| Author |
Message |
    
Crusty
| | Posted on Monday, May 23, 2011 - 08:15 pm: | 
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Hey, EZ; my first Harley was a '78 FXE. I bought it used in 1981 with 8,000 miles on it. Over the next 4 years, I put 72,000 miles on it. In September of '85, I traded it in on a '86 XLH 1100 Liberty Edition. I put almost 30,000 miles on it before I traded it in toward the FLHS. The FLHS was not a fluke. Harleys are not the pieces of shit some folks say they are. In fact, none of the Japanese bikes I owned were as trouble free as my Harleys. I really don't expect you to believe that. However, I have kept maintenance logs on all my bikes for a long time, and I have written records to back up my claims.
But don't let facts get in the way of your opinion. |
Strokizator
| | Posted on Monday, May 23, 2011 - 08:24 pm: |
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I sold my '95 Road King to a guy here at work and @ 80,000+ miles it's never been apart.
My brother has a '94 Dyna with a turbo charger that eventually leaked at the base gaskets after 10 years.
I did test ride a Vision when it came out in 2007. Great bike except the transmission clunked. The other guys on the test made the same comments. You'd think they'd have fixed that my now.
I want to like Victory but the engine looks overly tall which ruins the aesthetics for me. |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Monday, May 23, 2011 - 11:42 pm: |
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That's just it, I believe you, other guys have had amazing luck with theirs as well, and my old pastor's bike was a rolling miracle! The big 'however' has always been a large number with no luck on their bikes, except through repairs - lol - so odds have to be that folks with positives exist as well - never said they where a POS - just that I wouldn't own one - too many issues for me - and the wrong style of bike to boot for me - lol
EZ |
Hybridmomentspass
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - 07:32 am: |
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Ever considered that maybe it wasnt luck, but just a well build product and that the 'bad' stories you heard were the flukes?
Style is purely opinion, and I agree, some of them I am not into because of the looks.
But, time and time again they are one of the top builders of a quality piece of machinery.
Your comments about things like paper gaskets, that may be true, Im not going to argue that, I dont the answer. But so what? I mean, think of how many bikes are out there with paper gaskets that have no issue. If it aint broke, dont fix it, right? |
Pkforbes87
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - 10:45 am: |
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I'm far from an expert but in my eyes, HD's stone age engine technology is what blesses them with exceptional reliability, and curses them with sub-par performance numbers.
It doesn't get much simpler than air/oil cooled, ohv v-twins. As much as I like the idea of the more powerful ohc victory engine, i'm not sure the increased maintenance would be worth the extra performance. Not on a bike built for touring anyway. |
Guell
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - 10:46 am: |
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I know a bunch of Harley riders that don't have any issues with their bikes, and really rack up the miles on them. I've always found fit and finish to be great on them, certainly better than my m2. If I was in the market for a cruiser it would def be a Harley |
Jb2
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - 10:58 am: |
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Pkforbes87 - There is no extra maintenance on the Victory over the HD. The valve train does not require adjustments. Not sure what you've been told but it's basically trouble free.
Oil changes are a breeze. No problems with air pockets in the oil tank like the dry sump on HD's. The drain plug and the filter are in the same location. You can pull both and drop the oil in the same pan.
Just sayin'. |
Daves
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - 11:58 am: |
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Overall, my Harleys have treated me pretty good since 1984.
1984 FXWG stolen never found
1982 FXWG, still own
1962 Pan, still own
1999 FLHT, just got it back! |
Xbniner
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - 03:41 pm: |
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It doesn't get much simpler than air/oil cooled, ohv v-twins. As much as I like the idea of the more powerful ohc victory engine, i'm not sure the increased maintenance would be worth the extra performance. Not on a bike built for touring anyway.
Victory has a 5 year warranty and anybody i've ever talked to said that even the old vics had almost no maintenance issues. A local harley dealer picked up the first victory franchise in the area and he always said he was surprised (and disappointed) how little business their service department gets.
I won't argue that harley makes a good motor, and I still miss the character and low-maintenance of my firebolt. But, as an engineer, the things that drive me nuts aren't just the archaic engine. For example the harleys have an exhaust mount welded under the seat. This is on a bike with more engine vibration than a cheap motel bed but they have a solid mounted tab with no lateral bracing holding the exhaust? Crazy. My uncle lost 3 of them before we built him a rubber mount.
(Disclaimer- my uncle is like EZblast in that he rides a ton of miles. I think those 3 failures were over approx 40-50k miles.) |
Buelldawg
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2011 - 01:38 pm: |
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I might as well get in on this. Just over a year ago, I sold a 2009 Electraglide Standard and replaced it with a 2010 Victory Cross Country. I loved the Harley, but could not keep it after the Motor co. dropped the hammer on Buell. What I found was that the Victory has alot more power, is better balanced, handles better, and is more comfortable. I put wind deflectors on the forks to take away the "updraft". I'm not bashing HD, just stating my opinion. Like others have said, ride both and see which one grabs you. Ride safe. |
Pkforbes87
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2011 - 01:46 pm: |
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I didn't realize the valvetrain was maintenance free on the Vic. Just assumed that since it's OHC, adjustments were necessary every so often.
Thanks again for all the input. Like I said, not ready to buy right now. Just researching in advance of a future purchase. I did get one email offer for a fly-n-ride. So tempting, if only I had a money tree. |
Thesmaz
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2011 - 09:46 am: |
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I got to ride a CVO Ultra Glide a couple of days ago and was really surprised at how it well it handled. Haven't ridden the Vic CC yet but it is a good looking bike. |
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