Blessing of the Bikes

[Tonio]

More on that thought.

I sent that link to someone I know who's heavily into bikes. He said the article is out of date. According to him, the writer's complaints apply to the bikes Harley-Davidson made after AMF bought the company. When Harley bought back the company a few years ago, quality and performance standards were regained. Is this accurate?

 

[itsbob]

I sent that link to someone I know who's heavily into bikes. He said the article is out of date. According to him, the writer's complaints apply to the bikes Harley-Davidson made after AMF bought the company. When Harley bought back the company a few years ago, quality and performance standards were regained. Is this accurate?

take the 1995 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R's 599cc

1995 is WELL after the AMF demise..

Do have to say one thing about the 883 sportster that the author missed. There is a reason it has less then 50 horsepower. In a lot of countries (ESPECIALLY Germany) the 883 is VERY popular for that very reason.. 50 HP is the cut-oof between mo-ped/ scooter and Motorcycle. You go over the 50 HP you get nailed with excise taxes, and HUGE insurance payments.

 

[Vince]

I love Harley's, but I'm not willing to pay that much money for a name. Next bike will be a Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600 or a Honda VTX 1800

 

[Mikeinsmd]

I said I didn't know crap about motorcycles. I knew Harleys were expensive, but I didn't know they were unreliable.

They aren't unreliable. A little searching can find websites that rag on anything.

Many years ago when AMF bought Harley, they produced junk and ran the company into the ground. So bad to the point that the Davidsons bought back the company and turned it around. I've had my Harley going on 3 years now and have done nothing but scheduled maintenance. Not one mechanical repair!! (I hope Murphy isn't reading this)

I have owned rice burners 20+ years ago and cannot/will not bad mouth them.

Sure you can buy rice for 1/2 the price but I can afford a quality AMERICAN made bike and would rather ride AMERICAN than rice.


P.S. Notice how all of the rice manuf's. are trying to imitate the Harly look/sound??

 

[Mikeinsmd]

I sent that link to someone I know who's heavily into bikes. He said the article is out of date. According to him, the writer's complaints apply to the bikes Harley-Davidson made after AMF bought the company. When Harley bought back the company a few years ago, quality and performance standards were regained. Is this accurate?

 

[Mikeinsmd]

More on that thought.

That article is so out dated it's pitiful!! Sportster makes a 1200 also. And if all Harley riders are really wimps hiding behind a motorcycle, give him my name & invite him to Southern MD.

 

[aps45819]

Sure you can buy rice for 1/2 the price but I can afford a quality AMERICAN made bike and would rather ride AMERICAN than rice.

Honda's are made in Ohio, Kawasaki's are made in Kansas. Other than the NAME why aren't they american? I believe the question was "are people paying for the name?"
I you say it's an American Company, would that mean that a majority of the share holders have to have U.S. pasports?

 

[Mikeinsmd]

Honda's are made in Ohio, Kawasaki's are made in Kansas. Other than the NAME why aren't they american? I believe the question was "are people paying for the name?"
I you say it's an American Company, would that mean that a majority of the share holders have to have U.S. pasports?

I've been waiting for you... The point was the $$ goes home to Japan or where ever.

Hell yea we paid for a name. Way too much I might add but as I stated in another thread somwhere, I'm single with no kids and besides VirgoVictoria wanting my estate when I'm dead, I have to spend it on sumptin.

I'd never even ridden one so I thought, "What the heck, go for it!"

 

[aps45819]

The money going home to Japan is only true if the share holders are Japanese. American Honda and Harley are both available to buy on the U.S. Stock exchange by anybody, any where that has the funds to buy it. How many people that own Harley stock don't have U.S. pasports? That's where the money goes home to, not the factory location.
Have to admit that their quality has improved quite a bit in the last few years, and if you like swapping out parts Harley has (by far) the biggest aftermarket selection. My Bike resembles a Low Rider which sell for about twice what I paid for the Honda. Just can't justify paying twice as much.

 

[Mikeinsmd]

The money going home to Japan is only true if the share holders are Japanese. American Honda and Harley are both available to buy on the U.S. Stock exchange by anybody, any where that has the funds to buy it. How many people that own Harley stock don't have U.S. pasports? That's where the money goes home to, not the factory location.
Have to admit that their quality has improved quite a bit in the last few years, and if you like swapping out parts Harley has (by far) the biggest aftermarket selection. My Bike resembles a Low Rider which sell for about twice what I paid for the Honda. Just can't justify paying twice as much.

Agreed they are WAYYY over priced but they tend to hold value really well.

I saw in another post you're getting 33 mpg. Seems low. My big ole hog gets 40-42 and I had a stage 1 performance kit installed. Is 33 the norm for yours?

 

[Chief Jeff]

damn, im without my scooter till may 6th...arrrggggg

 

[Chief Jeff]

My opinion on american bikes...

