Harley Davidson vs "The Metrics"
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- Опубликовано: 28 июл 2024
- For starters; I like both. But, it's an eternal debate. What's the difference between a Harley, and a "Metric" cruiser? Is one better? What do you get for the extra cost with the Harley-Davidson? Do you give anything up saving a few bucks with the metric?
What are your thoughts? 
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I'm almost 70 and have been riding H D since I was 14 up too the year 2004. At that time I had a two year old road king that stayed in the shop more than on the road. The last time I took the bike to have the wiring harness replaced I found a 2001 road star for sale. I got a friend to take me to look at the bike, after the first ride I fell in love with it and sold the road king cheap.Now 186000 miles later I'm still in love with it. Never had it worked on. Still runs strong. Still love it. I'm also in the market for a newer 1700. I plan on riding till I'm 100.
Nice! You’re an inspiration, and a wise man.
Went from a Honda VTX 1300 to a H-D Heritage Softail Classic this year. They're both fantastic bikes. You won't go wrong with either one. In the end, it comes down to personal preference. What I've noticed in 20+ years of riding is this; no matter what you're riding, the view from the seat is pretty much the same. Pick the bike you like and hit the road. That's all that matters.
Sweet! I love the look and lines of a Heritage with white walls and lots of Chrome.
Any REAL enthusiast (as long as the wind is blowing your eardrums and your lady squeezes tighter with every torky twist.) It's all good. I like them all. Metric and Harley alike. I have 7 different bikes and each and everyone rides different, and are different. From my R1 to my Fatboy, they all rock. If all bikes were the same what kind of fun would that be? They all have their advantages and disadvantages over each other, but are unique in their own ways. To me that's why I ride anything with 2 wheels. I ride for the ride, not the name. My favorite thing is looking at how people customize them. THAT, to me is the coolest of it all (besides the actual ride of course). Great video bro. Don't give a shit what anyone thinks about YOUR opinion, that's why it's YOURS. If you ride, your my friend even if you dont like it :) 2nd best feeling in the flippin' world. Ride safe guys.
I agree. I ride a Harley but there is no place on my bike that says Harley except where the VIN is. Love two wheels. Even the little scooters. We're all in this together on two wheels.
I agree too.
The Whole Truth well said bro. the truth is you don't see HD riders posting videos comparing HD to other brands and trashing other brands, it's because they don't need to. so who are the real posers? My saying is "ride what you like and like what you ride, but just ride man just ride." and ride safe.
The Whole Truth I love to ride that's all that matter u can have a 30 grand bike and sits in garage and u can have a 1500 bike and ride the country it's not about the bike it's about the ride I ride I road Harley I road Honda's I road sports and cruisers but one thing I like is the pound and the bitch on the back..... and the music in my ears...
The Tri-Glide is $34k, most of the CVO models exceed $30k (topping out at $40k). Harley has just introduced a stripped down, simplified trike for $26k that's more of a bare-bones model. Sort of a Road Glide Trike (as opposed to an Electra Glide/Street Glide trike).
My brother rides a Heritage, I ride a 750 Shadow Aero. We're both happy and we both get looks and positive comments on our bikes.
+michael lake Fantastic!
This may be a dated video but I've just found it and had to comment. It is SO refreshing to hear a comparison using valid, logical justifications for each point. I also love that you clearly point out choices that relate purely to personal preference. A fine commentary on a subject that is too often merely a trading of vitriolic outpourings and prejudices. Enjoyed the vlog very much and commend you for your attitude. Thank you.
Honestly, we live in pretty great times to be motorcycle riders (guitars are kind of going through a similar renaissance right now too). There are so many really well made bikes at variety of price points that cater to just about every riding style and aesthetic. If you can swing it you can even afford to own a smaller commuter bike, a cruiser and a touring bike or you can buy a single well designed jack of all trades. It's pretty great.
In the last 4 years I've been riding I've owned a 2012 Harley Davidson Iron 883 Sportster (my first bike) and a 2013 Triumph Bonneville T-100 that I shared with my wife who owned a 2002 1200cc Sportster Custom (her first bike). She currently owns a 2015 Dyna Low Rider and I currently own a 2013 Softail Slim and a 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse. Next year we plan on buying a pair of his/hers Moto Guzzi Eldorados and when I turn 50 I'm planning on picking up a two seater, full-fairinged touring bike of some sort...probably the Indian Roadmaster, maybe a Harley Davidson Road King or other touring bike or a Triumph Rocket 3 Touring.
I guess what I'm getting at is they're all really great bikes made by companies with solid reputations from all over. I watch guys bicker on various forums about how this brand or that brand is best and they make all sorts of claims to back up their assertions...some that are well informed and based on objective things and others that appear to be rooted in mythology and shared with the fervor of a crusader or Islamic extremist. The whole brand loyalty thing just seems silly to me. Know what you want from a bike, know what you want to spend and make it happen. If you're happy with it and it's safe and reliable, that's all that matters in the end. Life's too short and there really are too many great bikes to experience to argue over such silly stuff.
Wish I could afford the wide glide but that's $16k. I instead bought a high mileage 2009 Yamaha Vstar 650 and love it just as much as I would a Harley
True, some guys think that they're not a true cyclist unless it's a Harley, or loud pipes, etc..However, I worked at defense plant for years as a guard. Greeted all the traffic coming in and going out everyday. One guy, a real nerdy sort, with an old beat up Yamaha 650cc...scratched up funky looking helmet... wearing a backpack...came through everyday. I mean everyday...rain...hail...January or July. Now to me, that was a true motorcyclist!! How often do you see a Harley rider with a backpack...just wouldn't look cool !! I suppose some could surmise that maybe that was his only mode of transportation...with the excellent wages at this plant...I doubt it.
I was the same with my Honda Fireblade. When I bought it I asked the guy to fit heated grips. He looked at me strange and said don't you want a louder exhaust or to mess about with the engine map or suspension? I said no, I want heated grips. I'm going to ride all year round. It's plenty fast for the road.
I was riding to the track day and it was so cold that the inside of the visor starting to grow an icicle about 1 inch wide on the inner surface of the visor. Just a few mm thick, down the centre. But my hands were lovely and warm! It was like holding a hot cup of tea!
You can ride full time, part time, whatever suits you!
posers that complain about Harley's are just jealous they don't have one. bike's are bike's. real rider's respect rider's bike's whatever they are.
how many harlrys have u seen with 3000.000 miles on it?
Murley Jr. Reed I've never seen any bike with 3,000,000 miles on it.
why would anyone be jealous? they chose not to buy a Harley for there own reasons. How can you be jealous of something you choose not to ride? Agree with respecting all bikers. There's not many of us as it is...let's stick together. I'd love a Harley as a second bike
Dave Clair you wrote:
"posers that complain about Harley's are just jealous they don't have one. bike's are bike's. real rider's respect rider's bike's whatever they are."
You repeated the same grammatical error THREE TIMES! There's no apostrophe in the plural of words. Your opinion makes you look stupid. Your semi literacy confirms it.
Dave...a poser to me is someone who buys a certain bike due to peer pressure and to try and make some kind of fake statement...and someone who buys overpriced t-shirts, gloves, boots and other poser gear that have one logo on them...Harley Davidson. Jap bikes till I die...you keep buying those overpriced machines and I'll stick to my "poor mans" motorcycle while I max out my 401K every year.
i work on harleys, but ride a yamaha.
go figure
fred smith That's because you KNOW what others don't...or if they do, they don't care because they want the name...
