegae on a HD and not on a Jap clone.
And with soooo many aftermarket bits for them....if you want it to ride better, then yes you can fit decent suspension, and yes you can gets lots of horsepower out of them as well. The brakes are fine when you've learnt how to ride them and use the Harley braking method, not a Jap bike braking method.
And yes they are rather good at attracting the opposite sex....
So how about "Harleys are crap" comments from people who have ridden and worked on them lots and hope never to do again?Sure they arn't for everyone, but it personal choice, I don't like Jap bikes, but I won't say they are crap because they are not, and nor are Harley's.
They are very good (and better than the Jap copies) at what they do best, you have to work out whether that is what you want out of riding...and they are very easy to ride with the very low centre of mass.
Sure, if your intent is going at mega-warp-factor-lots ALL the time evrywhere, a HD is not what you want to be buying.
That's why old blokes like me ride them.....we've all done the going too fast when we were young thing and the body can't do the crouch down over clip-ons style riding anymore. A lot of the guys I know with HD's were all rockers back in the sixties and rode RGS's, Tritons, Bonnie's etc.
So, if you just want to enjoy a ride out and like to socialise with others and don't want to be too worried about speed camera's...then a HD may be just for you?
And don't believe the crap about they have crap bits and are unreliable. I know a Dyna owner in the states that has done 155,000 miles on his bike in the 4 years he's had it, and it's not missed a beat...
Remember, with the hude mileage's covered in the USA, that's what HD's are designed for. On the HD forums you will see more riders coming from Jap bikes to HD's because they can do the big milegae on a HD and not on a Jap clone.And with soooo many aftermarket bits for them....if you want it to ride better, then yes you can fit decent suspension, and yes you can gets lots of horsepower out of them as well. The brakes are fine when you've learnt how to ride them and use the Harley braking method, not a Jap bike braking method.
And yes they are rather good at attracting the opposite sex....
Yes, Harleys are very good at what they do best; vibrating, falling to bits, rusting, and generally being crap. You're right though, jap bikes don't do that.
Very easy to ride? Come on now, a bike that falls over rather than steers, refuses to track a bend and scrapes its arse at anything beyond 15 degrees lean; easy to ride? I think not. Add the ridiculous weight (don't they have alloy in America?), plus un-adjustable, monkey span, heavy clutch levers, throw in the pedestrian gear shift... Need I go on?
Sure, not everyone wants to go mega-warp-factor-lots ALL the time, but it would be nice to be able to do it EVEN ONCE without spending another thousand pounds on Streaming-Beagle bits.
Age, however, is not an excuse for being slow, don't use it; my 69 year old Dad still does 100 on the dual carriageway, goes faster through the bends than he should and he don't ride no Harley (and yeah, he did the Triton / Bonnie thing too; well cool my Dad!).
So pleased to hear about a reliable Harley though; especially one that's done that mileage.
Just think; with the money that dude has saved on the usual repairs he'll be able to get a decent osteopath to sort his back. Unless he was born looking like Clint Eastwoods mate Clyde, he's going to need one by now!
The brakes might be fine once you get used to them ( until then carry an anchor and some stout rope), but "the Harley braking method?" Do you mean never go fast enough you have to stop in a hurry?
As for attracting the opposite sex, My mate Steve also finds they're really good for attracting the same sex. Something about the moustache, leather waistcoat and bandana he thinks... (Maybe Rossi should get a Harley...)
And don't forget that sh/te attracts flies too...
Oooooh, I'm starting to get fence splinters up me cleft...
aeropilot said:
I just love all the Harley's are crap comments from people that then admit they've never ridden one......
And with soooo many aftermarket bits for them....if you want it to ride better, then yes you can fit decent suspension, and yes you can gets lots of horsepower out of them as well. The brakes are fine when you've learnt how to ride them and use the Harley braking method, not a Jap bike braking method.
Ive ridden a fair few of them so gave my comments as I found the bikes...I wouldnt say they are crap but they do have shortfalls over the jap competition...Regards the brakes, saying you need to adopt a "harley braking" method is no excuse, they are well below even a reasonable standard of performance and even worse in the wet.And with soooo many aftermarket bits for them....if you want it to ride better, then yes you can fit decent suspension, and yes you can gets lots of horsepower out of them as well. The brakes are fine when you've learnt how to ride them and use the Harley braking method, not a Jap bike braking method.
Same goes for the suspension, a nigh on 20K list price HD should have decent suspension which can cope with UK roads as it left the factory .
Having said that id love a V Rod as a 3rd bike...with a set of screaming eagles and a custom paint job..
It's no good people comparing them with sports bikes, or even sports tourers.
They are a way of life all of their own, really.
I have had several Harleys, the first was an XLX61, the next a 1340 Superglide Sport and the last one was a 1200 Sportster.
I also had a custom Harley which once was owned by Billy Idol!
Harleys are fine, you just need to know what you're getting.
They are a way of life all of their own, really.
I have had several Harleys, the first was an XLX61, the next a 1340 Superglide Sport and the last one was a 1200 Sportster.
I also had a custom Harley which once was owned by Billy Idol!
Harleys are fine, you just need to know what you're getting.
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