| Author | Message | ||
     Aldaytona |
My 68 Sportster that I bought new and sold to my best friend when I bought my 83 FXRS new is still running strong as is my 83 Shovel Head. There aren't any/many Jap bikes from the 60's still around except in collections on display. The statement "Jap bikes are better and a better value" is the 4th biggest LIE. Harley-Davidson bikes are better, even though most of their yuppie arse* tough guy poser riders and their husbands aren't. *thanks again to our brothers across the pond.  | ||
| Ironken |
I think that Harleys are a good bike.....I just sold one. It is just some of the wanna-be dopes that ride them make the whole lifestyle laughable. A term that I like to use for them are, "B.I.B. or biker in a box." I would tend to think that most in this forum are not bikers but motorcyclists......correct me if I am wrong.....Kenny | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I would tend to think that most in this forum are not bikers but motorcyclists......  | ||
| Xl1200r |
I have to go with some of the others on here - I firmly believe that HD builds a better cruiser than anyone else. Style: HD just has it. Everyone else' bikes never seem to look quite right to me - like the proportions are just off a little. Materials: Again, no questions hands up to the HDs. I have spend a LOT of time around Japanese cruisers - build quality aside, the Jap bikes just feel cheap - both in my hand and in my eye. Build Quality: AT LEAST as good as any Honda, Yamaha, etc. Again, look to the above posts about longevity of a Harley. Value: This depends on what you look at. I did little research assignment once in college - when you compare things like engine size and wheelbase, the only rip-offs in the Harley World are the Softails. A Sportster can be had for not much more than a value-priced Jap cruiser with similar engine displacement, and Dynas don't cost much more these days. Resale: Need I say more? It's not as good as it used to be, but it's still TONS better than anything else out there. Heritage: They're American, baby. Buying American products is important to me. I ride and drive American and feel no need to change my stance. Emotional Bond: As corny as it sounds, it's there. I owned a harley and you could feel it every time you got on. I had the chance to ride a Suzuki M109 R - the undisbuted total bad-ass of the import cruiser world. Nice bike - rode well, felt decent, but dodn't "connect" with me. And by the way, it costs as much as a Softail. In short, when it comes to buy another cruiser (which will happen someday), no one will be getting my hard earned cash but Harley-Davidson. | ||
| Barker |
I cant stand the HD's. If had to pick one, the nightster is my fav. if I had a cruzr:  The other american made v-twin heavy-weight. | ||
| Swampy |
The other thing about American bikes, after years of rounding out Japanese phillips head screws, you can really appreciate the way American bikes come apart, they are much more substantial. | ||
| Jackbequick |
"..Braindead would be my guess..." That should be "brain dead", two words. I take that as an intended insult and otherwise unworthy of response or further discussion. "..So it's just nostalgia and image?..." Yes and no respectively. Riding my Dyna is a lot more like driving a 50-60's vintage car than it is like riding any HoKawSuYa cruiser. But I love every minute of it. The vibration and stuff is just part of the package. It does not detract from anything. There is an otherwise unexplained allure to the sound and feel of the engine on a H-D cruiser that "gets" many of us. It got me on the Buell M2, and it has got me again on the Dyna. As for image, I and many others do not don a costume to ride. I don't go places to be seen. I don't gut out my exhaust system to make noise that draws attention to me. I like to think I am a model for the image of a guy that is simply happy with his motorcycle and riding it. Nothing more than that. Further to "image", adding chrome and other adornments here and there has been going on for years on just about every motorized conveyance, tool or toy, known to mankind. I don't know when or where it becomes a character flaw but the mention of it as if it were a character flaw is empty rhetoric or stereotyping or something like that. Criticize me for my choice of a wife or home, that would make as much sense. "..Which non HD cruiser is better?..." I don't think any them are better unless you want to park a bike and not ride it for longer periods of time, do little or no work on it yourself ever, or don't want to find a oil spot under it occasionally. In that case you are less likely to be happy with a H-D cruiser than you are with a HoKaySuYa cruiser. Which H-D cruiser is better? I think it boils down to two considerations. The distances traveled and the weight carried. For commuting and day riding, mostly solo, and the occasional (once a year or so) long trip I would say the Dyna family is the best choice. I have proven this to be true for me the last two riding seasons. For more or mostly two up riding, carrying more baggage, and more frequent and longer (multiple day) trips I think a Road King is a better choice. I have not proven this to myself yet but might in the future. Another consideration that I think applies to both Buells and H-D cruisers is that of whether or not you work on your own bike. I do, I enjoy doing it, I don't want anyone else to do it for me. If you want let someone else do the work, it will probably need to be done more often for a H-D cruiser than for a HoKawSuYa cruiser. And it servicing costs may be higher for the H-D than the others. And and if you do not care if the motorcycle you ride has a soul, the HoKawSuYa would be easier to own. Anyone that wants to spend a happy hour or so on a Dyna can come to my house on a motorcycle. We'll follow each other around on each other's motorcycles for a while. I reserve the right to rescind the offer if I don't like your looks. And I also reserve the right to terminate the ride early. And you have the same privileges. :>) Ride on! On anything, just ride! Jack (Message edited by jackbequick on September 04, 2007) | ||
| Teeps |
I really liked the Harley Night Train; but I couldn't justify 17k for second rate vehicle used for hind teat motoring. So I bought a Honda VTX, also made in the USA. After a year I decided cruisers were not for me; so now I ride a Ulysses. | ||
| Court |
Can't hang the Phillips on the Japanese. .
