Someone in my Motorcycle Safety Class asked the instructor , an older gentleman and an ex cop, what kind of bike he would buy. He replied " I love Harley, I have Harley tattoos, but if I was buying a bike I'd get one of the Japanese bikes and use the extra 10 grand to party".
I love Harley's for how they look and for what they have meant to Americana but If you offered me a Harley Ultra or a Honda Gold Wing, I'd take the Gold Wing every time. I can admit I am biased however. I have owned 3 Harley's with the usual Harley issues of tensioners, leaky seals and the outrageous cost if you ever get stranded and have to deal with dealership repairs. I have owned 7 Honda's and to this date have never had a major issue or repair. You keep good oil, coolant, and brake fluid in em' and they will keep on a keepin' on... I choose Honda over Harley because I'm already cool enough. Thank ya, thank ya very much!
My kids bought me a harley for my 65th birthday. The following day, I returned it, went to a yamaha dealer and bought a full dressed road star. Rode it to Sturgis and spent the difference in prices of the two while I was there.
Welcome back! I got my first bike when I was 14 years old - a Harley Davidson that I really liked. I'm now 72 and riding a 2013 Yamaha FJR1300 that I absolutely love. I wouldn't swap it for anything except, maybe, a 2016 FJR.
I grew up in the mystic of Harleys, guys building motors in the living room, going on week long rides just because they can, the brotherhood, the whole package. I read Easyriders magazine in junior high, and watched my uncle build a panhead out of boxes of parts he got from the widow of a friend. I grew up hearing the words "soon as I can afford it, I'm getting a Harley". When I bought my bike reliability wasn't a factor, customer satisfaction wasn't an issue, the only question I asked myself was "can I justify spending the money?". There was no question as to which bike I was going to buy, never even looked at any other model; my bike of choice is the Heritage Softail. What you ride is your business, I got no problem with your choice. If you act friendly when we meet up on the road, I will be friendly regardless of your ride. Two wheels are better than four wheels. Y'all ride safe out there.
I completely agree, I really wanted a Harley for my first bike but couldn't get one in the size I wanted for a price I could afford. I ended up buying a 2007 V-star 1300 and I couldn't be happier. I have been to the Harley dealership and could not find one that is half as comfortable as mine. I got very lucky to find something so good on my first try. As much as I love Harley and would really like one, I will not be getting rid of my metric for a Harley any time soon.
The problem I have with Harley's is they are way overpriced, expensive to maintain. Now if Harley brought their prices down to keep in competition with import bikes I would even except they require more maintenance. You get far more bang for the buck with a Japanese v twin and better longer lasting durability.
That is not true, my Harley has over 160,000 miles and I haven't even had to replace the clutch. all I've done is replace the brakes a few times and the tires and very 5 yrs. replace the drive belt and of coarse tires and the battery. but I change the oil every 2000 miles also.
I bought my 2012 Vaquero in 2014 (brand new, left over) with a very nice deal. I'm very happy. There are things that I don't like, which happens with every motorcycle, like the handling or brakes. Is nice to ride, I have rode +1000 miles in a day without problems, the only thing I added is a beadrider seat cover because the oem seat is not comfortable. I rented an Indian Roadmaster last year, I liked some things more but the heat you get in your left leg is unbearable. I rented a HD electra glide last month to try an HD. I liked the acceleration, the dash and the brakes were more responsive (mine doesn't have ABS). But the vibration drove me nuts, when you're idling you feel like the engine is stalling and you hit the throttle. I was not able to read my cellphone that I mount in the handlebar because of the constant vibration. I won't say that it is a bad motorcycle but for me an expensive motorcycle cannot have such vibration, it feels like cheap. Besides that it was nice to ride, I rode +500 miles that day with no issues. When I went back to my Vaquero I could not believe the almost nonexistent vibration. Every motorcycle has things that you like and you don't, you have to pick the one that fits your taste most (and your budget of course)
Hi John, just found you on You Tube and at 67 years young I'm still learning motorcycling because it does forever keep changing. Wife and I are planning a trip on two HD Deluxes 05 and 06 from Daytona Beach FL to Ohio then New England, we have the month of July. We are looking for your videos to get any help we can to make this a safe trip. Thank you and keep them coming! Adam and Charlotte Tominsky
I recently switched from a 2013 Vaquero to a 2016 HD Street Glide. I have always owned metric bikes in the past and this is my first Harley. While I enjoyed the ride quality of the Vaq, I found that was heavy and awkward at slow speed. I put about 15,000 miles on it over 3 seasons. Here are the comparison notes for me. I sit lower on the Harley and it "seems" to carry its weight lower. I find it much more nimble and easier to handle at all speeds than the Vaq. Wile the Vaq was rock solid on the highway, I find the Harley just fits me better and is more comfortable to ride long distances even though the suspension is a little more harsh than the Vaq. I love the improved technology on the SG as my phone pairs nicely and I can stream my own music. The sound system is far superior to the Vaq and the tech much more advanced (more car-like). I'm happier with the gearing on the SG and the low speed throttle control is far superior to the Kaw system. I tried numerous setups on the Vaq, but always seemed to get a sore lower back after about an hour of riding. I just could not find a setup that improved it. On a recent trip on the SG, I did almost 600 miles in one day and had no issues whatsoever. It has a stock seat and setup with a drivers backrest. It was so nice to finish with no back pain. I am 5'10" and weigh about 170lbs. While I try to be realistic about every bike I've owned, for me the Harley has exceeded all of my expectations. I really have no complaints and ride every opportunity I get. It has been an absolute joy to own. It is substantially more expensive than the Vaq, but I am far happier with this ride!
I agree with everything you stated. I too have had metrics and loved them (e.g. VTX 1800, Royal Star Venture). But my Street Glide is by far the best bike I've ever owned in terms of quality. I spent a lot of money maintaining those metrics as well, so there's no real advantage in that area.
I rode Harleys for years having had a '48 WLH, '41 Flathead 80, Shovelhead, Sportster. I also owned 3 - 1960's Triumphs (all 62 or later), a BMW R100 RT, Yamaha XS1100, 750 HONDA, and some other "scooters." Harleys are okay but not worth the price regardless of the mystique. I am a master mechanic. I would ride a Road King if you sold it to me for a reasonable price. Having ridden a Vulcan Nomad 1700 I will say that in the twisties it will leave any Harley big twin far behind. I am an old fart living on Social Security so my days of owning an American Big Twin is pretty much out of the realm of possibilities. I think the big Yamaha V-Star is equal to any Harley big twin in quality of build and ride. I probably will find a Vulcan Nomad to buy this year. There are some other scooters I like such as a Moto Guzzi Bassa 1100 California, or the Triumph 900 triple. Motorcycles always seem to create much debate. I'm here to tell you that back in the 70's and 80's I made a really good living fixing Harleys because "The Motor Company" had terrible quality control. Those shovelheads and early Evo engines had lots of problems that were mostly quality control issues. Personally I lost my respect for them.
I rented the Street Glide and Indian Road Master and found them both easy to ride at slow speed. How hard is the Vaquero conspired to the Street Glide? I know there are some compromises that I can upgrade on Vaquero but my main concern is how hard will it be to ride 2 up in traffic getting out of city?
I finally gave in and bought my first bagger this year (22'), a brand new 21' Vulcan 1700 Vaquero. That suspension has been a blessing given all the road work they're doing right now where I live in SE NH. Cheese grater & bumps on the highway, and it's handled it great. I've already put over 700mi on it despite the weather. I want to know where you got the windshield.
I will hopefully be upgrading to a bigger bike this fall/winter. I currently own a 93 Vulcan 500 that was gifted to me for mechanical issues. I plan on moving up to at least a 900 cc cruiser. I would prefer bigger because I would actually like to get into taking trips on my bike. I like the look and sound of HD bikes, but have owned several 600 cc Metrics before and had tons of fun on them. The one bike for sure I will not be buying is a Sportster . Had several of my HD riding friends warn me about getting leg burns from the oil tank when stuck in heavy traffic. But other than that, I am open on which brand of bike I get. It will all depend on what choices I have available at the time and how I feel about the test ride.
Yamaha, Honda, Harley, Kawasaki, etc....if the bike works for you and you love it, that is all that matters. I had a Honda Shadow that I adored, but crashed it a little over a month ago. Then bought a Kawasaki and absolutely love it. Having a Harley doesn't make you a biker...nor does any other brand. Nice video!
I agree I have 3 bikes including a 86vfr that you could not trade me anything for. Every bike has a personality and feel when you find the one that connects with you its special sometimes it a harley many times its not. celebrate the diversity.
longthetiger99 See, my problem is that I had 10 bikes in the last three years and couldn't connect with any of them. I guess when I find the right one I will know :)
So glad to see you online again. Another subject.... I am turning 68 this week. I love to ride but I have dropped two bikes, a bmw 1100 and a Kawasaki Voyager. Both we at about 1-2 mph and just about to get up to riding speed. I couldn't handle the weight at 'almost standstill' speed. I am now riding a Kawasaki 2000, the largest factory twin made. The only reason I got it was because the previous owner put on a 'conversion' trike kit. I love it but I miss leaning into the curves. Have you considered a segment on trikes for us older riders?
im 29 years old and I have owned the Vulcan 2000 an o4 in deep purple metallic, the bike is great but here is the kicker the low seat height and inseam make that bike easy to hold up at a standstill if you can remove the trike kit try it out that bike is remarkable well balanced.
Hi John, I want to start off and say , beautiful bike! I just started riding 3 yrs ago and I looked at reviews of which bikes you could count on, as far as breaking down. That's why I went metric. My first bike was a Suzuki Boulevard C50. It was a great beginners bike and just this year I upgraded to the Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic. I love it! Be safe!! Dave
My son owns a couple HDs. I have owned a Vulcan 900, Shadow 750, Thunderbird 1600 and now a Nomad 1700. All had their good points. My least favorite are the HDs. One was cramped the other vibrates way too much (really). Plenty of power though. Most fun in town was the Shadow. Best overall the 900. Most get up and go the Thunderbird, got really good mileage too. Best highway comfort the Nomad hands down. Liked them all. Thanks for the video.
I'm getting ready to upgrade my Vulcan 900. I've looked at HD but cannot for the life of me understand why I should get into that much debt for 72 months. that's insane! I'm looking at buying an '06 Yamaha stratoliner s. I will have a powerful cruiser for a fraction of HD price. Point is I'll be riding..
I really don't think 72 month motorcycle loans are responsible. If you must finance, you should really consider financing what you can finance in 4 years or less. If you can't afford the payment on a 4 year loan; then you can't afford the bike. These long loans mean tons of interest and an asset that's rapidly depreciating faster than the loan is being paid down. A lot can change in 6 years.
Exactly! I have always paid cash for my motorcycles but if I were to get a loan, I would do a 24 month loan. HD pushes the 72 month loans so people can afford the bikes that are way over priced to begin with.
HD sells an image. The bikes are different, some like em some don't. It's the image that so many want to buy into. I just want to ride...comfortably and dependable. I ride long distances. I ride a Goldwing, and I love all bikes.
I bought a Yamaha Stratoliner 1900cc. I still have my Vulcan and still ride it. I was in the right place at the right time and was able to pay cash and keep my Vulcan! Two bikes are better than one!
Grieg Ragen The image of HD is dwindling because newer generations of riders have become less image conscious and more frugal. They want more bang for way less buck and the metrics fill that need. Hell, even Triumphs cruisers give you lots of bang for your buck. Indian is making some of the same mistakes with pricing that HD is doing. They're also trying to capture the image thing and grab on to history when really, this is Indian part 2. In the end, it's going to be the ridiculous pricing that HD and Indian will be hurt by. Metric bikes are reliable, well built, have tons of options, and are highly affordable.
