Harley has been screaming “history and heritage!” for 20 years. They never could explain what that meant. You just did it in ten minutes using a combination of physics and art history. Bravo sir, bravo!
History and heritage means styling. The M8 is a sophisticated engine. The Twin Cam is a sophisticated engine. The Evo is a sophisticated engine. And so on. People act like there aren't literal engineers designing these engines. They can explain it all they want. The average Harley buyer doesn't care about the engine's sophistication. They care about styling and reliability. Harley has both - you can ride timelessly down the road for a 100,000 miles, rebuild, and hand it down to your kid who then rides timelessly down the road for another. There is no other brand that has this following. It is why they all at some point make a clone.
@@jc5604 They do make reliable engines, and the Revolution is surely appealing if they would put it in a decent package. That being said, there are plenty of other bikes with just as much reliability and following. Honda's regularly go over 100k, BMWs, Yamaha, etc.
20+ years ago, a work mate asked when I was going to get a Harley. I replied "I'm not old enough or fat enough to get a Harley". Couple of years ago he looks at me and says "So, when are you getting that Harley?".
You get a Harley when you want to buy one. Doesn't matter what age you're at. I've seen a 20 y/o kid on a Harley before, and a 60+ y/o dude on a Ducati v4. It's a matter of the type of riding experience you're after. Cruise nice n' easy, wake up people with your straight pipe, or take corners a little tighter, and also wake people up with your 4-cyl. :)
To be fair my wife and I only have 3 Harley's, but at least a 100 T-shirts not to mention, gloves, jackets and helmet. Yplour statement is right on point.
Harley blows. Can't even get a dirt bike made in the United States. Good ol boys have to show up at Silver Lake Sand Dunes in their F-150 hauling a Honda
@@cats5351 And they love it. Honda and Yamaha bikes (although japanese) have been making such amazing machines for so long that it is basically part of American culture to own one. You can bet your bottom dollar a Honda bike will do what it's asked.
@@salazam I follow a number of motorcycle channels from NA and Europe and one come close to the quality of Fortnine's work. The research methodology and depth of topic is what impresses me the most. When fortnine reviewed the Yamaha t700 their work was head and shoulders above anything else I saw. The section on anti-squat was soon stolen by others, I noticed. You can tell that Ryan has a strong science background, and is damned creative. Two great traits to possess. If you know of great sites, please share. I love watching informative shows.
I live in Australia a long way from Milwaukee, I have owned 4 Harley Davidson's in my life Sportster, Softail Heritage & 2 Road Kings. I am now 67 and have just bought another Road King, it still needs an invitation to go round corners, scares the crap out of me when I stop, in case I drop it (issue with getting old) But I love the feel, sound and the sheer pleasure of riding a big, really big bike on the open road. Just done a 2500 mile trip with my partner and can't wait to go again. Great video hopefully explains the madness of committed HD riders
Ah man, I’m exactly the opposite lol. I live about 30 minutes from Milwaukee, have never owned a Harley, prefer smaller and slimmer bikes, and am pretty young. In my 20’s. Not trying to be a jerk just amused at the polar opposite situation. But at least your butt isn’t killing you after 500 miles over the course of two days.
I’m not even a Harley guy but this was probably the best motorcycle video I have ever seen! Entertaining, informative, technical and well produced... Excellent work!
I am in the market for my first motorcycle, and just about every hardcore Harley fan has told me to avoid buying a Harley if I want to ride it more than wrench on it. Basically the overall consensus is Harley post 2010 is cheaply made and over priced. I still want one though....😂
5:12 this is what I didn’t know but have understood for years. You really feel like the machine is taking you somewhere as much as you’re taking it somewhere, and it’s beautiful.
I know that without fail every time I click on a FortNine video I’m going to learn something interesting and helpful while being entertained. World-class content as always.
@@pookiewookie7679 could be my own ignorance, but I did not know the FatBoy was named after the atomic bombs. Also, as a mechanical engineer, the conservation of momentum walk-thru is interesting to review.
@@FortNine Funny how we are attracted to things that are disturbing like that, that we should stay far away from. Like my infatuation with Royal Enfields.
@@steelsaddle2339 i watched it. And there are some Harley bikes I like, but I think they are too lazy and almost all the bikes seems the same with different colors, and it's not really so bad 😉
...and probably why Kawasaki runs a hefty profit without government bailouts...and remember the VN1500 Nomad? Looked equal to any touring Harley without breaking down, and at a fraction of the cost....
This is a fabulous assessment of the Motor Company. The idea that someone can't understand characteristics of a motorcycle without riding it just tells me that we're dealing with a customer base that is incapable of articulation. It is the close-minded Harley dude that pushes the MC to continually release antiquated technology. That being said, I friggin love my old death trap of a Dyna! 👊✊
For sure, I love my 05 dyna, great bike lots of fun, I've had it for about 5 years now and just recently bought a Sputhe Chassis Stabilizer so I can dig into the turns a lot harder, but even stock it does pretty well. I come from riding gsxr 1000 in various other street bikes. But still I love my dyna. Can't wait to tighten it up though, next I want to get a GPR steering damper for it
It's not really controversial everyone knows that Harleys are overpriced, slow bikes that don't handle properly, some people just love them anyway. There is some appeal is staying true to their past but other manufacturers have managed to strike a good compromise between staying true to their ethos and still redesigning their models to make them better and more modern. BMWs and Ducatis still appeal to their fans for the same reasons they did 50 years ago but they didn't have to stop making new bikes or keep producing the old ones forever to accomplish that.
I always rode Harley-Davidson but the older I get I want comfort and reliability so I started to checkout other brands and I can’t believe what I’ve been missing, so many great bikes out there and seems like my rides are going farther now days even going Coast to Coast once a year , funny how things work out when you take the blinders off I’m enjoying riding so much more not having to worry about my bike
Ryan - this video along with a few others are sincerely works of art. There's poetry in what you're doing. Everyone else with motorcycle videos - especially some of the more prominent fellows - needs to take a step back and recognize the GOAT resides in Vancouver.
All the miles and memories I got riding Harleys with my dad over the years before he got too old, are invaluable. Never once did we say, "ya know, these memories would be so much better if we had dual pin cranks."
@@OmGiTsMeTaStY There's a certain magic to riding slow and easy, with a nice exhaust noise on the rear, you don't need to go 120 mph like an asshole to enjoy riding.
@@OmGiTsMeTaStY what a cringe statement. "I bet you loved your dad but imagine how much MORE you would have loved him if you guys werent LOSERS and REALLY RODE"
Thank you for consistently tackling hard to explain/talk about subjects in the motorcycle world. Whenever my buddies and I have these kinds of discussions, I can point them to your videos. You sir are a gentleman and a scholar.
I’ve had three Harleys, last one a Road King Classic. Then I switched to an Indian Scout, and last year traded it in for a Rebel 1100 DCT. I like them all! It’s not what you drive, the main thing is you drive! Been riding since 1970.
I too have owned bikes since late 60s. When Willy D said that famous quote he was sitting at a bar with some friends and they were debating weather to ask some fat ugly chicks to join them. True story.
@@michaelscott356 Can't swear to true story was not there. Read it in a Harley history book I bought at the Harley Museum. Was a couple pages of" fun little known facts". How do you spell Willy?
I read a bunch of the pro/con Harley posts below and got bored. Thanks for the coolest breakdown of the distinctive engine design, and the resulting sound and vibration, I've yet seen. Also, as a part-time video hacker, your production quality continues to leave me agog. Y'all rock.
I’ve always liked Harley’s bikes, especially the Dynas and the Sportster. You explained it better in 10 minutes than I’ve been able to in 5 years of owning my Wide Glide.
I’ve had many motorcycles and dirt bikes over the years and still have a garage full of them. I love all types of bikes from the smallest to largest. I have an ‘04 softail night train, that I bought new. The reason it’s one of my favorite bikes is because of many of the things he said in the video. It’s not a really fast bike (for a Harley it is), it’s definitely not comfortable (not even by Harley standards). It does, however, have a certain feel about it that I’ve never really experienced on many other bikes. Despite not handling very well it makes you feel one with the road, it’s long and planted so to speak. Which makes it a hell of a lot of fun to ride especially in a stretched out semi relaxed position. Just like his comparison with todays vehicle my soft tail is definitely an old muscle car in a world of modern bikes and I love that about it. Not all Harley’s are the same, of course. They all have a much different feel. A Roadglide to me is basically a medieval couch but when comparing it to other touring bikes it’s something different and a lot of what I said above can be applied.
I’ve owned two Wide Glides, the current one being an 07 I bought brand new. Never once in the tens of thousands of miles have I ever experienced “Dyna Death Wobble” this is the first time I’ve ever heard of it.
@@chadkimmel8957 I'm with you there! I bought my first Harley, 7 years ago, an '06 wide glide. I've put 25k on it, myself, and this is the first I've heard of the potential issue!
@@chriswilliams9069 In 2013, I set out from central CA on a mission to 'bag' the 13 states I had never previously been in before...ALL of them east of the MS River....first 'new' state, Georgia. Even though I had previously been to Key West, (Twice) revisited there again....and I was riding a Honda ST 1100. While riding the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA, I met a guy who was riding an identical bike as mine. Long story short....he lived in Alexandria, VA (about a mile from the Pentagon) and invited me to his home for the night..(I ended up spending three.) He also had a Harley he wanted me to ride, so I did, while he rode his Honda. We rode almost 100 miles, often passing through some 'parks and other slow areas where people were walking. I soon observed an odd thing.....we passed many people walking and so many of the women walking ignored him, who was leading, but waved at me as I passed by on 'my' Harley. My Honda sported some after market exhaust and was not quiet by any means, but the Harley sounded more like a motorcycle? Anyway, I was always quite puzzled by this reaction. BHE
Harley Davidson: uses a T45 to hold on a bracket that is used to hold a hose in place Also Harley Davison: Uses a flathead screw to secure my $300 seat so any crackhead with a pocket knife can steal it.
Wobbles have a multitude of reasons: tire inflation, suspension, unbalanced wheels (spoke ones), rake and trail, bearings, tire alignment, road condition, etc., and, of course but never spoken, pilot, through rigid arms that don't let direction accommodate it's course, so amplifying the very harmonics of the wobble. In the end, it is hardly a H-D problem; virtually any bike can be subject to wobbles.
this is a guide to watch out before buying a HD! I completely start looking for an owned Harley just with watching this video! Your explanation on its sound and feel and the legacy completely makes me fall in love with her again.