+fred smith I work on Hondas, but ride a Harley, Honda or my Yamaha.
Go figure.
Figure your broke.
@fred smith there’s not a problem with that
I would love to have a harly but I would feel pretty foolish spending twice as much for the bike than I had to just because it says harly on it .
+dale carpenter Harl"e"y. Yes, I am a grammar Nazi.
so nazi off
+dale carpenter learn to fuckin spell
Tommy Cruz fuck yourself spell boy
dale carpenter learn to fuckin spell
I picked up a 2007 Road Star last August with 2800 miles for under $5000. from a great family run dealer .. 8 K miles later I am still having a blast and I just love the bike ... I call the 1700 a TK 1700 or Torque King .. SO much fun for so little money !
Awesome!
just lost my 1100 virago to a crash. lookin to grab a road star next month
A true Motorcyclist appreciates all two wheels and knows how to judge them individually and not group them all together,
I own both a Harley and a Yamaha. Love them both. I ride them differently and they both give me what I want in a ride just a little differently. Would not trade the Harley for two Yamaha's and I can say the same about the Yamaha when it is feeding my need for the day. What can I say, I have been riding 45 years and have had both brands that length of time.
I have owned many bikes, British, Harley, Metric and German...they all have their charms. I have always disliked people stuck on one brand or another. Show me a guy with complete and total brand blindness and I'll show you an insecure jerk. I will say for the record though, my current ride is a Heritage Softail and the build quality alone makes it worth the extra money. I had a Yamaha that I just loved but when it came to time to sell it, I couldn't get anywhere near the money out of it that I put into it. Any ratty ass old Sportster will hold its resale value. It ain't fair I realize but its the undeniable truth.
Not only are you buying a name and not any more bike then a metric offers , but the massive point is here in York the Harley plant got rid of its union employees and brought in casual temps to build the bikes. I've ridden many bikes and Harley is nearly junk with its flawed concept to its miss use of employees to the pathetic cult following. Even if Harley made a great bike they lost me with the fact your paying premium price for a lesser built bike. In the end my Stratoliner is more everything!
Not to mention more reliable. I enjoy riding the Stratoliner, not being on the side of the road wrenching a Harley lol.
i agree
Great thoughts, I ride a Honda and my wife rides a Harley. It's whatever you want to ride that matters!
You bet man!
Lol at the "because you can't afford one" argument. I'm like dude, I traded a Harley for this Yamaha because I like the bike better.
That being said, I'm willing to give them another chance with their 2018 Softails.
just sold my 05 Harley twin cam to buy a Yamaha stryker..way less problems for long trips
Seems like that era of Twin Cam was really unreliable. I have a friend who also rides an 05 twin cam (Road King) and has had a lot of issues, including one engine rebuild.
Yo, really appreciated this one. I've been looking at cruisers for a while now, and this one actually cleared a few things up for me. Thanks. Be cool, stay safe.
"They don't go, they can't turn, and they won't stop. Other than that, Harleys are great bikes."
Spot On!! I Totally agree with you. I too like Metric & Harley. I feel they Both make great bikes. If I could get a Harley that fit me and felt good I would get it. As it is the Gold-Wing fits me better. I don't buy a motorcycle for resale value, I buy it to ride so it is critical that the bike be a good one regardless of price. For me the Gold-Wing is the ticket.
Got my eye on a Victory but my wallet says Honda
Taraxicum Officinale My wallet says french fries
***** hahaah
***** Love my Shadow! Use it often for my 75 mile each way commute. Did it today in fact. Great bike, enjoy it. . .
@@daytonamisfits80 🍟
I just want to tell you, I ride a Harley. And I think you had the best thought out explanation of the topic I have heard. I respect your well informed opinion even though we disagree! Great video!
+George Brown I don't know that we disagree; I like Harley's, I just like my bike a little better. We're all different after all. What do you ride?
Hi Roman, so refreshing to hear someone else prefers metric, I ride a Honda Phantom with Mustang seat upgrade and extensions on the footpegs, it fits my 6ft 3 frame perfect, I've never ridden a Harley, but boy I've heard so many bad stories about them, that doesn't put me off test riding one, I just love my Honda and how it rides, so cant imaging the need to swap ever to a Harley. Anyway, cool vid, thanks.
I ride a Road Star. Harley's make my favorite bike other than mine heh! Changing starters and stators on a Harley is a nightmare vs the Road Star. It is kind of nice having a different type of bike as my pals.
I'm 23 started riding my dad's older 1200 sportster 2 years ago.. rode my friends crotch rockets, hated them, too quick and wheelie machines... I now own a 05 1200 sportster fully staged 3 and I will keep right up with the litre bikes to 100 and I can lean 29 degrees....
+Franklin Dufraine Awesome! Though I wasn't talking about sportbikes in the video; I was talking about metric cruisers.
I am 69 yrs old and have been riding since I was 15yrs old. I started out on a Honda Super 90 and since then I have had so many Bikes that I have lost count. I have owned Harleys, BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki Yamaha, and who knows what else. I just enjoy each bike for what it is and for the time I ride it but have never found the perfect Motorcycle yet! I keep trying just because I love having a new experience with something different. The bottom line is.... just ride what you enjoy riding and not worry what others think. This is your life and you only get one crack at it!
All I will say is I've owned pretty much every kind of bike there is from dirt to cruisers from Harley's to Honda's and if I'm making a long haul, I'll take a Metric over a Harley anytime. Not even close. I've had 3 Harley's my favorite being a Fat Boy and 7 Honda's. Loved em' all but you know your gonna get there on a Honda. I've always done most of the maintenance on my bikes unless it's something I'm not equipped to do. The one thing not mentioned here is the cost incurred if you ever have to take your Harley to a dealer as compared to a Metric. I know most Harley riders got that go to guy if something comes up they can't handle but if your on the road and you have to deal with a dealership, your at their mercy. Just sayin'! Having said that I still love Harley's for all they are and have been to Americana. I just love riding my VTX 1800S more. I always get there.
First thing I want to say is great video man. I have owned both kind of bikes. I've owned a 98 Vulcan Classic 1500, 85 Honda Shadow, XL1200c, my custom 04 Chopper, and my now 07 HD Street Bob. I want to say that your metric bikes are based off Harley-Davidson lines. Yes Harley's do sound way better than metric bikes. Harley has that cool factor and no matter where you are at in the world everyone knows what a Harley-Davidson is. Harley-Davidson owns over 55% of the motorcycle market. Harley does hold there value better than any other bike company out there. Now comparing the riding of each to one another my Harley doesn't put the wind in my face any different than my Kawasaki or Honda did. The metric bike didn't give the rush of power that I like. Depending on what model of metric you get you can customize it to make it your own. Yes my Dyna Street Bob vibrates like a fat chicks vibrator lol, but it wouldn't be a harley without that. If you are wanting a bike to just go out and ride buy a metric. Do the regular service on the bike and ride it. You won't have any problems with it. Now if you are wanting to make a statement, and hear that awesome sound and have a great resale value go buy a harley. At the end of the day since I work for Harley people always ask me 2 questions. What is a good bike to buy and when is a great time to buy one. My reply is buy a bike that you can afford without a lot of miles on it. Don't buy a bike that will own you with payments, because you will want to change stuff up and customize it. Then I say there never is a wrong time to buy a motorcycle. Ride safe my friends and idc what you ride as long as you ride and have fun.