John Casteel yeah chrystler has done a great job in general at conning people....people like the guy above me need to justify there purchases but in reality they bought the most unreliable brands out there
6 years and not another post, hope all is well. I stumbled across this video as I’m thinking of a Vaquero. I appreciated your objectivity and rational thoughts on how HD has influenced the masses to believe they are the pinnacle of motorcycling, and certainly synonymous with the word motorcycle in the US. Many Americans will not consider another brand, often through the peer pressure to believe an HD is the entry fee to belonging and acceptance with their friends or intended social groups
I gave up my sport tourer (Concours 14) to go to a Harley Street Glide. I did so simply because a touring cruiser is more comfortable for me on long trips. The Connie was a blast to ride on short day trips or overnighters, but a royal pain in the ass, neck, and shoulders on multi day trips (5 to 10 days). I put an aftermarket seat, handlebar risers, and windshield on it and I was still uncomfortable. I guess the bottom line is to just ride the bike that you enjoy riding.
You skipped right over the ADV category. They are much more comfortable than sport-tourers. But they handle, brake, accelerate, lead in technology, and can even do the dirt road without a problem.
I finally got to ride a 2017 voyager. It must not have had the Ivan flash because it rode rough like shook at certain speeds and popped on deceleration. I hope that was the case because my wife really liked the suspension and I wanted to love it.
This is older but for me personally I my dad always rode Harley and so did his dad they kinda go with "if it's not a Harley it's not a bike" when I was 17 I bought a Yamaha 650 maxim loved that bike, we would ride together a lot an he was always fixing something on his Harley and my bike being 20 something years older never had any problems. So I always bought metric for that reason. My most recent purchase was the Suzuki c109rt I like Harley's but I love my Suzuki lol
Bought a Road Star 1700 for 5k. Added some nice accessories to make it look unique. The bike mechanically and visually stands on its own merits, not its brand name. It sounds, looks and works great. I find Harley riders are like to advertise the brand via clothes with logos. I prefer to be understated and different by not advertising a brand name.
I'd love to own a Harley but would never pay that much for a bike. And the reliability aspect plays a part in that as well. My next bike will be a Vaquero, I love the way they look and ride. On a side note, I love all bikes I'm not biased towards any certain bike
Honestly I just bought a Low Rider S. The second I rode it I was smiling from ear to ear. Only bike so far that has happened. Not quite ready for a touring bike. When I am i will probably get the Vaquero. love the way it looks.
UPDATE.. Got my 2018 Vulcan Vaquero and I love it. Brand new out of the crate with a few added accessories $14000 out the door. While I do like the Harley Street and Road glides the price difference was $10000 and made them unjustifiable. Got 7000 miles on it and can't wait til this next cycle season. Even considering riding it to Sturgis to be in a sea of Harleys.
Totally agree. I have owned several bikes. Primarily Honda's, Yamaha's and Suzuki's. I currently have a Harley and love it but there are many things I prefer about the metric bikes. It's all about the joy you get from riding the machine.
glad your back to vlogging, missed the videos. ride what you want. not what everyone else think is best. bikes like shoes, find what fits you. everything else is comes out in the wash. i started on a 08 vstar 1100. 5k in 5 months i've bought a 2016 fat boy s in december and i now have 5k+ on it now but i still stand by that statement "Ride what you want" the harley fit the need case i wanted and fits me like a glove, tho i did consider others. and only find this by test riding.
i have a 06 Harley Street Glide, and of all the bikes ive owned, its still my favorite. that said, it is a temperamental beast that breaks down every 4000 miles or so. thankfully HD's are unbelievably simple to repair,anyone with a basic set of tools and a service manual can rebuild half the bike with ease
That's what I think a lot of Harley haters don't understand. I got an 08 Harley Low Rider and I honestly enjoy working on it and tinkering with it as much as I do riding it. I know enough to do basic maintenance on a car but had absolutely no experience working on motorcycles. So the same week I bought the bike I also picked up the service manual for it. Since then I've steadily been building up my tool set and stockin up on spare parts just from buying what I need as I go along. No vehicle brand out there has a 0% failure rate. Might as well know what you're doing so you can be prepared instead of bitching to everyone else about how your metric is crapping out even though you've never even changed the oil since you bought it 5 years ago.
You're right man! Maintenance and repair skills are essential. I do all my own work too. And I enjoy it. I've never really had a major repair needed on a motorcycle. I put 50,000 miles on my 900, I did have to replace the Stator but where that's located, it's a very simple job. But I kept the oil changed, flushed the brakes regularly, changed brake pads when needed. I enjoy doing it. Honestly, the reliability issue is kind of moot. It is true that the Metric brands are more reliable overall; that's a fact that's backed up by data. BUT! It's about the ride. Ride the bike that "does it for you". If that's a Harley, do it! How stupid would it be to ride a metric when you wanted a Harley, just so you'd have fewer repairs? That's not what motorcycling is all about!
Harleys have gotten better in recent years, when i got my 06, i was quickly informed of a whole list of "things that will eventually break" that everyone just accepts as part of the "HD Experience" adding insult to injury is discovering HD sells 'performance' versions of said low quality parts that they recommend you upgrade to when the inevitable occurs. next year i get to rebuild my cam chest because the cam chain tensioners are liable to grenade the engine if you put more than 40k on em
I was on a Harley, was looking for a bigger Harley and was smitten with the Star Roadliner. Here's this long, low, Art Deco bike. Looks like nothing else in a beautiful way. Then I ride it, handles better, rides better, makes more power than a CVO 110 and weighs less. There's no Harley I'd rather have. Of course it isn't perfect; I'd like a bigger tank, a taller top gear and ABS (though the brakes are Very good), but none of my nitpicking will make it any less the ideal bike for me.
I am on a quest for the lowest maintenance bike that I can take my wife on. It was Victory, now it's Indian and i stumbled upon the Vulcan... My concern... can I just change oil and ride.. I'm tired of chain maintenance and don't want to adjust valves... so....self adjusting lifters!... Twice to three times the cost for an Indian or a used Vulcan. I can do a lot of touring with the saved money and enjoy reliability. Need to ride it though. I like your comment about enjoying what you ride... that's what counts.
I've just bumped into your channel and it is more than entertaining, you're raising very good points and I like your objectivity. Will look fwd to view all your other videos. I like that one, very good topic you raised. I just bought a 2016 vaquero (my first kawasaki) and I'm looking fwd to experience it, just gonna have to wait for the winter to be over first, so take good care and ride safe !! ;-)
My first bike was an 07 Bigdog Mastiff. Huge...monumental mistake. Traded it for a 2011 Kawasaki Vaquero. I loved my Vaquero. Rode like a dream. Smooth and very comfortable long distance touring bike. Took it on two long distance cross country trips. In 2015, I traded it for a new HD Road Glide. I love my Road Glide. I've had great luck with it. No issues at all. Have taken it on several cross country trips. Planning on some more soon. Both bikes have good and bad aspects but would have no issues going back to a Vaquero. I do agree that Harley's are expensive and probably over priced compared to other cruisers.
I enjoyed your Mvlog. Decided to subscribe. I currently own a 2006 Heritage Softail. I just purchased this in Feb. 2016. This is my 6th motorcycle and first HD. I've owned Honda's, Kawasaki 900 back in 1976 and 2 Suzuki's. I enjoy(ed) them all. I had a left knee replacement about 8-9 years ago(yes I'm older) so was looking for something that I felt very comfortable on and sat low enough so I could sit flatfooted without my knees being bowed out so much. The HD fit that need. As long as you ride that's what matters. Not what you ride. Take care, Ed
Just subscribed to you and I recently had to decide what bike to go with. I own a Vulcan VN800 and just love the bike, but as I get older and want to go further on it I decided it was time for a bigger bike with a little extra bells and whistles. I bounced around the idea of a Harley but knew I liked Vulcans I started looking at the Nomads and was pretty set on that but maybe a Harley if the right one came along. Then I seen a Vulcan Voyager and couldnt go look at it fast enough. Just the look of it was enough to draw you in. Then once I test drove it I knew I had to have that one. I do not regret buying another vulcan at all. Its also nice to have people always coming up to you telling you how nice the bike is.
I would have to ask if the Harley owners with issues had their regular services? As well as any bike out there. If we don't keep them up anything can break down? And I've seen metrics that cost a lot also. Good topic. Ride Safe
Absolutely, proper maintenance is critical. And actually the whole point of the video is that it's not about cost; but riding the kind of bike you want to ride!
Guy on an Ultra Classic compliments my "custom" paint. I tell him no, it's factory. We talk a bit and he ends up telling me I should have gotten a Harley. If I was going to travel I would out grow my Triumph. I told him my Bike has quick detachable bags,windshields and back rest. His HD 1450cc. My Triumph 1600cc, His 64 hp 900 lbs, mine 94 hp 700 lbs. All for less then half the cost of the Road Glide I was considering. I would have still gotten the HD for the look and sound, but then I rode one. He literally stop talking to me the whole rest of the time we were in that waiting room together.
I don't usually hear that question from Harley owners. Of course, when I chat with Harley owners, I am usually two or three states from my home in Texas. The few times I have gotten that question, my answer is, "No, Harleys are too slow. My FJR will do 150 mph with saddlebags - on regular gas."
I started out on a full-metal Suzuki 850 and Suzuki Madura (600+ all meta shaft drive beasts) and I loved them. I later got the amazing Harley FXR (1990). Incredible bike. It was right up there with the Madura since it had S&S upgrades. Botht he Madura and FXR were easy to handle, fast and stopped well. The Madura stopped better though due to dual front discs. I now have a pristine 2001 VStar 110 custom that is also a beautiful bike. It's a bit plastic for my taste, but the 570 lbs feels solid. Supurb brakes, loves to corner and loves solo or 2-up. I love both Harley (There is no replacement) and metrics. I personally think they should not be compared unless you are simply comparing cruiser to cruiser options for the $$$ you have in your pocket. If I were to go new I would be seriously stuck between a Harley Dyna or FatBob , VStar Raider, Victory Gunner or Honda Fury. So many great choices out there IMO.
I think you hit the nail on the head, so many people in my little town believe that Harley is king, and where I agree that Harley's are wonderful bikes there is just something about my 900 Vulcan that I just love! Now as far as touring or riding long distance with my wife on back my 900 is not the bike I would choose but it is what we have for now. Eventually once I get her riding more often I think my bike of choice will be either the Voyager or the Ultra classic, simply because of the size and passenger comfort plus storage with the trunk.
I watched your video on Harley vs Metrics and about 10 seconds in i noticed you were riding in my hometown. I live in Washington. What a small world. I’ve watched almost every one of your videos and I enjoy them. I ride a Vulcan Nomad 1600. I hope I see you on the road someday. God bless and ride safe.
More to your topic though I have owned one Harley and ridden a few. I also have lots of friends that ride them. The one I owned was a bonus I got for some work I had done. In all we have owned 3 Hondas (VTX1800, VTX1300 and a 750 Shadow), a 900 Kawasaki Vulcan (by far the most uncomfortable seat I have ever had, 3 victory's (Vegas, Kinggpin and still have my CrossCountry) and an Indian Chieftain. To me HD has the best paint and that's about it. I don't buy the reliability issues that much because if you read into what breaks down its not typically stuff that leaves you on the side of the road. Its electronic stuff, but BMW and HD lead the way in touch screens and other garbage you can do without so no surprise those things break more often than on bikes that don't have them. Personally HD is over priced for what you get and that's why I don't have one. That being said I think they are beautiful bikes and I understand why people love them. I think you should be able to ride whatever you like and people should respect your choice. For me its a 2015 Victory Cross Country. I love my bike like no other I have owned. My wife feels like that about her Indian. I like the Vaquerro and had looked at picking one up but the Victory won me over.
