This is cool folks, thanks!!! And Tom, thanks for your well-expressed thoughts - I too am at the point in my riding where I am drawn to the HD experience, but I wanted to put that reliability question to rest in my mind. I don't plan on getting rid of my Ducati sportbike, but for those times when I want to back it down a notch or two and just enjoy the experience of motoring down the open road on a fine machine, I've pretty much decided the HD is the only true way to go for me.

As I've said in past posts, what attracts me most to any two-wheeled machine is build quality and honesty and simplicity. Quality has had a lot of definitions attached to it, but I mean 'well-put-together'. Honesty meaning "not copying some other company's looks" but also "having your own identity", and in both definitions, Harley has it in spades. Simplicity is self-explanatory, and Harley's method of sticking with a basic tried-and-true design and developing it and refining it as time progresses has, as you pointed out Tom, made today's classic HD powerplants as reliable as anybody's. (And I don't mean to forget the V-Rod powerplant, either but it's just starting down that same path). Ducati has historically followed the same path with their L-Twin engines and their motorcycles - my 998 superbike is a direct descendant of the classic Ducati 916, and from the 916, through the 996, and finally the 998, Ducati kept refining every aspect of the motorcycle until it reached its full potential. (Then they took that knowledge and made a big leap with the 999 series, and now they're developing it in the same process).

And just like Ducati owners, I know that HD owners have a deep-seated loyalty to their machines and the heritage and the history they represent. Because of this, they don't whine about a little roughness here or a design quirk there - they embrace those things as being a unique identifier of their brand and as a source of the machine's character and charisma -- and proudly! After all, who wants to ride a soulless "appliance"? Not you! And not me either. Life's too short to ride a motorcycle that doesn't excite you, thrill you, or inspire you. I've come to that conclusion, especially after I could have died getting hit by that 10-wheeler. It makes you think about the way you "go down the road" of your life.

Thanks again folks for your continuing hospitality to this future HD-rider. The more I see of this community, the more I like it.

 

This is a good thread

 

I think one of the things you also need to look at is why those non-HD people are saying the thing's they're saying. My cousin and I go back and forth. He rides Yamahas and always comes to the technology point. HDs are a little more outdated (except the VROD) then the Japanese bikes as far as technology is concerned. As far as I'm concerned, that's just an excuse so they don't look like really big losers because they don't have a Harley. I think HD's resilience and history tell the story of their reliability much better than anyone here can with their individual stories.

 

Stones, I agree with the "technology" angle - Harley's ARE low-tech compared to other brands. But just how complicated does a motorcycle need to be???! The other bike I was considering getting to replace my old dead BMW "K" bike was a newer BMW like the R1150RT or the just-released R1200RT, but BMW is just making things too complicated in my view, and their new bikes look so much like Hondas, so bland and uninspiring. (How many computers do you need on a bike, BMW?!?) I'll take a Road Glide over a new BMW, thanks very much. I'm attracted to HD's because they are uncluttered, well-designed, classy and character-filled machines that make me feel great riding them. The "technology" angle is one I used to worry about - until I actually RODE an HD, and then it all made sense - "If I had to explain, you wouldn't understand", right? You can't judge a bike by spec sheets and the latest design fad (Which is lately "Radial brake calipers", talk to the Japanese sportbike riders. Oh, and "Wave" brake rotors. BFD!) Harley-Davidson doesn't play that game, trying to keep up with the latest 'fad' design element, they go their own way. And that's something I admire. A lot. HD's bikes really are greater than the sum of their parts.

The one thing that some riders forget is this: Motorcycles are not primarily utilitarian, they don't exist to carry 8x12 sheets of plywood or a pallet of bricks to a job site. We ride motorcycles because of the way they make us feel. Different machines do it for different people, that's what makes the world go 'round. Trying to explain a bike that 'speaks' to you, to someone who doesn't understand - well, you can only go so far. If they ride it, they might 'get it'. Then again, they might not. But it works for YOU, and all's right with the world. That's why my signature says "Ride and Let Ride", that's what I mean. I know that when the time finally comes for me to get my new HD, some of my friends will give me some grief about it. But if they're really my friends, the bike I ride won't really matter. And if it does, then they never were true friends, anyway.

 

Sounds like you've already got the answer scatterbrain. I think we all share that same feeling as you.

 

Hey scatterbrain,

Ducatis are beautiful bikes. Not a thing wrong with owning one of those. A Ducati and a Harley in the same garage...life couldn't be sweeter!![8D]

Tom

 

I bought the 03 fatboy new in December of 02, had it maintained at harley dealerships, and ran trouble free to 14,000 miles. A low end noise appeared. It came and went. I finally made an appointment to get it checked. Lucky for me I didn't wait any longer. The compensator nut had loosened (causing the low end rattle). I lucked out again cause there was no damage. I was told at the factory this wasn't lock-tight properly. It was covered under warrenty. I just turned 16,000 miles yesterday. The bike is running great. Go get one!

 

I have an '04 superglide and aside from a leak at the shift linkage on the primary, it has been perfect. Almost had it a year and am pushing 9500 miles on her. Damn good bike.

 

My wife has a '96 Heritage Classic with 39,000 and have had to only replace the starter. I previously had a '94 Ultra with 38,000 and only had a carburater problem. Current ride is an '02 EG Classic with 15,000 and never had a problem.

 

Even on the Suzuki GS1100E I bought new in '81 the starter came loose with less than 100 miles on it.
By the way, I learned not too long ago that the in-line four cylinder motorcycle engine was introduced early in the 20th century. So if anyone thinks that in-line fours are "new technology", think again. I will have to give the Japanese credit for "pioneering" quality control improvements starting in the 70's. However, beginning in the late 80's and early 90's everyone else had pretty much caught up. I really believe there is currently no difference in quality control between American, European, and Japanese bikes. And interestingly enough, I was watching a show on Speed Channel where automotive journalists and motor company execs discuss current issues relating to auto production. In a round table discussion they were all in agreement that American cars have caught up to the Japanese and Europeans in quality control and now all we have to do is convince the American buyers of it.[8D]

Tom