bought a harley

[jshram]

Well, a Harley is not on the bucket list for me.  It always amazes me that when you talk to folks and find out they ride, they tell you, "Yeah, and I ride a Harley..." as though that ends the discussion.  Sure, then they find out how MUCH and how FAR I ride... end of discussion.  And I know there are iron-butt Harley guys out there, still.....

Anyway, not bashing Harleys (well, maybe a little), but about Forums.

I've owned many-many Hondas, Triumphs, a BMW, Kawasakis and now the Valk.  I've frequented all the boards for fix-its because they ALL need tinkering, even my Honda ST1300, which was a great bike... but if you read the forums you'd think it wallowed, did high-speed death chatter that killed every rider, cooked your nads off (well, it did do that, that's why I only have four children and not five.. kidding), dripped radiator fluid all over and on and on.. that's what is on that board, and really, you can't get a much more reliable bike.

Triumph, more of the same (though these bikes needed more tinkering) but they are great bikes also.  BMW - yeah..same... plus they cost twice as much to work on and independent shops won't touch them...

Anwyay, I'd like to share an observation.  While I know heated issues come up (let me say OIL), folks on this board are VERY civil compared to the ST board, the Concours board and others.. in fact, the ST board was so contentious, I left and couldn't wait to sell that piece of sh$t.. and it wasn't a POS, it was the folks that rode them that I grew tired of... same is kinda (not as much) true with the Concours board, want a fight?  Say just about anything and they attack you. Heaven forbid you post a technical item on the general board, it gets moved instantly and you get schooled.....  Here you guys do politics, religion, gripes about Harleys or sport bikes.. very few flames that I've seen anyway and I've been looking.  Pretty gracious board, and that says a lot about the riders, and the bike.... find THAT with a Harley crowd..

People having problems and getting fixes is what is on a board.. grow up, dude.  Harley boards are no different, I'm sure... but how folks react on the board?  That is a whole different story and does that say something about what group you want to be a part of?  Maybe.

[Savago]

Dear friends

This forum was one of the primary factors that made me buy an I/S 99 with 65K miles (now approaching 68K!). Because I knew that I would find *correct* information and help whenever I needed.
:-)

I generally enjoy nice conversations with Harley guys. Once in SJ, I parked close to a HD v-rod and when I returned, the owner was looking at my Valkyrie and was really curious about it and said " _ Man... this monster of yours makes my vrod feel like a pussy cat!".

Of course, I had to show him the 'Made in USA' stamp in the engine block when he said that Honda's are not really made here as HDs (but decided to spare him of the 'Union Made in USA' dirty trick that Harley uses to hide the fact that most of the parts are imported).

In another situation, when I rode to Yosemite and stopped at the gas station a bit past the park main entrance, one HD guy was trying to figure out 'What type of V2 motor is this?' and was amazed that it really was a flat 6.

And more recently, when I rode to Alice's restaurant, 2 guys riding full bagger HDs stopped at my I/S to look at the engine and had a good laugh when they read the 'size matters' logo I just had installed in the engine side (in the fashion of another forum member).

On both cases, the HD owners said that they send their bikes to the dealer even to do regular maintenance like oil and filters. Perhaps this is why HD owners don't talk much about fixing their bikes, not because the bikes never need it, but because their owners never do the job themselves. Finally,  the HD guys I've talked to said that they spend in an average 400 to 600 bucks per year on performing the basic maintenance. In 10 years of ownership, that is 6K, the price of an I/S!

I will not say that I would never buy a HD. If I ever find one that is rightly priced, I would consider it (but let's face it, they are overly priced bikes by nature). Currently, my primary source of worry is: what am I going to do when my valkyrie dies with 300K miles?. Should I buy another one *now* and safe it as a parts bike?

It is really disappointing that Honda no longer makes a 'cruiser-style' valkyrie (I don't consider the new valkyrie worthy the title but that is another can of worms).

Finally, it is a bit unfair to compare a 2014 bike with a bike that is 10-17 years old. Minor things will always need replacing (i.e. o-rings, etc) and there is always the expected wear (bearings, etc).


Best regards


Savago

[hubcapsc]

I liked taking my Harley to be worked on at the Harley shop. They (Greenville SC) did
a jamb up job, and I could watch them while they were doing it.

-Mike

[cma1]

not sure how Harley sells anything, but they sure do. I ran by just for grins, the Harley shop owner has been trying to get me in there to buy one for years, so I rode over and just to give him a thrill said I thought I might be ready, just to stay current I was looking at the Harley trike, as I ride a valk trike, I was trying to maintain belivability. they wanted 36K for their trike and offered me 8K for my valk trike ( I can show receipts for 20K )  plus the original price of the bike.