67ShelbyMustang500 Honda is BY FAR the largest seller of motorcycles in the world.
True story: I've been a sport bike rider for 7 years now. Now in my 30's I'm looking for comfort. I was at my buddies house where he and his neighbor both own very nice Harley's (08 heritage softail, and 07 Road King), and the night before I was selling my Honda CBR we were all going to go on a ride together. (They've been trying to sell me on Harley for weeks now) Mine of course cranks right up, the softail cranks up, but the road king won't start. The starter just keep spinning and spinning, but doesn't seem to be engaging the flywheel at all. So, the ride doesn't happen. I tell them "you're aren't making a very good case for Harley right now lol." My buddy responds and says, "yeah, but that's the thing, if you buy a Harley you're going to learn all about the engine...you'll end up learning how to become a mechanic...it's just how it is." I couldn't believe my ears. The only things I've ever done with my motorcycles is maintenance. I laughed and told him I wasn't interested in buying a bike to become a better mechanic, I was going to buy a bike so I could ride it. The next day I took 4k with me to a dealership and negotiated a deal for a 2004 Honda VTX 1300 (with 11k miles) for 4k out the door. I LOVE the look of the Harley, but I didn't have confidence in their reliability. To get a comparable softail or dyna would be been 7-9k for a similar motorcycle. It just didn't seem cost effective to me. I still love my buddies softail, but trust the name Honda much more.
Is it safe to say then ..... That Harley is
purposely ignoring the latest technologies ? Only in an attempt to keep their growling sound ? And their retro / Classic look ?? 😩😸✌️
+wanastunt Im sorry to tell you but the VTX 1300 engine is the worst engine Honda ever made for motorcycle. Any Honda technician will tell you its the most troubled engine. You should have picked up the great VTX 1800 or some other brand bike.
+MadIgor FKGoogle Thanks for the heads up. When I read your comment this morning I got so insecure about my purchase that I got right on my bike and headed to the Harley dealership to trade up. I actually broke down and never made it. I'm still pushing my bike home now while texting this comment.
wanastunt
what an answer. I was not bashing Honda and I was honest with you, Im working on bikes for more then 20 years and most of the time Japanese bikes. For example the VTX 1800 is bulletproof.
Have you ever asked yourself why Honda tuned the VTX 1300 engine down from 74HP to 57HP when they introduced the Fury?
Im not telling you that it will break down at every corner, I just told you that its the most broken HONDA engine. Ask any Honda mechanic and if he is honest he will admit it.
I never suggested to you to go out and trade your Honda for Harley, so keep up your anti Harley attitude... I actually dont care.
Awesome talk. I learned some things. Thanks from Texas.
I am a new rider and thinking about buying a cruiser. This was helpful. Thanks.
#1 reason I love Harley is the exhaust note. I've owned metric as well and loved it as well.
Great video...I have a Heritage Softail Classic and it's really all I need. I don't need a bike that goes 200 mph. It's just a great bike, although I do like some metric cruisers like the Yamaha Raider and Stryker, but not sure if I'd ever own one.
In your opinion whats the best bioe for the money for big muscle cruiser?
Honestly how do you not have as many subscribers and views as the other big channels. your bike is awesome, you don't just ramble for 10 minutes like a lot of people and you talk about actual interesting subjects. Great job.
Coming from a Harley guy it is nice to see a nice comparison on them. Not some BS hating on one brand or the other. I would never expect someone to buy a bike they don't like. If you like a Metric more good for you, free country, why not!! That's what makes America Great.
Out of curiosity how much do you ride?
I ride my Sportster 10k miles a here which is like 7 months of the year. I know that isn't that much but it is a lot more than some people. Just curious because I have never had an issue even with the Sportster on longer 300+mile rides.
Great vid man!!
Love the boat joke BTW heehhee
You bet! Thanks for the comment.
I completely agree. I dont judge people on what they ride. Its all about what you like. I have a metric and a cruiser. My vulcan is my DR and its a good little scoot. Nothing crazy, just a modest little thing. My harley is an old hardtail springer shovelhead. Its my "hotrod" so to speak. I dont think i could ride that every day, but on the days that I do, its quite an experience. Both have their ups and downs. Im just glad I can experience both. Take care and ride safe! ^^
Come on, you don't appreciate bending your spine over every bump...man up!!!! hehehehe
I love me some old shovelhead. Is it a kickstart? 74 or 80ci??? You can't just say you have a hardtail shovelhead and expect me to not ask questions!
Ride safe
Jake C Haha its a 74c.i. and my only complaint about it is that its not a kicker. The transmission I had access to was an electric only. But its a 6 speed so it the engine does good on fwy riding. You cant be too picky when you are on a strict budget haha. But I really wish I had a baker kick 5 speed. When it goes out, ill drop one in. But yeah, over bumps, its...brutal lol, but Its such a blast! Take care!! ^^
Very cool! A 6 speed in a shovel is pretty uncommon though obviously so I mean yea it may not be a kicker but it is cool in its own right. Sure beats the stock 4 speed comfort wise and power wise any day...
And I hear ya on the tight budget thing. That being said if you had all the money to just buy everything brand new and shiny what would the fun be in building it and making all the mismatched stuff work together.
I Get a lot of crap from my friends who all have Harleys for riding metrics. They really don't have any good argument either as to why I should "only own a harley". I tell them like it is, remember when the bolts worked their way out of your primary pulley and the whole thing locked up and almost killed you and all of us riding behind you? Or the stripped bolt on your new baker six speed and fluid all over the place? Oil coming out of your air cleaner? Bottom end blew right out at 30,000 miles? Guess where I was? Riding my Honda without ever having a problem for 48,000 miles!!!!
a bike is a bike is, a bike. comes down to personal choice. ride what you want, and love it for what it is. don't judge others for what they ride, they're only judging you for the same reason. whatever, can't we all just get along? ride safe, that's all
What are you riding? Are you in top gear at the 3-4minute mark?
I have never seen such a dumb debate. This is even worse than the Glock Vs 1911 debate. A bike is a bike is a bike. If you ride it well, enjoy it, and ride it safely, good for you. If you like the harley look with leather and no helmet, have fun. You aren't hurting me. I like Harleys the best because I just do. I do wear gear and I ride safe.
I ride a 1500cc goldwing. I love the bike, it's smooth as silk, starts easy (and it's carberated) handles ok for a 900lb bike. My biggest complaint and it's not so much with the newer goldwings, is the amount of plastic chrome. I love real chrome (harley) and I love the polished aluminum of the older Goldwings, but I just think the plastic chrome is just tacky. It is an awesome bike other then that. It's the one thing I love about Harleys. I don't like loud or vibrations, but man Harleys are beautiful bikes.
+Urban Madness you used cubic centimetres and pound-weight in the same sentence. My head hurts.
Better if I said it's about 92 cubic inches?
+MoonshineSazerac It's not uncommon. Japanese motorcycles are marketed and sold by cc's and not by cu. in. (and even some American ones!). The vast majority of American cars are also marketed in cc's (usually, liter, one liter is 1000cc's!). Metric-imperial mix is becoming the American standard!