@@GunFunZS I’ve grown to hate that over-used, clichéed (well you try spelling it!- Stupid auto-correct!!!) sound… every fucking Chevy truck ad in heavy rotation (“🎵🎶 Like a rock 🎶🎵… SKREEEEE!!!”) about one million other stupid ads (perhaps a SLIGHT exaggeration), and what feels like every other movie and cheesy sit-com (“Gosh, I guess we shoulda filled the tank before we drove into the desert- what are we gonna do now?!?!” …”SKREEEE!!!” Everyone: “Laaarrryyy!!!” Face-palm… Cue laugh-track…) has used that sound effect TO DEATH!!! It’s even used sarcastically ‘Cos it’s so… ubiquitous? No offense to any raptors who might be reading this (love your work, you mighty aerial hunters, you!!!), but if I NEVER hear that sound again, I can die a happy man… P.S.- SKREEEEE!!!
I never considered buying a Dyna before, and after watching this I definitely never will. Although I was really hoping that one rider would recover after doing a 360 degree death wobble. That would've been something.
I have never had any "death wobble" I can just about guarantee you the motor mounts on those bikes were TRASHED. If you are worried about it though you can spend a couple bucks like $400 max and get those upgraded mounts and then you can be sure it will not do it. But seriously I have riden the damn wheels off my Street Bob and my fathers Switchback even driving like a complete A-Hole I could not get them to wobble.
@@sgomez3047 Yeah, I was really pulling for him! I thought for half a second he might do it, then I sadly realized that he’d crossed the event horizon, so to speak..😬
I have owned a Harley Davidson, they are nothing special, Harley Davidson sells a phony image, I traded in my Harley Davidson for a Yamaha Star Venture Transcontinental and the Yamaha is a superior motorcycle, this comes from someone who has owned Kawasaki, Honda, Victory, Harley Davidson and Yamaha. Of all the brands I have owned the Harley Davison I would rank last.
Videos from this channel always have such an unbelievable high quality. This is awesome production, scripting, editing, and interesting knowledge of motorcycle mechanics in a single package. It’s an awesome time when we can get this kind of content for free. Cheers from Brazil, F9!
For a moment there, an extremely brief moment, I almost thought "you know, Ryan has a point, maybe I could see myself owning a Harley"... But then I remembered the times I've ridden them and experienced the extremely underwhelming power, or the other times when I've been annoyed with the sound, or the times I've watched them leak oil idling in a parking lot, or the other times where I realized I like to wear a full face helmet and not look out of place, and that I don't like wearing ass-less chaps. You almost got me Ryan, almost. Great video as always!
Sounds like you should try a 1200 sportster, But then the typical Harley guys will say it's a ladys bike 🤕😹😹😹 only bikes harley makes id buy are the sportster1200 and the PanAm 😹 A Half sized PanAm to compete with the Tanere700 would be awesome 😻
Literally the most creative, informative & entertaining channel for bikes, hands down. Every creator on YT should take notes, you've got the Crabby Paddy formula mastered! 😤
@•••[S]EX-Vlog Go to My Channel A solution doesn't always need an answer, they provided an alternative in terms of design and function. This creation also has it's own 'issues,' but the consumer ultimately decides to choose one product over another for different reasons. Like the rotary engines introduction, wasn't meant to replace CDI engines, just an alternative, again with it's own issues (apex seal failure), but also with applications still produced & it's own community of support. Not all 'inventions' are direct solutions, but offer variance & growth, in most instances.
@@TheHortond You do know the guy that send the USA to the moon was actually a German using metric? He despiced the imperial system and all the dimensions were converted from metric to imperial only so it could be build in the USA?
@@jordanpost1876 Plenty of Americans have no idea that following the end of WW2 the head of NASA was legitimately a uniformed Nazi that we hired on to lead our space and rocket agency... But yeah, muricah!
@@philipmarr7325 What’s saddest is that most Americans who know about this, only know about it BECAUSE of a cartoon. … Really goes to show you how far our education system has fallen.
Your video graphics and vocal genius is a pleasure to watch and to listen too. So I say thank you, for what is probably the most polished and well delivered motorcycle content on the interwebs.
Absolutely agree with a lot of comments, this type of content it's pure gold. Thanks a lot for explaining such details. I always love to learn new things!
Very nice job. You did leave one thing out though, at least concerning those of us who own early bikes. That's the enjoyment of not having to rely on anyone to maintain, tune, and repair your ride. One can completely rebuild a '51 Pan-Shovel like mine with rudimentary skills and a compliment of tools that will fit in the saddle bags. Pretty cool.
Hear Hear. So true I run a 81 FXEB and a 72 XLCH, Rarely have I had a problem always fixed things up in minutes on side of road with a screw driver and a couple of wrenches. except for a flat tire had to drag a log out of the ditch to get up high enough to get the wheel off.
Japanese bikes USED to be like that. I was given a '73 Yamaha TX750 (he had to repay a debt) that had been torn 100% apart and shipped in milk crates. I was able to intuitively reassemble, tune and ride that bike in the early '90's. Since then however, the Japanese love of plastic and unique model-based parts has made them disposable, at best. It's tough to find a bike lover who would not be proud to ride a Honda 750 Four. They did make some great bikes for a decade or so.
Damn all those tools in your saddlebags?? The pullers and valve tools, ridge remember, ring compressor, not to mention a damn OXY acet rig and heavy assed boring bar...no seriously I want to see ANYONE "completely rebuild" any year engine with tools that fit in their saddlebags....LO fing L
Let's not also forget: at the same time the Davidsons bought back Harley, they also lobbied Reagan for a 45% tariff on all imported motorcycles over 700cc, hurting any cruiser competition they may have had from the Japanese.
Which is where the Kawsaki vn700 Vulcan came from. I had one of these. Rode great, handled great, didn't break down with lousy weather (Wales GB). Loved it.
Republicans are all about fair competition and survival of the fittest unless they make a shitty product and need the competition hobbled. Then they’ll talk about how we built up their industry after we nuked them because we’re good Christian people
So much for being a symbolism of America, ironically too at the height of the cold war when the US was supposedly championing capitalism and free market economy🤣
@meow purr wouldn't the answer be go find people who accept you for whatever bike you own? I rather ride my grom with other people who like it than force myself to get a Harley to fit in. If I want an HD, and any other bike, I want it for me, the friends will follow
@@phillip2169 100%. Its funny, Im just outside the Mecca of HD (Milwaukee) and most of my friends and family are metric fans. I love my Harley, I just dont like the culture that surrounds their riding community.
What I understood from this awesome review was that Harley tries to solve problems by implementing solutions that cause their own problems without really addressing the original problem they were initially supposed to solve.
I'm not a Harley guy (although I have owned two Buell XB's and absolutely loved them), but I do think their way of using crude yet simple ways of taking a problem you couldn't live with and reengineering it into a problem you can live with, is actually pretty clever in its own way. My beef with HD's isn't so much the bikes (even if they do seem a bit overpriced for what they are), but rather the attitudes of SOME of the riders. After enough HD guys look your Japanese or European dual sport up and down, scoff, mumble something about "American made," and then ask when you're going to step up to a "real" motorcycle, it begins to get a bit obnoxious. Something similar can be said for SOME BMW riders too... And to be fair, the vast majority of HD guys (and Beemer guys) IMHO are wonderful chaps who are all just in it for the love of the ride...
@@Edhooey You mean like the way Harley deals with their overheating engines? Instead of making them liquid cooled, which would solve the problem, they install a device that shuts down a cylinder when the engine overheats...brilliant!
@@jamesbottger5894 I've riden my TC in the hotest weather in AZ no problems. Ever hear of a oil cooler? Every engine is cooled by oil so cooling the oil makes a lot of sense. Or did I miss something?
I grew up with neighbors that rode old BMW's and Harley's daily to work year round then with a kid on the back for weekend camping trips. In late 1973 I was 19 and in shock over the sudden rise of gas prices ($.32 to $.53 per gallon) so visited our city's well established H-D dealer Harry Molenaar (AKA The Flying Dutchman) to see if he had any old used cop 45 flatheads in stock. He didn't and told me that H-D's weren't worth a flip after being acquired by AMF so would be better off buying a new BMW to have something that would be reliable and ignored by thieves since so few people ride them. So I bought a new '73 R75/5 and still ride it today. Molenaar was an independent H-D dealer that could buy as many or as few new H-D's each year as he wanted since 1934 plus could go thru their warehouse in Milwaukee to load up on old discontinued parts. Restorers would call Milwaukee for parts and color codes/combinations and be directed to contact Molenaar since he was the only one that had the parts and the information they needed. Molenaar's was the oldest H-D dealership in the World in 1991 when Harley corporate decided to stop selling new bikes and parts to Harry after he refused to remodel his ancient store with wood floors and no ceiling into H-D's preferred modern style with tons of glass and chrome. If those fools had any sense, they would've used Harry, his store and history with H-D in their advertising since his showroom floor also served as a museum with plenty of new old models, the factory racers that Harry rode and a midget racer that was powered by the H-D flat twin made for WW2.
I rode that exact same bike, a '73 R75/5 from about 1985 to 1993. A fantastic motorcycle, easy to work on, and very fun to ride. Eventually bought an '88 R100GS Bumblebeemer, which I still ride at age 60.
@@wiscgaloot One can still buy replacement parts for those since so many are still on the road. There's owners that are pulling out their /5's from barns where they sat for the last 30 years and got them running after cleaning the carbs, changing the oil and putting fresh gas in the tank. Then they do an Aggie overhaul (wash, wax and polish) before selling it for $4000 to $5000.
@@billwilson3609 You can still get parts? What's crazy is about 8 years ago I took my '88 R100GS to San Jose BMW and they refused to quote a tune-up, that the owner would call me. Which he never did, then he whined and complained at me after I left a 1-star review on Yelp. My only gripe about that /5 was that the electric starter was weak, I often had to kick start it.
