Why do people love Harley Davidson motorcycles?

Question

The way I see it, they are overpriced, underengineered, slow, heavy, and loud. I don't understand it. Why pay more money for something that lacks quality, performance, and reliability?

Answer 1

They are people who are more interested in a brand name and a fake image than quality and performance.  They don't see riding a motorcycle as a sport, they see it as a lifestyle or a fashion accessory.

I've gotta laugh at the guy who said other bikes vibrate too much, last time I road a Harley it was like sitting on a jackhammer which I havn't done but aside from the fact that you don't get as greasy sitting on a jackhammer, I imagine it would be the same unpleasentness.

Answer 2

Pull you head out of yourself, since when do Hd's lack quality, performance, and reliability. You must be talking to some kid who can't afford a HD and has to go with some hornet looking rice rocket. After riding for 45 years, started at 7 years, and for the most part have always had Japanese bikes. That was because I was mostly riding in the dirt. They, the Japanese make fine dirt bikes and I guess their road bikes are good also, but they change the engines, frames, and just about everything every year. Now you can call it backward and stuck in the past, but when something works and you can still sell the same basic V-Twin for years and years, there has to be something right about it. I feel the best thing is the low frequency vibration is much easier to contend with when you are on the road for hours and hours. I once road my KZ1000 for 2 hours on the freeway and my butt was numb for hours afterward. I now ride my HD for hours and have no problem at all. I like the big thump-thump sound as opposed to the constant high pitched scream and vibration of a 12,000 rpm superbike. Yah, they rocket real well, but my 88 cu in HD has a lot of balls at the low end and is enough for me until the warranty runs out and then I'll start working it over just like I did with cars of the mid 60's and 70's when I was young. I fact there is a lot of similarity between those pushrod V-8's of the 60's, 70's, h**l even the Corvette today has the same basic pushrod motor that came out in the 50's, yes the 265 cu inch V-8 from the 50's is basically the same overhead valve, under head camshaft, pushrod motor that is used today and the Corvette lovers still like that in their Z-06. So where do you get off saying under-engineered, overpriced, slow. Yes they are loud, and yes they are pricey, which by the way, they hold their value better than the Japanese bikes. Those Japanese bikes will devalued to nothing in 7-10 years and nobody is going to ride them after that. Talk about fads, these bikes are buy today and buy again tomorrow. I am an engineer and tend to disagree with the under engineered comment as well.

So the way I see it is that someone has been filling your head with sawdust and you’re just asking a stupid question.

Answer 3

Tom B, Joe B, Sara B, whatever. We get your point.

Answer 4

take it that u have not seen my night rod special..... hehe engineered just right (liquid cooled, gas tank under seat, abs breaks, etc etc), 650 lbs and not loud at all

price is not so bad $16,700.00

Answer 5

If thats's the "way you see it" , you ain't looking at it the right way.  Is Joe B your brother?

Answer 6

because i like them. and don,t give a **** what others think !!

Answer 7

If this is the way that you see it,then you probably won't understand the answer.Have you ever owned one?

Answer 8

OMG Joe B in female form! Just what we needed.The Yahoo answers section for bikes has truely gone to h**l.I'm starting to think even coming here is a total waste of time.

Answer 9

another troll related to joe b and magz.

Answer 10

well as for me its the sound, and the way they look.I take it a bit further by building my own, ridgid frame,40 degrees of rake with at least 6inches extention of the forks.no front brake or fender. suicide shift with the clutch lever atached to the shifter,side mount the licence plate and tail light. mustang tank, solo seat and p pad and of course kickstart only. Now thats a real bike!!!

Answer 11

because americans take faaaaaaar too much pride in 'american made'...

although i can't really say **** about it... i want a 68 camaro ss... american made muscle... it will guzzle gas like a wine-o at a wine expo... but i STILL MUST HAVE IT....

it's a status symbol...

""The way I see it" You obviously are clueless. Why does anyone desire a bike that sounds like a moped, looks like melted chewing gum, is REALLY uncomfortable to ride (though Buffy will never admit it), is made of 2-liter pop bottles, and usually painted tutti-frutti q***r colors?