I just dig Harley-Davidsons. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I don't have a Harley, but I want one. Why? Because of this...  ... not an XLCR, btw. | ||
| Jayvee |
Well that's not a "cruiser" in the current used of the term... If that was a production model, I'd most likely be riding that instead of my M2 though. | ||
| Jon |
Wild Hogs. Hogs of destiny. Please Hog responsibly. | ||
| Swampy |
Thank you Court! But, I was attempting to comment on was how easily the Japanese Phillip Head screws rounded, either because of their softness, or because they used some form of primitive Loctite at the factory. I thank Mr. Henry F. Phillips, for inventing the design, but as executed by 1970s Japanese manufacturing I have cursed the design as it often required hammers and chisels to remove. | ||
| Jaimec |
Actually, there is a special screwdriver for use on Japanese Philips head screws. And I'm not trying be facetious either. (Message edited by jaimec on September 04, 2007) | ||
| Jaimec |
Aha! Found it: http://www.katun.com/products/toolsjis.html | ||
| Greenlantern |
Actually, there is a special screwdriver for use on Japanese Philips head screws. and next your going to tell me it's faster,cheaper and more reliable!  | ||
| Percyco |
Plastic fenders and engine covers....... Nope, I will keep my H-D  | ||
| Greenlantern |
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| Cmhxb9 |
Gotcha, Court. Carefully choose all of your screws. | ||
| Court |
I am soooooooooo embarrassed. A thousand pardons.  | ||
| Nondual |
So.... It's 'nostalgia', easy to work on (thank God, because you WILL be working on it often), and some indefinable 'soul' attribute. Sorry guys, I think you just drank the kool-aid. As for cruisers I think are better than Harley: Suzuki M109 R Yamaha V-Max Triumph Rocket III | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
When a half a million people flock to Milwaukee to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Yamaha, then I'll think about buying a Yami bike. You buy more than just a bike when you buy a HD. You buy into a piece of history, legend, attitude and family. | ||
| Rex |
HD has a great product. I love the victory motorcycles myself. I would have a hard time picking between a harley davidson and a victory. no matter which cruiser you buy, people are going to say is that your harley? Of the japanese bikes, I like the kawasaki drifters and the kawasaki mean streak the best. fits better, better brakes, etc on the mean streak. quality. probably harley has the best overall quality. more support, more aftermarket, etc. I have a triumph bonneville. I think of it as a standard classic, somie would call it a cruiser. I like the victory 8 ball myself. REX | ||
| Rex |
I also like the new nightster sportster. and the new just promoted harleys with the one seat. look in the new cycle world for them. rex (Message edited by rex on September 04, 2007) | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>some would call it a cruiser. << Then some would find themselves in an argument with me. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>That should be "brain dead",<< I spotted that little gem of irony too. | ||
| Tattoodnscrewd |
easy to work on (thank God, because you WILL be working on it often), I think you just drank the kool-aid. Here are my thoughts on this .. and as much as you think guys around here 'drank the Kool-aid' ... sounds like you drank the Sunny D or whatever ... The stereotype of all Harley's always breaking down and needing to be worked on is from days of old (read - AMF days).. (And I am one who spent 8 years on a Honda Shadow ACE VT1100 - I will probably never go back to a 'metric cruiser' .. that's not to say I don't dig old CB750'S or bikes like it .. but the current definition of a cruiser is going to be an HD when my day comes) Harley's over the years have become just as reliable as the metrics .. difference being - many (no - I didn't say all) HD riders do ride the piss out of their bikes .. and they run forever (I have put over 12000 miles on my Buell's over the past year alone (Harley motor) and had minimal issues that weren't my own fault or the fault of the previous owner, or regular maintenance (oil changes, brakes, etc..) - other