@@wiscgaloot Yep. Parts are available online from independent shops and big dealers like MAX BMW in New England. If they don't have it then owners buy from shops like Motobins in Great Britain and Uli's in Switzerland. I've been buying parts from Capital Cycle since 1976. They were mail order with an 800 number to call in orders, see what they have in stock or get advice. They sent out an annual paper catalog then sales fliers each quarter with a list of discounted parts. I still have a store of new points, condensers, light bulbs, control cables, timing chain & gears and other stuff that I bought at discount. My last call was in 2000 to see what they had in back that was "blemished" new stock. That call got me a pair of new stainless steel silencers for $240 and new self adjusting Boge shocks (/7) for $29 each because their boxes were dirty and creased. The /5 starter motor is identical to the one used in VW Bugs so we took ours to a local starter/alternator shop to have serviced. They also could readjust a wonky voltage regulator and change out bad diodes in the diode board. The voltage regulator also is identical to the one used in VW's plus the larger VW 6 volt ignition coils will fit the holders and not rub against the gas tank. That was common knowledge with touring riders who could find those at K-Marts across the nation after the BMW shops had closed for the day. We bought our replacement bearings and seals at local bearing supply house. Most also sold the industrial cross bearing used in the driveshaft and could change them out for like $30 (parts and labor). Just needed to have the rear drive removed and the shaft tunnel cleaned of oil so it wouldn't run out onto their work bench. BMW used an unusual starter relay that made the starter button inoperable when the motor was running and prevented power from going to the starter solenoid when the battery had a low charge. You probably started using the kicker when you heard the relay clicking. My dealer showed a trick to prolong battery and starter life by using the cold weather starting procedure when the engine was cold or warmed up. You turn on the enrichers/choke then used the kicker until one side was on TDC before hitting the starter button. That drew in a rich mixture that ignited as soon as the button was pushed in. Doing that helped me to get 7 tears of use out of the small stock battery. My '73 was the later long wheel base model so moved the battery holders back against the fender so I could use a bigger battery for Goldwings and Electra-Glides. Did that after having to run on battery power after the charging system went haywire while riding back to Longview from Houston. Stopped at a full service gas station in Nacogdoches for gas and to see if they had any old battery cables and car batteries I could rig up to finish my ride home. They didn't so called friends with a truck to come fetch me. They arrived so got the bike loaded in back then went to a few bars to check out the college babes. Paid a cover charge to enter one since they had a band that night we never heard of before that blew us away. Turned out to be Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble before they hit the big time. Once home I checked the VR to find it was off so had it readjusted at our nearby starter/alt shop for the cost of a cold 6 pack of beer. I've heard strange things about BMW dealerships not wanting to work on the older bikes. One older man freaked out when a dealer in KC said they wanted $500 to schedule a tune-up with parts and labor added to that once done. He was steered to a 1%'er shop in Overland Park that did a major service that included a tune-up and CV adjustment for $230 while he watched.
I've always loved motorcycles, dirt and street bikes but, then I got married and had children(23). After the kids were grown I got a strong urge to get a Harley and get back into motorcycling. I didn't buy one until the wife softened up on the idea because I was on blood thinners now. I finally bought one when I retired at 61! (2012 Wide Glide 103). My advice, buy one now or as soon as possible and START LIVING!! You will love it!
Great video, I was between a Harley and Indian Scout for my first bike. As someone who is not loyal to any brand or had any preconceived notions on the brands it was an easy choice to go with an Indian. I appreciate both brands but Harley's in my mind were the equivalent of the Corvette. All I could imagine was old dudes wearing air Monarchs. Not ready for that yet lol.
I had the same thought process and just got a Scout Rogue Sixty. Great bike and even though it weighs within 20lbs of my Shadow 750, it feels extremely light and doesn't take much to get up and go.
Someone I know bought his first Harley; had it delivered on the weekend, and ride 20ks to work on the Monday. Got off at work and had a numb bum due to the vibration. Less than a year later, he swapped it for a very good condition, Kawasaki ZZR1100.. He and his wife loves it. He won't be buying another Harley.
Isn’t the Ural a BMW ? The Russians captured the BMW factory that the Nasties built after they advanced into Russia. They were pushed back so quickly they abandoned the factory and it became soviet property. A friend had one in the U.K. .. pig to start unless it was freezing cold, then it would start first kick !
@@robplazzman6049 well, actually, m72 is indeed a copy of bmw r71, but Urals and now discontinued Dniepers have made quite a long way. Maybe changes are not so significant as in milwaukee8 comparing to knucklehead, but modern Gear Ups are quite different from the old m72, and even later soviet models.
I get that this is a joke, but is that really what a misfire sounds like on a v-twin that isn't a single pin crank? I seriously don't know. I had a duel pin crank Honda vtwin but it never misfired.
I absolutely love the single pin crank Harley air cooled engine sound. I have always ridden 4 cylinder street bikes, and I hate the modern liquid cooled V-Twins. But the air cooled Harley bikes sound so incredible. The idle is perhaps the nicest, most soothing sound, of any engine in the world.
@@Ritalie Straight 4 motors are a blast to ride ride on weekends or afternoons, like joy riding. But I will always prefer an air cooled vtwin with a single pin crank for my daily riding. 12k rpm on a 4 is just unpleasant to hear for long sustained speeds like when I some times do 2 hour commutes to another city, and I don't like the feeling of needing to rev up to access power when I am in traffic. On a v-twin you can pop the clutch and have its full power before 3k rpm. Thumbs up to air cooled twins having a hypnotic sound. I really enjoy the bit of orderly valve clatter, likr a jar of nickles and dimes shaking in perfect time.
@@johnraconteur1723 Very good, I totally agree. My Sportster says the same to me. I have always loved tractive engines over revving stuff. Which is why I reckon the VW Beetle is the car equivalent.
@@johnraconteur1723 Sportsters sound the best because they still use the gear-driven Evo engine that can idle at 500 rpm. Valves clacking, gears wining and chains whirring.
This is the best engineering explanation of Harley design I have ever read/watched. I find it interesting however, that after Ryan describes the Dyna Death Wobble his personal Harley is a ...Dyna.
I've had a 1989 Honda CBR600, that I got when it was 15 years old. I rebuilt ((Shocks, Calipers, set Valve Clearance just because Body panels & Paint). I was STUNNED, how beautifully it started, ran and rode. It was astonishing. About 15 years later, my second bike now is a 1996 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE. I got the GW at about 24 years old and of course, it's 28 now. Again, I'm flabbergasted how week it runs, starts and rides. Including working on it. Cleaning exquisitely engineered and built. Plus people thinks it's new being in pristine condition. Oh, it's got 107,000 miles on it and I just rode it 2,000 miles down South RT, twice in the last month. I got it at 93,000 mi, I've changed the a timing Belt again just in case. Put on tires made since after the year 2000 (they're new). I had to replace the clutch master cylinder last year from corrosion and wear. I freshened up the brakes. Everything works. All connectors are corrosion free and all fasteners look like new. 28 years and it is a more refined and functional machine to use and fix (in trend of connectors and fasteners being movable), as many 6 month old machines. Point. Old Honda are IMPRESSIVELY designed and Built.
This is as entertaining and informative as old Top gear, Mr. Wizard, and James Burke (Connections) combined. Very well done F9 Crew. Stay cool up there this summer.
So besides dealing with the 30 times greater chance of death and injury riding a bike vs a car, even the most cautious of riders could be caught out with this serious design flaw. Thanks for these informative technical videos !
Everyone I know that had ridden on a Dyna (I know hundreds of riders throughout NY) for decade have never had this happen. I ask a ll the time at bike nights. Just like most Wrangler owners don't actually experience their death wobble unless they've been inappropriately messing around with their suspension.
The guy in the video owns that 99 Dyna, I'm gonna assume it's a great bike and not a death trap. I mean unless the guy in the video is an idiot and doesn't know what he's talking about.
@@DanBlackRacing It doesn't need to be a 100% of the time issue for it to be an issue. If you ask 100 people, and the very last one says yes it's happened to them, why would I want to buy something I know has a chance to just straight up buck me for no good reason other than being stubborn and resistant to change? If I'm going down, I'd prefer to have a fighting chance than to have my bike straight up assassinate me.
@@DanBlackRacinghad death rattle in the old cherokee but never a wrangler. thought it was way more common in the cherokees and never really heard from other wrangler owners about it tbh
In all seriousness, I have no idea why anyone would buy a Harley when there are Royal Enfield available for 1/4 the price that actually offer a genuine 1930's motoring experience. And a good example of the 1930's, rather than a bad example.
I love watching F9's videos. I always feel like I'm being educated and entertained in equal measures! I just wish I'd had teachers like him when I was at school. I'd have really enjoyed the learning process then! Thanks Ryan for another great presentation!
what a talented guy, this video is incredible. bit of a nerd but theres nothing wrong with that. i really enjoyed this video as a guy that rides a 70s garage chopper harley.
Thanks for explaining why I love Harley’s. I always was drawn to their sound and style but couldn’t put it into words like you just did. Your presentation is pure genius. Thanks!
One of the hardest decisions of my life was coming out to my friends and admitting that I bought a Harley Davidson. Now I'm proud to admit how nice it makes my butt feel.
I live in the Pacific Northwest in WA. I can't tell anyone that I don't ride a Harley. People only know about Harley's here. There's always a feeling of discomfort when I tell them I ride a sportbike. I can buy 3 sportbikes for cost of a used Harley.
@@michaellehto1697 Not at all. They're some of the most comfortable bikes made. Take it from someone in his 50's who's lost enough of his butt to make sitting on bleachers for more than ten minutes feel like torture.
Such an amazing presenter. I thought I despised Harleys (for the exact reasons f9 listed that make them popular), yet Ryan still made me fall in love with them
@Moe Lester It's a polarizing experience. People either love it or absolutely hate it. I personally love my Harley, but I still get a thrill out of riding things that are totally different. I will never get tired of how many diverse experiences can be created on two wheels. There is truly a perfect bike for every person, so basically everyone should ride.
That’s because you have a presumption of what Harley owners are like but you enjoy Ryan F9 and if he likes it then you can see why. No one knew RyanF9 liked and enjoyed Harleys when he came out with the video of why Harley is dying. People were so confused lol. I enjoy my Harley
@Moe Lester There's a possibility that the Harley experience just isn't for you and the type of motorcycle ownership that you're looking for. For example..I tried a Honda Goldwing because I often have 500+ mile weeks just commuting to different cities for work. It absolutely wasn't for me. I wouldn't say that it left much to be desired, just that it didn't have what I was looking for in my daily riding experience. I find it odd how one company, Harley Davidson, draws the ire of the entire motorcycle community because it isn't what they are looking for. Just ride something else and give a nod to the people who decide that it's the right bike for them.