+Urban Madness To be perfectly honest I'm not sure I am as sold on the objection to plastic chrome. It doesn't pit, rust, or fade, it's light, and it looks pretty good when done right. Not everyone likes it, for sure. A friend once walked up and tapped my plastic chrome engine cover with his knuckle and said "Oh, it's plastic chrome, yeah I hate plastic chrome". I don't think he appreciated the irony of the fact that he had to actually physically touch the piece before he knew it was plastic.
+Romans Five|Eight On my bike, it hasn't aged well. I just think it's cheezy. But that's my opinion.
Do you look through or over that windscreen?
Couldn't understand what is a "metric" cruiser... may someone explain me plz? i dont understand english very well... thank you!
Ive owned 4 Harleys and every one of them had some sort of problem that was serious. Now i ride a Honda Shadow 1100 and its been a dream. Harley has that off set lobe on there cam thats why they vibrate so much but thats why they sound so good.
+Bricklinsv1970 According to Consumer Reports; Honda is actually the most reliable brand; with a failure rate around 11% vs. 24% for Harley-Davidson (15% for Kawasaki)
+Romans Five|Eight I believe it. My Honda has been very reliable.
I'm a HD guy...but your post is spot on...solid info...i took an NC700 Honda with an automatic for a test ride the other day...it's just amazing how outdated my fatboy is...to compare the two is just silly...i think my next bike will be Honda, Susie, Yamaha...maybe a Kaw...but I will miss the styling of the HD...but i won't miss the vibrations and break downs...but i shouldn't complain about the dependability...two break downs last summer...only one this summer....so far...hehe
Ha! Yes, HD is behind the times. That's part of their charm, for sure. Lots of folks like that it's old school noisy, and rough. But the modern technology, like it or not; is far more reliable.
what kind of camera you use and can you show how you mount it
Guy I know bought a Fat Boy from somewhere in the mid-west for a great deal, he was elated, it was his dream..when he got it, he developed a shifting problem. No HD dealer in the area would even touch it for liability purposes, he had to find an independent mechanic. Then a few months later his handlebars came loose..then he developed another engine problem...he ended up buying a Vulcan..so he would "have something to ride".
Excellent point about HD marketing. It wouldn't surprise me if HD actually sells bikes for cost, or less, because they know people will shell out $400 for a jacket, or $50 for a T shirt (made in China) with their logo on it. Much like computer printers are sold for cost and the money they make is on ink cartridges, or Gillette who sells cheap handle but charges $30 for 4 blades.Notice the marketing HD uses...they never espouse the merits of their technology..they use catch phrases like "Select Group", "Freedom", "Tradition"..etc...in short they are selling a culture not a product, per se.
And the counter arguments are the same recycled arguments...1. resale value, 2. looks, 3. sound
1. You addressed it perfectly
2. I personally don't want a bike that looks like a toaster oven with wheels
3. There are a growing number of towns that are enacting noise ordinances, for obnoxiously loud bikes (especially near my area)..revving your engine at 7 AM on a Sunday morning doesn't make you cool...it makes you an inconsiderate asshole
I don't fit the HD culture anyway..I'm not fat, nor do I look like one of the guys from Duck Dynasty...or Santa Claus...and I will never ever come anywhere close to drinking Budweiser.
(Plus I love my F6B!!)
Reason #1 I don't own a Harley. Wife says the vibrator in her drawer is the only one we need.😂
Buy and ride whatever you want. All bikes have their advantages and dis advantages. I have a custom hammer performance 1250 sporty and it is awesome. Harley's do not need valve adjustments, sound great, feel great riding, and are very reliable. My 2006 has close to 30,000 and no trouble whatsoever. Ride what you like and enjoy the miles and brotherhood with all riders.I used to race sport bikes and still love them, just got tired of cheating death and I am getting older bahahaha!
I love my old maxim, she's a warhorse that keeps on trotting....But I HATE doing the valve adjustments because I have 29mm shims over bucket....IMPOSSIBLE to find em locally.
Once i get my medical debt sorted I'll be buying another...maybe a harley, Really liked the 48' and how it felt as a cruiser.
xeronicus I was looking at getting th 48
Scott Davis harleys are some of the least dependable bikes on the road and this is backed by fact. So just because you have a harley that was reliable you come to the conclusion that ALL are? hmmmm
Scott Davis I do like the looks and soumd of a harley though. I like Indians better for a domestic bike.
30 k miles in 10 years?, I put that on my R1 Yamaha in one year, ride to pretend,pretend to ride poser!.
I'm wondering if you could give your opinion on a 2009 to a 2014 V-Star by Yamaha???? This will be my first bike at the young age of 53. I'm just not convinced on a Harley yet with all the reading I have done so far....thanks
Hey I'm 6'6'' and looking for a good starter bike any ideas?
Suzuki c1091rt I am 6'5" 320 lbs size 15 boots fits me fine.
''
Ride what you like. I feel pretty much the same about the Harley Davidson. This is a great time to own a bike. The technology is catching up with them and there are some really nice bikes out there now by all manufacturers.
Absolutely.
Harley Riders love to have a Honda rider around to run for parts.
All those reasons are exactly why I love my Victory Hammer. Bought mine used (as I do with all vehicles) and couldn't be more happy with it. Sounds great, rides excellent without vibration or heat, and the price was right. Rode with this guy on a brand new Street Glide and he might have sold me... on eventually getting a Vic Cross Country. Good Videos, man. Keep it up.
I think Victory has some great bikes. Check out my video; "My Dream Bike", I mention a couple Vic's in there!
In may ill be 17 and able to buy my first bike. I saw a vid of the shadow and was wondering what would be better to own for a 1st bike, the shadow or the Vulcan. Im 6'1 around 190lbs. What do u think insurance would be living in nj in a rural area with low population?
I love ALL bikes! I think you hit the nail on the head. after 7 bikes i finally bought what i thought was the most comfortable with the power and looks to do what i wanted it to do. I got a Yamaha Stratoliner and honestly couldn't be happier. People who own Harleys mistake it for a Harley all the time. I love Harleys for their looks and sounds but being friends with a few motorcycle mechanics including a Harley mechanic and also knowing a lot of Harley riders including family members who had them it seems like they all agree on one thing and that is that the metrics are definitely more dependable especially if you ride a lot and far. Personally i don't care where they're made when i'm saving literally thousands of dollars buying something that is equal or better than the other. With the money i save i can add all the bells and whistles to my liking and even get some customs stuff made specifically for my bike. All in All i love all bikes and i hope everyone can appreciate that. And you're absolutely right about some of the main components of a Harley being made overseas and put together here in America. I don't think it should matter as long as you get what you want and have fun using it. Be safe out there!
As a person who owns both. You seemed to have steered clear of the terrible downside of when it comes time to do top ends. I've got a Kawasaki Vulcan 2004 1600 classic. Accessories are plentiful. . . Except for top end and bottom end parts. Pricing them through the Kawasaki parts house? Outrageous.
For the 2004 Electra glide or the 1972 superglide kickstart FX, the accessories and parts number into 20,000. There are 340+ top end parts and kits available that are exact fits. Right now, the 72 needs parts, because it literally has more miles on it than I can ever hope to put on my car. The EG has the same availability for parts.
