Question from a new guy
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
Very reliable.... Honda and Yamaha have recalls just the same... Remember the Gold Wing fram recall a few years ago,and Yamaha had the recall issue becuase the transmissions would lock up while riding?
You need to rent one and Ride it for a week. owned a 2002 Sporty and loved it. Road 18 states on the East Coast. Live in NY and have been as north as Plymouth New Hapshire and as far south as Ten. Never an issue. Now have an 05 EG Classic, and other than a few minor things, norhting major and extremely reliable.
You need to rent one and Ride it for a week. owned a 2002 Sporty and loved it. Road 18 states on the East Coast. Live in NY and have been as north as Plymouth New Hapshire and as far south as Ten. Never an issue. Now have an 05 EG Classic, and other than a few minor things, norhting major and extremely reliable.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Pleasant View, TN
I'll take the question as an honest question who has been told crap from others. As others have mentioned, be sure of the maintenance mileage issue. The only isue I have had on my sportie has been the manifold bolts torque is too low and they changed the tranny view gasket resulting in a $20 part. The dealership gave me HD's number to complain ($20 was too much money to expect a 5K change to spend).
Part of riding is not caring what others say.
Part of riding is not caring what others say.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,235
Likes: 65
From: Joliet, Illinois
I think if you look at the number of ex-<some other bike> riders who moved up to a Harley, vs. the number of Harley riders who moved over to some other bike, you'll see a huge disparity with the former far outnumbering the latter.
I'm an ex-ricer/crotch rocket guy. I have nothing bad to say about those types, brands or makes of bikes... but, a Harley isn't like anything else. If you want a Harley, it's gotta be a Harley.
As for reliability... The guys who are telling you that know squat about Harley's. They're repeating an old, well deserved back then, reality. Much has changed over the years. A Harley is as reliable a bike as any other on the road.
I'm an ex-ricer/crotch rocket guy. I have nothing bad to say about those types, brands or makes of bikes... but, a Harley isn't like anything else. If you want a Harley, it's gotta be a Harley.
As for reliability... The guys who are telling you that know squat about Harley's. They're repeating an old, well deserved back then, reality. Much has changed over the years. A Harley is as reliable a bike as any other on the road.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 3
From: Inland Empire, So Cal
Bought my new Sportster 6 months ago and have over 10,000 trouble free miles on it. I would say it is pretty damn reliable.
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