sporster and HD reliability

[Rampant]

Does anyone here know of actual studies regarding motorcycle reliability?  I am thinking about a harley but they don't have a great reputation.  At the same time, I know that stems from manufacturing 30 years ago, and may have no relation to modern products.

[chornbe]

Does anyone here know of actual studies regarding motorcycle reliability?  I am thinking about a harley but they don't have a great reputation.  At the same time, I know that stems from manufacturing 30 years ago, and may have no relation to modern products.

I can only speak to the ~40,000 miles I put on my two Harleys ('Glide, Sportster).

I've had zero issues with the Sportster. I mean, ZERO.

I've had one issue with the 'Glide and that was 100% due to the monkey who put the bike back together again after I conveniently crashed it; he forgot to seat a clip on the fuel pickup inside the tank and it came off. The fix took 5 minutes to put back on and it was fine ever since.

I sold the 'Glide for other reasons. The Sportster has continued to be my "go to" bike for everything from commuting to 2500-mile weekend trips to squid-hunting to riding some of the greatest twisties in the SouthEast US.

Pick a place you can get to by bike... any place. Yes, I'd hop on it and ride it there RIGHT NOW if wanted or had to. No fears.

I'll be happy to address any specific questions.

Both of my Harleys were '08 models. My brother's '09 'Glide with the new frame, wheels, tires, etc., has been likewise, completely bullet proof and very reliable and he's already got more miles on his than I put on mine in the 2 1/2 years I owned it. He's had his only a scant longer than a year. Of course, I was splitting my miles between 2 & 3 bikes, but he rides is EVERYWHERE.

[chornbe]

Addendum...

I would not say that highly-modified Harley powered bikes would (or should) exhibit the same sort of reliability. Almost without fail, every engine failure in a Harley I've heard of in the last 10 years has been on modified Big Twin bikes. Never on stock machines, and always on the "fast" modded bikes.

FWIW.

[Rampant]

All I am interested in is a 1200 sportster, mainly the R model if I can find it (2007 or 2008, with FI).  

I rode one and found it very vibey, but talking to some people it may have had a loose engine mount (It got MORE vibey with rpm, not less, as suggested).

Only performance mods I would do is likely a less restrictive airbox, FI, and slip-ons.  I wouldn't mess with the engine.

[atadaskew]

All I am interested in is a 1200 sportster, mainly the R model if I can find it (2007 or 2008, with FI).  

I rode one and found it very vibey, but talking to some people it may have had a loose engine mount (It got MORE vibey with rpm, not less, as suggested).

Go to a dealer and test ride another one.  They'll let you.  It'll be the same basic thing as the 2007 or 2008 models.  It does sound like the one you rode had a messed up engine mount.
A rental Dyna that I had vibed like a mofo as engine speeds increased.  The one I own is very smooth.  Care and maintenance - as with all vehicles - matters.

[1KPerDay]

There are quite a few H-Ds on the Iron-Butt records list. They make very high-quality bikes lately. The engines are very overbuilt and understressed.

[OMJunk]

I have to say I have never owned an HD, but I have been interested in their legendary reliability, or lack of. Less than a year ago, I heard that a southern Ca police department totaled their bike costs. They had HD models and some Honda ST1300's. Their results were the HD's averaged 30 cents per mile to keep on the road, while the Hondas were 8 cents per mile. I know several people that have had good luck with Harleys, but also 3 that had major problems before 12,000 miles. Do you feel lucky?

[1KPerDay]

Well I guess that settles it.

[atadaskew]

I have to say I have never owned an HD..

Note to self....

[Geoff]

The Sportster is very reliable. In fact, an Iron Butt Rally rider on a Sportster rode over 11 thousand miles in 11 days.  Check out his story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwq4hwKd5XI

[Rampant]

Is there any way to reduce the intensity of the vibration.  I like a little shake but even with rubbermounts... it is too much

[bomber]

I ran the bejeebus outa a tuber Buell for 50K miles -- basically a Sporty engine with cams and better heads -- when I stripped it down, the bottom end was fine, and the cylinders showed only light scuffing. I believe that damage was due to missed shifts and much engine braking at track days.

