is it possible to compare Harleys without bias?

[eric©]

Came into some extra money this year, and I'm really thinking about buying a brand new bike with it. Currently riding an 82 Suzuki GS450L, and while I really like it, I'd like to have some more power on tap, especially at freeway speeds. It runs from light to light just fine, but I can see this thing really killing me on long freeway road trips.

Being from a "Buy American!" family, it's always my first inclination to check out the Harleys, but I never really paid any close attention to them before as I couldn't afford even a "cheap" used one.

I was looking at the Sportster 1200, and was rather amazed to find figures on it such as only 58HP, and a top speed around 105mph. Now I realize that it's a considerably larger bike than my GS, but my "little" bike will do 105 no problem. I then pulled up specs on the V-Max. 98HP, and a top of 132. Bandit-114HP and 146MPH.

Similar results on the other bikes out there....the Harley ends up being the most expensive to buy and insure, gets the cruddiest gas mileage, and has the lowest performance. They sound cool tho

Granted, I haven't ridden a Harley in years, am I missing something like usuable power? I realize that HP and top speed numbers don't say everything. Knowing that Harleys tend to be lower RPM bikes, is it that they make better power down low, which makes for a better cruising type bike? Is it just the "Harley Lifestyle" that I don't get?

[Kal]

To be fair to the Harleys the Sportster883 pushes out 50bhp with a 110mph top end.

As Zootech often reminds people if you are going to compare bikes its best to compare them within the same class, cruiser/standard/sports et al. Most cruisers seem to put out roughly the same bhp and top end for a given displacement.

The V-Max should probably be compared to the V-Rod and the Bandit against Buell's.

I think the biggest attraction for Harley owners is the same attraction I have to the Royal Enfield Bullet - heritage and history. Harley Davidson also have the biggest aftermarket accessories package which is a big plus if you want a bike thats individual without having to be creative with the metal work.

I dont particularly like modern Harleys but they probably dont deserve the hammering they often get.

viewtopic.php?t=5018

[TechTMW]

Yes, It is possible.

Take all the statistics for the bikes you are looking at, put them side by side, and then make a comparison.

I did just that in this post - viewtopic.php?t=4254&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=10

From an Unbiased view, the Harley came out on top in the comparo (In my opinion, based on the features I liked)

The best way to do it, however, is to go out and ride them and judge based on that!!

[ZooTech]

Being from a "Buy American!" family, it's always my first inclination to check out the Harleys

It doesn't get any more "American" than Honda. They have plants all over the U.S., including their motorcycle plant right here in the town I live in. It's difficult to convince most "Buy American" folks of this, so I understand if you're no different. But the VTX 1300 and 1800 are built right here in Ohio by people in my neighborhood (including my uncle). Not that the Sportster 1200 is a bad bike, but it seems you're hesitating to go with it, so perhaps a comparo and some further research on your end is in order.

I dont particularly like modern Harleys but they probably dont deserve the hammering they often get.

You're absolutely right. The latest batch of Harleys really seem as though they've been properly sorted out...and I think the new fuel injection was a welcome upgrade. I don't question their reliability at this point. My "sore spot" with Harley remains two-fold: A) I think they're priced too high to be competitive, but people are so hell-bent on joining the "club" they're willing to pay the cost of admission, and B) you have no idea how many times I have heard, "Hey, nice bike...too bad it's not a Harley" or something along those lines. I even had one guy (a car dealer) tell me, "Man, that thing looks just like a Harley, don't cha think?", to which I replied, "I sure hope not". To some people, it's not even a motorcycle unless it's wearing a Harley badge. I don't see this mentality among any of the japanese bike owners. We all went shopping for a bike, not a brand. And I'm tired of being snubbed by Harley die-hards and being made to feel inferior because I didn't pay twice as much for my bike as I did.

[DustyJacket]

Yes, it is possible to compare them with not much bias.

However, there will be bias in choosing which aspects to compare and which models to compare. Compare Buells to sportsbikes and H-D to cruisers. (VROD to sport tourers, I guess.) Compare performance with performance, comfort with comfort, etc.

I am a recent H-D owner, but I also have eyes for the new Ulysses. (I bought a month too soon, darn it) I also considered a Concours and a Vulcan Drifter.

[MASHBY]

Harleys have a ton of character and thats why a lot of people buy them.(if we ignore the RUBS.)It all depends what you want to use you bike for if you want something just to have fun with and polish get one.If you want speed and serious power they would be the wrong choice.Harleys dont depreciate as much as a japanese cruisers so finacialy they make better sense.
Just my

[keysman]

I am a recent H-D owner, but I also have eyes for the new Ulysses. (I bought a month too soon, darn it) I also considered a Concours and a Vulcan Drifter.

That new Ulysses is a sweet bike! Not to hijack your thread though. I always build a spreadsheet when I am going to buy someting big. Put the bikes your considering in the columns across the top and list the features down the side and then maybe color the best and the worst in each row. The bike with the most "best" colors wins the features comparison. That's how I do it anyway. Of course though it's not all about what is on paper. It has a lot to do with how the bike rides and how it makes you feel when you throw your leg over.

[eric©]

I don't want it to sound like I'm bagging on Harleys at all, I'm really not. But in talking to people and dealers around here, I get the same impression that I did with people regarding Jeeps (Jeeps are the best off road, period...no discussion, etc). I found that Jeeps are the most expensive 4x4 I ever owned, and my Explorer proved to the be the best off road performer, at the lowest cost, at least for me. A large number of the "friends" I used to have in the Jeep world have treated me like I'm public enemy number one since I bought a Ford, and the best reason I get why Jeeps are better than Fords are because the Ford doesn't have a Jeep emblem on it.

It seems like the Harley crowd is much the same way. A Harley is the only bike to consider, and the rest suck because they aren't Harleys. Just looking at the figures on paper seems to put the Harleys at the back of the pack, much like the Jeeps.

I figure I'll be putting in a good month or two of research into it (possibly more), before I even think about doing test rides. Thus far it looks like the japanese bikes far outshine the Harleys, with the exception of the following. Obviously Harleys have a much greater fan base. The money really isn't an issue for me (obviously I'm not about to dump 50 large into a bike), but I am willing to pony up the dough for the superior bike.

I'm looking at the cruiser/touring/sport touring bike segment. I know there is a lot of variation there, but I'm not dead set on any one type right now. I don't need to carve turns at insanely high speeds, and I'd like to have a reasonably comfy bike for long road trips, yet I don't want a Caddy type ride either. I'd also like something that can cruise at 80mph all day without issue with plenty of power left, just in case.

[ZooTech]

I don't need to carve turns at insanely high speeds, and I'd like to have a reasonably comfy bike for long road trips, yet I don't want a Caddy type ride either. I'd also like something that can cruise at 80mph all day without issue with plenty of power left, just in case.

I know of at least one bike that fits that bill.

[cb360]

I know of at least one bike that fits that bill.

Yep. I know just the bike Zootech is thinking of... no caddy type ride, check. Not taking corners at insanely high speeds, check. Ability to cruise at 80 mph, check. It's a 1974 Honda CB360 with the orange flake paint job! OK - just kidding. I can cruise at 80 though, but I don't think I'd want to for very long and there damn sure wouldn't be plenty of power left