Welcome back! I've been looking get my first bike and really enjoy your videos. Very informative and I don't feel like your talking down to anyone. I love the Vulcan 900's, so seeing you rode one for a long time helps with my decision because I think we're about the same size. Anyway, thanks and keep up the great work!
Welcome back! I enjoy your commentary! I drive the 2015 lime green Vaquero and just love it. Use it pretty much as a daily driver. Bought it late winter this year because I got what I think was an excellent deal and it rides great. Basically half price of a HD but it was truly a case of pointing my disposable cash at what I could afford and still get what I wanted... power, styling, comfort. All good. I look forward to your future vlogs. Shiny side up and stay safe! 🤓
Hands down the best explanation for "why I wouldn't buy a Harley" I've heard so far. This is exactly how I feel about it but I'm not as succinct getting to the point as you are. I'm ready to move over into a cruiser/touring bike and have been leaning toward a Vulcan VN2k but I think I'm going to demo a Vaquero before I do. Prices as coming down and dealers are willing to work with buyers in this economy.
Hey Jesse! Hope you enjoy whatever you get. V2K owners either love it or hate it. It's a massive bike, good in a straight line. Super heavy, it uses a very basic mono-shock suspension system making it a lot less comfortable than the 1700 line, and lacks a lot of the amenities. But it has a tremendous amount of torque and one of the largest production V-Twins in the world. In fact, it's THE Largest V-Twin in a factory bike in the world (the only engines that are bigger are after market engines designed to be installed in a factory bike). 125 cubic inches, that's insane! So the long and short of it is; The Vaquero will be a far more comfortable and competent touring bike. And the V2K will rip stumps out of the ground and give you one hell of a torque-filled ride.
I am caught between the Vaquero, Streetglide Special or Chieftain. I don’t mind spending more for the best bike. But my main concern is reliability. I had a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 for 11 years without a problem and already running into issues starting my Indian after 6 months. I love the sound and style of American bikes but reliability is very important as I want to be riding not waiting for shop to repair. Also my plan is to buy a bagger travel coast to coast I need reliability. No bike is perfect but so far all my Metrics were problem free. I owned 2 Honda’s and 2 Kawasaki’s never made a warranty claim or repair.
According to Consumer Reports, of those three brands you mentioned, the Kawasaki is the most reliable. Don't let that fool you into thinking that the Indian or Harley Davidson are unreliable. Chances are, they'll be fine. But it is true that the Kawasaki is the most reliable of the three.
Ride what you like. I looked at a Harley when I got my new bike last year and couldn't see riding an air cooled bike when it gets as hot as it does where I live. I liked the ones I saw, but it wasn't practical. I ended up with a vstar1300 deluxe. That ticked all of the boxes for me.
I have. I'm not a very big fan of the riding position (feet under instead of feet forward), and there was a lot of leg heat. That said; it was an extraordinarily smooth machine, very fast, and very attractive too!
1. Glad to see you back. 2. I just started riding a little over a year ago. First bike was a 2002 750 Vulcan. Had to upsize quick BC it was too small. I currently ride a 2005 Vulcan 1500 Classic and love it. Never even really looked at a Harley...or any other bike for that matter. Except when I was shopping for my current bike. I did look at the Honda ATC. The only time I've ever even stopped to see other bikes is at poker runs and I stopped a few days ago at J&P Cycles and looked at a few of theirs. I am completely pacified with what I have. I would though, love to have a Vaquero one day. But I have no intentions of a Harley. Nothing against them, just like my Kawasaki's.
Hi John! Good to see you back here:) I'm still riding the '06 Vulcan 900 Classic. A few short highway rides here and there but mostly on our local twisty roads. Dragging the foot boards a little sometimes and it always scares the crud out of me, lol. I haven't been on it much lately though even with the nice weather, been working too much.
Good to see you again, I was afraid something had happened to you. Did you look at Yamaha in your quest for a new bike? I have a road star (it's a lemon) and I want to upgrade. I like the vaquero and I'm in love with the Yamaha stratoliner deluxe. Any thoughts?-Andy.
Hey Andy. I did not ride many Yamaha's, except for a Road Star. I'm not a huge fan of air cooled bikes and it's my perception that Yamaha drags behind the other brands in terms of technology. When shopping, it seemed Kawasaki, Honda, and Harley-Davidson offered more technically advanced machines than Yamaha did.
But then again the new Harley bikes are really nice and comfy to ride. More comfortable than their older touring bikes I rode. Smoother shifting, down or up etc.. Really nice
first i wanted to say thanks i have watched everyone of your videos and your vaquero had a big impact on my choice of bike i just bought my 2012 vaquero and cant be happier im used to smaller bikes so its kind of a whole new wold for me i have noticed it has alot louder click when shifting into gear 1-3 is that something i should expect with a bigger bike it only has 8500 miles idk if thats relavent at all? keep up the videos they have alot of very useful info and have helped me more than you can imagine.
Thanks Cory! There's no issue with the 'clunk'. It's annoying for some people, but it's not hurting anything. It's the type of transmission most larger bikes use. It won't hurt anything, and there's not any way to 'stop it'. It's just part of how the motorcycle works.
Romans Five Eight: Excellent review! I have a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 and my next bike will be a Kawasaki Voyager. I am extremely satisfied with my Vulcan 900. Thanks!
Might Is Right They have a 26 percent fail rate according to consumer reports. I just got back from Sturgis a couple of months ago, and see all types of Harley's on the side of the road. My guess, is those may be the ones with mods?
glad you enjoy your bike pal ... other guys buy Japanese bikes and are also happy with their bike. Your comments are rather angry and condescending .... I've seen plenty of broken down Harleys ... and I've been riding for over 40yrs. Your a "Harley" guy so be happy ... cutting down other people's bikes doesn't serve any purpose - other than making you feel superior in some way. But in reality you're not ...
Not talking down to people who like Harley's. I'm just stating a fact that those bikes are not the best riding/best built out there. I've always been a Kawasaki guy, so once I outgrew the Ninjas, I moved on to the Vaquero. Bike has everything the Harley has except the price tag.
Racist much? And FYI, the only true 100% American made bike is Indian. So if you ain't riding one of them your a traitor by your own logic. Harley has parts from Mexico, China, Europe and a few others.
A good topic for sure. I bought my first bike in 64, a Honda Dream 305cc. I've rode most of the motorcycle types out there, and today I ride Honda. I have two, an 06 Shadow 1100cc, and a Gold Wing. If I wanted a Harley, I would have bought a Harley. I stick to what works for me, and I don't care what you ride. Harley has it's own mystic, just as the Gold Wing does. Back when I started riding you spent more time working on your Harley than riding it. I like the reliability of the Honda line. And I like the reliability of most of the metrics. My all time favorite motorcycle was an '88 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700cc. I probably put 300,000 miles on that bike, rebuilt the engine once. Traded it in on a Gold Wing in '04.
I agree, Harley has come a long way from it's days as a AMF bike. It is more reliable. But in my humble opinion, it's still not as reliable as the metrics. Harley will really get away form the mechanical push rods, and lifters. It's what makes a Harley sound like a Harley, and that's where they are stuck.
Torn between the Vaquero and the Voyager, only thing I don't care for with the vaq is the side opening bags. How do they work out? Smaller then the Voyager?
You’re right on with your thoughts about metric vs HD. I’ve owned Vulcan, Boulevard, Victory, and currently Vstar. I’ve ridden HD but always felt there were better options
I have ridden both metrics and Harleys for about 40 years. My last bike was a Harley Road King. As I got older the Road King got harder for me to ride. I just traded it for a Harley Softail Heritage Classic. It is lighter with a lower center of gravity which comes in handy at low speeds. I like motorcycles without a fairing - personal choice. The bottom line is ride what you like and fits you. About your upcoming Canada trip. I have traveled from coast to coast in Canada and there is some amazing scenery, Banff, the ride around Lake superior and Vancouver come to mind. However Saskatchewan and Manitoba not so great unless you like flat prairies, again a personal preference.
I owned a 08 Harley which I over paid for and it was in the shop more than I rode it I have a Honda vtx 1800 for the last 7yrs and all I have to do is change the fluid maybe clean the carb . Harleys nice but the maintenance is my issue so I guess if you have an extra bike while yours in the shop I guess that works I like to ride not waiting on repairs
Yeah; according to Consumer Reports Honda has a 3 year failure rate of 11%, Kawasaki 14%, and Harley Davidson 25%. The reliability and build quality of Harley Davidson really isn't where it should be for the price tag.
I ride a 1986 Kawasaki 454 bought it new in 87 (leftover )like yours. Some day I would like to get a bigger bike. I did see a 14 Vaquero in flat black it was very nice looking. Harleys are great looking bikes also. I just haven't found "The Bike " yet. I am sure the Lord will give me the desire when He shows me what will satisfy. To find joy in what you have and not want for something else is the true blessing. Thanks for the videos John , and ride safe brother. Glad you're back at it.
Very good commentary. Everybody has different likes. Just get out and ride when you can. I ride a Street 500, and most people I ride with have scooters. Thanks for your videos.
For me who cares what you ride as long as you ride and your happy, go for it. I ride a Yamaha Royal Star midnight tour deluxe. I don't wish I had a Harley and can afford one, just love my v-4 that's all. Who knows what I may get down the road but this Vaquero will get a look.
I have had three Harleys and have had no issues with reliability. I have had metrics to and six Wings. I have loved them all. When you compare Harley to Indian or Victory or Wings for the same model there is not much difference in price. I am a distance rider and have 6000 miles on my 17 Road Glide and love it. I like the Vaquero to, I just can't own more than one at a time, my wife frowns on to many handle bars in the shop
I just bought a Vaquero but I tried the Harley road king out first. It's a nice bike but they wanted 11 grand more for the Harley. Out the door on a road king they priced $29685 compared to the $18800 out the door on the Vaquero. That's a no brainer for me.
Good evening. I found your videos because you have a Kawasaki Vaquero. You seem to have stopped videos about 5 years ago, it’s 2021 now. Do you still have the Vaquero? How many miles have you got on her? Did you run into any problems with it? If you traded up, what did you get?
Enjoyed the video.... everything you say makes sense..... ride what you like. I ride a nomad and love it. I am curious to know how you enjoyed the Canadian road trip.... biased, since I live up here 😎
I've been wanting a bigger touring bike like the Road King but I'm thinking the Kawasaki Voyager is a better buy over all. I've got an old Softail that needs constant repairs & a newer Sportster for commuting to work but want something bigger and reliable for longer trips.
The Road King would be a nice bike. The Voyager will be a more reliable machine; that doesn't mean it can't break too (anything can break). I really think either would work very well for you, depending on what sort of riding you like to do and what you're looking for.
The Road King is the only Harley that has caught my eye I love it's look. I currently own a Yamaha Road Star Silverado 1700 smooth ride more than enough power to take out on the road touring. I haven't done much research on the voyager so I can't give an honest assessment on it. But I have riden both the Road Star and King. With my knee injuries plus holding the bike and my wife up the Road Star is the bike for me. The king had just to much weight for me.
I Love all 3 of my Bikes. My 2002 Shadow has been Good to me...bought a GoldWing 2 years ago and LOVE it as well...hard to beat for touring comfort...and just recently bought a CB1100(2014). Retro Style with current technology. That's Bike I am spending more time on these days...I just LOVE it and the is Fun to Ride!! I just cut a vid called "Graduating to a Harley Davidson". This was out of response to someone who made a statement that "eventually we all Graduate to a HD"...like it was the Be All end All Bike!!
