Mmm... no. Unlike the Japanese and British manufacturers, Harley deems its customers to be of infinestimal value (ie: the longer they live the more bikes they'll buy) and designs their bikes in such a way so as the average owner will not be crushed by said motorcycle falling over during routine maintenance tasks.ceemes wrote:Dat's only coz they considered the low IQ of your average Harley rider and decided to keep it as simple as possible. They didn't want to confuse them any more then they already are or overtax their thought/judgement process.
Just sayin'.
W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Engineers)
- Gummiente
- Site Supporter - Platinum
- Posts: 3485
- Joined: Wed May 11, 2005 11:34 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 38
- My Motorcycle: 03 Super Glide
- Location: Kingston, ON
Re: W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Enginee


It isn't WHAT you ride,
It's THAT you ride
- HYPERR
- Legendary 3000
- Posts: 3159
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:13 am
- Sex: Male
- My Motorcycle: Year/Make/Model
- Location: CT, USA
Re: W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Enginee
That and the ultra high oil consumption due to blowby and the leakage pretty much mandated a system that would ensure that the owner would be able to easily check the oil level on a frequent basis.ceemes wrote:Dat's only coz they considered the low IQ of your average Harley rider and decided to keep it as simple as possible. They didn't want to confuse them any more then they already are or overtax their thought/judgement process.Gummiente wrote:My Harley has an oil dipstick on a screw-in plug, conveniently located on the right hand side of the motor. Oil level is quickly and easily checked by unscrewing the plug and looking at the marks on the dipstick. With the bike on its sidestand.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.

2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS
- jstark47
- Site Supporter - Silver
- Posts: 3538
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:58 pm
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 16
- My Motorcycle: '12 Tiger 800, '03 Trophy 1200
- Location: Lumberton, NJ
Re: W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Enginee
HYPERR wrote:Just sayin'.ceemes wrote:Just sayin'.Gummiente wrote:Just sayin'.
I gotta say, it's quarter to 7 on a Friday night, I'm still stuck here at work......... but you guys are making me laugh!!!!

2003 Triumph Trophy 1200
2009 BMW F650GS (wife's)
2012 Triumph Tiger 800
2018 Yamaha XT250 (wife's)
2013 Kawasaki KLX250S
2009 BMW F650GS (wife's)
2012 Triumph Tiger 800
2018 Yamaha XT250 (wife's)
2013 Kawasaki KLX250S
- Gummiente
- Site Supporter - Platinum
- Posts: 3485
- Joined: Wed May 11, 2005 11:34 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 38
- My Motorcycle: 03 Super Glide
- Location: Kingston, ON
Re: W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Enginee
As opposed to the japanese/Brit bikes that have a token sight glass to check oil level because the average owner never puts enough miles on it to need an oil top-up, much less an oil change.HYPERR wrote:That and the ultra high oil consumption due to blowby and the leakage pretty much mandated a system that would ensure that the owner would be able to easily check the oil level on a frequent basis.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.



It isn't WHAT you ride,
It's THAT you ride
- Gummiente
- Site Supporter - Platinum
- Posts: 3485
- Joined: Wed May 11, 2005 11:34 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 38
- My Motorcycle: 03 Super Glide
- Location: Kingston, ON
Re: W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Enginee
Just wait til Marvin and his scooter roll in here.... Just sayin'.jstark47 wrote:I gotta say, it's quarter to 7 on a Friday night, I'm still stuck here at work......... but you guys are making me laugh!!!!



It isn't WHAT you ride,
It's THAT you ride
- HYPERR
- Legendary 3000
- Posts: 3159
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:13 am
- Sex: Male
- My Motorcycle: Year/Make/Model
- Location: CT, USA
Re: W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Enginee
You sure it's not the Ducatis that you are describing?Gummiente wrote:As opposed to the japanese/Brit bikes that have a token sight glass to check oil level because the average owner never puts enough miles on it to need an oil top-up, much less an oil change.HYPERR wrote:That and the ultra high oil consumption due to blowby and the leakage pretty much mandated a system that would ensure that the owner would be able to easily check the oil level on a frequent basis.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.

2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS
- Gummiente
- Site Supporter - Platinum
- Posts: 3485
- Joined: Wed May 11, 2005 11:34 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 38
- My Motorcycle: 03 Super Glide
- Location: Kingston, ON
Re: W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Enginee
No, Ducatis have absolutely no maintenance tasks that can be entrusted to the owner. That's why they have mechanics.HYPERR wrote:You sure it's not the Ducatis that you are describing?
EDIT: Just sayin'.



It isn't WHAT you ride,
It's THAT you ride
- ceemes
- Legendary 2000
- Posts: 2153
- Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:35 pm
- Real Name: a big secret
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 26
- My Motorcycle: 1998 Triumph Trophy
- Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada, Sol 3, the Milky Way Galaxy, the Known Universe.
Re: W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Enginee
What is it they say Harley's and Hound Dogs have in common? Oh right, both prefer to ride in the back of a pick-up truck then move under their own power.Gummiente wrote:As opposed to the japanese/Brit bikes that have a token sight glass to check oil level because the average owner never puts enough miles on it to need an oil top-up, much less an oil change.HYPERR wrote:That and the ultra high oil consumption due to blowby and the leakage pretty much mandated a system that would ensure that the owner would be able to easily check the oil level on a frequent basis.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.

Always ask why.


- flw
- Site Supporter - Silver
- Posts: 899
- Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:16 pm
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 8
- My Motorcycle: '98 Honda Goldwing GL1500se
- Location: Rockford, Illinois U.S.
Re: W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Enginee
My Goldwing has a dipstick and center stand which takes some practice at 800 lbs.
What is stupid is you have to remove two pieces of plastic panels to get to the dipstick. You win some and you loose some.
What is stupid is you have to remove two pieces of plastic panels to get to the dipstick. You win some and you loose some.
Goldwing 1500se '98
VN500 LTD '07 Sold
VN500 LTD '07 Sold
- Gummiente
- Site Supporter - Platinum
- Posts: 3485
- Joined: Wed May 11, 2005 11:34 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 38
- My Motorcycle: 03 Super Glide
- Location: Kingston, ON
Re: W.T.F. Were They Thinking? (Motorcycle Designers/Enginee
Oh, please... you can do better than that.ceemes wrote:What is it they say Harley's and Hound Dogs have in common? Oh right, both prefer to ride in the back of a pick-up truck then move under their own power.
Just sayin'.



It isn't WHAT you ride,
It's THAT you ride