Reflections on Harley Davidson motorcycles
 

Just some year-end reflections about how much I like riding HDs!

I have been riding motorcycles since the early 1970s, but until 2014 I always rode Hondas. My old Honda CB650 was as reliable as an old hound dog, and in the 70s (when I rode the California freeways literally every day) HDs did not have a great reputation for guys like me who do not like to work on their own bikes. The CB650 was a big bike for its day. One flaw that it had is that it sat rather high and I could only "flat foot" the bike (barely) if I wore the correct boots.

When I decided to get back into riding after a 20 year layoff, to my surprise I saw that HDs had captured about half of the US market. Something had definitely changed! Further, the reliability issues with HDs appeared to be nearly gone. Not gone, however, was the "coolness factor" that Harleys have always had and always will have.

So down the the HD dealer I went, and I emerged as the owner of a new Sportster 1200 Superlow (2014 model; new). It was a great bike!

With the Harley I got into riding for just riding's sake, not just commuting. Not once did the Sportster ever let me down as far as reliability went.

18 months later I upgraded to my Fat Boy 2015 (bought at the end of the 2015 model year when my HD dealer was desperate to move the '15s to make way for the '16s. I got a great deal on the bike and on my trade.)

Have to say, the Fat Boy has been fantastic. 100% reliable, and it has a coolness factor that goes beyond merely running great. It loafs along and is rock-stable on the Freeways at 80+ MPH, and is nimble enough for town and parking lot maneuvering. There is literally nothing I do not like about my Fat Boy.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/22xyUgd]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4644/...6b955239ab.jpg

Now they have come out with the re-engineered 2018 models. I like them a lot. The M8 enginess (107, 114) by all accounts are solidly better than the V-Twin in my Fat Boy, and the suspension is better too. Problem is, my Fat Boy is just great and at least for now the notion of replacing it is quite unthinkable. The Fat Boy is just a complete joy to ride. After a hard week of dealing with hard-heads at work (clients, opposing lawyers, Judges -- yes, I'm a lawyer) there is nothing that clears my head faster than getting on the highway on an early Saturday morning and cruising on the Fat Boy.

But it is great to know that if it ever does become "thinkable" to upgrade from the 2015 Fat Boy that the new HDs are better than ever, and still have that "coolness" factor that is so hard to explain but impossible to deny.

Glad you like your Fat Boy, as do I!!!

Thank you for sharing.

I too find that riding the weekends helps with clearing the stress from the work week and relaxing. I personally prefer the mountain twisty roads so I like the lighter bikes. But to each his own. Glad to hear you enjoy riding your bike.

Ride safe.

Fat boy is a great ride. Really hard to explain to non bike riders the thrill of freedom you get on two wheels. The air smells better, the scenery is prettier, and just the fact you can fart all you want without having to say excuse me to anyone as long as your riding solo!

I also got back into riding this year, for a couple of different reasons. First off, its an affordable second vehicle, second my work offers motorcycles premium parking, and third, I missed it terribly.

I came from vintage Honda Goldwings (many 1000's and a 1200 full dresser)

I went with HD this time around due to recommendations from a co-worker (more like severe ribbing about riding a real bike) and went with a 1200 sportster that was my first bike bought actually running (all my others were mechanics specials or outright basket cases). I outgrew the sportster in a couple of months, but was able to sell it for only a small loss, and bought my current Ultra Classic, something that suits my riding style and size a bit better than the sporty

My impressions with the HD over the Honda is that while the Honda is a fine bike, it just does what you ask of it, while the HD seems to make suggestions.

I told my wife after getting home from one ride that she is lucky I'm home as the bike seemed to keep telling me to keep riding. I never got that "come on, lets go to San Diego" feel from the Goldwings, even though they all willingly did everything I ever asked of them. Thats why I ride a Harley

I went back to riding in 08. I had owned 2 Kawaski back in the early 80s. in 2009 I Bought a 04 Heritage and loved it. One day in 09 my wife rode with me, and as they say the rest is history. In 2011 bought a Ultra Classic that we put 40,000 miles on by 2013. traded for a 13 Ultra Limited and traded again in may of 15 for another Ultra limited. Currently have 34,000 miles on this one. It runs so nice I don't want to trade it. I'm sure I will buy a new one again but may be closer to 19 or 2020.

Nicely said. I also use to own a Honda. A VTX1300.

Well said Counselor, well said... I too rode Japanese bikes until the mid 2000s. Reliable, economical but the throaty roar of a thumper going by always turned my head. In 2011 I purchased a 2002 Fat Boy and then understood the mystique of owning a Harley. I put many road miles on her touring with close friends and enjoyed the feeling of cruising down the road with the twin sound. I recently traded in my Fat Boy and Hayabusa on a "new" 2018 Road Glide Special. I too lucked out with a dealer trying to move inventory as the 2020s (!) were arriving! The difference in power (88 to a 107) and technology was startling. That new fangled Boom! system had me confused for quite a while, but oh well, I AM a drummer...

Years ago when the Jap bike vs Harley bashing was at it's peak, I recall reading a thought provoking article in one of the major bike magazines. The author eloquently put the debate into perspective: Comparing Harelys' to Jap bikes was like comparing a Colt 1911 .45 to a Berretta 9mm. One may be higher tech, but both work. To each their own. I give a friendly wave to ALL bikers on the road, regardless of what they are riding.

Great quote!

(Old thread I see too)

Yeppers, every time I go for a ride I see and smell things that you never experience if you were in a cage. Great stuff.