This Makes Me Grumpy
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 2
From: Southwest OHIO
in your service manual, at every service interval, they recommend checking your critical fasteners. thats because harleys shake and tends to loosen bolts, its the nature of the beast! you should have seen that bolt coming loose way before it falls out!
if your bike isnt new, then they only person to fault is you or the last person to maintain your bike... has nothing to do with HD factory!
if your bike isnt new, then they only person to fault is you or the last person to maintain your bike... has nothing to do with HD factory!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,423
Likes: 2
From: Ellenwood, GA - The Ghetto Part
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Middleburg, FL
This type of post is really starting to bother me. If you don't like the bike, and you think that it is "old school" and "dangerous". Then quit your bitchin and sell it. Go get a boat, or an airplane, or a cage, and have a nice day.
If you would like to earn the respect and admiration of your peers, go over to a Yamaha forum and trash Harleys.
The vast majority of the people on this forum happen to like their bikes, and believe that they are worth the investment for the return on enjoyment.
I speak only for myself when I say that I am really not interested in reading about a couple of negative experiences that you have had with bikes over the last three or four decades.
I say this with the utmost respect and admiration for the fact that you are an engineer; be it electrical, mechanical, civil, domestic or sanitary.
If you would like to earn the respect and admiration of your peers, go over to a Yamaha forum and trash Harleys.
The vast majority of the people on this forum happen to like their bikes, and believe that they are worth the investment for the return on enjoyment.
I speak only for myself when I say that I am really not interested in reading about a couple of negative experiences that you have had with bikes over the last three or four decades.
I say this with the utmost respect and admiration for the fact that you are an engineer; be it electrical, mechanical, civil, domestic or sanitary.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
WOW! I love my '78 1/2 shovel, so much so I still have it, 100s of thousands of miles, she's seen every state in the country except Hawaii, too much water to ride through. 
I've had some issues now and then, even with my new '08 RK, but I love 'em, wouldn't have nothin' else and judging the comments from the OP, he just has a problem with anything HD, especially the pants on fire thing, PUHLEASE! 
I've had some issues now and then, even with my new '08 RK, but I love 'em, wouldn't have nothin' else and judging the comments from the OP, he just has a problem with anything HD, especially the pants on fire thing, PUHLEASE!
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Sterling Heights, MI
You've owned twenty bikes? Have you ever thought of maybe looking your bike over making sure there are no mechanical or safety issues before you hit the road. A Harley shakes and vibrates and that's why you check for loose bolts and pins that need to be checked from time to time. I've owned my current 2005 1200C Sportster since new and have not had an issue one with it. I keep up the maintenace and look it over throughly once a month and briefly before every ride. Sounds like you're either a troll wanting to slam HD's or you didn't investigate the bikes you bought and got ripped off.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,217
Likes: 3
From: Southern Ohio
Sounds like you need to get you a Yamaha tattoo and the bike to go with it...Grumpy?
Nah...you sound more like Dopey...
Nah...you sound more like Dopey...
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Banned
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,258
Likes: 2
From: AZ
I notice an annoying rattle coming from the front end. It takes me about 5 minutes to realize that one of the screws that hold the front brake to the handle bar had fallen out and the other one was extremely loose. Now if that second one would have fallen out, the whole front brake lever assembly would have fallen limp hung only by the hydraulic line rendering the brake useless. You all know what that means. No front brake??? Yikes!!! As an engineer, I am completely miffed as to why this is even possible to ocurr
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 172
Likes: 1
Despite some of the knee jerk cliche' flames you might receive, know there is a growing crowd thinking the same thing. I love my Street Bob and more than that, I want to put an american to work when I buy something. But there have been many issues that I have finally resolved. I'm happy with it now, but I don't know that I will go through all the hassle again. My inner bearings gave out on a road trip at 8k miles, fuel injectors had to be replaced to correct stalling etc.. Both were covered under warrety and repaired by my local dealer with absolutely no hassle so I appreciated that. But I wish I wouldn't have had to do it.
That was the necessary stuff, IMHO the minimum to make my dyna ride the way I want was, Progressive fork springs, progressive shocks, aftermarket seat and a True Track. I have done some motor and pipes but that falls under wants, not needs.
I love my harley and don't want anything else. But it was a hassle and an extra bundle of cash to get it the way I wanted it. There are a lot of people, especially the young folks who might not want the hassle. I know this, for the original cost of the street bob and the money i've spent I could have walked into a Yamaha dealer and bought an almost 200 HP V-Max what will run like a sewing machine for 100k miles.
Just sayin'
That was the necessary stuff, IMHO the minimum to make my dyna ride the way I want was, Progressive fork springs, progressive shocks, aftermarket seat and a True Track. I have done some motor and pipes but that falls under wants, not needs.
I love my harley and don't want anything else. But it was a hassle and an extra bundle of cash to get it the way I wanted it. There are a lot of people, especially the young folks who might not want the hassle. I know this, for the original cost of the street bob and the money i've spent I could have walked into a Yamaha dealer and bought an almost 200 HP V-Max what will run like a sewing machine for 100k miles.
Just sayin'
1. you had two problems under warranty, that were covered without hassle. i don't see the big deal?? i've had many more problems with other bikes than i've had with my harley.
2. you can't expect ANY bike to come straight from the factory exactly how you want it. if bikes were like that, there wouldn't be an aftermarket. EVERY bike i've ever owned, regardless of brand, took some extra parts to get it EXACTLY how i wanted it. from pipes, to body work, to paint, wheels, etc. no factory bike will be exactly what everyone wants. you can't knock any bike because it's not perfect for you straight off the showroom floor.
3. if all you're concerned about is hp and sewing machine reliability, maybe you should go take a closer look at that yamaha.