More expensive doesn't mean a better bike

[therapist]

I have had friends who owned BMW's and they always seemed to be in the shop, and were very difficult to work on, for the backyard mechanic.


https://www.yahoo.com/autos/s/makes-most-reliable-motorcycle-100025261.html

[Chillerman]

The top four on the list are Japanese motorcycles.  Doesn't surprise me at all.

[solo1]

Consumer Reports also stated in another article that, although the Chevy Corvette ranks rather low on reliability, owner loyalty is high.

The same for BMW.  I have a friend that complains about BMW reliability, service, and the German reluctance to admit engineering mistakes, but still buys only BMW.

I'm more practical, my older Suzuki runs fine.  The same goes for Honda, Kaw, and Yamaha.

[old2soon]

AND AND my Phatt Ghurl is paid for!  Long as you is in da wind and happy-nuttin else SHOULD matter!  But like Wayne mentioned-brand loyalty plays a LOT into yer choice on yer next ride.  RIDE SAFE.

[G-Man]

Brand loyalty goes a long way.  My mother-in-law got a Rav4.  Then my brother-in-law got one, and then my father-in-law.  I hate them.  I'm not an SUV fan to begin with so making a mini SUV isn't gonna change my mind.  But, when the Mrs. needed a new car, guess what found its way into the driveway?  

Now that I own one, I can humbly say, I WAS RIGHT.  What a piece of crap.  You feel every piece of paper you drive over.  The gas pedal is too sensitive so you have to very gingerly depress the gas pedal from every stop.  And its looks are terrible (IMHO).    I asked my father-in-law what he thinks.  He went for the leather and the wheels and all the options, and he hates it.  He liked the older model which is why he got the newer one, but he's unhappy.  The others love'm.  

My Dad only buys American.  That's his brand, America.  

[..]

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/s/makes-most-reliable-motorcycle-100025261.html

[Chillerman]

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,77098.0.html

[..]

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,77098.0.html

Oops time for a thread merge.

[Robert]

Its not a backyard machine unless you get one of the early ones. To pull codes to erase codes to replace a ecu or any computer on the thing you need a scanner. That scanner is 15k out of the reach of most backyard mechs. There is just way to many electronics for most to deal with.

[solo1]

In this day, buying American can be in name only.  Of course a GMC, made in Mexico, is American (central that is)

As a ( former) union friend said to me 'Why are you driving a Mazda?"   I pointed to the UAW sticker on the side window...........He shut up.

When I had the Valk, i also pointed out the "Made in the US'

[rocketray]

Indians are made in Storm Lake Iowa---love the wife's new Chieftain--cruise control/anti-lock and interlocked brakes/fuel injection,adjustable windshield/real leather seat/coordinated flowing styling/much better suspended and better low speed handling---it makes my standard Valkyrie show it's age--a 13 y.o. short suspended ,stripped and ripped old man's  hooligan  day bike technology moves on but I am not selling...

[fudgie]

Indians are made in Storm Lake Iowa

Really? Wheres the plant at? I stay in Storm Lake every summer. Its where I learned them Oklahoma boys roll there joints all wrong. 

[robin]

Indians are made in Storm Lake Iowa

Really? Wheres the plant at? I stay in Storm Lake every summer. Its where I learned them Oklahoma boys roll there joints all wrong. 

[/color]
 

[cookiedough]

Yah, all 4 Jap brands are pretty close in reliability, but my brothers even then new in 1985 suzuki gs550L was always cold blooded unlike my 2 Honda's I have owned in my lifetime firing right up.

Don't ask the HD crowd even after they bitch about the repair bills, most will tell you if it isn't HD, it ain't worth riding.  Been told that several times by them drinking the kool-aid for too long. 

Interesting on the poor Can Am Spyder reliability rating.  I thought they were a quality, reliable bike well made??? Guess not???

[BnB Tom]

  Where is THIS puppy made?

http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot?gclid=CKLgjvPO5sQCFYQ8aQodJ2EAGQ

Saw one these on the street in Plano yesterday.  Looks cool AND strange  ???

[Earl in Pensacola]

That's the worst advertisment I've ever seen!!  It's just a bunch of "flashes". No real content, also notice that there is a female passenger in one scene and not in the next.  There is one of those things at the Pensacola shop and it's fugly!  IMHO!

[Pappy!]

Have a Slingshot in the area around here. Have seen it several times. Walked around it while it was parked a couple weekends ago. Very cool looking and am betting it would be a hoot to drive.

[Mr Whiskey]

Its where I learned them Oklahoma boys roll there joints all wrong. 

My Man!!

[Gryphon]

I'm probably going to regret asking this, but, after living in Oklahoma from '68 to 2010, exactly how are they doing it wrong? 

On the original topic, BMW rides are loyal to a fault, but the airheads and early oilheads were reliable.  The more modern ones have issues, but they are mostly related to failures to systems that didn't used to exist: electrically adjustable windshield, CANBUS electrics, the abundance of plastic that means it takes almost 2 hours to change a battery....

[fudgie]

I'm probably going to regret asking this, but, after living in Oklahoma from '68 to 2010, exactly how are they doing it wrong? 

Its a song we heard some locals playing in a hidden upstairs bar in Storm Lake IA. Every time we hear it, it takes us back and we laugh at a fun night we had. We make a joke of it from time to time. I havent smoked a rolled one since a DAC concert last april. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=zgd-tkjxQ94

[Gryphon]

Ahhh! Cross Canadian Ragweed.  It all makes sense now.  Been a few years since I've seen DAC, but I understand the condition.   

[Patrick]

We watched a couple the other day at the Pub that were all dressed up in their Harley suits. I said nice bike as we walked by while they were milling around their new spiffed up Glide. They then asked if we rode and I responded with a yes. They then asked what model Harley we had and I said we didn't have a Harley, they stuck their noses in the air and turned their backs. When they rode away, he was one of these guys that hammers the throttle and lets off of it seconds before pulling in the clutch.
I guess this might not go along with the OP, but...  They did have a ton of money in that ride, maybe just as much in their outfits. And the way he drives he may be soon complaining of high repair bills.

[..]

We followed a 2 up Harley last Saturday on hwy 60 from the stonepile to TWof Suches.

He was flying around the bends in a very controlled manner.

I was happy to sit back and follow. It's nice to watch a bike take bends when ridden well.

He eventually slowed a little and waved us by.

He pulled into the parking lot of TWO and I said thanks for letting us by and told him he had the bike set up very well for 2 up riding.

He thanked me and we all had a good lunch.

[fudgie]

Ahhh! Cross Canadian Ragweed.  It all makes sense now.  Been a few years since I've seen DAC, but I understand the condition.   

Saw him local in a town of like 50. Local bar brought him in. Played continuously for a hr and a half. Sat down the whole time and had to be helped on and off stage.