Rant Why pay more? H-D has the bike limited on speed.

[R-Rated]

I know there are some of Harley riders in here. This may stir something but the point is about spending money and not really getting the "bang for your buck"...

 

[F4celess]

Harleys tends to appear horribly inefficient to me. No wonder the brand don't work on younger generations who seem to be more focused on specs when they are serious about riding. Competing American brands like Indian doesn't look much better with engine specs being just about the same with 70-80hp. While a comparable Yamaha Star Raider has 100hp with the same displacement. I need to try some bikes to say if the differences matter tho, but I don't think I will find myself in the saddle of a cruiser anytime soon.

 

[R-Rated]

Harleys tends to appear horribly inefficient to me. No wonder the brand don't work on younger generations who seem to be more focused on specs when they are serious about riding.

The company is definitely not doing their selves any favors. It does not help when part of the folks that have bought the bikes are complacent with the lack of performance out of the box or even after investing money into the bikes.

Unless the business model is to just sit and wait for younger riders to slow down and get rich enough to afford bigger bikes, it is not looking good.

 

[LoneWally]

Because they want the brand name. It the same with Apple and the Mac. They are pricey but yet you can get a aleternative from someone else that can be the same and or similar spec for less.

 

[HeyItsRick]

Because they want the brand name. It the same with Apple and the Mac. They are pricey but yet you can get a aleternative from someone else that can be the same and or similar spec for less.

Very true, I picked a sportster because I liked how it looked and the availability of parts. Performance wise, sure there's alot of room for improvement but if I wanted to go break-neck speeds at a quarter turn of the wrist I wouldnt have gone Harley at all. I kinda see it the same for Apple products, I own a mac because I like how it looks and thats all I really need from it. Performance wise it meets my needs but I'm not going to go and try gaming on it lol.

 

[R-Rated]

Very true, I picked a sportster because I liked how it looked and the availability of parts. Performance wise, sure there's alot of room for improvement but if I wanted to go break-neck speeds at a quarter turn of the wrist I wouldnt have gone Harley at all. I kinda see it the same for Apple products, I own a mac because I like how it looks and thats all I really need from it. Performance wise it meets my needs but I'm not going to go and try gaming on it lol.

Interesting points but are younger riders really going to buy in to the brand like we need them to do so?

Or can H-D do better?

 

[HeyItsRick]

Interesting points but are younger riders really going to buy in to the brand like we need them to do so?

Or can H-D do better?

Probably not, I think theyre moving the in the right direction in regards to branding the "harley lifestyle".
I think for what you're getting the price could definitely come down some, it seems like there have been some improvements in regards to some of the more common complains (seat, suspension, exhaust, etc). But those minor improvement to comfort arent really worth it in my mind. If I had a second chance at my current bike I'd probably buy used considering how much more I could have gotten had I settled with an older bike.

 

[lupin]

Jap bikes have the same 100 mph limiter. It’s called 1st gear

Isn’t the limit on Haley’s to do with the death wobble issue they suffer from.

 

[R-Rated]

Jap bikes have the same 100 mph limiter. It’s called 1st gear

Isn’t the limit on Haley’s to do with the death wobble issue they suffer from.

The Harley Hula, or Death Wobble, was real wprominent on the touring frames before 2009. Back in 05 or 06 I met the founder of True-Trac at a dealer expo. He had a set that clearly demonstrated the physics that was causing it. I also wrote a tech article explaining the front end was another part of the issue.

http://www.bikernet.com/pages/Enhancing_Dresser_Stability.aspx

In 2009, the frames, swingarms and front ends were redesigned. So when my 1999 was totaled from an inattentive driver, I got one and it was like riding on rails even when the front wheel bearing failed with the guts being visible.

However, the wobble may be creeping back because since 2009 the forks were redesigned, being pulled back a little like the 99.

I have not hit the wobble (yet) on my 2014 and I ride the bike close to its limits.

So, back to the question of why should we H-D owners bay more for performance?

Oh and shout out to @Mr. G for his saga on why the new 2018 Fatboy is mind boggling.

 

[SighBored]

When you buy a HD you are not getting it for performance, you are getting it for the lifestyle it portrays.

If you are trying to get more performance out of the bike and not adding more chrome bling, you're doing it wrong.

LOL! OK don't flame me.. But seriously if you wanted something that performs get another bike, like a superbike. And when you want to chill, ride your HD.