I just bought my first Harley(91FXWG so custom that the guy I bought it from didn't believe it was a real Harley) after 45 years of riding. Thanks for the break down of the physics of these bikes. I always recognized the sound and now I know why.
I remember my friend buying the Screaming Eagle V-Rod. He was so excited about it- couple months later he was riding a Ducati. Evidently the V-Rod was riddled with problems including vibrations so bad it sheared off the bolts holding the exhaust which fell off during a ride.
“I’m not American, and frankly; neither are the bikes” lol Savage : Also props to the editor - that’s the most beautiful way to present low quality footage ever :)
Excellent presentation (as always)! The detail in describing (and even sketching) the information is Killer! Thanks for your continued variety of high quality entertaining content.
My first Harley is my current Road King. I recently bought my wife a XL883 Super Low. Riding the Sportster you really get the feel for the true Harley. The sound, sounds 3x louder than my aftermarket exhaust , the “rough” sounding engine, and the ride is not as “sophisticated” as my road king. However it’s a fun…glorious sounding machine!
I had them both,just switched to Moto Guzzi 1400 Custom,best bike. Need to mention that I'm big fan of Guzzi,still have 350 Imola since I was teenager...
I love my 96 Ci Dyna Low Rider and I think this video has totally captured the essence of whats good and not so good about the classic stying and why we love riding the hog.. There may be better bikes, there certainly are worse bikes but there really isn't anything quite like a genuine Harley Davisdson. Probably the best review on Harley's that I've seen in 40 years... love your work..!
Agreed, I've come back to watch this a couple times. I also love my 96ci FXDC. I think the only thing that might have been missed here was how nice it is having a bike made for so long that theres an abundance of parts and knowledge to work on them at home.
For years I rode Hondas and a couple of my friends rode HD in our teens and twenties. I rode their Harleys and for years always wanted one myself. Took a break from bikes to raise a family for a while. Was finally able to buy HD 4 years ago and have zero regrets. Nothing I have ridden compares. Who doesn't like to graduate?!
I'm an American engineer. When solving most problems, I convert to metric first and convert back to Murican units at the end. It's a signicant competitive disadvantage.
@@Face_RC - Yes. I choose to work in a rational internally consistent system where 1000 cubic centimeters is a liter, rather than trying to remember how many odd cubic inches are in a gallon, or for that matter, how big the king's foot was. Even trying not to fill my head with arcane nonsense, I still can't help knowing that there are 7000 grains of wheat in a pound. I doubt that'll be useful when trying to create a human settlement on Mars.
@@Liberty4Ever again, personal choice. If some numbers are too complicated for you to grasp, use the ones that work for you. They all lead to the same place.
Amazing quality again. I find myself bashing Harleys as being old and underdeveloped regularly. Now I see a different side to the same story. I understand the other side. So in essence, Fortnine as brought me peace haha
I love these videos with their combination of humor and physics lessons. F9 explains the downside of Dyna suspensions and he …. Rides a Dyna - love it!
Harley has been screaming “history and heritage!” for 20 years. They never could explain what that meant. You just did it in ten minutes using a combination of physics and art history. Bravo sir, bravo!
I mean, they could explain that, but you don't explain the fishhooks to the fish; you have to keep luring them with The Shiny.
20?
Nah, they were screaming that when the Evo motor came out.
History and heritage means styling. The M8 is a sophisticated engine. The Twin Cam is a sophisticated engine. The Evo is a sophisticated engine. And so on. People act like there aren't literal engineers designing these engines. They can explain it all they want. The average Harley buyer doesn't care about the engine's sophistication. They care about styling and reliability. Harley has both - you can ride timelessly down the road for a 100,000 miles, rebuild, and hand it down to your kid who then rides timelessly down the road for another.
There is no other brand that has this following. It is why they all at some point make a clone.
@@jc5604 They do make reliable engines, and the Revolution is surely appealing if they would put it in a decent package. That being said, there are plenty of other bikes with just as much reliability and following. Honda's regularly go over 100k, BMWs, Yamaha, etc.
Only f9 can convince me to buy and not buy harley's at the same time
@@robc4191 but maybe he should
Don’t listen to Rob C, do
Test ride several, find what fits you, never look back.
Hilariously true. I say that you should take one for a test ride and make up your own mind. I loved my Crossbones
Schrödinger's Motorcycle
20+ years ago, a work mate asked when I was going to get a Harley. I replied "I'm not old enough or fat enough to get a Harley".
Couple of years ago he looks at me and says "So, when are you getting that Harley?".
You're probably old enough now...
You should have bought a Sportster then :D
Old fat guys can drive good bikes. They're not relegated to getting a Harley.
I'd have replied with "when harley builds a real bike"
You get a Harley when you want to buy one. Doesn't matter what age you're at. I've seen a 20 y/o kid on a Harley before, and a 60+ y/o dude on a Ducati v4. It's a matter of the type of riding experience you're after. Cruise nice n' easy, wake up people with your straight pipe, or take corners a little tighter, and also wake people up with your 4-cyl. :)
This is THE BEST channel on youtube. Content, writing, presenter, video construction... And i don't even have a motorcycle licence.
Start by off roading.
I love em too, but would find it hard to go past the productions Adam Reimann does.
No joke, this guy is phenomenal!
GET A LICENCE !!!
"For a T-shirt company... they sure do sell a lot of bikes."
How original of you. Haven't heard that one before...
@@rickybobby8224 I hadn’t heard it before, and I thought it was funny.
@@rickybobby8224 Theres a reason why it is in quotations ;)
To be fair my wife and I only have 3 Harley's, but at least a 100 T-shirts not to mention, gloves, jackets and helmet. Yplour statement is right on point.
@@angelalenna4387 oooh! A scammer!
Ryan, when are you going to start making full length documentaries? You’ve got a real talent, man.
@seeni gzty Loving your Ryanesque hyperbole.
‘I’ve owned Honda, Suzukis, Ducati , Aprillias, Motor Guzzi, Victory and HD. I’ve loved them all for different reasons.
You deserve every single Canadian dollar you make with these videos. This is world-class content
He really has a way with words. Sets him apart from most other channels.
just cant look away from that death wobble...
Harley blows. Can't even get a dirt bike made in the United States. Good ol boys have to show up at Silver Lake Sand Dunes in their F-150 hauling a Honda
@@cats5351 And they love it. Honda and Yamaha bikes (although japanese) have been making such amazing machines for so long that it is basically part of American culture to own one. You can bet your bottom dollar a Honda bike will do what it's asked.
RUclips ad revenue at least is paid in gringo dollars, while his salary from Fortnine is likely paid in the monopoly money that Canadian currency.
"Rougher than a peg legged ballerina... until you see her dance." Lol.. I subscribed simply for the one liners.
Absolutely! This channel is entertaining, even if you're not into riding motorcycles.
Triumph and Harley two companies who just about survived
@@FernandoHernandez-jw4yy I agree
Wait until you see the 1 legged prostitute near Aberdeen harbour(Scotland)....you mind will wander for the next few hours!
The main reason why I am not. 😵💫
You deserve an "oscar" for these combinations of analysis, and straight talk. Excellent camera/editing work too.
It's pretty standard nowadays for youtube channels to have production crews. You've been watching too many basic-bitch motovlogs.
@@salazam Get a life
@@salazam name me a RUclips motorcycle channel this good? Please! I'd love to watch it too.
@@Bob-Maplethorpe There are none that combine the honesty AND the production. That part is refreshing, I'll say.
@@salazam I follow a number of motorcycle channels from NA and Europe and one come close to the quality of Fortnine's work. The research methodology and depth of topic is what impresses me the most.
When fortnine reviewed the Yamaha t700 their work was head and shoulders above anything else I saw. The section on anti-squat was soon stolen by others, I noticed.
You can tell that Ryan has a strong science background, and is damned creative. Two great traits to possess.
If you know of great sites, please share. I love watching informative shows.
I live in Australia a long way from Milwaukee, I have owned 4 Harley Davidson's in my life Sportster, Softail Heritage & 2 Road Kings. I am now 67 and have just bought another Road King, it still needs an invitation to go round corners, scares the crap out of me when I stop, in case I drop it (issue with getting old) But I love the feel, sound and the sheer pleasure of riding a big, really big bike on the open road. Just done a 2500 mile trip with my partner and can't wait to go again. Great video hopefully explains the madness of committed HD riders
I read once that Australia has the biggest population of HD owners that have two or more bikes. Your post confirms that!
Ah man, I’m exactly the opposite lol. I live about 30 minutes from Milwaukee, have never owned a Harley, prefer smaller and slimmer bikes, and am pretty young. In my 20’s.
Not trying to be a jerk just amused at the polar opposite situation. But at least your butt isn’t killing you after 500 miles over the course of two days.
I’m not even a Harley guy but this was probably the best motorcycle video I have ever seen! Entertaining, informative, technical and well produced...
Excellent work!
I completely agree with you. There’s a Harley in our household and I now have a better appreciation of it!
I'll bet you're going out and buying one based on this video. Good luck!
For sure! This video sent chills down my spine and brought tears to my eyes. Your hard work is appreciated. Keep it up!
I'm not even a motorcycle guy... but this channel lives up to top gear in its best years...
I am in the market for my first motorcycle, and just about every hardcore Harley fan has told me to avoid buying a Harley if I want to ride it more than wrench on it. Basically the overall consensus is Harley post 2010 is cheaply made and over priced. I still want one though....😂
I can appreciate a person who passionately makes an argument they disagree with. Well done.
Fortnine back at it with top notch quality again
Still
with the white vans
Damn Daniel
5:12 this is what I didn’t know but have understood for years. You really feel like the machine is taking you somewhere as much as you’re taking it somewhere, and it’s beautiful.
I know that without fail every time I click on a FortNine video I’m going to learn something interesting and helpful while being entertained. World-class content as always.
And be amazed at how incapable big tv cooperates lack in production quality
What did you learn from this video?
@@pookiewookie7679 could be my own ignorance, but I did not know the FatBoy was named after the atomic bombs. Also, as a mechanical engineer, the conservation of momentum walk-thru is interesting to review.
@@Daniel-dj7fh very true. And all of this is primarily the work of just two people. Par excellence.
the explaination about tank-slappers/death wobble is garbage and utter wrong.