Now it's true going through harley for parts is expensive. But you've got so many choices that you don't even have to consider buying from them. This is what scared me out of a victory v92c. I tried sourcing exact fit parts and it was a bad time, as You have to deal with Polaris for parts, and it's the same as with the Kawa (the reason I bought the kawa was that it was in perfect condition and only had 2503 miles, only ridden to church by a pastor every Sunday, and cost only 2100, you can't pass that type of deal up).
I've been wanting to get a cruiser lately. I'm new to it, and haven't been on a bike other than when a friend let me ride his Vulcan. What I want to know is your opinion for a good cruiser to start out with. Most of the bikes I have been looking at are second hand and fairly cheap ($3000-$6700). Between the following bikes what would you recommend? Vulcan 900 custom, Vulcan 900 classic, 2013 dyna street bob, Vulcan 1500 classic, And a Yamaha Vstar 1100. All of these bikes, except the street bob, I have seen multiple years of the bikes, so I didn't give exact years for the ones that I have seen multiple of.
Mainly I want to have a bike I can ride all day, because I'd love to be able to travel around my province. Ideally something that's a good beginners bike and something that is comfy for long hauls that won't be too intimidating for a beginner. I'm 6 foot tall, at 240 lbs, and I've sat on most of the bikes, except the Vstar 1100 (which I'm going to look at later today). I'd also like to bring my girlfriend on the back with me from time to time. Any input would be greatly appreciated! I have wanted a bike since I was 5 years old, and want to have that freedom to hop on a cruiser and enjoy the open road for a few hours.
All of those are good choices, each for different reasons.
Some Vulcan 1500's are fuel injected, some aren't. I'd strongly consider fuel injection, it's far lower maintenance and far more reliable.
What Vulcan did your friend have that you rode?
The Vulcan 900 will be forgiving for a new rider, fairly comfortable, capable for two-up riding. It can be had really cheap, too. And it's a reliable machine. Just get an '08 or newer; as the '06 and '07 models had problematic charging systems.
The Vulcan 1700 (not on your list, but hear me out) can be had for a price around the price of a used Street Bob, even new (if you really look around). Much heavier, much less forgiving; but FAR more comfortable than the 900 (Trust me, I've owned both!). I rode my 900 all over the country, but the 1700 Vaquero I currently own is even better. The 1700 Vulcan has better suspension than anything on your list, better brakes, and a better engine.
The Street Bob would be an odd choice for touring. It's designed as a 'bar hopper' bike. Sort of a Sportster with a big engine. Expensive, heavy, and with limited suspension travel and poor brakes. It has some advantages on the list; namely it's large engine and six speed transmission. But if you were going with something from Harley-Davidson, I'd be more inclined to look at an FLS or ESPECIALLY FLH line Harley. Those are the more touring-geared models. Like the Softail, Road King, etc. I'd stay away from the Street Glide and Ultra Classic though; just as a new inexperienced rider.
The truth is, you could spend a lot of money; but it's hard to know what you want until you actually own it. Until you start putting miles in, you won't know what you need to be comfortable. Everyone is different. You might think you want a long stretched out riding position; but find your back prefers a bit of a tighter mid-control position. You might find that that bad looking, loud piped mid-control Dyna is a miserable ride. That a quiet stretched out ride is what you really want. See what I mean?
So with all of that in mind, I'd strongly suggest the Vulcan 900 Classic (the wider front wheel is a lot more comfortable), or the V-Star 1100, get an inexpensive used model. Ride it for a while. Modify it, figure out what you want in a bike. Then sell it and get whatever that bike is.
is a Honda magna 95 faster than a Harley twincam?
Very nice and honest comments. I have nearly the same Vulcan 900 Classic. Including the memphis fats lowers! Great bike, keep it under 50 and good to go. Push it till 70 and you really wish you had a 6th gear. Regardless, it is a solid and reliable machine. Probably due to in no small part to its utter simplicity. Not even ABS.
Anyway, I love the Road King and as you have ridden many Harleys. Harleys give test rides with no problems. Did you ride the Vulcan before purchase?
Most of the positives that you mentioned regarding either is true. The aftermarket and part support for Harleys is unreal. Are they ancient? Perhaps. But the bike has to stir the soul unlike anything else. You would want to wash it and stare it at the garage and it should give you the biggest smile you ever had. Are they sacrificing sound for efficiency? Perhaps. Does it matter? It really is where your priority lies. If I wanted an efficient means of transport - Toyota Prius is hard to beat.
Unlike in Europe or other parts of the world, for the vast majority of us, motorcycles are a hobby. A diversion, mental release, you name it.
The bottom line is, it has to stir your soul. Whatever bike it happens it to be, its your money. But let me tell you, having been to the York assembly plant and taken several tours, watching the touring family get built from start to finish, is something. You should see the size of the flag thats there. Is it for show? Your call on that one, but it is quite a sight. Enjoy your ride and stay safe.
I bought a 2009 Yamaha roadliner s 1900 Love it amazing power and tourqe.
Hello sir im new to your channel and new to riding. What sticker do you have on your windshield???
Can confirm. My Harley and my Suzuki both have Mikuni carbs.
I've owned many metrics through the years, the last one being a 1999 Honda Valkyrie I owned for 15 years - then I brought a used Harley Fat Boy l wOw... two years later a new 2017 Harley Road King .... must admit, there is something about riding a Harley.
I wish they'd quit saying Harley is "American" made. Alot of it is metric and shipped over here. And they are very over priced for what you get. And of course we all know that Hondas (and Yamahas, Suzuki and Kawasakis) are very dependable, and Harley is still trying to catch up. Yes, Harley has come a long way, but they have a long way to go. And, EVERYONE has a Harley or wants one. Not me.
Actually, Victorys have a higher content of American made parts than Harleys do...
+bopper dave actually that is a myth and one of the big lies Victory used in its guerrilla advertising....
+MadIgor FKGoogle As stated earlier, you're wrong...
bopper dave
as stated earlier, Im right and you are wrong.
Please tell us what bolts are metric on a Harley?
I'm a Yamaha fan and started on a Vstar 250. I was ready to upgrade about a month ago and looked at all the Yamaha's, Kawasaki, etc. For some reason I just couldn't find one that fit me good. The HD dealer is in the same store (monopoly in my area, they sell every brand), and I never in my life thought I'd even own one.
Never was interested, wanted to stick with Yamaha. But, I couldn't find the right bike and walked into that HD dealer. And there it was, their new Street 750. Something about it made me fall in love, and I ended up getting it.
400 miles on it so far and I love it. Never thought it would happen but it did. Just have to keep an open mind and look at EVERYTHING to find what you want for your next bike.
***** you liked the harley 750 better than a yamaha 250, big surprise.
perhaps if you ACTUALLY RODE a 750+ displacement yamaha you would not have wasted your money on an american bike that desperately tries to be a honda shadow.
+Adam Hickman HD750 Made in India
+Miki Omninet For the European market, yes. Made in Kansas City for North American market.
+Pan tera Hey, he likes his bike; that's what matters! I OWN a Honda Shadow and I've ridden an HD Street. The bikes are extraordinarily similar.
How tall are you and what is your weight? I'm 6'4" and 230. Trying to get a Vulcan.
+BruceWallace 6'2", 220. Best bet is to go to a dealer and sit on one. We're all shaped different, even if our heights are similar.
what's the difference between a hoover(vacuum cleaner) and a harley. you can get 2 dirt bags on a harley.
