It never settled and Honda just stopped making the bike. It's no speed demon by any stretch, but that's not what cruisers are for.
They say that bike is a complete imitation down to the bolts
I like the gas tank too... Funny. Sounds Good
__________________ 98 Z28 6 speed 95 Z28 Convertible 6 Speed FOR SALE 02 Z28 6 Speed, Chrome 18 ZO6 rims, SS hood, Sport apperance package, Manta Stripe. RIP 78 Z28 All options, T tops, 4 Speed, 3.73 86 Iroc Z Sold 87 Trans Am GTA Sold 01 GTP Sold
"Rather be BLOWN than STROKED"
I agree with the basis of some of these points, but not the extremes. Harley's are overpriced - absoutely, 100% Its like buying Nike shoes, you bought a name.
They handle like crap - disagree. Crotch rockets, absolutley not. Maybe not even as well as some of the power-cruiser jap bikes. They ride and handle like most cruisers, big and slow.
They have had tons of research and development, those bikes are changing every year. You better look at the different motors they been through over the years, Panhead, shovelhead, EVO, Big-twin, Twin-cam, the list goes on w/ the varients. Harley hasn't strayed from their main design of an air-cooled single crank pin Vtwin, but they have done a lot to change that. Fuel injection, emmisions, transmission changes. These bikes have changed a TON since the 70's you reference.
Fall aprat/not reliable - your stuck in the 70's again, they have come a long way. They arn't as well built or long living as the jap bikes, but certainly not junk.
Heat fade - I'm not sure how many air cooled bikes you have had, but I've had a couple, and air cooled bikes don't have some major phenomina where they lose all their power when its warm out. Can you get the bike a little warm in stop and go traffic on 100* days - yea, defintely, you may have a slight impact to your power, once your moving its a non-issue. Not to mention there are plenty of air-cooled jap bikes - air cooled isn't a bad technology for the purpose of a cruiser, thats why you still see it today. Maximum power and efficiency - nope. Cost and simplicity - absolutely.
I don't know where your getting your HP facts, but an 88ci (1450cc) HD motor makes about 70ish hp, and the 96ci motors make even more. Stone stock, they are a little corked up, same goes w/ the Jap bikes. You want to compare power cruisers, you won't find a Vtwin that outside the Vrod's range. Suzuki's beastly 1800cc M109R is still slower in the quarter, even a Triumph 2100cc triple isn't as fast. I think Harley has shown they can use and apply technology when they want, and continue to build laid back cruisers for what the vast majority of the customers desire.
Now again, I agree with almost all of your points, but nowhere to the extreme that you take them. You'll note I own a Jap V-twin, not a Harley. For the cost and performance there is no comparison, I can hang with a bolt on 88ci Harley w/ my 83ci Jap motor, and I'm just broken in at 36k miles. I probably would never own a Harley (save maybe a V-rod) because I won't pay thousands of dollars for a name. I don't think they are the "junk" you make them out to be. Harley exist and are popular for the same reason 60-70's big cam, carb'd muscle cars are - they have a certain nostalgia to them. Sure, you can run just as fast, and handle better with a cheaper, much more fuel effecient turbo 4-banger modern car - yet there is just something about them people find irresistable.
My $.02, sorry for the hijack.
first off the v-rod isnt a harley its a porsche, harley decided to make a "performance cruiser" but they didnt know how to make a high horse power reliable motorcycle so they called up porsche, yeah the european sports car company.....