Yes but you won't have full control of the device, you wont be able to change songs using the handlebar controls and you won't have song titles on the display. So using the 30-pin adapter and an iPhone, like I do, allows you to do all of those things.
I really do think they make some of the best metric motorcycles on the market. Honda motorcycles are insanely reliable but can be a bit tricky to do common maintenance things on (you can't even get a socket onto the oil drain plug on my wife's Shadow, for example, you have to use an open ended wrench). Plus, they don't have much in the way of big v-twin full touring cruisers. Yamaha seems 10 years old the day you roll it off the lot. Suzuki doesn't really have much of anything to write home about. All great brands IF they make the bike you want; but Kawasaki seems to have the best product portfolio.
My first bike was an 02 shadow spirit 750. I loved that bike. It had just under 50k miles on it when I sold it. For the last 8 years I've been riding hondas. I've now owned my first Harley for about 3 months. I just like to ride.
What you were saying about looking at everything and test riding everything, definitely rings true with myself. I currently ride a Honda VTX 1300 and love it and will probably keep it forever. It is far from a touring bike, yet I've done a few Iron Butt rides with it. I am looking for something I can ride at least 1000 miles per day (once in a while) and not feel like death at the end of the ride. I was seriously considering an 11 Road Glide Ultra but my wife doesn't really ride with me much anymore so I don't really need something that big, nor do I have to have a Harley. I love the dependability of my Honda. I found a 2016 Vaquero with O miles for 12k out the door. I've watched endless videos on them and after seeing yours I am seriously considering pulling the trigger. A lot of the videos say they are great right out of the factory where others have some complaints. Such as it being a MUST to send your ECU to Ivan's for tuning, new pipes and you know the list. Is your bike stock or have you done similar mods as others I have scene ? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long message but you seem to love the bike and like a cool dude. Thanks in advance, Daren PS. How many miles do you get out of a full tank? I tend to average less than other VTX owners due to my riding style...Thanks again..
That was interesting, that Harley (& BMW) riders report higher satisfaction ratings even though their repair costs are higher. Some people will pay for character, character that appeals to them, even if it costs more. I’ve had a 1992 HD FXRST and loved it, took it everywhere in the lower 48; then I drove a 2001 Yamaha Silverado (1600 cc version) all over the lower 48 again, plus took it to AK, and liked it just as much as the first Harley. And now have a “minimalist” 2020 Electraglide and can’t believe how cool THAT is. Maybe a minor point but I like the tach and speedo to be right next to each other; the Vacquero has that little “TV” screen in between. The bigger point I think is, that metric or “American” doesn’t matter so long as you like it, and like seeing America on it!
I bought my vaquero because it fits all the needs/wants I have for my motorcycle. I'm so tired of everyone assuming I couldn't afford a harley, I could but something about drinking the kool-aid I just couldn't do it. plus I went to 3 harley dealers 2 of them multiple times and not on any single visit was I offered any help or asked if had questions etc. but every other person in there with a HD shirt or jacket were asked multiple times(end of rant lol). the vaquero is a great fit for all my needs and thanks for sharing you reason/thoughts.
I've owned all Harley's until recently. Bought a Kawasaki Vulcan 1600. I gotta say my biggest disappointment is the fact the kawasaki isn't as refined and smooth as I expected. Being liquid cooled Japanese motorcycle I figured it would be smooth as glass. It vibrates more than my Harley's did. It has a noticable buzz in the floorboards and grips at highway speed. My Harley's would shake at idle but was smooth as silk at 70 80mph. Rubber mounted engine. My Vulcan vibrates at idle and has buzz at highway speed. So I'm a little disappointed in that as I can tell it will be fatiguing on a long ride. I'm not bashing on them but if you think going with a vulcan will be so refined and smooth compared to Harley's your in for a big surprise. I mean that's one reason people give for not buying a Harley..the vibration. So just a heads up the Kawasaki vulcans won't be as smooth as a road king or ultra.
Great commentary. I have been riding a Suzuki Boulevard C50T for a few years and I am looking to move up to a larger touring bike as well. I thought I wanted a HD and I, like you, love the looks of the Ultra Limited. But I saw a Vaquero in a showroom about a year ago and fell in love with the looks of the bike. I am leaning towards the Candy Apple Green with the flames, but am really open to any color if I get a good deal, which it looks like I will. The thing that has impressed me are the excellent KACT linked/ABS brakes, cruise control and nice stereo plus the great look of the dash. I also love the fairing. For the money, I don't think you can beat it. I just can't justify spending an extra $10 grand on essentially the same bike just to have the Harley name. Throw in the water cooled engine and great reliability of a Japanese bike and Kawasaki has convinced me. I have about another year of savings and I will walk into a dealer and pay cash for a new one. What a great feeling!
I see this post has been dormant for a while but still wanted to reply! Like a lot of others, I always wanted a Harley. I grew up riding dirt bikes, mini bikes, go karts, my dad's lawn mower, anything that burned gasoline. As I got older, fast women and faster wheels became more important. Until one time, either she wasn't fast enough or my wheels weren't and I ended up with a family. Due to a burning desire to get back on two wheels, get some bugs in my teeth and being financially embarrassed, I bought an old Honda Shadow from a friend that needed tires and a tune up. I rode that bike for years and it never left me stranded. I worked my way up to a Vulcan classic 1500. Another awesome bike that never gave me one ounce of trouble! Had to sell it due to an eventual divorce and it took me 15 years to get financially unembarrassed from that to get to a point where I could get another bike. I had the means to buy a Harley, and it is still on my bucket list, but I opted for a Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad. It has plenty of power, I can stretch out, carry a passenger without struggling and it looks and sounds damn good! Some folks drink Bud, some drink Miller, it's all personal preference and I will still cheers you no matter what you drink! Bikers are a brotherhood, no matter if you're male, female, what color you are or what colors you fly! Just enjoy what you ride and be safe! "Loud Pipes Save Lives"!
i own a harley and a 2000 vulcan 1500,i love them equally they are so similar but different when it comes to riding. depending on the day depends on the bike I take haha
my first bike was a 86 honda v65 magna had to put some work to get it running properly but loved it. it was a fast bike but not great for long rides. i then up graded to a 04 kawasaki Vulcan 1600. i liked it had a recall issue that i got solved but it rode nice and sounded great. this past may i got the chance to buy a 06 ultra classic and i just feel in love with it even my wife prefers riding on it. I wouldnt trade it for the world. I always dreamed to own a harley but was out of my price range. I love them for there sound but they can eat up some money for accessories or repairs when needed. im just glad i can do 90 of the work myself. By the way love the color of your bike
Great looking Vaquero!! I too had a Vulcan 900 similar to yours and wanted a touring bike with a trunk. I looked at the Voyager and it just wasn't for me. I then looked at the Victory Cross Country Tour and to me it felt way underpowered and I didn't like the styling. I ended up getting a great deal on a low mileage 2012 Harley Ultra Limited and now own my dream bike. Ride safe and keep the videos coming.
I've seen all of your vlogs. I even bought a 2017 Vaquero because of your vlogs. Unfortunately, I had to trade it in for a Can Am Spyder RT-S because of medical reasons. But, I still enjoy your videos.
I started riding a Yamaha and thought I wanted a Harley. I won a Heritage Softail in a raffle. Rode it for 2 years. I discovered that I really didn't like the vibration or the stigma that comes with a Harley. I am 6'2" and it really didn't fit me. I ended up trading it for a carry over 2012 Stratoliner. Love the bike, but then I seen the Vaquero and I am in love. Nice bike!
As per consumer reports: What we found is that reliability and satisfaction are not necessarily tied together. The most beloved bike belonged to an American brand-Victory-even though it was not among the more reliable brands. That distinction belongs to the perennially strong Japanese-built machines. Consumer Reports’ survey of our subscribers shows that the Japanese brands are significantly more reliable than most bikes from other regions-led in order by Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki. Domestic brands Victory and Harley-Davidson were midpack, and Triumph, Ducati, BMW, and Can-Am were the more trouble-prone brands.
well finally bought my first bike thats mine got a 2012 harley sportster 1200 forty eight an i sat on it and fell in love with the bike took it for a ride and i love it i did 2 things i always said i never do buy a cruiser or a harley but it felt right and balanced for me so took it for ride and nice and balanced for me a a bigger guy 5'8" 215 so it felt great and i love it...been watching your videos and your very informative about everything so been brushing up and looking forward to see more..
I've found that the metrics are better quality the last 10 yrs or so even. I've owned 2 4 wheelers, 1 was a kawasaki and I ran that thing into the ground no issues. the other was an arctic cat. the headlights fell out like 2 weeks after I got it. but the engine was a kawaski and runs awesome.
Yep, Japanese manufacturing boomed in the 70's and continues to improve. Those are folks who work hard and take tremendous pride in their work. Along with Germany, American Manufacturers are struggling to keep up with Japan. In fact, for the past couple of decades, American manufacturers of just about everything have been studying and mimicking the way Japan does things. That's aside from the fact that many Japanese cruisers are indeed made in the U.S. Lots of manufacturers, from Ford to, yes, Harley-Davidson, produce their products in the region they sell them.
'03 V Star 1100 Classic for me and although I almost bought an Ultra Limited this off season I couldn't bring myself to do it. I love my bike and with I have done to it there isn't another one like it in the world.
Someone in my Motorcycle Safety Class asked the instructor , an older gentleman and an ex cop, what kind of bike he would buy. He replied " I love Harley, I have Harley tattoos, but if I was buying a bike I'd get one of the Japanese bikes and use the extra 10 grand to party".
I like that idea
great answer, keeping options open💛
Coax the metric dealer down to 13k for the vaquero and reflash the ecu , add exausts and party and travel with the savings!
i own a harley. but i love all bikes. if you ride a motorcycle you're alright in my book. just have fun out there.
Doubledge007 I agree....that's what I say also
Takes one to know one.
Amen brother!
Thank you !!!
What about a scooter
I love Harley's for how they look and for what they have meant to Americana but If you offered me a Harley Ultra or a Honda Gold Wing, I'd take the Gold Wing every time. I can admit I am biased however. I have owned 3 Harley's with the usual Harley issues of tensioners, leaky seals and the outrageous cost if you ever get stranded and have to deal with dealership repairs. I have owned 7 Honda's and to this date have never had a major issue or repair. You keep good oil, coolant, and brake fluid in em' and they will keep on a keepin' on... I choose Honda over Harley because I'm already cool enough. Thank ya, thank ya very much!
My kids bought me a harley for my 65th birthday. The following day, I returned it, went to a yamaha dealer and bought a full dressed road star. Rode it to Sturgis and spent the difference in prices of the two while I was there.
I got a Victory that has metric reliability and is made more locally. I'm loving it.
Welcome back! I got my first bike when I was 14 years old - a Harley Davidson that I really liked. I'm now 72 and riding a 2013 Yamaha FJR1300 that I absolutely love. I wouldn't swap it for anything except, maybe, a 2016 FJR.
Awesome!
Still riding at 72! Congrats dude! You ROCK!
Daniel I have a 2015 FJR ES. I love it. I have owned many different styles of bike and by far this is the best one I have ever had!
Daniel Graham , I'm a honda fan
Daniel Graham , heard a lot bout the fjr1300 from a friend
I grew up in the mystic of Harleys, guys building motors in the living room, going on week long rides just because they can, the brotherhood, the whole package. I read Easyriders magazine in junior high, and watched my uncle build a panhead out of boxes of parts he got from the widow of a friend. I grew up hearing the words "soon as I can afford it, I'm getting a Harley". When I bought my bike reliability wasn't a factor, customer satisfaction wasn't an issue, the only question I asked myself was "can I justify spending the money?". There was no question as to which bike I was going to buy, never even looked at any other model; my bike of choice is the Heritage Softail. What you ride is your business, I got no problem with your choice. If you act friendly when we meet up on the road, I will be friendly regardless of your ride. Two wheels are better than four wheels.
