OK -

As I mentioned in another post I'm in the market to buy soon. An acquaintance who claims to have "really done his homework" told me this AM to reconsider a Harley purchase seriously given the potential maintenance/repair costs. He said he's known Harley owners who've been "bled dry" in repair costs and repeated tune-ups. Then he mentioned situations where HD riders in high elevations have had to stop to "tune" their bikes because of the leaner air (or what ever). I'm thinking if that's true, it's probably true for any air/fuel mixture dependent vehicle...

ANyway, yes - he may be on Honda's payroll but he is recommending I go Japanese. My heart is with HD but I am interested in the truth. If you can speak to this issue (which I'm sure has come up many times - or maybe not) I'd love to hearing the strait up on this.

Thanks.

 

What kind of experience are you looking for? Are you okay with the idea of regular maintenance on a vehicle? I mean stuff like new spark plugs and changing the oil once in a while. How new are you going to buy? Pre-EVO ('90 ??) engines have challenges you need to be ready to overcome. They aren't insurmountable, but there (so I've been told, that is. My engine's an EVO). If you're getting a brand-new twin cam, and you take care of it, following the maintenance schedule, you only have yourself to blame for any problems that arise.

There are "potential" problems in getting out of bed in the morning.

 

Your "aquaintance" needs to re-do his homework.....................

 

Buy the bike you want to buy, not the one your friends tell you to buy. The new HDs are as reliable or better than any jap bike out there.

 

Do your own research, all makes and models have their problems. Surf the metric forums and you'll find just as many negatives as you'll find here. A small minority can make loud noises on any forum and those that have a problem are the first to post it. The majority of all makes owners are satisfied with their purchases but don't often post it. Make up your own mind.

 

Harley's are really pretty low in maintenance. For example, you do not have to adjust values. This is something the metric bikes have to do on some interval that can run about $200-300. 2007 and up Harley's are now all fuel injected with ECM (computer) control. So you don't have to adjust for cold starts or high elevation (no manual chokes). They are belt driven, which is much better than a chain or shaft drive system due to low maintenance and efficiency. They get very good gas milage. Please compare.

On my current bike, a 2007 Softtail custom, it has been to shop for the initial 1000 mile check, and then back in at 15,000 for new tires. The fluid changes are simple to perform yourself. I ride with a friend who has a Honda VTX1300, and I beat the heck out of him on fuel milage. His goes all over the scale from about 35 to 45. I get consistent 47-50 MPG.

Then there is the cultural side of HD ownership that cannot even be measured. I didn't fully understand it until I was a HD owner.

 

That thinking is a carry over from the old AMF days that did almost put Harley under. Today they are as reliable as any other bike manufactured. My last bike prior to my present Sportster 1200 was a new 02 BMW R 1150 RT. That bike was in the shop atleast three times for warranty issues the first year I owned it. I've had my Sportster for two years this month and have not had one single issue with it. It's not that a guy can't have problems. If there were no problems there would be no need for warranties. But as I stated, they're as reliable as anything else made plus they'e a hell of alot more fun !!!

 

I think you see more old harleys on the road than jappers.Maybe just because most harley guys take good care of there rides.

 

Having "done his homework" and having experience with Harleyare two entirely different things. I've only owned 2 HD's but neither them has ever cost me anything other then general matinence costs which you'll have if you go metric, if you plan on taking care of what you own. I've got my Glide and 2 metric bikes, a 06 V-strom and 08 KLR, the metrics cost a little less to service I wouldn't say they're any more reliable. And if you're looking for a cruiser compare any HD side by side with a metric cruiser just looking at them you can tell a difference is build quality.

 

I switched from a VTX1800 to an Electra Glide and the Honda cost me more money in the long run, bad brake pads, leaky oil plug that had to be drilled out and retapped not to mention 26 to 30 MPG, my 06 Impala gets 29 to 31 for cripes sake