My Harley experiment - a wrap up.

[atadaskew]

Enough time has passed for me to candidly write about my Harley ownership experience.  A 2009 Street Bob Dyna that's life was ended too soon by a teenage driver.

Background.  I originally was one of those guys just hated Harleys, thought they were crap. But of course never actually had any experience with one...

Forward a couple of years.  I started to rent them for a day, about once a year.  Coming off sporty bikes (even my Wing 1800 was sporty in comparison!) the first 30 minutes always was a shock.  Everything felt so different and 'off'.  But after about an hour I loved it.  The visceral feeling is just so great.

Forward to the recent past.  2009 Street Bob.  Just one of those bikes that to me looked so hot I just had to have one.  I got mine in Red Hot Denim, which was the best colour out of the choices of black, silver, matte black.  The one thing I didn't like so much was that the engine cases were silver powder coat.  It looked pretty good with the black cyclinder heads but of course, in 2010, the entire engine was black, which looked better.

So how was it?  Stock, the engine fired up perfectly, fueled perfectly but ran really hot in traffic.  As they all do.. This caused a very slight oil smudge to appear at the cylinder base gaskets.  So I did the usual and bought a V&H Fuel Pak, Stage 1 Screaming Eagle breahter kit (pertty much just a freer flowing filter and much less restriction to the filter, ans slip on pipes with 'quiet' baffles.

It completely cured the heat issue - no more oil smudge, no uncomfortable heat in traffic.  And it kept the perfect fueling with serious bottom end/mid range lunge.  The engine felt unburstable, and outfiteed w/ a shield, better seat etc it would be a great distance tourer.  Only fly in the ointment was the bike was now too loud for my taste.  Bummer.

My bike had the mid position pegs, not the forward ones.  I thought that this would make it more comfortable butt in all honesty for some reason this position would really hurt my hips after about an hour on the road.  Especially if it was cold.  It would seem that it should be comfy, but was not.  Never had issues like this with my sportier bikes.  Then again, a simple seat change, one with more padding, could have helped.  I kept the stock seat as it fitted the look..

Suspension? Sucked.  It came with (IIRC) 12 inch shocks whcih were ok on smooth roads.  Which we don't have in LA.  I changed them to 13.5 units which really raised the rear, but it not only transformed the ride but also the handling.  With the stock shocks the bike really flet like it wanted to drag it's rear going around corners.  With the 13.5 it was completely neutral, and handled great.  Just like one would expect  a motorcycle to handle, if that makes sense.  The front fork was still lacking in damping but I did not care so much as the forks themselves were so stout (49mm!) that it still felt solid and secure on the road.

Brakes? They were ok.  Stopping power was fine given the single front disc.  Knowing that a bike like this needed a lot of rear brake, and felt balanced doing so, really helped.

Build quality was overall very good, but with a couple of weird issues.  While on the whole paint/chrome/firt was perfect, Harley cut corners on a few nickel and dime items.  Namely the nuts holding on the mirrors and the turn signals.  Those rusted in an instant.  I guess I was supposed to buy the chrome versions...

Maintenance was almost non-existant. Just changed the oil once at 5K miles, never had to tighten anything, or adjust the belt drive.  The bike had almost 10K miles on it when it parted from me.  The belt drive was so smooth and clean it really is a shame that other mfgs do not use it on their regular bikes.  BMW started going that way on their F800 bikes, but then dropped it on their F800R..

This bike vibed heavily at idle but really became totally smooth the moment you pull away.  Fantastic, and it also made the vibes at idle seem like theater.  45 mpg didn't hurt it either.

But would I replace this bike with the same?  I have to say no.  Not unless I had a much bigger garage.  I guess my issue with the bike is the social baggage that came with it.  For some that is part of the appeal but for me, a dood who commuted on it in FF helmet, full gear, one piece suit, I felt at odds with the whole image thing.

I guess my tastes are just more aligned with what the Italians have to offer, which is why I keep on looking at Guzzis..

One thing I have to say, is the quality of customer service that I received at Harley dealerships really puts almost all the Japanese shops I have dealt with to shame.  that really helped the experience.

[chornbe]

I can deliver the Breva right to your door.

[atadaskew]

I can deliver the Breva right to your door.

I like the Griso...
(maybe also the Stelvio)

 

I do actually like the Harley XR1200X. W/ the updated suspension for 2011.  

