I was under the impression they were all in the same family? I have rode and raced metrics for 40 years and only been bit by the HD bug in recent years. I finally understand and appreciate HD after laughing them off for years.

 

The Fat Boy is the one Arnold rode in that movie from the 90's. It's a bit different design.

H.D. went thru a radical overhaul in both the past 2 decades after it was bought back and went public in the late 80's. I always wanted one when I was younger but always rode rice burners. I bought my first Harley last year. My brother had a sportster back in the 80's.

But anyhow you are correct the early Harleys were very problematic and not near as reliable as Hondas and Kawas or Yamahas. But things are a bit different now especially with the Twin Cam models. I still like many of the Rice burners today but they don't have the look that H.D.s do. Their style is not quite mine. The 1200 sportsters are fast now.