Those 400s Era paintings were hardcore. I love how you guys put stuff like that in videos. Fortnine is art
Hieronymus Bosch is a straight savage. The hell side of Garden of Earthly Delights is enough to make Beelzebub attend mass. ~RF9
@@FortNine Funny how we are attracted to things that are disturbing like that, that we should stay far away from.
Like my infatuation with Royal Enfields.
@@FortNine Hieronymus Bosch c. 1450 - 9 August 1516) :)
@@CHURCHISAWESUM hey RE are pretty good these days
“no one cries when Kawasaki updates the Ninja, because they do it every three minutes” lmao
Because Kawasaki is not a company of lazy managers and engineers 😆
@@fernandocbr did you not just watch the video?
@@steelsaddle2339 i watched it. And there are some Harley bikes I like, but I think they are too lazy and almost all the bikes seems the same with different colors, and it's not really so bad 😉
...and probably why Kawasaki runs a hefty profit without government bailouts...and remember the VN1500 Nomad? Looked equal to any touring Harley without breaking down, and at a fraction of the cost....
Really? Or is it the Harley owner in you who needs to believe that? 😆😆
This is a fabulous assessment of the Motor Company. The idea that someone can't understand characteristics of a motorcycle without riding it just tells me that we're dealing with a customer base that is incapable of articulation. It is the close-minded Harley dude that pushes the MC to continually release antiquated technology. That being said, I friggin love my old death trap of a Dyna! 👊✊
For sure, I love my 05 dyna, great bike lots of fun, I've had it for about 5 years now and just recently bought a Sputhe Chassis Stabilizer so I can dig into the turns a lot harder, but even stock it does pretty well. I come from riding gsxr 1000 in various other street bikes. But still I love my dyna. Can't wait to tighten it up though, next I want to get a GPR steering damper for it
This is the perfect way to explain something controversial, don't pick sides, just make us understand. As usual Ryan, fantastic work!
It's not really controversial everyone knows that Harleys are overpriced, slow bikes that don't handle properly, some people just love them anyway.
There is some appeal is staying true to their past but other manufacturers have managed to strike a good compromise between staying true to their ethos and still redesigning their models to make them better and more modern. BMWs and Ducatis still appeal to their fans for the same reasons they did 50 years ago but they didn't have to stop making new bikes or keep producing the old ones forever to accomplish that.
I always rode Harley-Davidson but the older I get I want comfort and reliability so I started to checkout other brands and I can’t believe what I’ve been missing, so many great bikes out there and seems like my rides are going farther now days even going Coast to Coast once a year , funny how things work out when you take the blinders off I’m enjoying riding so much more not having to worry about my bike
What is your motorcycle model my friend ?
i understand your feeling
Still have my HD FXRS-SP but as I got older I got a Triumph Tiger 1050. Love it
Nice nice. What kind of bikes do you own now sir?
Lots of evo Harley engines will run 100k miles without much of a fuss. Reliability isn’t much of an issue
weird, usually people switch to harley the older they get
Ryan - this video along with a few others are sincerely works of art. There's poetry in what you're doing. Everyone else with motorcycle videos - especially some of the more prominent fellows - needs to take a step back and recognize the GOAT resides in Vancouver.
There's clearly some top gear influence in his style.
These videos are on one end of the spectrum. At the other end lies "Yammie Noob" Plenty in between too, but Ryan's videos are the pinnacle.
It's amazing. Has to be one of the best channels on RUclips whether or not you care about motorcycles.
All the miles and memories I got riding Harleys with my dad over the years before he got too old, are invaluable. Never once did we say, "ya know, these memories would be so much better if we had dual pin cranks."
Imagine how much more memorable they would've been if you had REAL horsepower. Harley power is cute.
@@OmGiTsMeTaStY There's a certain magic to riding slow and easy, with a nice exhaust noise on the rear, you don't need to go 120 mph like an asshole to enjoy riding.
@flippy5118 yeah cause it's the bike that killed them.....
@@OmGiTsMeTaStY it's not the bike that kills you, it's riding it
@@OmGiTsMeTaStY what a cringe statement. "I bet you loved your dad but imagine how much MORE you would have loved him if you guys werent LOSERS and REALLY RODE"
Thank you for consistently tackling hard to explain/talk about subjects in the motorcycle world. Whenever my buddies and I have these kinds of discussions, I can point them to your videos. You sir are a gentleman and a scholar.
Watching Fortnine is the only time I wish a RUclips video was longer
Fantastic explanation of Harley Motocycles
I’ve had three Harleys, last one a Road King Classic. Then I switched to an Indian Scout, and last year traded it in for a Rebel 1100 DCT. I like them all! It’s not what you drive, the main thing is you drive! Been riding since 1970.
Ride for the love of riding, not for the image.
I too have owned bikes since late 60s. When Willy D said that famous quote he was sitting at a bar with some friends and they were debating weather to ask some fat ugly chicks to join them. True story.
I highly DOUBT it's a true story,@@jimputnam2044 , especially considering you couldn't even get Willy's name right!
@@michaelscott356 Can't swear to true story was not there. Read it in a Harley history book I bought at the Harley Museum. Was a couple pages of" fun little known facts". How do you spell Willy?
But the main thing is you evolved...you grew a brain congratulations
I read a bunch of the pro/con Harley posts below and got bored. Thanks for the coolest breakdown of the distinctive engine design, and the resulting sound and vibration, I've yet seen. Also, as a part-time video hacker, your production quality continues to leave me agog. Y'all rock.
I’ve always liked Harley’s bikes, especially the Dynas and the Sportster. You explained it better in 10 minutes than I’ve been able to in 5 years of owning my Wide Glide.
I’ve had many motorcycles and dirt bikes over the years and still have a garage full of them. I love all types of bikes from the smallest to largest. I have an ‘04 softail night train, that I bought new. The reason it’s one of my favorite bikes is because of many of the things he said in the video. It’s not a really fast bike (for a Harley it is), it’s definitely not comfortable (not even by Harley standards). It does, however, have a certain feel about it that I’ve never really experienced on many other bikes. Despite not handling very well it makes you feel one with the road, it’s long and planted so to speak. Which makes it a hell of a lot of fun to ride especially in a stretched out semi relaxed position. Just like his comparison with todays vehicle my soft tail is definitely an old muscle car in a world of modern bikes and I love that about it.
Not all Harley’s are the same, of course. They all have a much different feel. A Roadglide to me is basically a medieval couch but when comparing it to other touring bikes it’s something different and a lot of what I said above can be applied.
I’ve owned two Wide Glides, the current one being an 07 I bought brand new. Never once in the tens of thousands of miles have I ever experienced “Dyna Death Wobble” this is the first time I’ve ever heard of it.
@@chadkimmel8957 I'm with you there! I bought my first Harley, 7 years ago, an '06 wide glide. I've put 25k on it, myself, and this is the first I've heard of the potential issue!
@@KJ-kc3dm I'm the original owner of an 93 FXDWG Michelin suck.
@@chriswilliams9069 In 2013, I set out from central CA on a mission to 'bag' the 13 states I had never previously been in before...ALL of them east of the MS River....first 'new' state, Georgia. Even though I had previously been to Key West, (Twice) revisited there again....and I was riding a Honda ST 1100. While riding the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA, I met a guy who was riding an identical bike as mine. Long story short....he lived in Alexandria, VA (about a mile from the Pentagon) and invited me to his home for the night..(I ended up spending three.) He also had a Harley he wanted me to ride, so I did, while he rode his Honda. We rode almost 100 miles, often passing through some 'parks and other slow areas where people were walking. I soon observed an odd thing.....we passed many people walking and so many of the women walking ignored him, who was leading, but waved at me as I passed by on 'my' Harley. My Honda sported some after market exhaust and was not quiet by any means, but the Harley sounded more like a motorcycle? Anyway, I was always quite puzzled by this reaction. BHE
I needed to justify buying a lot of tools. So I bought a Harley. 20 years on and we're doing great!
Harley Davidson: uses a T45 to hold on a bracket that is used to hold a hose in place
Also Harley Davison: Uses a flathead screw to secure my $300 seat so any crackhead with a pocket knife can steal it.
@Phil Anderson True ahaha
@@jonr4651 Well, if the crackhead can't steal it, he'll slice it. Don't frequent the city.
@@timjohnson1199 at least you keep the seat xd
That's because you needed tools to begin.We have THREE Harleys the only thing new we bought was T wrenches.
The death wobble finally explained! And one of the best videos you've ever made. Two thumbs up!
touring link solves it but without it tar snakes are spookey
Wobbles have a multitude of reasons: tire inflation, suspension, unbalanced wheels (spoke ones), rake and trail, bearings, tire alignment, road condition, etc., and, of course but never spoken, pilot, through rigid arms that don't let direction accommodate it's course, so amplifying the very harmonics of the wobble. In the end, it is hardly a H-D problem; virtually any bike can be subject to wobbles.
this is a guide to watch out before buying a HD! I completely start looking for an owned Harley just with watching this video! Your explanation on its sound and feel and the legacy completely makes me fall in love with her again.
Ryan: I converted to metric
Harley Davidson: *explodes with eagle screeching*
Fun fact a bald eagle actually sounds like a seagull. They usually play red-tailed hawks screeches because they sound better.
@Overlander 123 Yes I've seen quite a lot of them in both Alaska and the Columbia River Delta.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@GunFunZS I’ve grown to hate that over-used, clichéed (well you try spelling it!- Stupid auto-correct!!!) sound… every fucking Chevy truck ad in heavy rotation (“🎵🎶 Like a rock 🎶🎵… SKREEEEE!!!”) about one million other stupid ads (perhaps a SLIGHT exaggeration), and what feels like every other movie and cheesy sit-com (“Gosh, I guess we shoulda filled the tank before we drove into the desert- what are we gonna do now?!?!” …”SKREEEE!!!” Everyone: “Laaarrryyy!!!” Face-palm… Cue laugh-track…) has used that sound effect TO DEATH!!! It’s even used sarcastically ‘Cos it’s so… ubiquitous? No offense to any raptors who might be reading this (love your work, you mighty aerial hunters, you!!!), but if I NEVER hear that sound again, I can die a happy man… P.S.- SKREEEEE!!!
I never considered buying a Dyna before, and after watching this I definitely never will.