Agreed that if the Sporty you rode got more vibey with added RPMs, it was broken -- they get pretty damn smooth at anything above a walk . . . . .

If a Sporty (not broken)  vibrates too much for you, you should look elsewhere for a bike -- the Iron Tower put a lot of really good engineering into the present setup, and disappeared pretty much all the vibes that most folks wanted. You MIGHT be able to dial out the rest, but it's take a lot of trial and error on the durometer of the mounts and like that . . . . . . . for certain, you'd spend a lots of time and money, and may not wind up with what you'd deem an improvement.

[atadaskew]

Is there any way to reduce the intensity of the vibration.  I like a little shake but even with rubbermounts... it is too much

Test ride another one.  It could be the bike you were on.

[Rampant]

I rode 2.  At higher rpms, it was great. But that meant being in 3rd gear at 70.  Shifting to lower rpms made it go from mild vibration to slow shake, which was jarring

[mnb]

Does anyone here know of actual studies regarding motorcycle reliability?  I am thinking about a harley but they don't have a great reputation.  At the same time, I know that stems from manufacturing 30 years ago, and may have no relation to modern products.

AMF era Harleys (1970s) may not have a good reputation, but modern Harleys are very reliable.

I've put 60k on my '07 Road King.  It doesn't leak oil.  It's never stranded me.  Of all the bikes I've owned, it's had the least problems, even less than my very reliable beemers (but not by much).

I find the bike runs better at lower rpms.  That's what it's designed to do, cross the flatlands of middle america at low rpms to reduce stress on the engine.  It flops around a bit like a paint shaker at stop signs (ok, not THAT much), but as soon as I add about 500pm when pulling away it smooths right out.  But the touring models have rubber mounts to help reduce vibes, too.  

[Papa Lazarou]

Does this mean that Harley will now rival the "gosh isn't lovely" factor of Guzzis?

Mind you, I saw a 70's HD250 (the Italian era) in the Smoke today-40 years old and doing great.

[atadaskew]

I rode 2.  At higher rpms, it was great. But that meant being in 3rd gear at 70.  Shifting to lower rpms made it go from mild vibration to slow shake, which was jarring

Another thing to do is rent one.  That's what I did before I bought mine.  Glad I did because for the first 15 minutes it felt really weird and I did not like it.  After a couple of hours I did not want to return it...
I bought mine own a couple of weeks later.

It's really easy renting them (eaglerider.com) and much better to pay $100-$150 than thousands later and possibly suffer buyer's remorse.

[Rampant]

A lot more dealers need to offer renting...  people talk about getting new riders.  Its hard, when everybody has to buy rideless.  That might be why harley has such good sales

[reppans]

I bought my first HD in 35 years of riding, the XR1200. It has also been the worst in initial quality, that I've ever experienced over the same time period. Within the first 5k/5mo, it had been in the shop for over a month with about 5 different warranty issues.  Almost 9k now and it's been fine for the last 4k, so I hope I've worked all the bugs out now.  I do have to admit it has been one of the most fun bikes to ride though.

I'm sure most are fine.... But "do you feel luckly."  

[chornbe]

I bought my first HD in 35 years of riding, the XR1200. It has also been the worst in initial quality, that I've ever experienced over the same time period. Within the first 5k/5mo, it had been in the shop for over a month with about 5 different warranty issues.  Almost 9k now and it's been fine for the last 4k, so I hope I've worked all the bugs out now.  I do have to admit it has been one of the most fun bikes to ride though.

I'm sure most are fine.... But "do you feel luckly."  

Can you list those out?

I'm curious which are xr-specific stuff vs, general stuff. Thanks.