[kidtwist]

I guess my issue with the bike is the social baggage that came with it.  For some that is part of the appeal but for me, a dood who commuted on it in FF helmet, full gear, one piece suit, I felt at odds with the whole image thing.

I rather like Harleys and would like to own one, but I agree about the culture thing. I think if I had one I'd just go ahead and wear my Hi-Viz BMW jacket and full face flip-up helmet and try to break-down that stereotype.

[chornbe]

I will say, I got really sick of the whole "brotherhood" and then the "why you wearin' that gettup?" when I'd pull up somewhere that Harley Guys (r) (c) (tm) were known to gather.

[rajflyboy]

Alta

Nice post about your Harley Davidson Experience.  

My plan is to have both a Jap Sport bike and a HD in the garage at the same time.   That way all my HD riding neighbors won't know what to think about my riding habits.  

My next bike is gonna be a Super Glide.  

[nferr]

I rather like Harleys and would like to own one, but I agree about the culture thing. I think if I had one I'd just go ahead and wear my Hi-Viz BMW jacket and full face flip-up helmet and try to break-down that stereotype.

When I picked up my Rocker I was wearing a Belstaff reddish color winter textile jacket and a silver with metallic stripes sport bike looking HJC AC12 fullface helmet. I got a few funny looks at the Harley dealer. Who cares?

[rajflyboy]

When I picked up my Rocker I was wearing a Belstaff reddish color winter textile jacket and a silver with metallic stripes sport bike looking HJC AC12 fullface helmet. I got a few funny looks at the Harley dealer. Who cares?

I notice the same thing at my Local HD dealer when I pull up on a sport bike with riding gear.

[Prubert]

I really confuse the confused......

Full 'Stich on a XR.

(BTW, there are a LOT of XR1200 out on dealer floors, and the prices are a droppin')

[Rincewind]

Thanks for the write-up.  It's too bad you had to make it too loud and add costly springs  just to get it to work right.  And instant rust anywhere is unacceptable imo.  About the mid-mounts it seems to me that Harley mid-controls are often quite a few inches forward from a more normal streetbike position, excepting the XR1200X.  You are spot on about the engine vibes going away at speed - I find their twins to be very charming engines as long as the exhaust is not too loud.

Yeah I'd favor a Griso next if I were you, over a HD.  Stelvio is just a whole different bike from that - tourer.
But don't overlook those Triumphs.  

[Orson]

Suspension? Sucked.  It came with (IIRC) 12 inch shocks whcih were ok on smooth roads.  Which we don't have in LA.  I changed them to 13.5 units which really raised the rear, but it not only transformed the ride but also the handling.  With the stock shocks the bike really flet like it wanted to drag it's rear going around corners.  With the 13.5 it was completely neutral, and handled great.  Just like one would expect  a motorcycle to handle, if that makes sense.  The front fork was still lacking in damping but I did not care so much as the forks themselves were so stout (49mm!) that it still felt solid and secure on the road.

Brakes? They were ok.

while I get the whole visceral thing, I get the impression that Harley rests on their laurels a bit too much.

it's almost as if they realise they have 60% of the market locked up and so they can get away with crap suspension and brakes  

Thanks for the write up  

[atadaskew]

while I get the whole visceral thing, I get the impression that Harley rests on their laurels a bit too much.

it's almost as if they realise they have 60% of the market locked up and so they can get away with crap suspension and brakes  

Thanks for the write up  

The reason they get away with crap suspension is because the majority of their customers make it worse!!!
The stock shocks on the Street Bob are 12".  The most popular change is to swap them out for 11" shocks!!!
I went with the 13.5".

If the customers do not care about the crappy ride, why should Harley?
Posted on: November 22, 2010, 01:18:32 PM

(BTW, there are a LOT of XR1200 out on dealer floors, and the prices are a droppin')

I have been to 3 shops and have seen zero.  Not that they sold, they are not ordering any...
I really wanted to check out the 2011 model w/ the improved suspension/brakes.

[stevent]

Good write up, ditto on the riding gear. My full face Shoei and Hi Viz 'stitch never failed to get comments from "gee I can sure see you!" to "how much protection do you need?" It's hard to seperate the machine from the bullshit associated with it, unfortunately. Part of the reason I went back to BMW.

Now I find out Triumph is finally realizing they need to re-issue the Trophy model so I may be jumping ship once again. For the last ten years I've just went from BMW to Triumph to Harley Davidson now back to BMW. I can see a new 1400 Trophy in my future...

