Are Harleys really slow?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
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From: Wisconsin, USA
Are Harleys really slow?
I see lot's of bitching that Harleys are slow, and that they need lots of mods after purchase. I am perfectly happy with my stage one 88. I don't seem to have any trouble accelerating to 80 on an Interstate on ramp or passing cars on two lanes. What exactly would be better if I had a Sportbike, or a 100/100 engine?
I have enough trouble staying 9mph within the speed limit as it is and have no need to ride in the triple digits.
I have enough trouble staying 9mph within the speed limit as it is and have no need to ride in the triple digits.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Indianapolis
No... For some all out speed and acceleration is everything, personally I have out grown that need. The thing I can't get my head around is, if top speed and acceleration is your main criteria in a motorcycle and you bought a Harley Davidson, you simply bought the wrong bike. That's not Harley's fault, it's yours, you knew it was a pushrod V-twin when you bought it
Personally, I could not be happier with mine.
Personally, I could not be happier with mine.
Last edited by firehawk6; May 5, 2018 at 07:47 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 307
From: Salem IN
What would be better if you had a sport bike......
You could go road racing at your local track.
You could extend the swing arm and go drag racing.
And unless you are 22 any ride over a 100 hundred miles hurts.....lol
I went thru the need for speed in the 80's and early 90's it was fun....but I would not trade my Harley for nothing. I wish I would have discovered them earlier in my life.
You could go road racing at your local track.
You could extend the swing arm and go drag racing.
And unless you are 22 any ride over a 100 hundred miles hurts.....lol
I went thru the need for speed in the 80's and early 90's it was fun....but I would not trade my Harley for nothing. I wish I would have discovered them earlier in my life.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,117
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From: Maryland
Back in the my younger sport bike days, the saying was - "Harley... Makes a lot of noise and goes slow."
Sport bikes have awesome capability. Question is - when/where are you going to use it? That's one of the reasons I starting riding a Harley. I ride on regular public streets/roads. The Harley seems perfectly suited for that.
Another saying... "More fun to ride a slow bike fast, than a fast bike slow."
Sport bikes have awesome capability. Question is - when/where are you going to use it? That's one of the reasons I starting riding a Harley. I ride on regular public streets/roads. The Harley seems perfectly suited for that.
Another saying... "More fun to ride a slow bike fast, than a fast bike slow."
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From: Pennsylvania
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Globe AZ
Its fast enough for a felony. even the slowest Harley is quicker off the line and will out maneuver 90% of the cars on the road. I dont need the ultimate in speed/maneuverability to enjoy myself.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
Compared to what?
Compared to an equivalent displacement metric bike...almost always the answer is "yes".
Compared to even 1/2 of the displacement modern metric bikes...answer is still the same.
Compared to say a 250cc or 300cc early 70's Honda....no.
Compared to the home made mini bike we built as kids....no
Compared to a late 79's Ford Pinto or most cars of the 70's and 80's...no.
It depends what the owner wants. I don't have a desire for shooting my tachometer skyward above 12,000 rpm and going 0-100mph in under 6 seconds. If I did I'd probably have wrapped myself around a tree several decades ago.
I was fine with the performance of my old tired Shovelhead FLHS. I find the performance of my current EVO just fine. I've had a stage 1 Twinkie before...and the Stage 1 Sporty my wife had was wicked fast, could lift the front wheel on a hard shift into 2nd.
BUT..that ain't why I got a Harley. I enjoy the lazy low end bottom grunt. I remember years ago a buddy of mine had some yellow Yamaha sport bike, 600 or 650cc, YZ something. Right off the line I'd beat him cuz of the low end grunt of the big v-twin, but by the time I was running out of first gear, he would be coming into his power band and somewhere around when I was around 45 mph or so he'd blow past me like he came out of a canon!
And I'm sure someone will post that video of that swedish old school guy in the chopper racing some rice and winning. That was a short race, the Harley had the low end grunt but the distance of the race was kept short so the ricer never got into his powerband.
Compared to an equivalent displacement metric bike...almost always the answer is "yes".
Compared to even 1/2 of the displacement modern metric bikes...answer is still the same.
Compared to say a 250cc or 300cc early 70's Honda....no.
Compared to the home made mini bike we built as kids....no
Compared to a late 79's Ford Pinto or most cars of the 70's and 80's...no.
It depends what the owner wants. I don't have a desire for shooting my tachometer skyward above 12,000 rpm and going 0-100mph in under 6 seconds. If I did I'd probably have wrapped myself around a tree several decades ago.
I was fine with the performance of my old tired Shovelhead FLHS. I find the performance of my current EVO just fine. I've had a stage 1 Twinkie before...and the Stage 1 Sporty my wife had was wicked fast, could lift the front wheel on a hard shift into 2nd.
BUT..that ain't why I got a Harley. I enjoy the lazy low end bottom grunt. I remember years ago a buddy of mine had some yellow Yamaha sport bike, 600 or 650cc, YZ something. Right off the line I'd beat him cuz of the low end grunt of the big v-twin, but by the time I was running out of first gear, he would be coming into his power band and somewhere around when I was around 45 mph or so he'd blow past me like he came out of a canon!
And I'm sure someone will post that video of that swedish old school guy in the chopper racing some rice and winning. That was a short race, the Harley had the low end grunt but the distance of the race was kept short so the ricer never got into his powerband.
