Opinions are like A**Ho%$# and I am sure mine is too but I am disappointed big time in the 2018 line up. It appears Harley has lowered its image and the line up of bikes is a Hugh let down. They have cheapened up the bike and dropped the dyna line. The bikes are dull with little chrome. To me its a sign of getting weak in the market and lowering cost to compete by removing what has made them popular will only cause their downfall.. They have taken a step close to when AMF bought the Harley Davidson line and it went to hell. But now it seems since the AMF ownership Harley is headed down the same path. Even the baggers at 24K to 26K the way they are decked out doesn't justify the prices ! I think Harley prices their bikes because they say "Harley" and lessening their design and originality doesn't justify the prices! Especially if you compare previous year bikes from 2016 and older you can see details diminishing each year there after. IMHO. I may be delusional because I am so disappointed without the dyna wide glide and dyna series and even tho the dyna low rider is now the softail frames but it isn't the same. Sad IMHO! So I exercise my right to no longer buy a new Harley. I will just keep my dyna 2016 low rider because NOTHING in 2018 compares!!! Sad thing is , the way its going Harley soon will be 100% Japanese... Uh! That is unless Harley wants to get back to the TRADITIONAL HISTORY that made them great!!! Maybe I am too closed minded !!But I looked at the 2018 line up and ??????

2018 low rider!

Now the 24 to 26K bikes are nice...

 

Geez...nobody else complained!

Whatever!

 

Have you ridden a 2018 softail? If not you have no idea how much better these bikes are from the factory then any factory dyna or softail before them

I rode a 2018 114 HC and fell in love with that bike..it would be in my garage if finances allowed

 

Compare this 2014 dyna bike!

Maybe its me and I am traditionalist but losing the dyna series is a disappointment. Even tho the lowrider is avail. but in the softail frame. but??They are forcing one to go to the softail and upwards.

 

I just don't want Harley to get too far from the tradition that made them great!

 

wide glides are ugly bikes for old men.

they aren't forcing any to do anything. You just have to BYOB if you want a dyna.

i get the rage but, test ride before passing judgement

 

Well, now you know how I felt when Harley discontinued the Evolution motor in 1999/2000, and how I felt about the "balanced" twin-cam motor in the redesigned Softail. I hated it, and have, therefore, ridden my '94 Evo for 24 years.


I began by hating the new Softails, too. My mistake was actually RIDING one. After a test ride on the new Heritage Classic 114, I find myself wanting a new Harley for the first time in nearly a quarter century. Yeah, I wanted to hate it, and there's much I dislike about the styling (although I'm getting used to it), but none of that matters when I ride it.

 

I have a 2002, F350, 4x4, Crew Cab, 7.3 Diesel. Brand new I paid $38k and thought I was out of my mind. Fifteen years later that truck has a half million miles and is still going strong, to purchase one now new like it is $70 - $80k. I look at these new trucks and think to myself "they all have so much bs installed on them that I would never figure out how to use it all". Yet everyday I see brand new $80k Super Dutys with paper plates cruising down the freeway. I think its the same issue. If people want it they will pay it, financing is the Amercan way and buying now what you can't afford when your able to finance it 7-8 years is easy. Going back to my truck. I have thought since 1995 the Ford 7.3 Powerstoke engine was the best diesel engine ever put in a light truck even it is called a super duty. Recently, I drove one of these new $80k Fords and to my amazement vast improvements have been made that I was not in touch with in any manner whatsoever. Granted, I won't be buying one anytime soon, however the engine, drivetrain, suspension and technology are far superior than what I have. Same with these new Harley models. People are buying em up and probably always will. If you haven't test ridden a new Harley I would suggest you go do so just to see the difference. I've not talked to anyone who was not impressed. I did just purchase an 18 Road King but I was in the market for one. If I would have already had and earlier Road King model with the 103 I probably would have never bought this one. These toys today are expensive and the only way to get your dollars worth is to ride them till they are worn out. Trading up every few years is definitely not prudent financially, unless you just don't care and write it off as entertainment. To each is own. But they are badass!

 

What tradition would that be???

 

The tradition that made them great in my younger days and if you can't differentiate it then your not old enough!