That sentiment warms my heart!

 

I like Harleys. I used to love Harleys. When I bought a service manual for my last one (07 wide glide) and learned that the run out tolerance for the crank shaft was .014" .... I changed my opinion from love the like and I'm more than leery about investing in one again. So, the HD engineers have more than dropped the ball on a big issue there. Were they forced to due to the accountants ? Probably. But there's still no call for that sort of crap.

 

Watching heads explode is entertaining!

 

I've put in some time with other manufacturers.

Need a part for that Harley? In stock or there within a day, max. And someone there at the dealer knows how to install it, and has probably done it before, enough to know how.

Need a BMW part? 3.5 weeks, from Germany. But the tech will probably do the job correctly, even if for big dollars.

Need something done to your Kawi, Honda or Yammie? Maybe somewhat less likely, but get in line with owners of tens of different models of motorcycles and equal numbers of powersport ATV's and watercraft. Probably, a tech who graduated from MMI yesterday will give it his best shot on your repair. Parts? They never break, so they don't stock a lot, but a replacement might be a week or two off when they do break.

I can live with the clock.

 

After spending 50 yrs supporting engineers in major company R&D labs I can say many of them have "Sheldon Cooperitis". Confidence is one thing but arrogance crosses the line. Few are both Designers and engineers. Until one thinks outside the Machinery Handbook (box) the results are evolutionary not revolutionary.

Example: 1950 FL to 1999 Evo vs 1950 Honda to 1999, evolution or revolution.

A large part of the Harley mystic is the purposeful resemblance between the Knuck and present. The Vrod, a high tech departure from the traditional Harley, although superior in all ways to a twincam, hasn't gained a large following. It just don't look like a Harley!

But then look what I ended up designing and fabricating for myself.

 

For what they charge for a new Harley, reliability should be much better. They do have the best paint, fit & finish of any vehicle made;PERIOD!

 

Vanos solenoids, etc etc. They definitely have an unearned reputation for quality, BUT.... they take care of you (while under warranty anyway) hassle free for the most part.

 

A few thoughts about the evolution of engineers:
Who remembers a manufacturer renowned to serve perfection, beauty and efficiency in a single package?
- MV-Agusta perhaps for people of my generation who could not afford to own such a bike in the days they were world champions.
- What happens when we see an MV Agusta dealership today? Time stops.

BMW Harley Guzzi Ariel (and others) were often owned by riders as old as their bikes. We all learned to fix things and by all means stay out of trouble because wear parts were very expensive. There were many machinists and dreamers amongst us

Then Honda arrived on the market with their 750 'Four'. Japanese engineers used a Quality Assurance concept that was new in the world of motorcyles and forced respect so we gradually got rid of our 'Western' bikes and greasy fingernails. The days of low cost Japanese clocks and dolls were over.

+++ 40 years have passed +++
Harley is still a dream, MOCO engineers follow (but don't precede) evolution and simplifications offered by technology. Most instabilities are now electrical and require a different approach in diagnostic.

I observe most issues discussed in this forum are unknown to Harley owners on this side of the pond. I refuse to imagine there are different quality standards between US and International markets.
At the time of purchase of our Electra Glide I had in mind quality, reliability and simplicity of design; my wife liked the color and chose her seat.

We are both very happy with our Harley, I have a mechanical watch that looses 2 minutes every month and many riding projects in mind.

 

Since Harley Customers seem to want to keep the Look, Sound, And Heritage of the Air Cooled Motor I think Engineers at Harley have made great changes on the Harley over past 10 years. BMW is starting to go to Water Cooling on its most popular models. Air cooled motors with government putting clamps to you is a balancing act for Harley that I think they are still doing well.

Hap

 

Thread Hijack..sorta...

being in Aviation and dealing with imagineers a lot........

why is it always this way?

They give some prints you build it.. and it don't fit or work...

they come down and look and say.....

Well you make it fit and I'll draw it...

BS!!! you get paid more than me you YOU fix it.....