 

[F4celess]

When you buy a HD you are not getting it for performance, you are getting it for the lifestyle it portrays.

Some would say the lack of performance is part of the image.

 

[TheViking]

I didn't buy my Harley for the performance, I bought it for the look and most of all the sound!
its a bike that has a certain lifestyle attached, and I'm biased but i don't think any other brand compares to that.

 

[R-Rated]

I didn't buy my Harley for the performance, I bought it for the look and most of all the sound!
its a bike that has a certain lifestyle attached, and I'm biased but i don't think any other brand compares to that.

QUIZ TIME CLASS!

Define what is the "certain lifestyle"?

I am curious to see if no other brand has similiar, if not the same.

 

[TheViking]

QUIZ TIME CLASS!

Define what is the "certain lifestyle"?

I am curious to see if no other brand has similiar, if not the same.

For me its the stereotypical freedom lifestyle, and i guess the same could be said for any other bike, but Harley really seem to build upon this in my opinion. You are riding something that has a rich heritage, its also the comradely of the brand that I don't think you find anywhere else.
the brand identity in that everyone (even non bikers) knows as soon as you say you own a Harley, The appreciation you seem to get (or at least i do) when you say you ride a Harley and also being a cruiser the more relaxed pace of riding and enjoyment.

Although i see it from both points of view and at the end of the day you could say that all bikes have similar?
I guess its very subjective.

 

[R-Rated]

For me its the stereotypical freedom lifestyle. . . .

Although i see it from both points of view and at the end of the day you could say that all bikes have similar?
I guess its very subjective.

You nailed and your conclusion is correct. Harley is just a brand. When we look at all the motovloggers from around the world, regardless of brand or type of bike/scooter, the spirit of riding seems to be about the same. For one brand to claim they are it is no longer true. Harley even can become elitist even to riders of its own bikes, Sportsters, Streets, older bikes (until they become antiques) - all do not have the same respect.

We as riders respect quality. I just don't think buying dogmatically into any brand will get us that.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

HD have marketed the image of roughty toughty bikers and sold it to people who will pay the most.
I don't really do brand loyalty, but am as most others are, susceptible to good marketing and very nearly had myself fall into the HD sales pitch. Fortunately the sales guy was far too pushy and I lost interest in buying from them. I think the custom bike scene is way more inclined to the freedom of biking, but puritans of the brand of bike you customise all become haters and look down their noses.
To me, HD offer nothing other than the name over other brands at the moment. I think that unless you just want to own a Harley Davidson that there is a bike out there that would do what the buyer is buying it for better made by other manufacturers.
I'm not hating on Harley here, I just think there is nearly always a better option financially, mechanically, and for performance.

 

[FastAfter50]

Informative post. I did not know they locked the speed down. I was a guy who was gonna dump a bunch of coin and decided on a different bike. I tell my story at my channels first vlog. "Fast Over Fifty"
Subbed your channel.

 

[F4celess]

I recently heard that the BMW K1600 Gran America with all the bags also has the 100mph limiter. The reason for thus was supposedly that with all the bags and weight, it gets unstable at such high speeds, and the same is the case for Harley bikes, but maybe more so with Harley due to their style of bikes, so if that is the case it makes sense to me. maybe Harley are using the same electronics on all of their bikes and thus the limiter exists on bikes that doesn't really need it.

 

[R-Rated]

Informative post. I did not know they locked the speed down. I was a guy who was gonna dump a bunch of coin and decided on a different bike. I tell my story at my channels first vlog. "Fast Over Fifty"
Subbed your channel.

Yep, I saw your video. Sweet ride you got now.

 

[R-Rated]

I recently heard that the BMW K1600 Gran America with all the bags also has the 100mph limiter. The reason for thus was supposedly that with all the bags and weight, it gets unstable at such high speeds, and the same is the case for Harley bikes, but maybe more so with Harley due to their style of bikes, so if that is the case it makes sense to me. maybe Harley are using the same electronics on all of their bikes and thus the limiter exists on bikes that doesn't really need it.

Yeah, I saw the guy on YouTube with a letter from BMW about the issue seems to be the top case, or trunk. He pointed out the model without the case did not have the limit.

I have heard the US version of the regular K1600 with the trunk is limited to 140 mph but not the European model.

Now I am not saying I would do 140 all the time, but it would be nice knowing I could if I needed too.