a well known most popular "american" motorcycle manufacturer has to call up a european car manufacturer and they said hey we will give you millions if you make a "performance cruiser" for us cuz we rednecks dont know how
so porsche says okay then they make a high revving liquid cooled DOHC engine and throw it in a bike and say here ya go
and i have had 25+ yrs of motorcycle experience, my father has owned a dealership since i was born and i have ridden many many different bikes harleys japs all kinds
and the 08' Electra Glide Ultra Classic which is their high end touring bike make a laughable 56hp to the wheels, barley over half of the goldwing, vtx18, m-109, vn2000 which is why at cruising speeds and remember this is a touring purpose built bike so its made for interstate and freeway speeds it takes 11sec. to go from 60-80mph roll on and all the jap bikes do it in 5sec. so in other words if you are cruising on the interstate and there is a car in front of you and your exit is up the road you might as well just let off the gas on the harley cuz there is NO POWER to pass and if you are on the jap bike then just pull the throttle back a little and pass with confidence
and i am from dallas tx where i have lived all my life so yeah air cooled bikes really suck down here, i can ride with shorts on jap bike and when i ride a harley i have to have pants or my skin will melt, and i do experience "heat fade" from harleys all the time if i ride them any other month than december or january..... maybe harleys are good to ride in alaska but not texas, oh and about the handling part yes harleys dont handle near a jap bike on the freeway, i have many many miles and states under my belt on a motorcycle and when i ride a honda or any other jap bike im confident but when i ride a harley if i take my feet off the highway bars at freeway speed the bike will swerve left and right because the least little bit throws the whole p.o.s. off balance
sorry about the thread high jack but i had to voice my opinion on the bike and maybe it will help the OP choose as well
I got a 1993 HD sportster 883 as my first bike last sept,
I think its a good first bike.
My 93' only has 980 miles on it :], I got it with 937.
I paid 3500 for it.
first off the v-rod isnt a harley its a porsche, harley decided to make a "performance cruiser" but they didnt know how to make a high horse power reliable motorcycle so they called up porsche, yeah the european sports car company.....
a well known most popular "american" motorcycle manufacturer has to call up a european car manufacturer and they said hey we will give you millions if you make a "performance cruiser" for us cuz we rednecks dont know how
so porsche says okay then they make a high revving liquid cooled DOHC engine and throw it in a bike and say here ya go
and i have had 25+ yrs of motorcycle experience, my father has owned a dealership since i was born and i have ridden many many different bikes harleys japs all kinds
and the 08' Electra Glide Ultra Classic which is their high end touring bike make a laughable 56hp to the wheels, barley over half of the goldwing, vtx18, m-109, vn2000 which is why at cruising speeds and remember this is a touring purpose built bike so its made for interstate and freeway speeds it takes 11sec. to go from 60-80mph roll on and all the jap bikes do it in 5sec. so in other words if you are cruising on the interstate and there is a car in front of you and your exit is up the road you might as well just let off the gas on the harley cuz there is NO POWER to pass and if you are on the jap bike then just pull the throttle back a little and pass with confidence
and i am from dallas tx where i have lived all my life so yeah air cooled bikes really suck down here, i can ride with shorts on jap bike and when i ride a harley i have to have pants or my skin will melt, and i do experience "heat fade" from harleys all the time if i ride them any other month than december or january..... maybe harleys are good to ride in alaska but not texas, oh and about the handling part yes harleys dont handle near a jap bike on the freeway, i have many many miles and states under my belt on a motorcycle and when i ride a honda or any other jap bike im confident but when i ride a harley if i take my feet off the highway bars at freeway speed the bike will swerve left and right because the least little bit throws the whole p.o.s. off balance
sorry about the thread high jack but i had to voice my opinion on the bike and maybe it will help the OP choose as well
So, Harley owners demand a power-cruiser, HD decides to skip a couple years of R'nD and works with Porsche to design a good motor. You're telling me in one breath they don't know how to build a motor (disagree) and then are a critic when they go outside their own business for a specialized motor for something they have never done before. I guess I don't see whats wrong with that.
Again - you compare apples to oranges. Of course you can't stack an Electra-Glide next to a Jap power cruiser like a 109R or a VTX1800 and get the same performance. Anybody buying an Electra-Glide clearly isn't oriented for performance anyways. Sure its a lot slow - its supposed to be, it wasn't designed with the same intent.
Again - you're certainly entitled to your opinions, I just think that you're overstating pretty heavily. I'm not in love with HD, I will likely never own one, by choice. Doesn't mean they are a bad bike, just overpriced and underperforming. Most HD owners arn't worried about either the $$$ or the performance and so they are a viable option to provide a certain image, sound, and feel they find appealing.