Although I was really hoping that one rider would recover after doing a 360 degree death wobble. That would've been something.
I have never had any "death wobble" I can just about guarantee you the motor mounts on those bikes were TRASHED. If you are worried about it though you can spend a couple bucks like $400 max and get those upgraded mounts and then you can be sure it will not do it. But seriously I have riden the damn wheels off my Street Bob and my fathers Switchback even driving like a complete A-Hole I could not get them to wobble.
It was a glamorous dance...until it wasn't.! 😁
@@Doobie603 the anomaly. 👍🏼
FortNine's explanation of swingarm twist has me all worried about my BMW's single-side swing arm!
@@sgomez3047 Yeah, I was really pulling for him! I thought for half a second he might do it, then I sadly realized that he’d crossed the event horizon, so to speak..😬
Crap! Now my impulse mind is confused. Should I or should I not buy a Harley? lol. Brilliant documentary FortNine!
dont
no
I have owned a Harley Davidson, they are nothing special, Harley Davidson sells a phony image, I traded in my Harley Davidson for a Yamaha Star Venture Transcontinental and the Yamaha is a superior motorcycle, this comes from someone who has owned Kawasaki, Honda, Victory, Harley Davidson and Yamaha. Of all the brands I have owned the Harley Davison I would rank last.
"Probably not, but you can understand why someone might" seems to be the theme, here.
at the very least, don't buy a dyna glide
Just watched, and must say , well done. Great perspective and well executed. Well done!!
Videos from this channel always have such an unbelievable high quality. This is awesome production, scripting, editing, and interesting knowledge of motorcycle mechanics in a single package. It’s an awesome time when we can get this kind of content for free. Cheers from Brazil, F9!
For a moment there, an extremely brief moment, I almost thought "you know, Ryan has a point, maybe I could see myself owning a Harley"... But then I remembered the times I've ridden them and experienced the extremely underwhelming power, or the other times when I've been annoyed with the sound, or the times I've watched them leak oil idling in a parking lot, or the other times where I realized I like to wear a full face helmet and not look out of place, and that I don't like wearing ass-less chaps.
You almost got me Ryan, almost. Great video as always!
Are there any „non-ass-less chaps“ tho?
Always said I’d never own a Harley… then the pan America dropped. I bought that sucker sight unseen. I’ve never loved a bike more.
They would be leather pants then, and its pronounced shaps like champagne, chauffeur, chaperone and chaparral, where the name comes from
You can definitely wear a full face, but it's gotta be Biltwell or Simpson.
Sounds like you should try a 1200 sportster, But then the typical Harley guys will say it's a ladys bike 🤕😹😹😹 only bikes harley makes id buy are the sportster1200 and the PanAm 😹 A Half sized PanAm to compete with the Tanere700 would be awesome 😻
Literally the most creative, informative & entertaining channel for bikes, hands down. Every creator on YT should take notes, you've got the Crabby Paddy formula mastered! 😤
@•••[S]EX-Vlog Go to My Channel
A solution doesn't always need an answer, they provided an alternative in terms of design and function. This creation also has it's own 'issues,' but the consumer ultimately decides to choose one product over another for different reasons. Like the rotary engines introduction, wasn't meant to replace CDI engines, just an alternative, again with it's own issues (apex seal failure), but also with applications still produced & it's own community of support. Not all 'inventions' are direct solutions, but offer variance & growth, in most instances.
This is the finest explanation of what harley's are!!!!! How they work and why they do what they do at idle..... Thank You!!!!
Thanks for converting American football fields per eagles of freedom to metric, I appreciate it a lot!!
There are 2 types of people. Those that use the metric system and those that have been to the moon.
@@TheHortond You do know the guy that send the USA to the moon was actually a German using metric? He despiced the imperial system and all the dimensions were converted from metric to imperial only so it could be build in the USA?
@@jordanpost1876 Plenty of Americans have no idea that following the end of WW2 the head of NASA was legitimately a uniformed Nazi that we hired on to lead our space and rocket agency...
But yeah, muricah!
They talked about this on Archer years ago.
@@philipmarr7325 What’s saddest is that most Americans who know about this, only know about it BECAUSE of a cartoon.
… Really goes to show you how far our education system has fallen.
This video is the distilled essence of Ryan F9. Art History. Physics. Snarky commentary. Sex Toy jokes. It's all there!
Your video graphics and vocal genius is a pleasure to watch and to listen too.
So I say thank you, for what is probably the most polished and well delivered motorcycle content on the interwebs.
Agreed. F9 and Zack and his buddy videos for Revzilla (previously Motorcyclist) are the best on RUclips.
Absolutely agree with a lot of comments, this type of content it's pure gold. Thanks a lot for explaining such details. I always love to learn new things!
Very nice job. You did leave one thing out though, at least concerning those of us who own early bikes. That's the enjoyment of not having to rely on anyone to maintain, tune, and repair your ride. One can completely rebuild a '51 Pan-Shovel like mine with rudimentary skills and a compliment of tools that will fit in the saddle bags. Pretty cool.
Hear Hear. So true I run a 81 FXEB and a 72 XLCH, Rarely have I had a problem always fixed things up in minutes on side of road with a screw driver and a couple of wrenches. except for a flat tire had to drag a log out of the ditch to get up high enough to get the wheel off.
Japanese bikes USED to be like that. I was given a '73 Yamaha TX750 (he had to repay a debt) that had been torn 100% apart and shipped in milk crates. I was able to intuitively reassemble, tune and ride that bike in the early '90's. Since then however, the Japanese love of plastic and unique model-based parts has made them disposable, at best.
It's tough to find a bike lover who would not be proud to ride a Honda 750 Four. They did make some great bikes for a decade or so.
Damn all those tools in your saddlebags?? The pullers and valve tools, ridge remember, ring compressor, not to mention a damn OXY acet rig and heavy assed boring bar...no seriously I want to see ANYONE "completely rebuild" any year engine with tools that fit in their saddlebags....LO fing L
Funny because my friend rode to cali from nj on his harley. He had no issues other than the issues he ran into. Had to ship it home
Let's not also forget: at the same time the Davidsons bought back Harley, they also lobbied Reagan for a 45% tariff on all imported motorcycles over 700cc, hurting any cruiser competition they may have had from the Japanese.
. . .which is why my Goldwing was built in Ohio.
Which is where the Kawsaki vn700 Vulcan came from.
I had one of these. Rode great, handled great, didn't break down with lousy weather (Wales GB). Loved it.
Republicans are all about fair competition and survival of the fittest unless they make a shitty product and need the competition hobbled. Then they’ll talk about how we built up their industry after we nuked them because we’re good Christian people
But of course most metric cruisers are actually built in the US…
So much for being a symbolism of America, ironically too at the height of the cold war when the US was supposedly championing capitalism and free market economy🤣
“It makes your butt feel nice.” Truer words were never spoken! Lol
And I don’t even like MoCo bikes.
@meow purr wouldn't the answer be go find people who accept you for whatever bike you own? I rather ride my grom with other people who like it than force myself to get a Harley to fit in. If I want an HD, and any other bike, I want it for me, the friends will follow
My '79 XS650 also made my butt feel nice... :)
Moco means booger in spanish
I don`t object to Harleys, I object to Harley Riders.
@@phillip2169 100%. Its funny, Im just outside the Mecca of HD (Milwaukee) and most of my friends and family are metric fans. I love my Harley, I just dont like the culture that surrounds their riding community.
I rewatch this all the time, it is so good.
Its always a great day when a new Fortnine video is released
That's really weird I was just thinking "you know what sounds nice right now? A new Fortnine video." Your timing is impeccable
Fortnite? really?
@@alphawolf2993 thank you for pointing out autocorrect's misdeed kind sir
Ryan, using TF2 Soldier's voice line vastly deepens my respect for you
When was that?
@@elken4289 8:59
Made the video 10x better for me
This made my day
@@elken4289 8:59
This video is so damn good. I am amazed with the quality of F9 productions… the way it’s written is just outstanding! 😮
You make such intelligent and enjoyable videos , I have been a race mechanic for 30 years but still learn from you , really enjoy your stuff ...
What I understood from this awesome review was that Harley tries to solve problems by implementing solutions that cause their own problems without really addressing the original problem they were initially supposed to solve.
I'm not a Harley guy (although I have owned two Buell XB's and absolutely loved them), but I do think their way of using crude yet simple ways of taking a problem you couldn't live with and reengineering it into a problem you can live with, is actually pretty clever in its own way.
My beef with HD's isn't so much the bikes (even if they do seem a bit overpriced for what they are), but rather the attitudes of SOME of the riders. After enough HD guys look your Japanese or European dual sport up and down, scoff, mumble something about "American made," and then ask when you're going to step up to a "real" motorcycle, it begins to get a bit obnoxious. Something similar can be said for SOME BMW riders too...
And to be fair, the vast majority of HD guys (and Beemer guys) IMHO are wonderful chaps who are all just in it for the love of the ride...
Like beer!!
@@Edhooey You mean like the way Harley deals with their overheating engines? Instead of making them liquid cooled, which would solve the problem, they install a device that shuts down a cylinder when the engine overheats...brilliant!
@@jamesbottger5894 Now that...yeah, that DOES seem more than a bit asinine haha!
@@jamesbottger5894 I've riden my TC in the hotest weather in AZ no problems. Ever hear of a oil cooler? Every engine is cooled by oil so cooling the oil makes a lot of sense. Or did I miss something?
I grew up with neighbors that rode old BMW's and Harley's daily to work year round then with a kid on the back for weekend camping trips. In late 1973 I was 19 and in shock over the sudden rise of gas prices ($.32 to $.53 per gallon) so visited our city's well established H-D dealer Harry Molenaar (AKA The Flying Dutchman) to see if he had any old used cop 45 flatheads in stock. He didn't and told me that H-D's weren't worth a flip after being acquired by AMF so would be better off buying a new BMW to have something that would be reliable and ignored by thieves since so few people ride them. So I bought a new '73 R75/5 and still ride it today. Molenaar was an independent H-D dealer that could buy as many or as few new H-D's each year as he wanted since 1934 plus could go thru their warehouse in Milwaukee to load up on old discontinued parts. Restorers would call Milwaukee for parts and color codes/combinations and be directed to contact Molenaar since he was the only one that had the parts and the information they needed. Molenaar's was the oldest H-D dealership in the World in 1991 when Harley corporate decided to stop selling new bikes and parts to Harry after he refused to remodel his ancient store with wood floors and no ceiling into H-D's preferred modern style with tons of glass and chrome. If those fools had any sense, they would've used Harry, his store and history with H-D in their advertising since his showroom floor also served as a museum with plenty of new old models, the factory racers that Harry rode and a midget racer that was powered by the H-D flat twin made for WW2.
