Harley woes

[mainerider]

First off, let me say that I am not a Harley hater; I really love the looks of some of their models (especially the Dyna Fat Bob).  However, for the money...I went riding with a few friends today over towards Laconia, NH and one clearly-proud-of-her-bike female in the group was on a new Softail Classic.  We stopped to eat and as she got off the bike I heard her say " Why's my speedomoter lens full of condensation?" After looking it over she walks away, turns around, stares at the bike for a moment and says, "What happened to my running light lens?" The RH light lens was cracked; I felt it for chips or dings and nothing. Apparently a stress crack ( it must of caught a glimpse of her loan payment coupons

I didn't say anything but I was thinking how my Magna that cost 1/4 the price may have less attitude and chrome and doesn't have metal fenders but that's because Honda spends it's dollars on basic R&D so that my speedomoter doesn't fog up on a 77 degree day and my lenses don't stress-crack.

They are beautifully-detailed bikes in a superficial way but for that kind of money...I'll keep my Magna.

Joe

[Charles S Otwell]

I'm not a Harley lover or hater, but as they are selling like hot cakes I see no reason for them to cut the price. As far as problems with motorcycles go I no longer make any kind of remarks about Harleys or Harley riders since it was a Harley rider who gave me his jumper cables when my Magna wouldn't start last year at the Boo Rally in Jefferson . I still have the cables, they keep me humble, to an extent  . Don't get me wrong I wouldn't trade my Magna for a Harley for any other reason than monetary gain.

[lragan]

There was a '52 Harley that took me to graduate school and back for two years '64-'65.  It was simple, reliable, and fun.  It shook like a dog just out of water, but I more or less got used to the vibration effects.  I loaded it with camping gear in the summertime and spent weekends in the Stansilaus National Forest area.  Paid $300 for it, sold it two years later (repainted and with my hand-made saddle bags) for $450.

The Magna is a much newer, smoother, better ride.  Wouldn't want to go back to the old bike, even if I could find her.  Like an old girl friend, I suppose, one can have fond memories without wishing to re-establish a relationship.

[Curtis_Valk]

I like the looks of the Deuce and the Wide Glide.  The engine in my cousin's Wide Glide bit the dust (he's a serious rider and I'm sure it had lots of miles) and he spent $6000 for a crate motor (the stroker motor he's always wanted).  He even admitted that it was insane to put that much money into the bike, but he knows he'll run it 'til it drops too, so he doesn't care.

Curtis

[mainerider]

I like the looks of the Deuce and the Wide Glide.  The engine in my cousin's Wide Glide bit the dust (he's a serious rider and I'm sure it had lots of miles) and he spent $6000 for a crate motor (the stroker motor he's always wanted).  He even admitted that it was insane to put that much money into the bike, but he knows he'll run it 'til it drops too, so he doesn't care.

Curtis

About a month ago I pulled up to our local Starbucks and there was a H-D Softtail in the lot.  I got off my bike, got a coffee and sat down. The H-D guy comes over and asks me how I like the Magna.  Seems this was his first HD and had traded in an Intruder for it about 6 months earlier. He didn't really regret it but he did say a main bearing was toast at 4,000 miles and repaired under warranty.  He also had a strange complaint; he said he liked the sound of the bike at idle but when he was actually riding the bike he didn't like all of the engine noises (he said this continued even after the rebuild). He said it sounded coarse and unrefined compared to his Suzuki. As a HD Marketing Rep said recently, "We are really in the business of selling a lifestyle not motorcycles."  Perhaps that explains some things...

[Magniac]

Any H-D dealer will admit that they make more money from selling add-ons, accessories, and leather goods with Harley logos than they do from selling bikes. 

[roboto65]

Thats why I hava Tshirt that says "I Own a Bike Not just a Tshirt " 

[TLRam1]

Pretty Good Allen!