Y'all ride safe out there.
Im curious how you're doing, John. Its been 3 years, hopefully you're ok, and still riding. Would love an update
I completely agree, I really wanted a Harley for my first bike but couldn't get one in the size I wanted for a price I could afford. I ended up buying a 2007 V-star 1300 and I couldn't be happier. I have been to the Harley dealership and could not find one that is half as comfortable as mine. I got very lucky to find something so good on my first try. As much as I love Harley and would really like one, I will not be getting rid of my metric for a Harley any time soon.
The problem I have with Harley's is they are way overpriced, expensive to maintain. Now if Harley brought their prices down to keep in competition with import bikes I would even except they require more maintenance. You get far more bang for the buck with a Japanese v twin and better longer lasting durability.
That is not true, my Harley has over 160,000 miles and I haven't even had to replace the clutch. all I've done is replace the brakes a few times and the tires and very 5 yrs. replace the drive belt and of coarse tires and the battery. but I change the oil every 2000 miles also.
But yes they are over priced big time. witch is way I bought a new Kawasaki because of the price.
I bought my 2012 Vaquero in 2014 (brand new, left over) with a very nice deal. I'm very happy. There are things that I don't like, which happens with every motorcycle, like the handling or brakes. Is nice to ride, I have rode +1000 miles in a day without problems, the only thing I added is a beadrider seat cover because the oem seat is not comfortable.
I rented an Indian Roadmaster last year, I liked some things more but the heat you get in your left leg is unbearable. I rented a HD electra glide last month to try an HD. I liked the acceleration, the dash and the brakes were more responsive (mine doesn't have ABS). But the vibration drove me nuts, when you're idling you feel like the engine is stalling and you hit the throttle. I was not able to read my cellphone that I mount in the handlebar because of the constant vibration. I won't say that it is a bad motorcycle but for me an expensive motorcycle cannot have such vibration, it feels like cheap. Besides that it was nice to ride, I rode +500 miles that day with no issues. When I went back to my Vaquero I could not believe the almost nonexistent vibration.
Every motorcycle has things that you like and you don't, you have to pick the one that fits your taste most (and your budget of course)
Hi John, just found you on You Tube and at 67 years young I'm still learning motorcycling because it does forever keep changing. Wife and I are planning a trip on two HD Deluxes 05 and 06 from Daytona Beach FL to Ohio then New England, we have the month of July. We are looking for your videos to get any help we can to make this a safe trip. Thank you and keep them coming! Adam and Charlotte Tominsky
Good luck Adam and Charlotte! Stay hydrated!
Adam Tominsky How did that trip go?
I recently switched from a 2013 Vaquero to a 2016 HD Street Glide. I have always owned metric bikes in the past and this is my first Harley. While I enjoyed the ride quality of the Vaq, I found that was heavy and awkward at slow speed. I put about 15,000 miles on it over 3 seasons. Here are the comparison notes for me. I sit lower on the Harley and it "seems" to carry its weight lower. I find it much more nimble and easier to handle at all speeds than the Vaq. Wile the Vaq was rock solid on the highway, I find the Harley just fits me better and is more comfortable to ride long distances even though the suspension is a little more harsh than the Vaq. I love the improved technology on the SG as my phone pairs nicely and I can stream my own music. The sound system is far superior to the Vaq and the tech much more advanced (more car-like). I'm happier with the gearing on the SG and the low speed throttle control is far superior to the Kaw system. I tried numerous setups on the Vaq, but always seemed to get a sore lower back after about an hour of riding. I just could not find a setup that improved it. On a recent trip on the SG, I did almost 600 miles in one day and had no issues whatsoever. It has a stock seat and setup with a drivers backrest. It was so nice to finish with no back pain. I am 5'10" and weigh about 170lbs. While I try to be realistic about every bike I've owned, for me the Harley has exceeded all of my expectations. I really have no complaints and ride every opportunity I get. It has been an absolute joy to own. It is substantially more expensive than the Vaq, but I am far happier with this ride!
I agree with everything you stated. I too have had metrics and loved them (e.g. VTX 1800, Royal Star Venture). But my Street Glide is by far the best bike I've ever owned in terms of quality. I spent a lot of money maintaining those metrics as well, so there's no real advantage in that area.
Brian Perry I
I rode Harleys for years having had a '48 WLH, '41 Flathead 80, Shovelhead, Sportster. I also owned 3 - 1960's Triumphs (all 62 or later), a BMW R100 RT, Yamaha XS1100, 750 HONDA, and some other "scooters." Harleys are okay but not worth the price regardless of the mystique. I am a master mechanic. I would ride a Road King if you sold it to me for a reasonable price. Having ridden a Vulcan Nomad 1700 I will say that in the twisties it will leave any Harley big twin far behind. I am an old fart living on Social Security so my days of owning an American Big Twin is pretty much out of the realm of possibilities. I think the big Yamaha V-Star is equal to any Harley big twin in quality of build and ride. I probably will find a Vulcan Nomad to buy this year. There are some other scooters I like such as a Moto Guzzi Bassa 1100 California, or the Triumph 900 triple. Motorcycles always seem to create much debate. I'm here to tell you that back in the 70's and 80's I made a really good living fixing Harleys because "The Motor Company" had terrible quality control. Those shovelheads and early Evo engines had lots of problems that were mostly quality control issues. Personally I lost my respect for them.
I rented the Street Glide and Indian Road Master and found them both easy to ride at slow speed. How hard is the Vaquero conspired to the Street Glide? I know there are some compromises that I can upgrade on Vaquero but my main concern is how hard will it be to ride 2 up in traffic getting out of city?
I finally gave in and bought my first bagger this year (22'), a brand new 21' Vulcan 1700 Vaquero. That suspension has been a blessing given all the road work they're doing right now where I live in SE NH. Cheese grater & bumps on the highway, and it's handled it great. I've already put over 700mi on it despite the weather. I want to know where you got the windshield.
I just picked it up on eBay. It’s a no name windshield, but it has worked fine for years!
I will hopefully be upgrading to a bigger bike this fall/winter. I currently own a 93 Vulcan 500 that was gifted to me for mechanical issues. I plan on moving up to at least a 900 cc cruiser. I would prefer bigger because I would actually like to get into taking trips on my bike. I like the look and sound of HD bikes, but have owned several 600 cc Metrics before and had tons of fun on them. The one bike for sure I will not be buying is a Sportster . Had several of my HD riding friends warn me about getting leg burns from the oil tank when stuck in heavy traffic. But other than that, I am open on which brand of bike I get. It will all depend on what choices I have available at the time and how I feel about the test ride.
Yamaha, Honda, Harley, Kawasaki, etc....if the bike works for you and you love it, that is all that matters. I had a Honda Shadow that I adored, but crashed it a little over a month ago. Then bought a Kawasaki and absolutely love it. Having a Harley doesn't make you a biker...nor does any other brand. Nice video!
Thanks Benjamin!
I agree I have 3 bikes including a 86vfr that you could not trade me anything for. Every bike has a personality and feel when you find the one that connects with you its special sometimes it a harley many times its not. celebrate the diversity.
longthetiger99 See, my problem is that I had 10 bikes in the last three years and couldn't connect with any of them. I guess when I find the right one I will know :)
So glad to see you online again. Another subject.... I am turning 68 this week. I love to ride but I have dropped two bikes, a bmw 1100 and a Kawasaki Voyager. Both we at about 1-2 mph and just about to get up to riding speed. I couldn't handle the weight at 'almost standstill' speed. I am now riding a Kawasaki 2000, the largest factory twin made. The only reason I got it was because the previous owner put on a 'conversion' trike kit. I love it but I miss leaning into the curves. Have you considered a segment on trikes for us older riders?
im 29 years old and I have owned the Vulcan 2000 an o4 in deep purple metallic, the bike is great but here is the kicker the low seat height and inseam make that bike easy to hold up at a standstill if you can remove the trike kit try it out that bike is remarkable well balanced.
I don't have any experience with trikes Larry or access to one. If I did; I'd love to do a video. But I don't even have access to one.
Hi John, I want to start off and say , beautiful bike! I just started riding 3 yrs ago and I looked at reviews of which bikes you could count on, as far as breaking down. That's why I went metric. My first bike was a Suzuki Boulevard C50. It was a great beginners bike and just this year I upgraded to the Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic. I love it! Be safe!! Dave
My son owns a couple HDs. I have owned a Vulcan 900, Shadow 750, Thunderbird 1600 and now a Nomad 1700. All had their good points. My least favorite are the HDs. One was cramped the other vibrates way too much (really). Plenty of power though. Most fun in town was the Shadow. Best overall the 900. Most get up and go the Thunderbird, got really good mileage too. Best highway comfort the Nomad hands down. Liked them all. Thanks for the video.
Awesome! We have very similar bikes; my Vaquero 1700 is the same chassis.
I ride a 97 Honda Valkyrie tour and it is phenomenal I've never had a bike that I loved more so smooth tons of power effortless to ride
I'm getting ready to upgrade my Vulcan 900. I've looked at HD but cannot for the life of me understand why I should get into that much debt for 72 months. that's insane! I'm looking at buying an '06 Yamaha stratoliner s. I will have a powerful cruiser for a fraction of HD price. Point is I'll be riding..
I really don't think 72 month motorcycle loans are responsible. If you must finance, you should really consider financing what you can finance in 4 years or less. If you can't afford the payment on a 4 year loan; then you can't afford the bike. These long loans mean tons of interest and an asset that's rapidly depreciating faster than the loan is being paid down. A lot can change in 6 years.
Exactly! I have always paid cash for my motorcycles but if I were to get a loan, I would do a 24 month loan. HD pushes the 72 month loans so people can afford the bikes that are way over priced to begin with.
HD sells an image. The bikes are different, some like em some don't. It's the image that so many want to buy into. I just want to ride...comfortably and dependable. I ride long distances. I ride a Goldwing, and I love all bikes.
I bought a Yamaha Stratoliner 1900cc. I still have my Vulcan and still ride it. I was in the right place at the right time and was able to pay cash and keep my Vulcan! Two bikes are better than one!
Grieg Ragen The image of HD is dwindling because newer generations of riders have become less image conscious and more frugal. They want more bang for way less buck and the metrics fill that need. Hell, even Triumphs cruisers give you lots of bang for your buck. Indian is making some of the same mistakes with pricing that HD is doing. They're also trying to capture the image thing and grab on to history when really, this is Indian part 2. In the end, it's going to be the ridiculous pricing that HD and Indian will be hurt by. Metric bikes are reliable, well built, have tons of options, and are highly affordable.
Harley is like Jeep. They are great at marketing. The one thing they are both great at selling is tradition.
Plus, if you owned a new jeep or Harley. Like I do, you would see there is nothing better. They have both risen to the top.
John Casteel yeah chrystler has done a great job in general at conning people....people like the guy above me need to justify there purchases but in reality they bought the most unreliable brands out there
Meh. Harley sells a culture, an image, and a club.
Harley is a great clothing company, and they have some good bikes too.
Hey man, great video. I just purchased my first Cruiser which was not a Harley and I will say for me it was both factors, price and reliability.
Bought 2014 Vaquero. Brand new out the door for $16.500 CAD.. All I can say is WOW!! Night and day over my FXDC Superglide.
Whatever happened to John? He hasn't uploaded in 2 years. I hope all is well with him as I enjoy his videos.
