Harley owners, Need some advice...

[digital_blue]

Okay, so after months of working and saving, I've finally decided to buy a Harley. I've been told by several people to avoid Harleys due to oil leakage problems, bad ride, bad handling, parts rattling loose, frequent breakdowns, Parts breaking, etc... These people are from an "older" generation and only have experience with the older Harleys. I am particularly interested in the Fatboy and the Road King models; I am also taking the V-rods into consideration.

Could someone here offer some advice as to these claims?

Cheers

 

[Tech_Junkie]

Yes Harleys leak, rattle, and can be temperamental. But that is part of the attraction. The experience bonds you with the bike because you put your blood and sweat into it. The new ones are built better and have less problems. If you are not mechanically inclined then I would go import.

 

[rangedunits]

Jerry has one and i think john_lawson has one too.

 

[john_lawson]

Well an older harley like 85 and previous is pre evolution different cases differeny heads pretrty much everything -like the pan heads had a automatic chain oiler and yes pissed out a little too much oil causing the dreaded oil leak

but newer models are much better I have a 2002 sportster runs great no oil leaks
and hareley are just a different kind of ride

V-rods are designed by Porsch for harleys great fast Ride
fatboys and roadkings have the new twin cam motors and are pretty sweet if you over wind or over rev you can damage the internaly balanced crankshafts so you need to be carefull

actually if you do burnouts this damage can occur

 

[lasersbee]

Here is my ride....

I love my bike... it hasn't let me down in 5 years...
I've only invested in good quality Harley oil... Filters and plugs..
on a regular basis...
And new rubber when needed...

This is a 1340 FXST (lowered) Softail... 1987...

The paint job was done by a well known Quebec bike artist named Fitto...

Google Image Result for http://www.airbrushfitto.com/Fitto.jpg


I'd like to see an Asian import look this good after 22 years...

Oh.. the few oil leaks after a ride... I fixed by putting a piece
of scrap carboard under the "leak"...

It's only a few drops... not like a half quart...as some
seem to believe...
Once you ride a Harley... I can't see any biker go back..

Yeah... I started with a 150cc Honda when I was 16...

BTW... I'm in the process of building a bike with my old
rebuilt 1340 Shovel Head engine...

Almost forgot.... you can't beat the sound of a Harley..
especially with straight pipes....

Jerry

 

[Tech_Junkie]

I only had 1 hog. A '79 AMF Sportster 1200. Total turd. I liked speed so most of my bikes were imports. My favorite being my '78 Honda CBX 1000 with NOS kit. 6 cylinders pushing almost 200 HP with the NOS. Man I wish I still had that bike. Also a'79 Kawasaki KZ1000 MKII punched out to a 1225cc. I had a 60's something BSA hard tail chopper with a 45 degree rake and chrome BSA tank. It handled like a loaf of bread LOL. A '76 Triumph Tri cylinder 750 chopper. It was small but had a springer front end, funky paint and a 3 foot sissy bar. A couple of Honda 350s, a 360T, and a CB750 I won in a card game.

 

[lasersbee]

If I wanted speed and performance like when I was a much younger...
I'd buy a High powered Sport Bike.. or even the new Twin Turbo 4
cylinder V-Max...

But I really don't feel like cutting my life any shorter than it needs to
be... I know me... and I'd probably kill myself running a "Bomb"...

Standard "off the line" Harleys are not what you would call performance
bikes... but I wouldn't put my butt on anything else...

@T_J... what is your ride now...


Jerry

 

[Tech_Junkie]

Yeah that is the reason I stopped riding. I almost died 3 or 4 times. Mostly from white lining.

 

[john_lawson]

Hey Mark look at my Avatar thats actually my bike lol
1978 cbx ss 1000 11.5 1/4 mile 130 hp at the crankshaft
its so fast its kinda scarey pulls so hard that your wrist hurt

 

[lasersbee]

I hear you bro...............

Jerry

 

[lasersbee]

Hey Mark look at my Avatar thats actually my bike lol
1978 cbx ss 1000 11.5 1/4 mile 130 hp at the crankshaft
its so fast its kinda scarey pulls so hard that your wrist hurt

Hey John...

I was meaning to ask you about your Avatar...
Now I know... Do you still have it or just the 1200...IIRC..

Jerry

 

[john_lawson]

its on my back porch i non opt it it needs a front master cylinder
tags and insurance oh and a battery now lol

I have two actually
1 is a parts bike 1 is complete
also have a cb 750-four 1976 non opt
2002 harely 883 jetted w/straight pipes -SSSLOOOW
actally kinda fast but not compared to my 6 cylinder CBX ss1000

 

[lasersbee]

Two cylinder Push Rod Harleys will always be slower than
6 cylinder Overhead cam Jap bikes....

But I will still only put my butt on a Harley...
That's my story and I'm sticking with it...:crackup:

Jerry

 

[Tech_Junkie]

Hey Mark look at my Avatar thats actually my bike lol
1978 cbx ss 1000 11.5 1/4 mile 130 hp at the crankshaft
its so fast its kinda scarey pulls so hard that your wrist hurt

Thats funny John I never noticed it was a CBX LOL. Mine pulled high 10's till I blew the head off. Those bikes are collectors items now. I'm jealous now...thanks LOL.

 

[digital_blue]

Thanks for the input guys, I'll probably end up renting both bikes before buying... At this point, I'm leaning towards the fatboy...