Harley engines, junk or paranoia
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 3
From: Washington State
That's the best one I've read in a while As you can in my sig pic, I'm on a hill in case it breaks, then I can coast back down.....
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: McKinney, TX
I am just curious as to how many flat-beds any of you have seen loaded with bikes at Sturgis, Daytona, Texas State Rally, or any of the other major congregating points for the V-twin bikes ?
By far and large, the number of "help me pick out fingerless gloves" threads tell you that a good percentage of folks who buy and ride HD bikes do so for reasons other than reliability and resiliency of the power train.
We all for one reason or another dont care that HDs aren't the Honda Accord of Motorcycles. I really don't give a flyin' assF*%&^& if my bike has an Ina or a Timken bearing on the crank.
If it starts, I ride it, if it doesn't I try to diagnose and if it doesn't work I take it to a smarter tech.
For one reason or another, we're all **** retentive to the point that we come to an online forum to vent, get advice, brag, and share in the positive and / or negative sentiment of the brand.
Chances are you would be doing the same thing over beers at the local watering hole.
It's like a fish story, every drunk bastard always caught one bigger than you did. And every anonymous Metallurgist on HDForums will always have had a bigger issue with head gaskets, or bearings, or shaft runout.
So, no the motors aren't junk, and no they aren't perfect.
Like my Daddy said "take care of it, and it will last..."
By far and large, the number of "help me pick out fingerless gloves" threads tell you that a good percentage of folks who buy and ride HD bikes do so for reasons other than reliability and resiliency of the power train.
We all for one reason or another dont care that HDs aren't the Honda Accord of Motorcycles. I really don't give a flyin' assF*%&^& if my bike has an Ina or a Timken bearing on the crank.
If it starts, I ride it, if it doesn't I try to diagnose and if it doesn't work I take it to a smarter tech.
For one reason or another, we're all **** retentive to the point that we come to an online forum to vent, get advice, brag, and share in the positive and / or negative sentiment of the brand.
Chances are you would be doing the same thing over beers at the local watering hole.
It's like a fish story, every drunk bastard always caught one bigger than you did. And every anonymous Metallurgist on HDForums will always have had a bigger issue with head gaskets, or bearings, or shaft runout.
So, no the motors aren't junk, and no they aren't perfect.
Like my Daddy said "take care of it, and it will last..."
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
My buddy is a whiner. Any problem he ever hears about, he thinks his bike does the same thing. The last one we laughed about (at him) I was having some problems with my 21" front wheel getting some rocks caught up between the fender and wheel. The service writter asked how I was doing since they worked on my fender and he (has a stock 16" wheel) piped in "Yeah I think my wheel does that too".
Ask Toyota how long it took them to do a recall on their cars? Oh they didn't, the government made them do it?
Ask Toyota how long it took them to do a recall on their cars? Oh they didn't, the government made them do it?
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: grand lake area in oklahoma
Small Rebuttal
Lets face it boys and girls, if you buy a Harley and put a lot of miles on it (at least 15k a year) you are going to have some engine problems. A good many of the problems that will manifest themselves will not surface until after the initial 24 month warranty has expired. Most people will have more problems with their motorcycle, especially if they ride much, than they will have with their automobiles. The Harley motorcycle has been improved upon drastically from what it was when AMF had the reins in their hands. But...it could still use some quality control and engineering improvements. Over the last few years I have noticed quite a few basic engineering flaws that were incurred due to cost cutting. The most glaring being the increasing of the "acceptable crank runout specs". Instead of fixing the problem they just raise the specs so they don't have to warrant many. That just ain't right! So ya, you can tell I ain't married to Harley, although I do ride one. Over the last 50 years I have owned many different brands of bikes, although the Harley is the most expensive to own and operate that I can remember. If a person only rides 3-4 thousand miles a year they are not even aware of many of the problems that will eventually crop up. The days of the air cooled motorcycle engine are coming to an end. Harley is the last of the big bikes to rely upon the wind to cool its engines. In order to pass EPA testing and acceptance water jackets will have to be embraced by the MOCO. They know it and have been quietly working on addressing the problem for years. The point of this is that I shudder to think of all the engineering problems that owners will have to endure before it is perfected in the touring bikes. Like it or not, Harley does use it's customer base as guinea pigs.
"The days of the air cooled engine are over"????
Tell that to Yamaha and Vstar...
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 0
From: Front Royal, Virginia
Interesting replies fellows. I'm feeling slightly better about the coming CVO SG. Because it won't arrive until Feb., I sold my 08 SG with 103 to the dealer today and put a deposit on the CVO. When I advertised it for sale I advertised it as "The nicest 34,000 motorcycle around". When I told the dealer that he said he recently had a bike nice as mine and it had 108K. He said he would however give me second place. I'm really not bothered about mileage and had every intention of riding my bike to Nova Scotia next summer. By that time it would have been in the 45k area and I have faith. Just seems like the 110 (which hasn't been around that long) has lots of bad press.
Gary
Gary
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Panama City, FL
Torn
Now I'm torn between the "Just shut up and ride" crowd, or the "it's going to blow up at any moment" camp.
I'm going to start a new group entitled..."stop worrying about everybody else's problem, and just deal with your own problems as they arise".
Please don't flame me...but I still have much faith in the MoCo and the top quality of their products.
I'm going to start a new group entitled..."stop worrying about everybody else's problem, and just deal with your own problems as they arise".
Please don't flame me...but I still have much faith in the MoCo and the top quality of their products.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 11
From: PacNW; Beacon of Conservatism in a Sea of Liberals.......AZ Snowbird; Just another Conservative
There ARE some recurrent issues with some years/models; my '06 Dyna, f'r instance. It wasn't a case of mass hysteria with our Inner Primary Bearing failures. I ran an unscientific poll on the Dyna page, and I think we had 40+ % failures with our '06 IPB. Still, many '06 Dyna owners have had no problem with theirs (mine failed 2x in 12K). I have learned that the MoCo cannot be trusted to share all they know; too many lawyers in the loop for them to come clean about known issues.
So we trade stories, worries and experiences here, hoping to find a tip, a warning, a recommendation, or just peace of mind. I think that how we react to reports of the inevitable problems of a mechanical contrivance says more about ourselves than it does about the motor/tranny/etc. If you tend to be a "glass half empty" type, an extended warranty & Mega-Ultra-Supreme-O H.O.G. or AAA coverage may be a necessary part of your attaining peace of mind. Glass half full types will pocket that same money, expect the good graces of the motorcycle gods, and ride off with a smile and dertermined resolve to just deal with whatever adverse issue that may arise.
Me?? The Dyna has an extended warranty, the RKC doesn't...not sure what type that makes me!
So we trade stories, worries and experiences here, hoping to find a tip, a warning, a recommendation, or just peace of mind. I think that how we react to reports of the inevitable problems of a mechanical contrivance says more about ourselves than it does about the motor/tranny/etc. If you tend to be a "glass half empty" type, an extended warranty & Mega-Ultra-Supreme-O H.O.G. or AAA coverage may be a necessary part of your attaining peace of mind. Glass half full types will pocket that same money, expect the good graces of the motorcycle gods, and ride off with a smile and dertermined resolve to just deal with whatever adverse issue that may arise.
Me?? The Dyna has an extended warranty, the RKC doesn't...not sure what type that makes me!
Last edited by PKellyMc; Nov 2, 2010 at 04:03 AM.