6 years and not another post, hope all is well. I stumbled across this video as I’m thinking of a Vaquero. I appreciated your objectivity and rational thoughts on how HD has influenced the masses to believe they are the pinnacle of motorcycling, and certainly synonymous with the word motorcycle in the US. Many Americans will not consider another brand, often through the peer pressure to believe an HD is the entry fee to belonging and acceptance with their friends or intended social groups
Yeah, I kind of got out of the RUclips thing. I might make videos someday in the future but I kind of lost interest.
I gave up my sport tourer (Concours 14) to go to a Harley Street Glide. I did so simply because a touring cruiser is more comfortable for me on long trips. The Connie was a blast to ride on short day trips or overnighters, but a royal pain in the ass, neck, and shoulders on multi day trips (5 to 10 days). I put an aftermarket seat, handlebar risers, and windshield on it and I was still uncomfortable. I guess the bottom line is to just ride the bike that you enjoy riding.
Absolutely!
You skipped right over the ADV category. They are much more comfortable than sport-tourers. But they handle, brake, accelerate, lead in technology, and can even do the dirt road without a problem.
I finally got to ride a 2017 voyager. It must not have had the Ivan flash because it rode rough like shook at certain speeds and popped on deceleration. I hope that was the case because my wife really liked the suspension and I wanted to love it.
This is older but for me personally I my dad always rode Harley and so did his dad they kinda go with "if it's not a Harley it's not a bike" when I was 17 I bought a Yamaha 650 maxim loved that bike, we would ride together a lot an he was always fixing something on his Harley and my bike being 20 something years older never had any problems. So I always bought metric for that reason. My most recent purchase was the Suzuki c109rt I like Harley's but I love my Suzuki lol
Bought a Road Star 1700 for 5k. Added some nice accessories to make it look unique. The bike mechanically and visually stands on its own merits, not its brand name. It sounds, looks and works great. I find Harley riders are like to advertise the brand via clothes with logos. I prefer to be understated and different by not advertising a brand name.
I'd love to own a Harley but would never pay that much for a bike. And the reliability aspect plays a part in that as well. My next bike will be a Vaquero, I love the way they look and ride. On a side note, I love all bikes I'm not biased towards any certain bike
Honestly I just bought a Low Rider S. The second I rode it I was smiling from ear to ear. Only bike so far that has happened. Not quite ready for a touring bike. When I am i will probably get the Vaquero. love the way it looks.
UPDATE.. Got my 2018 Vulcan Vaquero and I love it. Brand new out of the crate with a few added accessories $14000 out the door. While I do like the Harley Street and Road glides the price difference was $10000 and made them unjustifiable. Got 7000 miles on it and can't wait til this next cycle season. Even considering riding it to Sturgis to be in a sea of Harleys.
Totally agree. I have owned several bikes. Primarily Honda's, Yamaha's and Suzuki's. I currently have a Harley and love it but there are many things I prefer about the metric bikes. It's all about the joy you get from riding the machine.
Absolutely!
glad your back to vlogging, missed the videos.
ride what you want. not what everyone else think is best.
bikes like shoes, find what fits you. everything else is comes out in the wash.
i started on a 08 vstar 1100. 5k in 5 months
i've bought a 2016 fat boy s in december and i now have 5k+ on it now
but i still stand by that statement "Ride what you want"
the harley fit the need case i wanted and fits me like a glove,
tho i did consider others. and only find this by test riding.
Awesome! And you're absolutely right; test ride and find the bike that works. Enjoy that Fatboy!
i have a 06 Harley Street Glide, and of all the bikes ive owned, its still my favorite. that said, it is a temperamental beast that breaks down every 4000 miles or so. thankfully HD's are unbelievably simple to repair,anyone with a basic set of tools and a service manual can rebuild half the bike with ease
That's what I think a lot of Harley haters don't understand. I got an 08 Harley Low Rider and I honestly enjoy working on it and tinkering with it as much as I do riding it. I know enough to do basic maintenance on a car but had absolutely no experience working on motorcycles. So the same week I bought the bike I also picked up the service manual for it. Since then I've steadily been building up my tool set and stockin up on spare parts just from buying what I need as I go along.
No vehicle brand out there has a 0% failure rate. Might as well know what you're doing so you can be prepared instead of bitching to everyone else about how your metric is crapping out even though you've never even changed the oil since you bought it 5 years ago.
You're right man! Maintenance and repair skills are essential. I do all my own work too. And I enjoy it. I've never really had a major repair needed on a motorcycle. I put 50,000 miles on my 900, I did have to replace the Stator but where that's located, it's a very simple job. But I kept the oil changed, flushed the brakes regularly, changed brake pads when needed. I enjoy doing it.
Honestly, the reliability issue is kind of moot. It is true that the Metric brands are more reliable overall; that's a fact that's backed up by data. BUT! It's about the ride. Ride the bike that "does it for you". If that's a Harley, do it! How stupid would it be to ride a metric when you wanted a Harley, just so you'd have fewer repairs? That's not what motorcycling is all about!
Harleys have gotten better in recent years, when i got my 06, i was quickly informed of a whole list of "things that will eventually break" that everyone just accepts as part of the "HD Experience" adding insult to injury is discovering HD sells 'performance' versions of said low quality parts that they recommend you upgrade to when the inevitable occurs.
next year i get to rebuild my cam chest because the cam chain tensioners are liable to grenade the engine if you put more than 40k on em
I was on a Harley, was looking for a bigger Harley and was smitten with the Star Roadliner. Here's this long, low, Art Deco bike. Looks like nothing else in a beautiful way. Then I ride it, handles better, rides better, makes more power than a CVO 110 and weighs less. There's no Harley I'd rather have. Of course it isn't perfect; I'd like a bigger tank, a taller top gear and ABS (though the brakes are Very good), but none of my nitpicking will make it any less the ideal bike for me.
I am on a quest for the lowest maintenance bike that I can take my wife on. It was Victory, now it's Indian and i stumbled upon the Vulcan... My concern... can I just change oil and ride.. I'm tired of chain maintenance and don't want to adjust valves... so....self adjusting lifters!... Twice to three times the cost for an Indian or a used Vulcan. I can do a lot of touring with the saved money and enjoy reliability. Need to ride it though. I like your comment about enjoying what you ride... that's what counts.
I've just bumped into your channel and it is more than entertaining,
you're raising very good points and I like your objectivity. Will look
fwd to view all your other videos. I like that one, very good topic you
raised. I just bought a 2016 vaquero (my first kawasaki) and I'm looking
fwd to experience it, just gonna have to wait for the winter to be over first,
so take good care and ride safe !! ;-)
My first bike was an 07 Bigdog Mastiff. Huge...monumental mistake. Traded it for a 2011 Kawasaki Vaquero. I loved my Vaquero. Rode like a dream. Smooth and very comfortable long distance touring bike. Took it on two long distance cross country trips. In 2015, I traded it for a new HD Road Glide. I love my Road Glide. I've had great luck with it. No issues at all. Have taken it on several cross country trips. Planning on some more soon. Both bikes have good and bad aspects but would have no issues going back to a Vaquero. I do agree that Harley's are expensive and probably over priced compared to other cruisers.
I enjoyed your Mvlog. Decided to subscribe. I currently own a 2006 Heritage Softail. I just purchased this in Feb. 2016. This is my 6th motorcycle and first HD. I've owned Honda's, Kawasaki 900 back in 1976 and 2 Suzuki's. I enjoy(ed) them all. I had a left knee replacement about 8-9 years ago(yes I'm older) so was looking for something that I felt very comfortable on and sat low enough so I could sit flatfooted without my knees being bowed out so much. The HD fit that need. As long as you ride that's what matters. Not what you ride. Take care,
Ed
Amen to that! Keep the shiny side up, Ed!
Just subscribed to you and I recently had to decide what bike to go with. I own a Vulcan VN800 and just love the bike, but as I get older and want to go further on it I decided it was time for a bigger bike with a little extra bells and whistles. I bounced around the idea of a Harley but knew I liked Vulcans I started looking at the Nomads and was pretty set on that but maybe a Harley if the right one came along. Then I seen a Vulcan Voyager and couldnt go look at it fast enough. Just the look of it was enough to draw you in. Then once I test drove it I knew I had to have that one. I do not regret buying another vulcan at all. Its also nice to have people always coming up to you telling you how nice the bike is.
I would have to ask if the Harley owners with issues had their regular services? As well as any bike out there. If we don't keep them up anything can break down? And I've seen metrics that cost a lot also. Good topic. Ride Safe
Absolutely, proper maintenance is critical. And actually the whole point of the video is that it's not about cost; but riding the kind of bike you want to ride!
Guy on an Ultra Classic compliments my "custom" paint. I tell him no, it's factory. We talk a bit and he ends up telling me I should have gotten a Harley. If I was going to travel I would out grow my Triumph. I told him my Bike has quick detachable bags,windshields and back rest. His HD 1450cc. My Triumph 1600cc, His 64 hp 900 lbs, mine 94 hp 700 lbs. All for less then half the cost of the Road Glide I was considering. I would have still gotten the HD for the look and sound, but then I rode one. He literally stop talking to me the whole rest of the time we were in that waiting room together.
Loved my Trumpet 1600. Zoom Zoom!
I don't usually hear that question from Harley owners. Of course, when I chat with Harley owners, I am usually two or three states from my home in Texas.
The few times I have gotten that question, my answer is, "No, Harleys are too slow. My FJR will do 150 mph with saddlebags - on regular gas."
I started out on a full-metal Suzuki 850 and Suzuki Madura (600+ all meta shaft drive beasts) and I loved them. I later got the amazing Harley FXR (1990). Incredible bike. It was right up there with the Madura since it had S&S upgrades. Botht he Madura and FXR were easy to handle, fast and stopped well. The Madura stopped better though due to dual front discs. I now have a pristine 2001 VStar 110 custom that is also a beautiful bike. It's a bit plastic for my taste, but the 570 lbs feels solid. Supurb brakes, loves to corner and loves solo or 2-up. I love both Harley (There is no replacement) and metrics. I personally think they should not be compared unless you are simply comparing cruiser to cruiser options for the $$$ you have in your pocket.
If I were to go new I would be seriously stuck between a Harley Dyna or FatBob , VStar Raider, Victory Gunner or Honda Fury. So many great choices out there IMO.
I think you hit the nail on the head, so many people in my little town believe that Harley is king, and where I agree that Harley's are wonderful bikes there is just something about my 900 Vulcan that I just love! Now as far as touring or riding long distance with my wife on back my 900 is not the bike I would choose but it is what we have for now. Eventually once I get her riding more often I think my bike of choice will be either the Voyager or the Ultra classic, simply because of the size and passenger comfort plus storage with the trunk.
Amen!
I watched your video on Harley vs Metrics and about 10 seconds in i noticed you were riding in my hometown. I live in Washington. What a small world. I’ve watched almost every one of your videos and I enjoy them. I ride a Vulcan Nomad 1600. I hope I see you on the road someday. God bless and ride safe.
More to your topic though I have owned one Harley and ridden a few. I also have lots of friends that ride them. The one I owned was a bonus I got for some work I had done. In all we have owned 3 Hondas (VTX1800, VTX1300 and a 750 Shadow), a 900 Kawasaki Vulcan (by far the most uncomfortable seat I have ever had, 3 victory's (Vegas, Kinggpin and still have my CrossCountry) and an Indian Chieftain. To me HD has the best paint and that's about it. I don't buy the reliability issues that much because if you read into what breaks down its not typically stuff that leaves you on the side of the road. Its electronic stuff, but BMW and HD lead the way in touch screens and other garbage you can do without so no surprise those things break more often than on bikes that don't have them. Personally HD is over priced for what you get and that's why I don't have one. That being said I think they are beautiful bikes and I understand why people love them. I think you should be able to ride whatever you like and people should respect your choice. For me its a 2015 Victory Cross Country. I love my bike like no other I have owned. My wife feels like that about her Indian. I like the Vaquerro and had looked at picking one up but the Victory won me over.
