Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Perhaps I could be accused of being negative towards the products of the Harley-Davidson company, and the owners of those products. To balance it out, thought I'd post what I saw (and heard) yesterday.....

Ironically it was the smallest Harley, the 883 Sportster. IMO the 883's don't have as much visual appeal as their larger cousins. This bike was a bright orange-red 883R, but what got my attention was the sound. It was running some kind of 2-into-1 system by Vance & Hines (I asked the rider at a stoplight) What a sound! Crisp, snorty, and wicked, lots of bass, and not too too loud. I was in heaven, coulda listened to that bike all day. I've rarely heard a more satisfying sounding bike. Would have loved to take a spin on that bad boy.

Jonathan

I don't understand what everyone's problem is with Harley Davidson. Their bikes are very reliable, the parts are cheap and there is a reason why all of the current cruisers are copying what Harley did 50 years ago (sort of a joke here)

Many people say that they know someone with a crappy unreliable Harley... what they fail to mention is that Harley is probably 20 years old with 80,000 miles on it!

Some people don't know that Harley designs and engineers the engines for that one of a kind sound, they mentally challenged the spark timing to almost to the point of making it missfire, to most experienced bikers you can tell its a Harley just by the sound, the sound is an engine thats outta tune.

Yeah there's nothing like a good sounding bike. A while ago a guy on what looked like an FZ1 was riding alongside me, and his sound was great. It was so low and thumpy, most of the sportbikes I hear sound like lawnmowers .

jstark47 wrote:Perhaps I could be accused of being negative towards the products of the Harley-Davidson company, and the owners of those products.

On the contrary... you have been an absolute saint compared to some of the low intellect jackasses on this forum that mouth off about the brand.

Actually traditionally harley was a great deal of work and rather unreliable.

However since the introduction of the evolution engine the reliability factor and performance of the harley is comprable to most of the japanese bikes. While I have never owned a harley I know two or three harley riders. All three have owned more than one harley and from their own expierence pretty much agree that until about 92 most of the problems associated with harley were accurate. All three did infact purchase newer harley post 92 and have not had one of the traditional problems associated with the harley brand name.

The new line of harley bikes are very sound bikes.

Thats my two cents.

I think more often than not, the reason Harley bikes would be unreliable, is because of people unknowingly modding the bike (aftermarket pipes, etc.) improperly, and causing problems. Has anyone heard of these problems on completely stock bikes?

Actually the only Evo engines Harley is putting out today are the Sportsters .
Btw , Harley has actually patented that Po-ta-to _ Po-ta-to sound ...
Regards, Wizzard

My neighbours across the street have his and hers harleys...quite the thing to wake up too when they go to work at 8AM.....

Oh, and looking across today, I see he has a chopper frame in the back of his truck.... I may have to go be nosey soon and see...

there is a guy in town here who has a sportser that has been turned into a cafe racer.

I always thought the 883R or 1200R would make a good cafe racer