I own one so I can say Harley's are JUNK for what we spend
#101
You made me look and I like the Springfield Darkhorse! Wouldn't look good with the traditional fender.
#102
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
Posts: 4,867
Received 265 Likes
on
224 Posts
Each Harley I’ve had since 2006 (2006, 2009, 2014), and my current 2016 Road Glide has been successively worse as far as mechanical quality goes. I miss my old 1986 EVO at this point. My 2016 has been at the dealer seven times in two years to have stuff fixed under warranty including the lifters at 20,000 miles. I replaced the front wheel bearings two weeks ago and I just pulled the rear wheel today because it was making a noise and discovered a bad rear bearing. I’m supposed to be leaving on a trip next week. I’m just shaking my head going why do I keep buying this junk? The reality is I’m not real sure the next bike will be a Harley. I love the bike I just don’t have the patience for this crap anymore. I don’t care about the lifestyle junk, I don’t by t-shirts and other paraphernalia, but I do ride a lot. I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion MOCO has no desire to manufacture reliable bikes for people who ride 12,000-15,000 miles a year.
#103
I guess I'll chime in, my first was an 01 heritage, next was an 08 ultra, now an 18 ultra limited, the 18 is for sure a lot different, more of a gold wing feeling, the power is awesome, the ride is awesome, still getting use to the hydraulic clutch, the sound is terrible even with the rinehart slip ones, dealer says I can spend between 2,500 and 5k it will sound like the evo, that's not gonna happen, but we're adjusting to it, but I will say we are taking longer trips on it than we ever have, but I do miss that old style Harley sound and vibration, but I guess that's the direction Harley is moving into, along with the electric bikes in the future
#104
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
Posts: 4,867
Received 265 Likes
on
224 Posts
I guess I'll chime in, my first was an 01 heritage, next was an 08 ultra, now an 18 ultra limited, the 18 is for sure a lot different, more of a gold wing feeling, the power is awesome, the ride is awesome, still getting use to the hydraulic clutch, the sound is terrible even with the rinehart slip ones, dealer says I can spend between 2,500 and 5k it will sound like the evo, that's not gonna happen, but we're adjusting to it, but I will say we are taking longer trips on it than we ever have, but I do miss that old style Harley sound and vibration, but I guess that's the direction Harley is moving into, along with the electric bikes in the future
Might be worth a second look if it does!
Last edited by jpooch00; 06-15-2018 at 09:19 AM.
#105
I guess I'll chime in, my first was an 01 heritage, next was an 08 ultra, now an 18 ultra limited, the 18 is for sure a lot different, more of a gold wing feeling, the power is awesome, the ride is awesome, still getting use to the hydraulic clutch, the sound is terrible even with the rinehart slip ones, dealer says I can spend between 2,500 and 5k it will sound like the evo, that's not gonna happen, but we're adjusting to it, but I will say we are taking longer trips on it than we ever have, but I do miss that old style Harley sound and vibration, but I guess that's the direction Harley is moving into, along with the electric bikes in the future
#106
When the Japanese decided, in the mid-80's, to launch imitation Harleys using existing liquid cooled engines, they went full steel on the chassis. The Yamaha Royal Star and later Star Venture, were way more beefy than my two Harleys. All heavy steel everywhere. And big fat rear wheels and tires, long before Harley went with bigger wheels.
They were no more problem free than the two Harleys I've owned since 2016. Lots of engines got replaced by Yam in the Royals, chasing noises. There were so many problems with my 1997 Royal Star that after a week I went back to the selling dealer and asked for my old traded Goldwing back, but it was already gone.
Yamaha stood behind their products, but there remained a handful of problems that they never addressed: Fuel pumps failed every few months. Water pumps leaked. Heads were improperly torqued at factory causing leaks and major repairs. And much more.
I'm often amused by the myth that Japanese bikes are so problem free compared to Harleys. My 2016 Ultra Classic was and is the best motorcycle I've ever owned. It had a handful of glitches, but it never let me down. My new 2018 FLTRU is as perfect a bike as I've owned. Some assembly sloppiness, and one design flaw, easily fixed under warranty.
They were no more problem free than the two Harleys I've owned since 2016. Lots of engines got replaced by Yam in the Royals, chasing noises. There were so many problems with my 1997 Royal Star that after a week I went back to the selling dealer and asked for my old traded Goldwing back, but it was already gone.
Yamaha stood behind their products, but there remained a handful of problems that they never addressed: Fuel pumps failed every few months. Water pumps leaked. Heads were improperly torqued at factory causing leaks and major repairs. And much more.