Welcome back! I've been looking get my first bike and really enjoy your videos. Very informative and I don't feel like your talking down to anyone. I love the Vulcan 900's, so seeing you rode one for a long time helps with my decision because I think we're about the same size. Anyway, thanks and keep up the great work!
Thanks Brian! I hope you'll enjoy it?
Didn't mean for the question mark at the end; of course you will!
Welcome back! I enjoy your commentary! I drive the 2015 lime green Vaquero and just love it. Use it pretty much as a daily driver. Bought it late winter this year because I got what I think was an excellent deal and it rides great. Basically half price of a HD but it was truly a case of pointing my disposable cash at what I could afford and still get what I wanted... power, styling, comfort. All good. I look forward to your future vlogs. Shiny side up and stay safe! 🤓
Awesome! Thanks!
Hands down the best explanation for "why I wouldn't buy a Harley" I've heard so far. This is exactly how I feel about it but I'm not as succinct getting to the point as you are. I'm ready to move over into a cruiser/touring bike and have been leaning toward a Vulcan VN2k but I think I'm going to demo a Vaquero before I do. Prices as coming down and dealers are willing to work with buyers in this economy.
Hey Jesse! Hope you enjoy whatever you get. V2K owners either love it or hate it. It's a massive bike, good in a straight line. Super heavy, it uses a very basic mono-shock suspension system making it a lot less comfortable than the 1700 line, and lacks a lot of the amenities. But it has a tremendous amount of torque and one of the largest production V-Twins in the world. In fact, it's THE Largest V-Twin in a factory bike in the world (the only engines that are bigger are after market engines designed to be installed in a factory bike). 125 cubic inches, that's insane!
So the long and short of it is; The Vaquero will be a far more comfortable and competent touring bike. And the V2K will rip stumps out of the ground and give you one hell of a torque-filled ride.
I am caught between the Vaquero, Streetglide Special or Chieftain. I don’t mind spending more for the best bike. But my main concern is reliability. I had a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 for 11 years without a problem and already running into issues starting my Indian after 6 months. I love the sound and style of American bikes but reliability is very important as I want to be riding not waiting for shop to repair. Also my plan is to buy a bagger travel coast to coast I need reliability. No bike is perfect but so far all my Metrics were problem free. I owned 2 Honda’s and 2 Kawasaki’s never made a warranty claim or repair.
According to Consumer Reports, of those three brands you mentioned, the Kawasaki is the most reliable. Don't let that fool you into thinking that the Indian or Harley Davidson are unreliable. Chances are, they'll be fine. But it is true that the Kawasaki is the most reliable of the three.
Ride what you like. I looked at a Harley when I got my new bike last year and couldn't see riding an air cooled bike when it gets as hot as it does where I live. I liked the ones I saw, but it wasn't practical. I ended up with a vstar1300 deluxe. That ticked all of the boxes for me.
Have you ridden a Honda Valkyrie? If yes, how would does it compare to with what you have now?
I have. I'm not a very big fan of the riding position (feet under instead of feet forward), and there was a lot of leg heat. That said; it was an extraordinarily smooth machine, very fast, and very attractive too!
Indeed, I already managed to buy one, and I am already looking for a possibility for second pegs. Although I find it generally very comfortable.
1. Glad to see you back.
2. I just started riding a little over a year ago. First bike was a 2002 750 Vulcan. Had to upsize quick BC it was too small. I currently ride a 2005 Vulcan 1500 Classic and love it.
Never even really looked at a Harley...or any other bike for that matter. Except when I was shopping for my current bike. I did look at the Honda ATC. The only time I've ever even stopped to see other bikes is at poker runs and I stopped a few days ago at J&P Cycles and looked at a few of theirs.
I am completely pacified with what I have. I would though, love to have a Vaquero one day. But I have no intentions of a Harley. Nothing against them, just like my Kawasaki's.
Ride what you love, it's great!
Just got rid of my 2nd HD. Chopped it in for a VN 900 classic and a XJR1300. 2 bikes for 1. Best motoring choice I've made.
Hi John! Good to see you back here:) I'm still riding the '06 Vulcan 900 Classic. A few short highway rides here and there but mostly on our local twisty roads. Dragging the foot boards a little sometimes and it always scares the crud out of me, lol. I haven't been on it much lately though even with the nice weather, been working too much.
Thanks man!
Romans Five|Eight Off topic, but approximately how much could I expect to pay for tires, tubes, balance, mount/labor for replacing both tires?
Good to see you again, I was afraid something had happened to you. Did you look at Yamaha in your quest for a new bike? I have a road star (it's a lemon) and I want to upgrade. I like the vaquero and I'm in love with the Yamaha stratoliner deluxe. Any thoughts?-Andy.
Hey Andy. I did not ride many Yamaha's, except for a Road Star. I'm not a huge fan of air cooled bikes and it's my perception that Yamaha drags behind the other brands in terms of technology. When shopping, it seemed Kawasaki, Honda, and Harley-Davidson offered more technically advanced machines than Yamaha did.
But then again the new Harley bikes are really nice and comfy to ride. More comfortable than their older touring bikes I rode. Smoother shifting, down or up etc.. Really nice
first i wanted to say thanks i have watched everyone of your videos and your vaquero had a big impact on my choice of bike i just bought my 2012 vaquero and cant be happier im used to smaller bikes so its kind of a whole new wold for me i have noticed it has alot louder click when shifting into gear 1-3 is that something i should expect with a bigger bike it only has 8500 miles idk if thats relavent at all?
keep up the videos they have alot of very useful info and have helped me more than you can imagine.
Thanks Cory! There's no issue with the 'clunk'. It's annoying for some people, but it's not hurting anything. It's the type of transmission most larger bikes use. It won't hurt anything, and there's not any way to 'stop it'. It's just part of how the motorcycle works.
Romans Five Eight: Excellent review! I have a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 and my next bike will be a Kawasaki Voyager. I am extremely satisfied with my Vulcan 900. Thanks!
Harley's are just overpriced. Why pay that much when you can get another bike that has the same features and better reliability?
Might Is Right They have a 26 percent fail rate according to consumer reports. I just got back from Sturgis a couple of months ago, and see all types of Harley's on the side of the road. My guess, is those may be the ones with mods?
glad you enjoy your bike pal ... other guys buy Japanese bikes and are also happy with their bike. Your comments are rather angry and condescending .... I've seen plenty of broken down Harleys ... and I've been riding for over 40yrs. Your a "Harley" guy so be happy ... cutting down other people's bikes doesn't serve any purpose - other than making you feel superior in some way. But in reality you're not ...
Not talking down to people who like Harley's. I'm just stating a fact that those bikes are not the best riding/best built out there. I've always been a Kawasaki guy, so once I outgrew the Ninjas, I moved on to the Vaquero. Bike has everything the Harley has except the price tag.
Racist much? And FYI, the only true 100% American made bike is Indian. So if you ain't riding one of them your a traitor by your own logic. Harley has parts from Mexico, China, Europe and a few others.
I'm where you were now... ready to slow down and sit back a little.
A good topic for sure. I bought my first bike in 64, a Honda Dream 305cc. I've rode most of the motorcycle types out there, and today I ride Honda. I have two, an 06 Shadow 1100cc, and a Gold Wing. If I wanted a Harley, I would have bought a Harley. I stick to what works for me, and I don't care what you ride. Harley has it's own mystic, just as the Gold Wing does. Back when I started riding you spent more time working on your Harley than riding it. I like the reliability of the Honda line. And I like the reliability of most of the metrics. My all time favorite motorcycle was an '88 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700cc. I probably put 300,000 miles on that bike, rebuilt the engine once. Traded it in on a Gold Wing in '04.
Harley Davidson reliability is significantly improved over previous years for sure.
I agree, Harley has come a long way from it's days as a AMF bike. It is more reliable. But in my humble opinion, it's still not as reliable as the metrics. Harley will really get away form the mechanical push rods, and lifters. It's what makes a Harley sound like a Harley, and that's where they are stuck.
Torn between the Vaquero and the Voyager, only thing I don't care for with the vaq is the side opening bags. How do they work out? Smaller then the Voyager?
You’re right on with your thoughts about metric vs HD. I’ve owned Vulcan, Boulevard, Victory, and currently Vstar. I’ve ridden HD but always felt there were better options
I have ridden both metrics and Harleys for about 40 years. My last bike was a Harley Road King. As I got older the Road King got harder for me to ride. I just traded it for a Harley Softail Heritage Classic. It is lighter with a lower center of gravity which comes in handy at low speeds. I like motorcycles without a fairing - personal choice. The bottom line is ride what you like and fits you. About your upcoming Canada trip. I have traveled from coast to coast in Canada and there is some amazing scenery, Banff, the ride around Lake superior and Vancouver come to mind. However Saskatchewan and Manitoba not so great unless you like flat prairies, again a personal preference.
Awesome Bryan!
I owned a 08 Harley which I over paid for and it was in the shop more than I rode it I have a Honda vtx 1800 for the last 7yrs and all I have to do is change the fluid maybe clean the carb . Harleys nice but the maintenance is my issue so I guess if you have an extra bike while yours in the shop I guess that works I like to ride not waiting on repairs
Yeah; according to Consumer Reports Honda has a 3 year failure rate of 11%, Kawasaki 14%, and Harley Davidson 25%. The reliability and build quality of Harley Davidson really isn't where it should be for the price tag.
I ride a 1986 Kawasaki 454 bought it new in 87 (leftover )like yours. Some day I would like to get a bigger bike. I did see a 14 Vaquero in flat black it was very nice looking. Harleys are great looking bikes also. I just haven't found "The Bike " yet. I am sure the Lord will give me the desire when He shows me what will satisfy. To find joy in what you have and not want for something else is the true blessing. Thanks for the videos John , and ride safe brother. Glad you're back at it.
That's great!
Very good commentary. Everybody has different likes. Just get out and ride when you can. I ride a Street 500, and most people I ride with have scooters. Thanks for your videos.
Awesome!
For me who cares what you ride as long as you ride and your happy, go for it. I ride a Yamaha Royal Star midnight tour deluxe. I don't wish I had a Harley and can afford one, just love my v-4 that's all. Who knows what I may get down the road but this Vaquero will get a look.
i love my 2006 m109r its a beast and very comfortable.
I have had three Harleys and have had no issues with reliability. I have had metrics to and six Wings. I have loved them all. When you compare Harley to Indian or Victory or Wings for the same model there is not much difference in price. I am a distance rider and have 6000 miles on my 17 Road Glide and love it. I like the Vaquero to, I just can't own more than one at a time, my wife frowns on to many handle bars in the shop
I just bought a Vaquero but I tried the Harley road king out first. It's a nice bike but they wanted 11 grand more for the Harley. Out the door on a road king they priced $29685 compared to the $18800 out the door on the Vaquero. That's a no brainer for me.
Good evening. I found your videos because you have a Kawasaki Vaquero. You seem to have stopped videos about 5 years ago, it’s 2021 now. Do you still have the Vaquero? How many miles have you got on her? Did you run into any problems with it? If you traded up, what did you get?
Enjoyed the video.... everything you say makes sense..... ride what you like. I ride a nomad and love it. I am curious to know how you enjoyed the Canadian road trip.... biased, since I live up here 😎
I know it's kinda late now but .... What do you think about the new Milwaukee 8 engine?
Kawi 1600 nomad and a Versys guy here. Love those bikes. It is fun to alternate between a cruiser and other bike types.
Absolutely! I'd have a fleet of bikes if that was feasible.