If you have to explain your joke why bother?
I like some things about Harley, deep history in moto culture, classic cruiser or chopper styles, classic sound. However, the things I like about my Shadow out weigh the pros for a Harley. Purchase price, I got a used '83 vt500c for $1700 Cnd. I had to replace a few of the older components. With over 70,000km on it, this is the first year it has needed any major servicing. Insurance, in some cities, is more for a Harley. Also the weight of the bikes, I have a bad back from repeat injuries, so I need a bike that is light and nimble, but still has enough power for the highway. The old Shadow vt750 are awesome bikes, just a bit too heavy for my back.
Ever ride a Suzuki C50 or C90..? Just curious as to your thought on them. Thanks
bg614 I haven't had the opportunity. Suzuki is rarely on my radar. Not because the bikes or bad or I don't like them, it just seems I never see them. The dealers in this area, the riders in this area; it seems nobody is interested in Suzuki. They are good looking bikes, and I'd love the chance to ride one! They have some things I'd like to see on other brands; like a better 'dash' on non-fairing cruisers. With info such as current gear position, and turn signal/fuel/neutral indicators on the top, instead of the bottom, where they can actually be seen by the rider without looking down. (Honda Shadow, similarly, has moved those indicators up onto the triple tree; which is pretty unique, and also much more visible.)
bg614 I ride a C90 and love it. Yea, it's cliche I know, but IMO it's the best cruiser out there in it's class (when considering looks, performance, ride, sound and durability). Wouldn't trade mine for any bike.
Are you out in Washington, Missouri for this ride ?
Yep!
Well I bought a harley street bob in 06 for £8,000 brand new sold it in 2013 for £7000 it lost £1000 thats all fantastic bike went all over france never missed a beat,I have now a vl1500 good bike but no soul thats what harley have soul
adrian burridge Yeah, and the tooth fairly will bring you money for your teeth...keep living in fantasy land...
well bigbopper ,I havent got any teeth got hit out in a biker fight,still twelve on to one aint fair,should have seen their faces when I ran over there bikes with my rig lol
After you put 4500 into accessories
it's a fact. you lose way less on a Harley when you sell it, but you also paid more for it. next you guys that say Harley doesn't build a good bike is full of shit. I bought a brand new bike in 96, I'm still riding it. 23 year old bike , 5 batteries, tires, 1 voltage regulator, that's it. ride the he'll out of it. guess what I can still buy parts for my bike if I ever need it. try getting parts for your metric bike it won't happen, they are throw away you can't get them.
A Cadillac is by far the greatest car in the world. If you buy any other car it's only because you could not afford a Cadillac. Look at all of the pathetic non-Cadillac drivers, they must be so envious of my awesome Cadillac. Sounds pretty dumb, right.
The worse car I ever owned was an Eldorado with a north star engine, had 5 engine installed under warranty, blowing head gaskets. Piec of shit from day one.
If I had a dollar every time I heard somebody use someone's personal finances as an excuse for not owning an HD, I still wouldn't be able to afford a Harley. They're just stupidly overpriced. Indian fell into that same ridiculous pricing scheme. 20-38k bikes? CEOs taking good drugs.
cadillac is junk buy a yugo
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Awesome video...I ride a Yamaha V Star 1100. have always loved Harleys, but everything you've said is pretty accurate
Awesome!
I'm liking the Kawasaki Vulcan Custom and the Yamaha V-Star 950. I also love the Suzuki C50. I also adore the HD Iron 883. It's the Chinesiums that bother me. Have you guys heard of Johnny Pag or Cleveland Cyclewerks choppers?
I've owned two Harley touring bikes and one metric cruiser. I've loved all of them. But, in my opinion, nothing has been better for me than a Harley. I actually like the vibration and hum of the engine. I have to admit that going from a cruiser to a Harley for the first time, the shake of that 2005 was a little interesting, lol, but it settled down during break-in. Since then, it's nothing but Harley. Befoe I bought my 2015 Ultra, I looked at BMW and the Honda Goldwing. Almost bought a Goldwing until the 2014 Harleys were introduced. Harley touring bikes are just awesome for long distance riding. Not to say that other bikes aren't, just my preference.
+1djFlashboogie just a question, have you ever considered something like a vfr1200 or a st1400? & why did you plumb for a HD over a heavily biased touring bike like those?
I love the Rushmore bikes. I had a 2011 RG and the Rushmore improvements made me trade up.
@@gizzync1525 st 1400 what the hell is that?
+Motocyklowy Wagabunda more commonly known as a Honda pan European
@@gizzync1525 1100 old one that I used to have and the newer one 1300 to be exact
if you want a metric, go for a Victory, at least they have hydraulic lifters
Kawasaki Vulcans are hydraulic as well .
imgoingforaride Most metrics these days have hydraulic lifters. It's not at all exclusive to Victory. I don't "want a metric", I want a motorcycle that does best what I want it to do! (Which, I hope, was the point understood in the video).
My bike, the Vulcan 900; requires periodic valve adjustments (every 15k or so). But the Vulcan 1700 (the other Vulcan currently being produced) does not; it has hydraulic valves. The valve adjustment process is fairly painless, just takes a little time. It's hardly a reason- by itself- to go for one bike over another. For me, it's all about how the bike rides. Why have a bike I don't enjoy as much every time I ride it, just to avoid having to spend 90 minutes in my garage on a folding chair with a wrench once in a while? For most riders who only ride a few thousand miles a year, they will go several years without needing a valve adjustment. And; again, if the valves were the ONLY reason you're going with a Victory (or another brand) over the Vulcan 900 (If you have other reasons; cool! If it's JUST the valves, then keep reading), keep in mind the money you'll save could pay for a dealer to adjust the valves for you for the life of the bike. It's under a $300 job for a dealer (After buying the $50 shim kit once, it doesn't cost anything for the life of the bike after that if you do it yourself. A single shim kit will last the life of the bike as shims are reusable.) So you could pay a couple grand more to get hydraulic valves; but what are you getting?
That said; that doesn't mean the Vn900 is the ultimate bike. It's just my bike and I like it (but it does fall short in some areas). There are lots of good reasons to go with a Victory model over a Vulcan (or a Vulcan over a Victory). But I think the hydraulic valve thing is more of a 'bonus' than a real reason to buy one over the other.
And it's pretty much moot except for a handful of bikes here and there. Your buddies 1987 Metric is nothing like a modern bike. Just like you wouldn't shop for a brand new car based on what it's like to drive or work on a model from the 1980's, you shouldn't judge modern bikes by what their predecessors were like (like the solid valves of yesteryear on metrics, or the poor reliability of AMF era Harley's, and the couple of years here and there where they've had very poor reliability)
Romans Five|Eight Most bikes are going to be good and reliable *if* they are maintained properly. Problem is, most people don't bother with maintenance, then they blame the manufacturer.
Julian Johnstone victory is american not a metric bike
RAZE 00 Vrods are American also but use metric hardware
How big are you? I'm 5'10-5'11 and muscular and I'm actually looking at a 2006 vn900, or a 2010 vn900 to buy towards the tail end of this month once the weathers nicer at my local dealership. I'm about to go sit on it tomorrow but I won't be able to take it for a spin, how do you feel on it? It looks like you sit pretty right up, is it possible to ride leaning a little further back like a chopper on them? How do you like the bike in general really because I absolutely love the body style, it's a great cc and just seems like a blast to ride. (Not to mention the sound I'll be able to get out of it with some new pipes mwahaha)
Mine actually has stock pipes that have been debaffled (food for thought).