Oh, and be careful next time your out on the freeway in shorts riding somebody elses (because you'd never own one, you just have lots of experience with them) HD - I wouldn't want to see you take your foot off the highway bars, lose control, burn your leg, and then not be able to get back up to speed of traffic. I hear that happens to Harley guys all the time...
__________________
1996 Vert' Z-28 - M6, magnaflow muffler-back, K&N FIPK, Hurst Short-throw - 13.6 @ 103mph.
2001 Honda 400ex For sale In this thread here!
I rode a Harley for twelve years. Regardless of what it isn't, it is a Harley.
It isn't as fast, doesn't handle as well, likely will need more repairs, and they're big and heavy. But it's American, and it's cooler standing still than all those Jap bikes put together.
It's a whole 'nother way of looking at the world. I quit wearing my watch when I rode since it wasn't about being fast and timing myself anymore. Ride, watch the scenery, look at the clouds, enjoy the heat of the highway on a sunny day, and enjoy life.
So, Harley owners demand a power-cruiser, HD decides to skip a couple years of R'nD and works with Porsche to design a good motor. You're telling me in one breath they don't know how to build a motor (disagree) and then are a critic when they go outside their own business for a specialized motor for something they have never done before. I guess I don't see whats wrong with that.
I totally agree with you with this,
Thats like getting mad at Chevy for working togther with Lotus for designing the LT5 in the ZR1 Corvette, and having Merc. Marine build them.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and that is what I asked for. Regardless of what anyone says I will own a Harley one day because of the simple reason its a Harley, the name, the culture, the sound, everything that comes with it I will take (yes even the bad). It may one of the last few things in mainstream America where people look at you and give you more respect for having something American over Japanese.
__________________ 98 Z28 6 speed 95 Z28 Convertible 6 Speed FOR SALE 02 Z28 6 Speed, Chrome 18 ZO6 rims, SS hood, Sport apperance package, Manta Stripe. RIP 78 Z28 All options, T tops, 4 Speed, 3.73 86 Iroc Z Sold 87 Trans Am GTA Sold 01 GTP Sold
"Rather be BLOWN than STROKED"
Back to the original question... I ride a shadow 750. At 6 foot 170lbs, pedal extensions are a must. Mine are pushed forward 3-4 inches IIRC. This is NOT a cruiser bike. It is only comfy for at most a half hour. It is lacking in power as well. It runs out of balls at 90 and falls on its face completely at 110. However, 0-70 is good enough to beat most other traffic. Never had a major mechanical issue with it either.
__________________ "Drifiting is like juggling chainsaws. It takes skill, sure, but it's nothing i would really want to learn how to do, and it's only entertaining to watch when people screw up."
It isn't as fast, doesn't handle as well, likely will need more repairs, and they're big and heavy. But it's American, and it's cooler standing still than all those Jap bikes put together
Eh i wouldnt say that anymore. All the jap manufacturers make excellent looking bikes. I have an 82 xs650 to put around on now, and a m50 will be in garage in a few months.
__________________ 2001 Z28 M6-intake, exhuast, and a Hurst
1972 Chevy C10 Short Bed-LSx swap project
2005 Vstar 1100-Cobra pipes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vendetta
I would like to say congratulations to all of the brand new Saints fans on your super bowl victory.
I rode a Harley for twelve years. Regardless of what it isn't, it is a Harley.
It isn't as fast, doesn't handle as well, likely will need more repairs, and they're big and heavy. But it's American, and it's cooler standing still than all those Jap bikes put together.
It's a whole 'nother way of looking at the world. I quit wearing my watch when I rode since it wasn't about being fast and timing myself anymore. Ride, watch the scenery, look at the clouds, enjoy the heat of the highway on a sunny day, and enjoy life.
Happy riding, whatever you wind up getting.
__________________ 98 Camaro SS M6 - #934
!Cags, Magnaflow Catback, SLP lid