First its a free country, ride what you want, but, I prefer riding american. My cars and bikes have been american and always will be, its just the way i like it. The harley quality is great by the way and the resale is awesome, but even if it wasnt, id still choose american. I still think harleys are priced right, they may be expensive but not that expensive, some jap bikes are getting quite pricey too... but the resale is no where near the hogs.

The most important thing to remember is that two wheels are better than four...so if your on two wheels, no matter what brand, your getting a wave from me...

Well theres my input...

 

[aps45819]

I saw in another post you're getting 33 mpg. Seems low. My big ole hog gets 40-42 and I had a stage 1 performance kit installed. Is 33 the norm for yours?

That was all in town, blasting off from the lights driving If I calm down I'll get over 40 in town and over 50 on the road.
I don't mean to blast Harley's, they're decent bikes and have an incredible amount of aftermarket support. I do think that if I pay a premium price I should reciever premium quality and technology but I don't see that.
As to Buy American, you really can't do that anymore in today's world economy. ALL vehicals have varing degrees of foreign and domestic content. Being loyal to an American brand is loyalty to some CEO whose annual salary is more than I've made in the last 10 years. If you're talking loyalty to the American worker, my Nissan pickup was made in Tennessee and my Honda was made in Ohio. Last time I checked they were as much a part of America as Milwaukee and Detroit.

 

[itsbob]

The only thing great about Harley is their marketing. As far as that goes they are the tops in the field. They could make 1000's more bikes a year, but if they make them harder to get, the consumer will want it more, and that drives up the price. all in the name of profit. Not Americana or a better product, but more money in the hands of the stockholders. Harley makes a decent product, with great marketing, which is a lot better then a great product with decent marketing.

In the 70's the bike companies were looking for markets. Honda tried to sell their product as economical transportation, even as a family oriented product, Harley went for the bad boy "rebel" image. THough Honda had success with their campaign it was nothing compared to Harley's marketing campaign.

 

[itsbob]

AND like Harley, the Gold WIng has only been made in the USA. More american made the most "Made in America" products..

 

[Chief Jeff]

Ok, gotta defend my harleys, one last comment from me on this cause it think there is no right answer, but heres my shot at it:

American Made- Union Made by an American company. (per HowToBuyAmerican.com 6-10-03)
95% of parts Made in USA. USA owned company (per 1996 book How Americans Can Buy American, HowToBuyAmerican.com.)
Union Made in USA. Plants in York, PA, Tomahawk, WI, Milwaukee, WI and Kansas City, MO. (per 1997 book Made In The USA, The Complete Guide)

sorry, Honda didnt make the list... Ive been told that 59% of the goldwing (talking parts here) is made in the US compared to Harleys 95%... also see the Federal Trade Comission link below for some interesting reading on this topic...

By the way, go to the headquarters of both in thier home countries and ask them if they are an american company...

FTC Made in USA Standard

 

[Mikeinsmd]

That was all in town, blasting off from the lights driving If I calm down I'll get over 40 in town and over 50 on the road.
I don't mean to blast Harley's, they're decent bikes and have an incredible amount of aftermarket support. I do think that if I pay a premium price I should reciever premium quality and technology but I don't see that.
As to Buy American, you really can't do that anymore in today's world economy. ALL vehicals have varing degrees of foreign and domestic content. Being loyal to an American brand is loyalty to some CEO whose annual salary is more than I've made in the last 10 years. If you're talking loyalty to the American worker, my Nissan pickup was made in Tennessee and my Honda was made in Ohio. Last time I checked they were as much a part of America as Milwaukee and Detroit.

I agree (in general) and I've never heard you blast a Harley (the link hurt but I recovered nicely ).

I won't even go to Harley dealers for parts or service anymore because of the arrogance & price. Wayne Hicks got my last scheduled maintenance dollars.

 

[Ponytail]

I agree (in general) and I've never heard you blast a Harley (the link hurt but I recovered nicely ).

I won't even go to Harley dealers for parts or service anymore because of the arrogance & price. Wayne Hicks got my last scheduled maintenance dollars.

Who is Wayne Hicks and what kind of parts and service do he offer?

I need tires. Bofuv'em. and other goody's when I get back from Canada.


Another note, did you know that Harley exports more than 1/3rd of all bikes they build?

 

[aps45819]

(the link hurt but I recovered nicely ).

There's some funny stuff there. He used to update it with new hate-mail and "liscensed" products, but haven't seen anything new in quite a while.

 

[Anvil]

bought my basket case 72 shovel in 1980 for $2500. have rebuilt it twice since. it might not look like the stuff there putting out now,but it still starts on the first kick, no push button here, would't trade it for nuthing!!!! maybe see you all out one day! got a red bandana for front fender, its hell in the rain though hee,hee