I'm 6'2" and it fits well. A smidge tight in the legs but all bikes are for me.
I do sit up but I have a backrest that keeps me 'up'. I find if I lean back it wears out my back a bit. You can lean back, but if you have short arms it's not going to happen. A feature about this bike I LOVE is the very wide "beach bars". Those handlebars are wider than almost any other bike out there. That means, though, that your arms are too spread out to really lean way back. With handlebar risers you could though.
Okay cool! I went to my dealer yesterday and saw an amazing 2013 vulcan custom but it was a bit out of my price range so I'm still going with the 2006. I sat on it and it felt amazing I can't wait to get out riding once I buy it. Thanks for the response and keep making videos, you earned a sub! lol
Sweet! Enjoy! Yep and that's proof that we're all shaped different, because I'm 6'2" and thought the 900 fit well.
What bike are you riding on camera?
+Dan Meredith That was a 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT.
Nice ride down hwy 47 between Washington and union! Lol I totally agree with you BTW. I like Harley but ride European bikes. One day I might buy one. I kinda like the V Rod but your typical Harley owner doesn't classify it as a true Harley.
My Honda VTX 1300 was built almost entirely in Ohio .
Yes but the American worker got a pay check
I agree with that but my Brother which owns a Harley and I want one or an Indian myself did research and the VTX was more American than his Harley .I don't like it a bit .I want us to be the Super Power we once were and get back to a free trade agreement that is actually fair but until then I am proud to own an American Bike .Even though it's Japanese originated /
Just researching different sites .If I am incorrect I apologize .Mine is only 83% American .I want a VRod bad .Maybe one day soon I can afford it .
I sure do like the V Rod without a doubt and the Fat Boy
my 97 honda ACE 1100 was made in OHIO as well still hauls A_ _ no mech prob ever had 2000 fat boy i was afraid to ride 20 mi from home with twin cam shoes wearing on metal each mi (what a piece ot SH_ _) im 61 yrs old been riding since 12 all kinds of bike i can tell you HARLEY is made to break so you BUY BUY BUY SUCKER SUCKER SUCKER like the great prophet ROGER D. from theWHO said DONT GET FOOLED AGAIN
I ride metrics not only for the price difference but the reliability . The irregular firing pattern from Harley's motor causes the bike to vibrate so much that it loosens parts , it does sound good though . I'm not willing to constantly be tightening parts all the time .
+n2o4me Unfortunately you're right; Consumer Reports ranks reliability and generally puts Harley-Davidson pretty low. Interestingly, owner satisfaction is quite high.
Hey Brother, thanks for the video. I have a 2011 Vaquero, and she's given me no problems thus far. Just sold my 72 Nova and plan on maybe getting one of the new Indian Scouts. Whatever it is you're on, just ride!
I don't see what the fuss is all about. If your a biker it shouldn't matter what brand you ride. as long as you have two wheels between your legs. unless you're show boating. sheesh!
I just like my Dyna.
Awesome! What it's all about!
Wilson, did you actually watch the video? I appreciate the comments but I covered what I thought about all of these topics in the video.
To reiterate; I DON'T like the ride that Harley-Davidson provides. Doesn't mean they are bad bikes; but they don't fit me very well at all; handling isn't too great, not to mention vibrations, etc. In the video, I mentioned I was most interested in Victory and Indian right now.
Man, your understanding and explanation about this endless debate that if we talk about custom bikes / cruiser / choppers we have to talk only about Harley and the rest does not exist, it's fantastic. I am passionate about harley and in my country, values with respect to the United States in dollars are quietly surpassing 60/70% in DOLLARS ... not in local currency ... but in dollars. I just bought a Vulcan 900 Custom and it is a fantastic to travel (
I just returned from a trip of more than 6000km in less than 15 days and I am intact without a single pain or discomfort in my legs, backs nothing at all.) .. I have walked in sportster and softail and you disarm the back, everything is loose ... although the sound is UNIQUE as you mentioned ... in short ... your opinion It is very wise and very successful ... in short ... a very objective and focused opinion. Thank you very much.
Ride a Harley, get the girl - any questions?
Have you just got a harley yet? You'll be glad you did.
i know plenty of girls who like sport bikes more.. you douche eat.
Whatever you ride, put some gloves on. You come off and leave your fingers on the road, you aint riding nothing.
And hang onto the damn bars. I don't drive with two fingers either.
Huh, I have cruise.....by that logic I should ride no hands. Have fun getting peeled off the road.
M13 rides with a few missing fingers.
Is that a CMA patch on your shoulder???
isn't the parts on harly made in other countries
it's not a debate. Japanese bikes are made better.
Amazing how peoples views differ so much, i LOVE my Kawasaki VN900 Classic, smooth and reliable needs very little maintenance and i have a blast taking it for long highway rides as well as out in the country roads and its competent enough around town and give excellent fuel economy. Harley..well..they vibrate too much, cost way more to buy and cost more to run and just nowhere near as reliable. I would not own a Harley if you offered me one for free- it just isn't fun....but...they do sound good, i will give them that. I put cobra 2 into 1 pipes on my Vulcan and it sounds great, turns heads all the time but when a Harley comes along it just blasts me outa the park lol
kegrv Greyd what is you stoopid or what
Kari Greyd they're not MADE better. They are more reliable, more affordable and probably would last longer than HDs. But when you touch a HD you can feel the building quality on any inch of it. All steel, no plastic. Great attention for every single detail. I'm a Honda Shadow rider and I love my bike, I've been riding it for 8 years and I'm not tired of it at all. Maybe one day I'll upgrade and get a Harley, maybe not. All I care about is riding, so it doesn't bother me. Respect all bikes, ride what I like and what you can afford. The sad thing is that there are too many posers out there only looking at comparing with the other guys instead of enjoying their ride. That's so sad.
Rick Santoro So true. I ride a 93 Honda Shadow 1100. it's my first. got it a little over a month ago. 1100cc 4 speed and shaft driven that lady may not be the best looking bike but she's smooth, quick enough for me, only has 35600 miles, and best of all she's paid for free and clear. comfy saddle too. I don't give a damn if the 2 tires I pass on mine is a Harley or a friggin moped I'll acknowledge you're there. Even though I love Honda much more than any other. I've loved Honda for 15 years (since I was 14). their ATVs, ATCs and bikes both street and dirt may not be the fastest, or most expensive, but I've never seen anything as reliable. NEVER. Kawasaki is my close second. but Honda j will always kick ass even my mower is a Honda.
Tony in Tasmania
No, "better" is *not* subjective when you're talking about something being made better, as the poster you're replying to was. Yes, saying I like grilled cheese "better" than hamburgers is subjective, but saying that a $200 helmet is made better than a $25 helmet is NOT subjective
I have observed too many people say this is better than the Harley and that is better than the Harley....mostly based on all the others claiming they are better and faster. After researching the competitors claims properly you will see they are not being accurate and that means they are NOT being honest. They do this because Harley is the number one selling cruiser in the world by far, surpassing all others combined. NOT because its crap but because its as good and in many cases better than the others, of course model dependant applies. Harleys are NOT more expensive they are competative. They used to be but the rest have caught up in price. HD does not break down as people trash talk, yup the oldies do because they are old, you dont see ancient Metrics a lot or others like you do the older HD's for a reason, think about that one. Great video with an honest opinion. But Joe Rocket is no different than HD store lol. Dont segregate but stick together.My moto is ride what you like and like what you ride. Njoy and ride safe! Thanks for posting the video.
