Back years ago HD’s (under AMF) had some pretty serious reliability issues (and of course those who rode other brands never let them forget it). For quite a while now they’ve once again built pretty solid rides. (We used to joke about HD’s being the safest bike on the rode ‘cause you couldn’t keep ‘em running long enough to get hurt on one). When I was a pup for MANY years the fastest bike in our neck of the woods was a 1957 XLCH owned by a darn good HD mechanic. He would roll it into the shop behind his house each fall at the end of riding season. Nobody was allowed in, and the bike was “hidden”. In the spring it would come back, and it would be a completely different color and would have some new performance tweak,so it was quicker than the year before. He’d bought it new and it was meticulously maintained. We knew the end was near when in 68 he installed a Mikuni carb. Finally when the big Kawasaki triples came out he was beaten, but he had a Long run as top dog.I read people say that Harleys break down a lot. Perhaps, I cannot judge thrm all but my Harleys and other bikes never once left me stranded. And I never remember ever having to break out my tool kit for anything greater than a nut or bolt needing tightening.
Nobody I ever rode with ever broke down either, so I guess there are a ton of other people breaking down to cover my good fortune. Lucky in one thing at least lol.
i had seen the Kawasaki police bikes, fast for sure..Quality declined when AMF owned them. So much so that in 1980 my department bought Kawasakis for dependability. After the Harley executives bought back the company in 81 the reputation of Harley came back and in the mid 80's/early 90's we went back to Harley and they gave good service.
Well, the rumble is and has been imitated for a good long while now. Including by Kawasaki. Those shows like West Coast Choppers ? None of those bikes are Harleys nor do they have Harley motors.i had seen the Kawasaki police bikes, fast for sure..
but nothing says Police Bike, like a Harley
they just look good, cool in a police procession, whether it be for a dignitary, or funeral...the rumble as mellow as it is, cannot be beat, nor imitated.
still something different from an American V-8 sound to a Japanese 4 banger sound, no amount of imitations can compare, not even Borla exhaust systems, sounds for the electric cars.Well, the rumble is and has been imitated for a good long while now. Including by Kawasaki. Those shows like West Coast Choppers ? None of those bikes are Harleys nor do they have Harley motors.
Either way I’ll take a bike that actually runs over a Harley any day.
Harley’s (and Brit bikes) didn’t leak-they marked their territoryThe Harley sound is made from the 45 degree layout and the uneven firing order. Ba da bup ba da bup or potato potato, etc. The Asians copied the look but not the sound.
Back in my youth, most motorcycles leaked oil. The joke was if you didn't see a puddle, they were out of oil. Trailers and trucks were often needed as back ups when problems arose. Brit bikes shifted on the other side and were pretty quick until the arise of Japan with the Yamaha 350, Kawasaki 500, and finally the UJMs. Bikes have been pretty reliable since those days and are generally oil tight.
I stopped riding after my leg and foot went numb. I'm tempted now and then with some of the retro bikes, but the wife wouldn't be happy. Some of those big bikes are nearly 1K pounds. I would prefer something around 400 or so with a more upright riding position. We did enjoy dirt bikes for years for tooling around the desert, but those days are long gone. I commuted for years and cussed those lazy folks who didn't strap down their furniture, ladders and other hazards.
Yea, I’m sure Somebody’ll get “offended”I grew up on dirt bikes; never owned a street bike. I would love to have one but the Mrs is a hard no and it’s kind of hard to hide in the back of the safe and pass off as “ this old thing” .
I guess buy an
View attachment 64371
Till they go woke too and change the name.