I'm often amused by the myth that Japanese bikes are so problem free compared to Harleys. My 2016 Ultra Classic was and is the best motorcycle I've ever owned. It had a handful of glitches, but it never let me down. My new 2018 FLTRU is as perfect a bike as I've owned. Some assembly sloppiness, and one design flaw, easily fixed under warranty.
The following 2 users liked this post by KrustyKush:
lp (06-16-2018),
Max Headflow (06-15-2018)
#107
When the Japanese decided, in the mid-80's, to launch imitation Harleys using existing liquid cooled engines, they went full steel on the chassis. The Yamaha Royal Star and later Star Venture, were way more beefy than my two Harleys. All heavy steel everywhere. And big fat rear wheels and tires, long before Harley went with bigger wheels.
They were no more problem free than the two Harleys I've owned since 2016. Lots of engines got replaced by Yam in the Royals, chasing noises. There were so many problems with my 1997 Royal Star that after a week I went back to the selling dealer and asked for my old traded Goldwing back, but it was already gone.
Yamaha stood behind their products, but there remained a handful of problems that they never addressed: Fuel pumps failed every few months. Water pumps leaked. Heads were improperly torqued at factory causing leaks and major repairs. And much more.
I'm often amused by the myth that Japanese bikes are so problem free compared to Harleys. My 2016 Ultra Classic was and is the best motorcycle I've ever owned. It had a handful of glitches, but it never let me down. My new 2018 FLTRU is as perfect a bike as I've owned. Some assembly sloppiness, and one design flaw, easily fixed under warranty.
They were no more problem free than the two Harleys I've owned since 2016. Lots of engines got replaced by Yam in the Royals, chasing noises. There were so many problems with my 1997 Royal Star that after a week I went back to the selling dealer and asked for my old traded Goldwing back, but it was already gone.
Yamaha stood behind their products, but there remained a handful of problems that they never addressed: Fuel pumps failed every few months. Water pumps leaked. Heads were improperly torqued at factory causing leaks and major repairs. And much more.
I'm often amused by the myth that Japanese bikes are so problem free compared to Harleys. My 2016 Ultra Classic was and is the best motorcycle I've ever owned. It had a handful of glitches, but it never let me down. My new 2018 FLTRU is as perfect a bike as I've owned. Some assembly sloppiness, and one design flaw, easily fixed under warranty.
I've said before and say again though, the issues I had were the cheap fake "chrome" parts they used would rust, flake or peel in a matter of a year. I lost track of how many horn covers, oil dipsticks, mirror elbows and clutch/brake cables I replaced due to rust.
#108
Each Harley I’ve had since 2006 (2006, 2009, 2014), and my current 2016 Road Glide has been successively worse as far as mechanical quality goes. I miss my old 1986 EVO at this point. My 2016 has been at the dealer seven times in two years to have stuff fixed under warranty including the lifters at 20,000 miles. I replaced the front wheel bearings two weeks ago and I just pulled the rear wheel today because it was making a noise and discovered a bad rear bearing. I’m supposed to be leaving on a trip next week. I’m just shaking my head going why do I keep buying this junk? The reality is I’m not real sure the next bike will be a Harley. I love the bike I just don’t have the patience for this crap anymore. I don’t care about the lifestyle junk, I don’t by t-shirts and other paraphernalia, but I do ride a lot. I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion MOCO has no desire to manufacture reliable bikes for people who ride 12,000-15,000 miles a year.
I understand that saving pennies on a specific part, in a large manufacturing business saves a lot of money. MOCO uses maybe half a million lifter and a couple million wheel bearings a year, pennies add up. But what is the long term cost of loosing customers? Seems to me if MOCO had to, raising the price of a motorcycle a few dollars (sic), and installing decent bearing etc...; would pay off in the long term.
When your Harley branded tee shirt outlasts your wheel bearings - you have a problem Milwaukee.
The following users liked this post:
oleboy (06-16-2018)
#109
I don't believe any amount of money will make an M8 sound like an evo. Just like nothing added to evos made them sound like shovelheads. For 2500, you can get a good cam/exhaust upgrade than will be reliable and make really good power and sound as good as an M8 will sound.
I'm often amused by the myth that Japanese bikes are so problem free compared to Harleys. My 2016 Ultra Classic was and is the best motorcycle I've ever owned. It had a handful of glitches, but it never let me down. My new 2018 FLTRU is as perfect a bike as I've owned. Some assembly sloppiness, and one design flaw, easily fixed under warranty.
The following 2 users liked this post by $tonecold:
Heritage07 (06-16-2018),
vaham (06-19-2018)
#110
Oh mine sounds awesome too now with my S&S cam. Still, never going to sound like the older harleys no matter which stage kit you install. Mine doesnt sound like the TC's I ride with either.