[evilted]

Meh.   Sprint and Tiger 1050s come woefully under-sprung from the factory, at least if you weigh over 160 lbs or so.

And at least 2 of the Ducatis I've owned had fueling issues with the stock exhaust systems that were remedied by upgrading full systems.

Thanks for the write-up.  It's too bad you had to make it too loud and add costly springs  just to get it to work right.

[Orson]

Meh.   Sprint and Tiger 1050s come woefully under-sprung from the factory, at least if you weigh over 160 lbs or so.

fair point  

perhaps I wuz too quick to judge Harley's suspension when other manufacturers are guilty of the same  

[atadaskew]

fair point  

perhaps I wuz too quick to judge Harley's suspension when other manufacturers are guilty of the same  

Hey, don't back down so quick!

I had to change the spring on my Duc St4s.  Ducati set that bike up perfectly for a 150lb rider.  Butt I do a lot of 2 -up riding so it had to be done.  Or if I weighed 200+ it should be done.
The difference between my Duc and my Dyna is that the shocks on the Dyna are crap for anyone.  They just have too little travel to be any good, ignoring the damping issues.
The touring Harleys (Road King, Eglide etc) actually have very pleasant suspensions for their purpose.  As long as it is not one of the 'slammed' touring bikes like the Street Glide.

Oh yeah, the suspension on the Sportster XR1200X is nice too.

(looking back I had to change suspension components on my KLR650, Suz TLs etc etc)

[nferr]

I really confuse the confused......

Full 'Stich on a XR.

(BTW, there are a LOT of XR1200 out on dealer floors, and the prices are a droppin')

That's what I went in to look at, an 09 leftover XR1200 (they have two). But I had also seen online that they had a used 08 Rocker with 4000 miles and I wandered over to look at it. I decided the XR1200 was kinda similar to my Triumph Scrambler, though with more performance, and I really liked the fit and feel of the Rocker so......

[rauchman]

After reading this thread, I found myself sitting on a Street Glide at the HD dealership down the way from where I work, yesterday at lunch time.  I dig it!!!

They had a used Super Glyde done up w/, I believe it was the HD touring seat, that I sat on.  That seat was REALLY nice!!!  I can see myself on an HD at some point.  They do make some really nice bikes.  Ideally, I'd keep my SV1KS and get an HD.

[evilted]

My only point was only that I suspect manufacturers like H-D & Ducati know their target markets pretty well.  

In the case of Ducati, they're likely betting that they can sell the majority of owners a full system to resolve fueling issues resulting from having to meet emissions regs with the stock systems.  And H-D is probably also very much aware that the majority of their clientele, with the exception of maybe XR1200 and touring model owners, probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about the suspension and are more likely to buy a thousand dollars with of chrome bits and/or a Stage 1 kit for their bikes before they ever get around to checking the sag.  

I still don't understand how some modern Triumphs (generalizing from my personal experience & anecdotal comments about other Sprints & Tigers) can be so poorly & damped sprung from the factory, particularly given the sport pretense.  These same bikes are incredibly well sorted otherwise.  

Then again, my base 1098 (MY2007) had some seriously mismatched springs from the factory -- too hard up front, and too soft in the rear.  I don't think we were ever able to even figure out the claimed rate on the shock spring as it had no markings.   Again, for a bike with sporting pretense, it seems like I ought not have had to buy new springs to make it work the way the advertising literature suggested it should.

But I'm all for manufacturers doing a better job in giving us the bikes we want at point of sale, and without a need to make investments over and above the standard purchase price!

Hey, don't back down so quick!

I had to change the spring on my Duc St4s.  Ducati set that bike up perfectly for a 150lb rider.  Butt I do a lot of 2 -up riding so it had to be done.  Or if I weighed 200+ it should be done.
The difference between my Duc and my Dyna is that the shocks on the Dyna are crap for anyone.  They just have too little travel to be any good, ignoring the damping issues.
The touring Harleys (Road King, Eglide etc) actually have very pleasant suspensions for their purpose.  As long as it is not one of the 'slammed' touring bikes like the Street Glide.

Oh yeah, the suspension on the Sportster XR1200X is nice too.

(looking back I had to change suspension components on my KLR650, Suz TLs etc etc)

[Geoff]

Nice summary.

Your comment about "social baggage" made me laugh, however.  You see, I've been riding a Harley for over 25 years. I have never found any association between the marque and a social climate.  Guess it's because I just don't give a damn what others think.  

The riding experience with any marque is what you make it.