than modifying or customizing).. I don't care what kind of vehicle you ride - they all require work .. difference is - parts are actually usually more for metrics - good luck finding a decent dealer to buy parts .. dealer network ? In a metric world it doesn't exist ... Most HD riders work on their own bikes because they enjoy to, and it is easy to do - and the majority of the work they do is to customize it, or regular maintenance .. these bikes are made to be customized .. and that is another reason people get into them - Go check out your esteemed metric cruisers and see what kind of options you have that don't come from the factory .. not many .. Big dealer network there for you if you own a Harley .. big benefit Point is - no matter what spin you put on what everyone here says (and that is exactly what you are doing) - Harley's are good bikes, reliable, and for a cruiser, they are good looking bikes that keep their value much longer than any metric cruiser will (I will agree they are a bit on the expensive side though). I remember Honda getting sued over the ACE that I owned because they wanted to get the same lumpy idle and rumble of a Harley by going with a single pin crank .. never did quite get it .. but as stated prior - metric companies DO copy and mimic HD stylings - hell - the ACE I had had half chrome covers of the top of the heads to look like a rocker box and cover, just to look like a Harley .. so yes - to a degree they are wannabe's .. will I say it's not a real bike - will I not ride with you if you are on one? .. course not .. but fact is fact .. metrics are copycats at best .. ..But I am sick of people bashing bikes because you don't like them - or because you drank whatever flavor of Kool-Aid you and/or your friends bought into .. Also sick of Harley bashing because of a reputation of poor quality that is nearing 30 years old and no longer accurate .. | ||
| Jackbequick |
I bought a Hodaka in 1966, my first Japanese bike. It had Phillips head machine screws all over it that had heads that stripped nearly every time they were removed. I would have to drill the heads until they fell of, unscrew the shanks, and replace the screws. I went to Sears and for like $6 or $8 I bought a impact screw driver like this that came with large and small Phillips bits. You put that in the screw, turn it clockwise a little to get it fully extended, then hit it a average to moderately hard blow with a 2 lb. hammer (the weight of the hammer minimizes rebound). After I got that tool I don't think I ever again stripped a head on a Phillips head machine screw on a bike. Any bike, Japanese, Spanish, German, or whatever. And I still have it. Like H-D motorcycles, it is made in America! I'm going to take my impact screwdriver for a ride on my Dyna tomorrow as a reward for 32 years of flawless performance. The things we take for granted... The Robertson square drive screw is a good screw. It has less driving surface than a Phillips screw but the bits can be perfectly fitted and will not rise out from turning forces. But the slightest axial misalignment between the driver bit and the square pocket starts pulling chips of metal out of the square drive pocket and can quickly destroy the drive pocket and let the driver slip. In comparison, a Phillips screw will handle slight misalignments with little or not damage. Jack | ||
| Road_thing |
(thank God, because you WILL be working on it often), Not mine. 78,000 miles so far on the '96 FLHR. Sum total of mechanical failures to date: 1) Clutch--replaced with Barnett stack when the spring-loaded plate thingy came apart at about 50,000 miles. 2) Clutch cable--at about 65,000 miles, the original cable let go. 3) Belts/pulleys--75,000 miles, had a couple of holes in the belt. Probably due to the fact that the bike lives about a mile and a half from the start of the pavement. Other than those items, everything has been either routine maintenance, performance or appearance upgrades, or repairing crash damage. It's OK with me if you don't like HD's, but you'll have to go some to convince me that they're not high quality machines. rt | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
How about "If I have to explain, You wouldn't understand"? |