+Dragan M Actually you do see old metrics all the time, they just look different! Metric cruisers weren't really around until the 90's. "UJM's" are still on the road. The predecessor to the sportbike, which is all the japanese manufacturers were making prior to that time. Just last night I saw a 1960's Kawasaki on the road. At the end of the day, we don't need anecdotes or to guess. Agencies like Consumer Reports researches this stuff. Harley-Davidsons current failure rate is 24%, compared to 15% for Kawasaki and 11% for Honda. Can Am is a staggering 47%. And it's simply a result of the older technology in use. Far more oil seals, lots more small fragile parts in the engine, they are still using a chain primary, etc. None of these things are 'bad' per se, but they have far more small moving parts than a typical Metric powerplant and that just leads to less reliability. The build quality is fantastic, it's the design that is unreliable.
Harley Davidson makes fantastic machines. Yes they are a little 'slower', they are heavier and produce less horsepower than similar sized metrics; but that's really moot. If speed is what you're after, then cruisers are the wrong genre to begin with. But there are facts and there are facts. It's just what it is. Consumer reports also reports owner satisfaction being the highest among Harley-Davidson owners. In other words, Harley owners love their bikes; even the 24% who will end up needing a major repair within the first three years of ownership (that's how CR get's their 'failure rate'). Harley could probably do a little better if they extended their factory warrant to match the metrics. My bike for example has a 3 year unlimited mile warranty; which can be extended up to 8 years for a few hundred bucks. Harley-Davidsons factory warranty, at least in 2014 when I was shopping (and yes! I test rode H-D and strongly considered a Road Glide) was 1 year.
As for cost? Well, that one just isn't quite true. The full dressed touring bikes are sort of similar; except that it's tough to get a Harley even AT sticker; whereas Metrics tend to sell well below sticker. What's on the sticker is similar, sort of; but what you'll actually pay isn't. Right now, for example, an H-D Road Glide is about $3,000 more, MSRP, than a Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero. However, most Vaquero owners (myself included) paid far less than MSRP, making it even less. The bike I'm riding in the video I paid $5,000 for gently used; and was only $9,900 new (I bought the Vaquero new). The only Harley you can get under $10k is a sportster or an H-D "street" model, which is nowhere near comparable to the Vulcan 900LT. While the 900LT is only a 900cc engine, it's size, suspension, and feature set is comparable to a Softail.
Enjoy your bike though! I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Harley if I liked it more than another bike. In fact I may end up replacing my wifes 750 Honda Shadow with a Softail. I love the company and love the look of the bikes. It just is what it is. The metric motorcycles are more reliable, perform better, and are cheaper. Harley-Davidson really needs to innovate and catch up, and that means no longer using 50 year old engine technology. Though many of the customers PREFER the older technology!
I share a similar belief as you, ride what you like. I must comment on the 24% failure rate, while the percentage may be higher, dont forget a lot more Harleys are sold than all the rest combined so it looks like its not bad numbers. Another thing the consumer reports dont depict is the large number of "metrics" that get written off and arent included in the stats, and other reasons, even still percentage wise those numbers you posted are still close. Most major manufacturers products are very close in quality so its really a matter of preference I think. The Harley only seems more expensive but it has more chrome and less plastic so it will be more cash but you get what you pay for more or less. On your comment about you thinking about a softail, i also have a softail besides my RZ500 and the ride on my softail is a little rough. Try the dyna family instead of a softail and then decide. I wanted the NightTrain and it happens to be a softail so really had no choice. My first choice was a VRod with chrome but that year only a NightRod was available so I got the Train. Njoy and ride safe.
Really? Honda shadow is a 750 and costs just under $10,000 Canadian, the Phantom is $7,599. And the Harley 750 is $ 8,899. And the super low 883 is much fancier and $ 9,900. So the price is almost identical. compare apples to apples. So Where are you getting the idea that pricing is higher, on used bikes yes, the Harley would be more money as it holds value and resale better. The pricing I quoted is from Honda and Harley dealer pricing so its accurate. Ride safe.beefcake3131
Dragan M
Fair enough, I have looked at used prices because I am a fan of letting other people eat the initial depreciation, but from what I've seen the bigger bikes are no comparison. My dad paid over $15k US for a used Harley Fat Boy. Don't get me wrong, shes a comfortable beauty, but pricey as all hell.
Ride safe to you as well!
+Dragan M The superlow 883 is NOT fancier. It's an air cooled, top heavy bike with horrid suspension. It exists today because it's nostalgic. It's been around, unchanged, for almost 60 years. But it's a significantly poorer performing bike than the Shadow. Harley's 750cc liquid cooled bike is a great value.
MSRP and actual purchase price are different. Harley's actually tend to sell a little above MSRP, while metrics can frequently be had at steep discounts. I only paid $6,000 for a brand new Honda Shadow 750 Aero (which my wife rides).
But that's entry level, and entry level bikes are a fiercely competitive market. When you start getting into bigger bikes, the price differences are tremendous. Metric bikes that compare to a Softail can be had around the $10,000 mark. And when it comes to big touring bikes, consumers can save thousands choosing a metric.
As to your comments on the sound... my shovelhead sounded better than evos or twin cams. It was rubber mounted and a 5 speed. I now ride a v star 1100 and am preparing to get a Stratoliner. Thanks for the video.
+poppaclutch53 Thanks so much!
Wow, thanks! Well I try to put out the same kind of vlogs that I would like to watch. Glad to know some folks enjoy them!
If I buy a Harley it'll be an old Harley. If I buy an American bike it'll be a Victory.
Harley is also American...
60 % of Harleys are foriegn parts. Over 90% of Victorys are American.
And where did you learn of these statistics?
A simple look up on the internet and you'll come to learn that both Harley
and Victory have about 60-70% American parts and they both have about 2
factories that are not in the U.S. Don't be claim anything you don't know
about man.
About 2 factories?! What do they have like a mini factory for small stuff? Hahaha. Harleys are 60% foreign parts and Victory are around 10%. Victorys are designed better also.
Harley Davidson is Metric I own a 2010 CVO went out bought sae wrenches got out and none would fit so when I got back on the frame it says made in China only wrenches fit are Metric you need to do your HomeWork
You'll notice it's in quotations. "Metrics" are often what Japenese cruiser motorcycles are referred to, and often British and German motorcycles are lumped in there too. Misnomer or not, it's what folks call them!
Paul Davidson I don’t know what frame you were looking at but I’ve watched the frames come off the line at York Pennsylvania factory. The steel is all American and it’s built, welded and pressed here.
I've also owned both, u made a lot of interesting arguments. The one I most agree with is the sound, nothing beats it. However, the triumph is real close. Ride safe out there.
I like your bike. Vulcan 900 classic LT? I wanted one of those, but the dealership got rid of it before i was ready to buy, so I went with an 07 Boulevard s50. A little smaller but i like the quickness. Maybe a Vulcan for my next cruiser.