REAL men like a little noise, Harley's engineering is top-shelf, and the only slow Harley is a broken Harley. If you ever rode one you would know. But you haven't, have you?"

why do you insist on annoying everyone with loud *** pipes? it doesn't make you any safer on the bike... and ti's just as annoying as those ******* who go down the road rattling my house with their bass at 2 in the morning..... why do you insist on buying and owning a bike brand name that is known for puking fluid out of every seal and crevice?

can't say you don't have a point on the comfort portion though... as for the rest, you're just like xbox/ps3 fanboys....

oh i don't ride a cruiser or a crotch rocket, so i'm not taking sides.... i'm speaking from facts...

BTW american made **** can be (and often is) just as bad as **** from china or taiwan.... whether anyone here will actually admit it or not... ford's american made is it not? i rest my case.

Answer 12

Look at resale value of a 20 year old Harley Davidson vs any other motorcycle in the world.

There is nothing that can compare in the coolness factor.

Case in point, virtually every Japanese motorcycle manufacturer started making V-twins and styling them to look as much as possible as HD, but they still can't get it right.

Sure you can buy faster ones that are worth maybe a thousand $$ in 10 years.

People that know . . . . . . buy the best, they have for a hundred years, and not about to stop now.

Answer 13

You answered your own question without even knowing it.

Since when has love ever had anything to do with thinking?

I'm not gonna bother with the rest.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Even if I disagree.

BTW, my HD has given me less trouble than any of the 6 other bikes I've had. 3 brands, as well.

Answer 14

years ago, they were one of the better bikes, the japanese bikes didnt do any better. Then the japanese bikes took off and frankly kicked our butts. Now Harley and Victory are trying to be better then the j*p bikes in the cruiser and muscle bike areas.

People love them for what they thought they stood for (America rules, even though they are barely able to be called american anymore) and of course old timmers who remember when they ruled the roads.

Answer 15

I wish i knew where you lived so i could take one of my

overpriced

underenginerred

slow heavy

loud

lacking quality,performance,reliability motorcycle's

AND BLOW YOUR DOOR'S OFF.

by the way your obviously an idiot !!!

Answer 16

First. HD do not lack quality anymore...they used to and anyone saying different has never had one.  "It's not a harley until it leaks oil" is a well known saying for obvious reasons, but that has changed.  They do shake more and as a result require to be attended to, but what bike or even car does not for that matter!

Second. A HD rider is not interested in going as fast as he/she can nor interested in flying around corners at neck breaking speeds.  A HD rider is often either an individual that is patriotic yet probably does not agree with the government now or someone that is trying to fit in.  Those that are trying to fit in are the ones that have all the HD gear.  

Yes they are overpriced, as are most name brand anything...sport bikes the same way.  The bikes are "loud" as the sound of a HD is distinct from any other bike and almost a trademark (not legally).  I dont have anything against Hondas etc...my wife rides a Honda Magna.

I see others on the sports bikes and I ask myself what they have to prove? Go real fast for what? They aren't in a real race and speed is not what matters in life.  Ask any women that!  The difference between those that ride sports bikes and those that ride cruisers (HD or otherwise) is substantial.

Answer 17

This is the question of the age.  But I must disagree on one of your points, the quality of the new Harleys is very good.  They have been developed into reliable bikes. There performance is not up to par with most any foreign bike of over 600cc, they do not like crooked roads.  As far as handling goes, it is adequate f0r the designed use of the bike, go straight down a reasonably good road, at a moderate speed. Brakes are not excellent, but are adequate for the designed use of  the bike.  I am an old chap who has been fortunate enough to get around and see a lot of the world, Europe mostly.  I have observed that most Americans are the worlds living experts on what is at the tip of their noses, but cannot see to their elbows.  So, if it is American, it has to be good.  At least 2 steps ahead of anyone else.   They never look to see what "everything else" is.  So, since it is American, flashy, showy, huge, and chrome plated, it has to be best.  It goes along with the life style of the normal Harley rider.  Happy to putt down the road at a reasonable speed, Stay away from real curves, and Oh God, do not go over tjhe speed limit.  (Not much, anyway).  

So, as you see, the Harley fits the American life style, Loud, showy, safe ('cause it won't go too fast), and "Everybody that is anybody" has one (their beer drinking friends).  