I've been wanting a bigger touring bike like the Road King but I'm thinking the Kawasaki Voyager is a better buy over all. I've got an old Softail that needs constant repairs & a newer Sportster for commuting to work but want something bigger and reliable for longer trips.
The Road King would be a nice bike. The Voyager will be a more reliable machine; that doesn't mean it can't break too (anything can break). I really think either would work very well for you, depending on what sort of riding you like to do and what you're looking for.
The Road King is the only Harley that has caught my eye I love it's look. I currently own a Yamaha Road Star Silverado 1700 smooth ride more than enough power to take out on the road touring. I haven't done much research on the voyager so I can't give an honest assessment on it. But I have riden both the Road Star and King. With my knee injuries plus holding the bike and my wife up the Road Star is the bike for me. The king had just to much weight for me.
I Love all 3 of my Bikes. My 2002 Shadow has been Good to me...bought a GoldWing 2 years ago and LOVE it as well...hard to beat for touring comfort...and just recently bought a CB1100(2014). Retro Style with current technology. That's Bike I am spending more time on these days...I just LOVE it and the is Fun to Ride!! I just cut a vid called "Graduating to a Harley Davidson". This was out of response to someone who made a statement that "eventually we all Graduate to a HD"...like it was the Be All end All Bike!!
Awesome!
You can buy a 30 pin bluetooth receiver for that hook up I use it on my 2015 1700 Voyager .....works well with all phones
Yes but you won't have full control of the device, you wont be able to change songs using the handlebar controls and you won't have song titles on the display. So using the 30-pin adapter and an iPhone, like I do, allows you to do all of those things.
You can't beat a good solid Kawasaki, they offer every thing a sensible person could ever want in a motor bike!!
I really do think they make some of the best metric motorcycles on the market. Honda motorcycles are insanely reliable but can be a bit tricky to do common maintenance things on (you can't even get a socket onto the oil drain plug on my wife's Shadow, for example, you have to use an open ended wrench). Plus, they don't have much in the way of big v-twin full touring cruisers. Yamaha seems 10 years old the day you roll it off the lot. Suzuki doesn't really have much of anything to write home about. All great brands IF they make the bike you want; but Kawasaki seems to have the best product portfolio.
just bought a 2016 vulcan Vaquero and oh man favorite bike smoothest ride beautiful roar
My first bike was an 02 shadow spirit 750. I loved that bike. It had just under 50k miles on it when I sold it. For the last 8 years I've been riding hondas. I've now owned my first Harley for about 3 months. I just like to ride.
Amen to that man!
What you were saying about looking at everything and test riding everything, definitely rings true with myself. I currently ride a Honda VTX 1300 and love it and will probably keep it forever. It is far from a touring bike, yet I've done a few Iron Butt rides with it.
I am looking for something I can ride at least 1000 miles per day (once in a while) and not feel like death at the end of the ride. I was seriously considering an 11 Road Glide Ultra but my wife doesn't really ride with me much anymore so I don't really need something that big, nor do I have to have a Harley.
I love the dependability of my Honda. I found a 2016 Vaquero with O miles for 12k out the door. I've watched endless videos on them and after seeing yours I am seriously considering pulling the trigger.
A lot of the videos say they are great right out of the factory where others have some complaints. Such as it being a MUST to send your ECU to Ivan's for tuning, new pipes and you know the list. Is your bike stock or have you done similar mods as others I have scene ?
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long message but you seem to love the bike and like a cool dude. Thanks in advance, Daren
PS. How many miles do you get out of a full tank? I tend to average less than other VTX owners due to my riding style...Thanks again..
That was interesting, that Harley (& BMW) riders report higher satisfaction ratings even though their repair costs are higher. Some people will pay for character, character that appeals to them, even if it costs more. I’ve had a 1992 HD FXRST and loved it, took it everywhere in the lower 48; then I drove a 2001 Yamaha Silverado (1600 cc version) all over the lower 48 again, plus took it to AK, and liked it just as much as the first Harley. And now have a “minimalist” 2020 Electraglide and can’t believe how cool THAT is. Maybe a minor point but I like the tach and speedo to be right next to each other; the Vacquero has that little “TV” screen in between. The bigger point I think is, that metric or “American” doesn’t matter so long as you like it, and like seeing America on it!
I bought my vaquero because it fits all the needs/wants I have for my motorcycle. I'm so tired of everyone assuming I couldn't afford a harley, I could but something about drinking the kool-aid I just couldn't do it. plus I went to 3 harley dealers 2 of them multiple times and not on any single visit was I offered any help or asked if had questions etc. but every other person in there with a HD shirt or jacket were asked multiple times(end of rant lol). the vaquero is a great fit for all my needs and thanks for sharing you reason/thoughts.
Awesome!
I've owned all Harley's until recently. Bought a Kawasaki Vulcan 1600. I gotta say my biggest disappointment is the fact the kawasaki isn't as refined and smooth as I expected. Being liquid cooled Japanese motorcycle I figured it would be smooth as glass. It vibrates more than my Harley's did. It has a noticable buzz in the floorboards and grips at highway speed. My Harley's would shake at idle but was smooth as silk at 70 80mph. Rubber mounted engine. My Vulcan vibrates at idle and has buzz at highway speed. So I'm a little disappointed in that as I can tell it will be fatiguing on a long ride. I'm not bashing on them but if you think going with a vulcan will be so refined and smooth compared to Harley's your in for a big surprise. I mean that's one reason people give for not buying a Harley..the vibration. So just a heads up the Kawasaki vulcans won't be as smooth as a road king or ultra.
Great commentary. I have been riding a Suzuki Boulevard C50T for a few years and I am looking to move up to a larger touring bike as well. I thought I wanted a HD and I, like you, love the looks of the Ultra Limited. But I saw a Vaquero in a showroom about a year ago and fell in love with the looks of the bike. I am leaning towards the Candy Apple Green with the flames, but am really open to any color if I get a good deal, which it looks like I will. The thing that has impressed me are the excellent KACT linked/ABS brakes, cruise control and nice stereo plus the great look of the dash. I also love the fairing. For the money, I don't think you can beat it. I just can't justify spending an extra $10 grand on essentially the same bike just to have the Harley name. Throw in the water cooled engine and great reliability of a Japanese bike and Kawasaki has convinced me. I have about another year of savings and I will walk into a dealer and pay cash for a new one. What a great feeling!
Awesome! You'll love it!
I have a Mustang seat on my Suzuki and love it. How is the stock seat on the Vaquero and do you think a Mustang seat is a worthy upgrade?
I see this post has been dormant for a while but still wanted to reply! Like a lot of others, I always wanted a Harley. I grew up riding dirt bikes, mini bikes, go karts, my dad's lawn mower, anything that burned gasoline. As I got older, fast women and faster wheels became more important. Until one time, either she wasn't fast enough or my wheels weren't and I ended up with a family. Due to a burning desire to get back on two wheels, get some bugs in my teeth and being financially embarrassed, I bought an old Honda Shadow from a friend that needed tires and a tune up. I rode that bike for years and it never left me stranded. I worked my way up to a Vulcan classic 1500. Another awesome bike that never gave me one ounce of trouble! Had to sell it due to an eventual divorce and it took me 15 years to get financially unembarrassed from that to get to a point where I could get another bike. I had the means to buy a Harley, and it is still on my bucket list, but I opted for a Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad. It has plenty of power, I can stretch out, carry a passenger without struggling and it looks and sounds damn good! Some folks drink Bud, some drink Miller, it's all personal preference and I will still cheers you no matter what you drink! Bikers are a brotherhood, no matter if you're male, female, what color you are or what colors you fly! Just enjoy what you ride and be safe! "Loud Pipes Save Lives"!
i own a harley and a 2000 vulcan 1500,i love them equally they are so similar but different when it comes to riding. depending on the day depends on the bike I take haha
my first bike was a 86 honda v65 magna had to put some work to get it running properly but loved it. it was a fast bike but not great for long rides. i then up graded to a 04 kawasaki Vulcan 1600. i liked it had a recall issue that i got solved but it rode nice and sounded great. this past may i got the chance to buy a 06 ultra classic and i just feel in love with it even my wife prefers riding on it. I wouldnt trade it for the world. I always dreamed to own a harley but was out of my price range. I love them for there sound but they can eat up some money for accessories or repairs when needed. im just glad i can do 90 of the work myself. By the way love the color of your bike
Great looking Vaquero!! I too had a Vulcan 900 similar to yours and wanted a touring bike with a trunk. I looked at the Voyager and it just wasn't for me. I then looked at the Victory Cross Country Tour and to me it felt way underpowered and I didn't like the styling. I ended up getting a great deal on a low mileage 2012 Harley Ultra Limited and now own my dream bike. Ride safe and keep the videos coming.
Fantastic! I did test ride two Ultras; sweet machines!
I've seen all of your vlogs. I even bought a 2017 Vaquero because of your vlogs. Unfortunately, I had to trade it in for a Can Am Spyder RT-S because of medical reasons. But, I still enjoy your videos.
I have owned over 75 bikes including several Harley's. Right now I ride a 2004 Road Star. It was inexpensive and sounds just like my old Shovelhead.
I started riding a Yamaha and thought I wanted a Harley. I won a Heritage Softail in a raffle. Rode it for 2 years. I discovered that I really didn't like the vibration or the stigma that comes with a Harley. I am 6'2" and it really didn't fit me. I ended up trading it for a carry over 2012 Stratoliner. Love the bike, but then I seen the Vaquero and I am in love. Nice bike!
Thanks Mark! Wow, winning a bike in a raffle; how cool!
As per consumer reports: What we found is that reliability and satisfaction are not necessarily tied together. The most beloved bike belonged to an American brand-Victory-even though it was not among the more reliable brands. That distinction belongs to the perennially strong Japanese-built machines. Consumer Reports’ survey of our subscribers shows that the Japanese brands are significantly more reliable than most bikes from other regions-led in order by Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki. Domestic brands Victory and Harley-Davidson were midpack, and Triumph, Ducati, BMW, and Can-Am were the more trouble-prone brands.
Yep, I mentioned this in the video. Owners of domestic brands tend to be happier with their bikes. They don't mind the hit in reliability.
well finally bought my first bike thats mine got a 2012 harley sportster 1200 forty eight an i sat on it and fell in love with the bike took it for a ride and i love it i did 2 things i always said i never do buy a cruiser or a harley but it felt right and balanced for me so took it for ride and nice and balanced for me a a bigger guy 5'8" 215 so it felt great and i love it...been watching your videos and your very informative about everything so been brushing up and looking forward to see more..
Awesome! There's nothing better than finding a good fit.
I've found that the metrics are better quality the last 10 yrs or so even. I've owned 2 4 wheelers, 1 was a kawasaki and I ran that thing into the ground no issues. the other was an arctic cat. the headlights fell out like 2 weeks after I got it. but the engine was a kawaski and runs awesome.
Yep, Japanese manufacturing boomed in the 70's and continues to improve. Those are folks who work hard and take tremendous pride in their work. Along with Germany, American Manufacturers are struggling to keep up with Japan. In fact, for the past couple of decades, American manufacturers of just about everything have been studying and mimicking the way Japan does things.
That's aside from the fact that many Japanese cruisers are indeed made in the U.S. Lots of manufacturers, from Ford to, yes, Harley-Davidson, produce their products in the region they sell them.
I own a 99 Yamaha roadstar its been more in the shop then on the road and when it's on the road I love it
Yeah, after 18 years things get old, no matter what the brand.
'03 V Star 1100 Classic for me and although I almost bought an Ultra Limited this off season I couldn't bring myself to do it. I love my bike and with I have done to it there isn't another one like it in the world.
Awesome!