No need to be. But dare i say I am humbled by your phenomenal daring both hands in the air on a bike that could start wobbling any minute. "Hay mom look at me. no hands"

 

I'll teach you a thing or two...................................

 

One thing you're overlooking is the sample size and the source of information. You declare that the majority of people here are Harley apologists but I would argue that the majority are people that have come here, at least initially, were just looking for help. Like you.

Stop and try to imagine how many Harley riders out there do not subscribe to this forum and are happily putting miles on their bikes with little to no problems. Sure there are going to be those that still do have issues, but again that's as the same as any other brand. Added to this is that surfing an internet forum doesn't quite fit the traditional Harley rider/buyer. For example, I probably know 50 Harley riders in real life, of which none participate on this forum. And as far as I'm aware a very small percentage of those have had major issues with their bikes.

So, I think you may be over estimating the actual impact of some of the issues being reported here because of the nature of the participation of this forum.

Something to think about.

 

I agree completely and have thought about that which led me to peruse Craigslists and used sale bikes across the country and that's also why I will even consider the brand again (along with the fact that my daily commute is 7 miles and I don't run up the miles anymore after moving east).

But having "been there done that" a long time ago, I also have to look for modern day common issues and expectations, maintenance requirements, as I do with most purchases, I can only make determinations on that which pops up on a search, With at least 5 million bikes sold out there over the past 10 years I know the sample size represented on the net is small and that is very comforting. But I also believe by looking at 100's of craigslist listings through the country and Ebay, a huge number of those bikes have not clocked over 20K and a very large number are under 10K plus I believe in Murphys law, LOL If it can happen it will happen to me and I had better be prepared. Any pre 07 Harley with more than 15k should at least have the cam cover removed which is an immediate expense even if tensioners are deemed to be ok) Most people don't know this little fact and apparently it's not in the maintenance schedule.

If I were an active member of this forum (or any forum where I have first hand experience) and have been a long time owner and someone came to me and asked about a bike . I would applaud them for doing the homework, and ensure them they are on the right path to making an informed decision. I would not extol the virtues and make excuses for the failings. I am sure they would eliminate me as a good source of information....and should.

So many new riders and metric buyers looking to buy into the Harley mystique, don't want to get their hands dirty or do the research then whine when things go sour they could have prevented or at least had a heads up about. knowledge is power. I whine before they do and yeah I question the reason HD did not fix these things...and yes I blame those who allow it.

My Yamaha has 14K perfect miles. Nary a valve adjustment.....but that does not make it "reliable" by any stretch 14K is nothing! I cannot run up the reliability flag and stomp on those who have had issues. But IF I had to open up engine covers to avoid a probable catastrophic issue at this point in time I would be upset IF I did not know already it is a prudent thing to do and may not have bought the bike.....because at 14K It's still new. My Hondas had had 30 and 40K of untroubled riding in the western desert and urban areas, That does make them reliable in my book if a tad boring. Yes they had minor carb issues, but nothing that required fluids to be drained anywhere.

There is simply no excuse for not knowing what you are buying and no shortage of sources of information.

It is all I have and its a lot. But yeah I know it's not a complete representation. But I also know by HD's own number the avg rider rides 1500 miles a year, So it's not all that bad a source for reliability figures and maintenance issues.

All that said HD is a good fit for me NOW because it IS a fun bike to own from experience, AND I don't put the miles on. With what i have read, right or worng, there is no way I would consider or recommend a Big Twin if I put on 10- 15K a year on the bike. The risk/reward of down time is not worth the ride for me. I ride most everyday. Rain or shine. I love riding even though its destination oriented and not a pastime here. At 3K a year I will likely not spend a whole lot on the bike and sell a low mileage bike down the line and in that agreed save more than if I bought any other brand save a 2000 Shadow for $2500.

 

Greaaattt.. Not making me feel very good about buying that 2010 UltraClassic with maybe too many miles on it. But it had everything I wanted at what I considered a fair price.

But I shopped around. I sat on dozens of bikes. All makes. I kept going back to the Ultra for comfortable, long distance riding that I intend to do with my wife.

Guess I'll just wait and see what parts fall off first.

I didn't buy from an HD dealer, bought it from another shop that doesnt sell t-shirts, coffee cups and HD bandanas. They sell more HD's than the HD dealer.

At least I was smart enough to buy the 2 year extended warranty.

 

You say you are the student yet you offer your opinions immediately. I see where in another bike forum, you start off a thread that is dated 4-30-12, over a year ago, that you are looking to buy harley again yet you have to make your opinion known on the harley scene.

quote "My last HD was an 87FXRC back in the late 80s when owning a Harley was just "owning a Harley" .

When HD suddenly became the motorcycle the "nouveau riche" just had to have with their tech stock profits in the 90s and the dealers were selling all they could build and talking orders with 6 month plus waits.. 300K Motorcycles sell out in a hurry in a fad frenzy. Dealer's were unscrupulous, greedy and their take it or leave it attitude soured me on the brand for years. I decided to cash it in for "stupid money" because new bikes were rare, and bought and rode metric V Twins since. Currently a 07 V star 1300. " end quote

Why not just come on and ask questions and do your research. A student should ask their question, and then S2 (that's sit down and shut up) And BTW, it's been over a year....when does your research end? That was a rhetorical question because you are transparent enough for some of us to see that you really have a need to stand on the soap box and preach your thoughts to all who will listen, yet you cloak you presence here under the guise of wanting to learn . You sir, have some mental issues and should see a professional asap.

 

This reply shows what tool you are. If there was one person that I could recommend listening to, it would be Doc. He's one of the biggest riders on this forum. While I've ridden 54,000 since '08 on my FLHT (I also have an Evo), Doc has clocked in the excess of 90,000 in the same time period. In addition, he is not a Johnny Come Lately, either. He's had other Harleys through the years, and some silly Brit bikes, too. And, if you ever closed your mouth and actually listened, he could enlighten you greatly on the mechanical side of motorcycles.

You wouldn't recognize real information if it slapped you upside your head.

Maybe your previous bikes wobbled, maybe you read somewhere about the "infamous" Harley death-wobble, but i have yet to talk to anyone who has experienced it. You should really not try to mock that of which you are clueless.

You aren't anything more than a troll looking for validation. A low class troll at that. And now it comes out that you are a repeat troll to boot.

 

Feel fine about it. Tighten things up once in a while, because they just might fall off. I had a passenger footboard come off a month ago on a bridge over the Hudson River. It was my fault, and not the motorcycle's. I did not tighten the bolt well or use Loctite on it. Read the posts from people who ride their bikes all over the country, and listen to what they have to say. Don't listen to people who regurgitate only the negatives they've heard, or read.

 

By the way, I hate corporate everything. I have yet to find any of them that have my best interests at heart.

 

He's over in the Sporty forum too. Now why would I want to sell you a Sporty?? I don't give a chit what you buy !

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...ll-me-one.html