Very nice Story...thank you for Sharing it 🙂👌🏻🇸🇦
I rode that exact same bike, a '73 R75/5 from about 1985 to 1993. A fantastic motorcycle, easy to work on, and very fun to ride. Eventually bought an '88 R100GS Bumblebeemer, which I still ride at age 60.
@@wiscgaloot One can still buy replacement parts for those since so many are still on the road. There's owners that are pulling out their /5's from barns where they sat for the last 30 years and got them running after cleaning the carbs, changing the oil and putting fresh gas in the tank. Then they do an Aggie overhaul (wash, wax and polish) before selling it for $4000 to $5000.
@@billwilson3609 You can still get parts? What's crazy is about 8 years ago I took my '88 R100GS to San Jose BMW and they refused to quote a tune-up, that the owner would call me. Which he never did, then he whined and complained at me after I left a 1-star review on Yelp. My only gripe about that /5 was that the electric starter was weak, I often had to kick start it.
@@wiscgaloot Yep. Parts are available online from independent shops and big dealers like MAX BMW in New England. If they don't have it then owners buy from shops like Motobins in Great Britain and Uli's in Switzerland. I've been buying parts from Capital Cycle since 1976. They were mail order with an 800 number to call in orders, see what they have in stock or get advice. They sent out an annual paper catalog then sales fliers each quarter with a list of discounted parts. I still have a store of new points, condensers, light bulbs, control cables, timing chain & gears and other stuff that I bought at discount. My last call was in 2000 to see what they had in back that was "blemished" new stock. That call got me a pair of new stainless steel silencers for $240 and new self adjusting Boge shocks (/7) for $29 each because their boxes were dirty and creased.
The /5 starter motor is identical to the one used in VW Bugs so we took ours to a local starter/alternator shop to have serviced. They also could readjust a wonky voltage regulator and change out bad diodes in the diode board. The voltage regulator also is identical to the one used in VW's plus the larger VW 6 volt ignition coils will fit the holders and not rub against the gas tank. That was common knowledge with touring riders who could find those at K-Marts across the nation after the BMW shops had closed for the day. We bought our replacement bearings and seals at local bearing supply house. Most also sold the industrial cross bearing used in the driveshaft and could change them out for like $30 (parts and labor). Just needed to have the rear drive removed and the shaft tunnel cleaned of oil so it wouldn't run out onto their work bench.
BMW used an unusual starter relay that made the starter button inoperable when the motor was running and prevented power from going to the starter solenoid when the battery had a low charge. You probably started using the kicker when you heard the relay clicking. My dealer showed a trick to prolong battery and starter life by using the cold weather starting procedure when the engine was cold or warmed up. You turn on the enrichers/choke then used the kicker until one side was on TDC before hitting the starter button. That drew in a rich mixture that ignited as soon as the button was pushed in. Doing that helped me to get 7 tears of use out of the small stock battery. My '73 was the later long wheel base model so moved the battery holders back against the fender so I could use a bigger battery for Goldwings and Electra-Glides. Did that after having to run on battery power after the charging system went haywire while riding back to Longview from Houston. Stopped at a full service gas station in Nacogdoches for gas and to see if they had any old battery cables and car batteries I could rig up to finish my ride home. They didn't so called friends with a truck to come fetch me. They arrived so got the bike loaded in back then went to a few bars to check out the college babes. Paid a cover charge to enter one since they had a band that night we never heard of before that blew us away. Turned out to be Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble before they hit the big time. Once home I checked the VR to find it was off so had it readjusted at our nearby starter/alt shop for the cost of a cold 6 pack of beer.
I've heard strange things about BMW dealerships not wanting to work on the older bikes. One older man freaked out when a dealer in KC said they wanted $500 to schedule a tune-up with parts and labor added to that once done. He was steered to a 1%'er shop in Overland Park that did a major service that included a tune-up and CV adjustment for $230 while he watched.
Wow, I am sitting here stunned at the quality of this video and its educational content. Well done my man, well done!
as an engineer, I always appreciate Ryan F9's background calculations.
How do you know someone is an engineer?
@@SavedbyHim 🤣 I walked into that one. In Canada we go a step further by wearing an Iron ring on our pinky!
@@KSMotoCafe Really? never heard of that. I'm an electronic tech. I do all the Engineer's dirty jobs ;)
I've always loved motorcycles, dirt and street bikes but, then I got married and had children(23). After the kids were grown I got a strong urge to get a Harley and get back into motorcycling. I didn't buy one until the wife softened up on the idea because I was on blood thinners now. I finally bought one when I retired at 61! (2012 Wide Glide 103). My advice, buy one now or as soon as possible and START LIVING!! You will love it!
Buy a bike, never get married, end the bloodline. SIR YES SIR XD
Low iq take. You can buy literally any other bike that DOESNT suck.
Great video, I was between a Harley and Indian Scout for my first bike. As someone who is not loyal to any brand or had any preconceived notions on the brands it was an easy choice to go with an Indian. I appreciate both brands but Harley's in my mind were the equivalent of the Corvette. All I could imagine was old dudes wearing air Monarchs. Not ready for that yet lol.
I too went Indian recently for my first bike. 2017 scout.
I went with a 2017 Scout Sixty for my first.
Chief Dark Horse Bodder 2023.
I had the same thought process and just got a Scout Rogue Sixty. Great bike and even though it weighs within 20lbs of my Shadow 750, it feels extremely light and doesn't take much to get up and go.
The difference between Harleys and Corvettes is that Corvettes can actually perform.
Someone I know bought his first Harley; had it delivered on the weekend, and ride 20ks to work on the Monday. Got off at work and had a numb bum due to the vibration. Less than a year later, he swapped it for a very good condition, Kawasaki ZZR1100.. He and his wife loves it. He won't be buying another Harley.
HD: We are making same bikes for decades
Ural: Hold my beer..
Hold my vodka, comrade. ~RF9
Isn’t the Ural a BMW ? The Russians captured the BMW factory that the Nasties built after they advanced into Russia. They were pushed back so quickly they abandoned the factory and it became soviet property. A friend had one in the U.K. .. pig to start unless it was freezing cold, then it would start first kick !
@@robplazzman6049 well, actually, m72 is indeed a copy of bmw r71, but Urals and now discontinued Dniepers have made quite a long way. Maybe changes are not so significant as in milwaukee8 comparing to knucklehead, but modern Gear Ups are quite different from the old m72, and even later soviet models.
Haha they both share same cool factor
Royal Enfield: hold my tea
Demonstrating that even with fuel injection you can simulate mis-firing at idle, making it H-D compliant
I get that this is a joke, but is that really what a misfire sounds like on a v-twin that isn't a single pin crank? I seriously don't know. I had a duel pin crank Honda vtwin but it never misfired.
I absolutely love the single pin crank Harley air cooled engine sound. I have always ridden 4 cylinder street bikes, and I hate the modern liquid cooled V-Twins. But the air cooled Harley bikes sound so incredible. The idle is perhaps the nicest, most soothing sound, of any engine in the world.
@@Ritalie Straight 4 motors are a blast to ride ride on weekends or afternoons, like joy riding. But I will always prefer an air cooled vtwin with a single pin crank for my daily riding. 12k rpm on a 4 is just unpleasant to hear for long sustained speeds like when I some times do 2 hour commutes to another city, and I don't like the feeling of needing to rev up to access power when I am in traffic. On a v-twin you can pop the clutch and have its full power before 3k rpm.
Thumbs up to air cooled twins having a hypnotic sound. I really enjoy the bit of orderly valve clatter, likr a jar of nickles and dimes shaking in perfect time.
@@johnraconteur1723 Very good, I totally agree. My Sportster says the same to me.
I have always loved tractive engines over revving stuff.
Which is why I reckon the VW Beetle is the car equivalent.
@@johnraconteur1723 Sportsters sound the best because they still use the gear-driven Evo engine that can idle at 500 rpm. Valves clacking, gears wining and chains whirring.
I wish every hobby had an f9 channel. Your videos are so well done. The writing, editing, visuals, audio, diagrams, explanations, all 10/10
The best video about the essence of Harley Davidson! You have exceptional talent, approach, humor and your own unique style.
This content is literally the best on RUclips. Brilliant. Keep it up!!!!
This is the best engineering explanation of Harley design I have ever read/watched.
I find it interesting however, that after Ryan describes the Dyna Death Wobble his personal Harley is a ...Dyna.
*As always, content that Ryan makes is incredible, and His knowlage is as huge as an H-D Road Glide*
I completely agree. That you should learn to spell.
I've had a 1989 Honda CBR600, that I got when it was 15 years old. I rebuilt ((Shocks, Calipers, set Valve Clearance just because Body panels & Paint). I was STUNNED, how beautifully it started, ran and rode. It was astonishing.
About 15 years later, my second bike now is a 1996 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE. I got the GW at about 24 years old and of course, it's 28 now. Again, I'm flabbergasted how week it runs, starts and rides. Including working on it. Cleaning exquisitely engineered and built. Plus people thinks it's new being in pristine condition. Oh, it's got 107,000 miles on it and I just rode it 2,000 miles down South RT, twice in the last month. I got it at 93,000 mi, I've changed the a timing Belt again just in case. Put on tires made since after the year 2000 (they're new). I had to replace the clutch master cylinder last year from corrosion and wear. I freshened up the brakes. Everything works. All connectors are corrosion free and all fasteners look like new. 28 years and it is a more refined and functional machine to use and fix (in trend of connectors and fasteners being movable), as many 6 month old machines.
Point. Old Honda are IMPRESSIVELY designed and Built.
"the weight and road stability of a halftrack" LOL
Man I'd love a half-track! Wouldn't love the mpg though. Lol
@@ryanmounce2850 Or the maintenance.
In HD's defence it wouldn't be a full size half track 👍
@@dalel3608 oof. Hell no. I barely manage to keep my "normal" engines running. No telling how bad I could mess up that behemoth! Lol
This is as entertaining and informative as old Top gear, Mr. Wizard, and James Burke (Connections) combined. Very well done F9 Crew. Stay cool up there this summer.