I hope this answers your question, it will make a lot of folks mad, but thast is their problem, i did not tell them to get a Harley.

I ride a 1990 Kaw ZX11C, 1109 cc, cams, 4>1 pipe, dual ram air.  Aprox 175hp,

Answer 18

Why do you have your opinion on them?

I compared a harley to a kawasaki on here last week.  the specs were pretty much identical all the way across the board for weight, power, price, etc.  the performance was identical... so the quality and reliability are just your own opinion, my opinion says yours is dead wrong.  

quality wise, the harley has real metal, where the japp c**p was plum full of chrome looking plastics, compare how many old harleys are out there to old japp c**p... the old harleys are nice bikes in good shape, any old japp c**p is just something someone with no money rides hoping it won't quit on them, you sure wouldn't see anyone do a cross country trip on a 1975 rice burner.

but why should i spend a bunch of time on the qualities, you have your mind made up already, too bad you can't have billary in office too, i bet anything that's where your vote went

Answer 19

"The way I see it"  You obviously are clueless.  Why does anyone desire a bike that sounds like a moped, looks like melted chewing gum, is REALLY uncomfortable to ride (though Buffy will never admit it), is made of 2-liter pop bottles, and usually painted tutti-frutti q***r colors?

REAL men like a little noise, Harley's engineering is top-shelf, and the only slow Harley is a broken Harley.  If you ever rode one you would know. But you haven't, have you?  Most chicks dig a litle shakin' in the nether regions!

Answer 20

The way I see it, every metric motorcycle co has copied them, so something is obviously special about HD.

Answer 21

Your question was a good question then you turned asking a question into making a statement based on your opinion.

So to answer your question you can't really pinpoint a single reason;

Status Quo, Popularity, Tradition, Looks, Style, American based, Honor, Peer Pressure, and several other reasons anyone could mention that makes them prefer their choice.

As for your opinion you are certainly entitled to having one but in this case it makes your question more like a pointed weapon and you are using your opportunity here to cause harm in more ways then you think.

You obviously have insulted Harley Owners.

You have also made Metric people look bad by doing this, some us don't judge other people by their choices, or for any matter... So thanks for allowing an opportunity for some other misguided idiots to chime in and ridicule other people needlessly that makes the whole group us look bad, excellent choice in proving your stupidity level across the board....

I am embarrassed to be associated with anyone that is this shallow based on manufacture preferences and truthfully would not accept them as some kind of fellow "metric bike" owner. That's my opinion which is only fair since you voiced one. Get a life and have fun riding alone until you can act like a human being

Answer 22

The way you it see huh? So what exactly is your extensive background in motorcycles that brings you to this opinion? Sounds to me like you are just spouting off the same tired ignorant c**p that the rest of the haters do, no doubt with nothing more to back it up than rest of the bunch. If you are correct and they have all the short comings you say, but yet so many people buy them, there is only one logical explanation. The millions of people that have purchased them must all be idiots and you and the other dozen or so people here are really smart, so yeah I guess that must be the answer right there. Andy is correct, this forum has, for the most part, turned into a blog site for mildly retarded bike owner.

Answer 23

"Different horses for different courses" is how the saying goes. Each answerer here has basically told you this.

Me personally, I don't ride Harley's or their Japanese look-a-likes as the style, seating position leg position sound, ride etc are not to my liking this is a personal preference, just like it is a personal preference to those who choose to ride them. I prefer the look of a sleek looking fully faired motorcycle (whether they be European, Japanese, Korean etc) again this is what I like, for those who prefer the other let them be, they are happy.

The moral of the story is enjoy what you ride, and do not try to change the views/opinions of those who enjoy what they ride.

Answer 24

Harley is quality and american made sweetie. I do not want one but I am glad to see americans take pride in american manufacturing. I live in York, PA where Harley's are made and the pride here is overwhelming. The president's come here on tour nearly every year so they must be doing something right even if it is financial. Those bikes are beautiful too.

Answer 25

They're beautiful, sound great, are fun to ride, and are iconic in their own right. What's wrong with any of that? I like BMWs, Ducatis, Hondas, Moto Guzzi as well. Nothing wrong with those either. I even Like Benelli!