way to funny to see BMW listed as a piece of crap
no surprise on them baggin on Harley though
Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Reliability
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
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From: Potsdam, NY
Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Reliability
Least Reliable
1) BMW
2) Harley Davidson
Most Reliable
1) Yamaha
2) All other Japanese Brands
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/m...cles/index.htm
1) BMW
2) Harley Davidson
Most Reliable
1) Yamaha
2) All other Japanese Brands
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/m...cles/index.htm
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,649
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From: Indianapolis
The info comes from people who did Consumer reports survey for 2009-2012 models. Total surveys was about 4500.
14% of Honda owners reported problems, 24% for Harley.
Also Interesting........ in the article:
Satisfying brands
Despite the higher number of problems, Harley and BMW owners were among the most satisfied with their bikes. When we asked whether, considering everything, they would buy their bike again if they had it to do over, 75 percent of Harley owners said definitely yes, closely followed by 74 percent of BMW owners and 72 percent of Honda owners. By contrast, only 63 and 60 percent of Yamaha and Kawasaki owners, respectively, were as emphatic.
14% of Honda owners reported problems, 24% for Harley.
Also Interesting........ in the article:
Satisfying brands
Despite the higher number of problems, Harley and BMW owners were among the most satisfied with their bikes. When we asked whether, considering everything, they would buy their bike again if they had it to do over, 75 percent of Harley owners said definitely yes, closely followed by 74 percent of BMW owners and 72 percent of Honda owners. By contrast, only 63 and 60 percent of Yamaha and Kawasaki owners, respectively, were as emphatic.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
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From: Potsdam, NY
Despite the higher number of problems, Harley and BMW owners were among the most satisfied with their bikes. When we asked whether, considering everything, they would buy their bike again if they had it to do over, 75 percent of Harley owners said definitely yes, closely followed by 74 percent of BMW owners and 72 percent of Honda owners. By contrast, only 63 and 60 percent of Yamaha and Kawasaki owners, respectively, were as emphatic.
Sometimes I think Harleys are designed by passionate stylists who live the biker lifestyle, BMW's by German engineers who ride and race the bikes they design on the autobaun, track and off road, and Japanese bikes by a large committee of practical thinking Japanese mechanical engineers and industrial designers.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: southeast PA
Despite the higher number of problems, Harley and BMW owners were among the most satisfied with their bikes. When we asked whether, considering everything, they would buy their bike again if they had it to do over, 75 percent of Harley owners said definitely yes, closely followed by 74 percent of BMW owners and 72 percent of Honda owners. By contrast, only 63 and 60 percent of Yamaha and Kawasaki owners, respectively, were as emphatic.[/I]
I know, they only deal with numbers but as most of us know, riding a Harley goes beyond simple statistics.
Banned
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Tampa, FL
It's human nature to put down the source if their motorcycle, car, smartphone, etc. is not as reliable as others. Consumer Reports data is based on surveyed owners and testing. Just because BMW or HD have a higher incidence of defect, doesn't mean you won't get an outstanding machine from them. It just means there is a slightly greater chance of having an issue (wheter minor or major). We need to also factor in price. HD's command a much higher price. So when an owner has an issue, they many think WTF I paid twice as much for this than an equivalent Honda and complain more.
Jeep Wranglers and the old Cherokees will run forever. However you are constantly working on them or putting up with a minor design flaw because that's the Jeep lifestyle. Same goes for HD.
Had I been surveyed I had zero problems with my 2009 Vrod and 2013 Road Glide. It may be too early to tell. I had a 1998 Honda VTR-1000 for 12 years with zero non maintenance repairs. MY ex-wife's 2000 Yamaha R-6 is still driven today. Again no problems at all.
I know many on this site that have great high mileagle Harley Davidson motorcycles but there are also many on here with nagging issues. Heck just listen to the guys who will never own a "twinkie" because they feel HD cheaped on things like bearings.
I use consumer reports and Edmunds all the time for information towards a purchase.
Jeep Wranglers and the old Cherokees will run forever. However you are constantly working on them or putting up with a minor design flaw because that's the Jeep lifestyle. Same goes for HD.
Had I been surveyed I had zero problems with my 2009 Vrod and 2013 Road Glide. It may be too early to tell. I had a 1998 Honda VTR-1000 for 12 years with zero non maintenance repairs. MY ex-wife's 2000 Yamaha R-6 is still driven today. Again no problems at all.
I know many on this site that have great high mileagle Harley Davidson motorcycles but there are also many on here with nagging issues. Heck just listen to the guys who will never own a "twinkie" because they feel HD cheaped on things like bearings.
I use consumer reports and Edmunds all the time for information towards a purchase.
Last edited by Walter White; Mar 13, 2014 at 02:19 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: SE TN
Old article (May 2013), but the results are expected.
As far as satisfaction is concerned, I believe a lot of it has to do with marketing, nostalgia, price points, or brand recognition. If you desire to pay a lot of money for something that has a lesser priced "equivalent", there are additional factors at play to make you come to that decision. Since motorcycles are personal and typically luxury items, reliability is easily overlooked for desirability.
CR is approaching motorcycles like they approach passenger vehicles. While the methodology may provide a "most reliable" brand, it infers very little as to why owner satisfaction doesn't follow reliability.
As far as satisfaction is concerned, I believe a lot of it has to do with marketing, nostalgia, price points, or brand recognition. If you desire to pay a lot of money for something that has a lesser priced "equivalent", there are additional factors at play to make you come to that decision. Since motorcycles are personal and typically luxury items, reliability is easily overlooked for desirability.
CR is approaching motorcycles like they approach passenger vehicles. While the methodology may provide a "most reliable" brand, it infers very little as to why owner satisfaction doesn't follow reliability.
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Banned
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Tampa, FL
Obviously CR is missing something. They have failed to address the real question: Why would the motorcycle with the worst complaint record have the highest percentage of owners who would buy the same make over and over?
I know, they only deal with numbers but as most of us know, riding a Harley goes beyond simple statistics.
I know, they only deal with numbers but as most of us know, riding a Harley goes beyond simple statistics.
Marketing has sold us the lifestyle.
The same goes with Jeep Wrangler owners. Any defect pops up, say a leaky roof, other say it's a Wrangler...deal with it. Most of them will buy over and over too.
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Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Michigan
This is old news but it's not really surprising. Harley has come along way in technology and reliability but still isn't on par with most of the Japanese brands. When I want a long distance, problem free, low maintenance, affordable bagger it won't be a Harley.