I almost had forgoggen the James Burke. That really was a great show. And so is Ryan!
Great review
Ty
What I like about your channel is that you give the why.
So besides dealing with the 30 times greater chance of death and injury riding a bike vs a car, even the most cautious of riders could be caught out with this serious design flaw. Thanks for these informative technical videos !
Everyone I know that had ridden on a Dyna (I know hundreds of riders throughout NY) for decade have never had this happen. I ask a ll the time at bike nights. Just like most Wrangler owners don't actually experience their death wobble unless they've been inappropriately messing around with their suspension.
The guy in the video owns that 99 Dyna, I'm gonna assume it's a great bike and not a death trap. I mean unless the guy in the video is an idiot and doesn't know what he's talking about.
@@DanBlackRacing It doesn't need to be a 100% of the time issue for it to be an issue. If you ask 100 people, and the very last one says yes it's happened to them, why would I want to buy something I know has a chance to just straight up buck me for no good reason other than being stubborn and resistant to change? If I'm going down, I'd prefer to have a fighting chance than to have my bike straight up assassinate me.
I’ve only ever seen people with sport bikes get speedwobbles lol. None of my dynas have had this happen
@@DanBlackRacinghad death rattle in the old cherokee but never a wrangler. thought it was way more common in the cherokees and never really heard from other wrangler owners about it tbh
My father used to call Harley's "Quivering masses of antiquity", whilst cleaning his 1950s AJS 500 single.
And my dad's first bike was a 1950's harley which caused him to never buy a harley ever again.
The Pyramids and the Pantheon are both antique, but one is twice as old as the other.
Yesterday's technology for tomorrow's price.
Allow me to steal your genius comment
In all seriousness, I have no idea why anyone would buy a Harley when there are Royal Enfield available for 1/4 the price that actually offer a genuine 1930's motoring experience. And a good example of the 1930's, rather than a bad example.
I love watching F9's videos. I always feel like I'm being educated and entertained in equal measures! I just wish I'd had teachers like him when I was at school. I'd have really enjoyed the learning process then! Thanks Ryan for another great presentation!
what a talented guy, this video is incredible. bit of a nerd but theres nothing wrong with that. i really enjoyed this video as a guy that rides a 70s garage chopper harley.
Thanks for explaining why I love Harley’s. I always was drawn to their sound and style but couldn’t put it into words like you just did. Your presentation is pure genius. Thanks!
Ryan. This is probably my favorite of your videos. Logical, elegant, and scientific...as usual. I ride a 2004 Dyna. Excellent explanation!
One of the hardest decisions of my life was coming out to my friends and admitting that I bought a Harley Davidson. Now I'm proud to admit how nice it makes my butt feel.
And that you don't have to shell out money for a vibrator..
I live in the Pacific Northwest in WA. I can't tell anyone that I don't ride a Harley. People only know about Harley's here. There's always a feeling of discomfort when I tell them I ride a sportbike. I can buy 3 sportbikes for cost of a used Harley.
And now you don't have to deny being gay. They just know it.
My ass is way too boney for a harley. My pelvis would disintegrate.
@@michaellehto1697 Not at all. They're some of the most comfortable bikes made. Take it from someone in his 50's who's lost enough of his butt to make sitting on bleachers for more than ten minutes feel like torture.
Always the better producer of moto review. Kudos FortNine.
Pssst.... Harley ... Will you lend me a Pan America now? ~RF9
no
@@Българиянадвсичко-с9ж Ouch.
C'mon Harley send Ryan a Pan America!
@@Българиянадвсичко-с9ж ... all bluster, like their customers ...
Good luck with that mate
Such an amazing presenter. I thought I despised Harleys (for the exact reasons f9 listed that make them popular), yet Ryan still made me fall in love with them
@Moe Lester It's a polarizing experience. People either love it or absolutely hate it. I personally love my Harley, but I still get a thrill out of riding things that are totally different. I will never get tired of how many diverse experiences can be created on two wheels. There is truly a perfect bike for every person, so basically everyone should ride.
That’s because you have a presumption of what Harley owners are like but you enjoy Ryan F9 and if he likes it then you can see why. No one knew RyanF9 liked and enjoyed Harleys when he came out with the video of why Harley is dying. People were so confused lol. I enjoy my Harley
@Moe Lester There's a possibility that the Harley experience just isn't for you and the type of motorcycle ownership that you're looking for. For example..I tried a Honda Goldwing because I often have 500+ mile weeks just commuting to different cities for work. It absolutely wasn't for me. I wouldn't say that it left much to be desired, just that it didn't have what I was looking for in my daily riding experience.
I find it odd how one company, Harley Davidson, draws the ire of the entire motorcycle community because it isn't what they are looking for. Just ride something else and give a nod to the people who decide that it's the right bike for them.
I thought I despised Harley's, too. After watching this video, I still do. It's why I bought an Indian.
@Moe Lester I ride one, I love it.
By far the best motorcycle youtuber out there. There is just no competition.
Thank you for consistently making the best cycle videos on the net. Please keep it up!
Thank you FortNine for so eloquently making the points I have neither the tact nor communication ability to convey myself. 🙏🙏
F9 releases a video about HD dying*
Me: Ugh, I hate harleys
F9 releases a video saying HD are great
Me: Ugh, I love harleys
This lol.
I love Harleys, but i hate Harley
@@thesebas3090 That's the correct attitude in my opinion.
Strongly agree!
@@thesebas3090 Yup, sums up my feelings exactly. ~RF9
I just bought my first Harley(91FXWG so custom that the guy I bought it from didn't believe it was a real Harley) after 45 years of riding. Thanks for the break down of the physics of these bikes. I always recognized the sound and now I know why.
I remember my friend buying the Screaming Eagle V-Rod. He was so excited about it- couple months later he was riding a Ducati. Evidently the V-Rod was riddled with problems including vibrations so bad it sheared off the bolts holding the exhaust which fell off during a ride.
Instant classic! Such good production value. You could make a video about a brick wall and I would enjoy it.
“I’m not American, and frankly; neither are the bikes” lol Savage : Also props to the editor - that’s the most beautiful way to present low quality footage ever :)
So with that being said, I got rid of all the non American parts and replaced them with all American after market parts!
@@joalvarez6252 And now you have a $100,000 dollar Harley...
@@JHV166 not exactly, but its all about the prestige of owning an all American Bike! What do you ride?
@@joalvarez6252 2008 Ultra Classic.. About 15K miles a year... No problems, just replace tires and brakes and add fuel and oil...
@@JHV166 good deal Jim! The maintenance on a HD aint all that bad!
I never thought I’d hear Ave Marie in a video about Harley Davidson, but here we are !
Best edit in the episode! I was laughing my ass off!
This channel is a pure gold
Excellent presentation (as always)! The detail in describing (and even sketching) the information is Killer! Thanks for your continued variety of high quality entertaining content.
My first Harley is my current Road King. I recently bought my wife a XL883 Super Low. Riding the Sportster you really get the feel for the true Harley. The sound, sounds 3x louder than my aftermarket exhaust , the “rough” sounding engine, and the ride is not as “sophisticated” as my road king. However it’s a fun…glorious sounding machine!
I had them both,just switched to Moto Guzzi 1400 Custom,best bike.
Need to mention that I'm big fan of Guzzi,still have 350 Imola since I was teenager...
OK. The Fat Boy origin story blew my mind a little!
Yeah, but no. It is sorta a fat bike, so it could just have been named for its thicker lines.
It’s not a true story.
It blew Nagasaki a lot
Well Harley's mortal enemy were always the Japanese companies, so it does make sense if true.
Pure urban legend only. "The name is said to come from the bike's "massive presence.” " - Wikipedia
I've never owned one, but they get your attention.
It's a good thing to have on a motorcycle.
Excellent presentation.
I love my 96 Ci Dyna Low Rider and I think this video has totally captured the essence of whats good and not so good about the classic stying and why we love riding the hog.. There may be better bikes, there certainly are worse bikes but there really isn't anything quite like a genuine Harley Davisdson. Probably the best review on Harley's that I've seen in 40 years... love your work..!
Agreed, I've come back to watch this a couple times. I also love my 96ci FXDC. I think the only thing that might have been missed here was how nice it is having a bike made for so long that theres an abundance of parts and knowledge to work on them at home.
For years I rode Hondas and a couple of my friends rode HD in our teens and twenties. I rode their Harleys and for years always wanted one myself. Took a break from bikes to raise a family for a while. Was finally able to buy HD 4 years ago and have zero regrets. Nothing I have ridden compares. Who doesn't like to graduate?!
I have a FXDX and love that thing.
My FXDLS is a monster!! Most fun I’ve ever had on a motorcycle, and yes I’ve owned plenty of Japanese bikes.
@@jonnychavez1879 i have a 1956 FL panhead softail because
Love the metric calculations! Makes it way easier to follow when theres no meaningless jumbled numbers used :D
We have a comedian on our hands here
I'm an American engineer. When solving most problems, I convert to metric first and convert back to Murican units at the end. It's a signicant competitive disadvantage.
@@Liberty4Ever sounds like a personal choice.
@@Face_RC - Yes. I choose to work in a rational internally consistent system where 1000 cubic centimeters is a liter, rather than trying to remember how many odd cubic inches are in a gallon, or for that matter, how big the king's foot was. Even trying not to fill my head with arcane nonsense, I still can't help knowing that there are 7000 grains of wheat in a pound. I doubt that'll be useful when trying to create a human settlement on Mars.
@@Liberty4Ever again, personal choice. If some numbers are too complicated for you to grasp, use the ones that work for you. They all lead to the same place.
Amazing quality again. I find myself bashing Harleys as being old and underdeveloped regularly. Now I see a different side to the same story. I understand the other side. So in essence, Fortnine as brought me peace haha
Harley are tractors and they are a danger on the road.
I’ve watched this video front to back 67 times and it never gets old. Ryan is a complete rock star.
I love these videos with their combination of humor and physics lessons. F9 explains the downside of Dyna suspensions and he …. Rides a Dyna - love it!
I didnt know that about the dyna glides being prone to high speed wobble surprised no class action lawsuit. I ride a zx14 first generation love it
@@rrf6747 I never heard about it either until this video. My '03 Dyna Superglide has never done a "Death Wobble" in the 20 years I've ridden it.