I asked him how he could ask 36K for his and only feel mine was worth 8K. his answer (are you ready ? you can see it coming can't you ?

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'Well, because its a Harley"

[salty1]

not sure how Harley sells anything, but they sure do. I ran by just for grins, the Harley shop owner has been trying to get me in there to buy one for years, so I rode over and just to give him a thrill said I thought I might be ready, just to stay current I was looking at the Harley trike, as I ride a valk trike, I was trying to maintain belivability. they wanted 36K for their trike and offered me 8K for my valk trike ( I can show receipts for 20K )  plus the original price of the bike.

I asked him how he could ask 36K for his and only feel mine was worth 8K. his answer (are you ready ? you can see it coming can't you ?

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'Well, because its a Harley"

His answer doesn't surprise me. Harley enthusiasts are really wrapped up in the mystique of the brand. I don't see it, but each to their own.

[BF]

To some, every bike is a Harley.

I know most on this board have been asked at least once about their Valkyrie....."What kind of Harley is that?"

[The emperor has no clothes]

not sure how Harley sells anything, but they sure do. I ran by just for grins, the Harley shop owner has been trying to get me in there to buy one for years, so I rode over and just to give him a thrill said I thought I might be ready, just to stay current I was looking at the Harley trike, as I ride a valk trike, I was trying to maintain belivability. they wanted 36K for their trike and offered me 8K for my valk trike ( I can show receipts for 20K )  plus the original price of the bike.

I asked him how he could ask 36K for his and only feel mine was worth 8K. his answer (are you ready ? you can see it coming can't you ?

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'Well, because its a Harley"

I agree with your sentiment. But because you have receipts for $20,000 of equipment plus the cost of your bike means nothing. A bike or anything else for that matter is worth what someone will pay for it. How much you have into it is illrelavant (sp.).

[hotglue #43]

The problem is.. if ya want a Valk...  it will be at least 11 years old....with for the most part an unknown history....  I have one in my shop right now that lost 2 quarts of oil coming home from Colorado... and that was while it was riding on a trailer...Picked it up for a friend... have not had a chance to find the problems yet...need to powerwash my trailer deck....Oh,,,.. my Harley does not leak..  and neither do my other 2 Valks...  If it is mechanical.... at some point.. you will have issues... just sayin'

[Rams]

As a good friend of mine says, if it as tires or breasts, you're gonna have problems with it eventually.

Edited:  Actually, I cleaned that up a bit.

My Valkyrie has two tires, so far, it hasn't been much of a problem with the exception of some of the changes that I made to it.    Probably my fault, all the original Honda stuff is still performing as intended.   As far as me ever owning an HD, it won't be an air cooled V Twin.    So, I'm not thinking it'll be any time soon.

[cma1]

I just get a bit weary of all the Harley bashing whenever the name is mentioned. I really try (in my line of work) to respect every riders choice of motorcycle. I have never felt it was what you ride, but if you ride.

I spend a great deal of time at 1%'er rallies, it's amazing how folks that will bash a Harley at the drop of a hat, never seem to go bash them around a club of 1%'ers, as a matter of fact I was at a 1%'er function last wed. night and most of the club members were very interested in my valk, with never a word about it being a "rice grinder" my experience (and I have been doing this for 25 years) is that there is actually very little "other brand" bashing in the Harley world, they just love their bikes the same as we do and feel that "men" have better things to do than the childish bashing of brands.

you have to go to a HOG event to hear that, but even there not near what you hear in our world.

Harleys are very nice, very high quality bikes. they were designed as street bikes and were never intended to ride cross country. over the years Harley has come up with baggers, but unfortunetly didn't keep up with the times and use the same engine in most everything, so they aren't quite as good as jap bikes that are water cooled. but that said, our CMA chapter had a 85 year old member that had never missed Sturgis or Daytona, and rode to them every year on a 76 Harley till his death a few years back. his spin on why his never broke down (and it didn't) was the uncontrollable urge to modify them, his was stone stock. that sound familiar to anyone here ?

[Jess Tolbirt]

the only this i disagree with the above is this statement,, didn't keep up with the times and use the same engine in most everything, so they aren't quite as good as jap bikes that are water cooled,, while yes they always used the v-twin, changes occurred regularly,,today there is a water cooled limited model,,

[Yfx4]

If it has 2 (or 3) wheels it is fine by me. I ride what I like. You ride what you like.......we both ride. 

[cma1]

I wasn't aware they had finally done that. that is definitely a change in the right direction