Harley prices

[SGibson]

Knife & fork rods?,exposed pushrods behind tin covers?,way undersquare bore&stroke? lifters in bolted on bores? there's still more and that's just the engine which of course is separate from the transmission as it should be. gotta love them H-D's, if you don't like the motor company's price then build your own, you can do that w/ a hog, plus solid resale that doesn't waiver even when scrap is down or the tank is empty.

 

[DKayser]

Yep, still got some !

Wiley still has some bikes, new & used, He will NOT go under as he has Big Dogs & Polaris Victory also. Good guy, honest, & in it for the long haul. I believe the name is American Destiny Motorcycles. DK.

 

[gitchesum]

I've had my Harley in the Cycle Trader for 2 weeks now and haven't gotten the first call. Price isn't out of line for what it is, just no interest in the old AMF Harleys.

 

[Wayno]

Originally posted by JConley

( I think Harley charges about $600. 00 for this dont they?) I havent spent that much on my wing to include GAS in the last 14K miles!!! Still think that Harley resale value is saving you money??John

Well it ain't gonna cost me $600. 00 cause I work on my own motorcycles , all three of them .

 

[Wayno]

Originally posted by CFast

Anything more than $5,000 bucks for 2 wheels is freakin insane. It has a seat, and engine, two tires and some chrome and leather. You want 20,000 bucks?! Harley guys, are you all nuts? Guess I just don't get it. Is it the sound it makes? The chrome? Or is it just the name? It only has 2 wheels!

Well then you ought to go buy you a new Kawasaki 2000 , the local dealer here wants only $15,500. 00 for one and thats with nothing hanging off of it .

 

[Briar Hopper]

From a mechanic's viewpoint, the American V-Twin bikes are highly desireable, due to the parts interchangeability, and versatility. No other type of bike has the huge amount of aftermarket customizing choices. It's kind of like another favorite choice of mechanics and custom builders, the Chevrolet/GM small-block V-8.

The rice rockets serve their purpose, but they have no soul. A Harley does.

I suspect a lot of the people who have to pay others to work on their vehicles are also the type to turn up their nose at Harleys. That's good , for several reasons. More to go around for those of us who appreciate them.

It's the old phrase, "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand". I know people who actually don't understand the point behind getting a jeep and going rock-crawling, or getting a race car.

Deep down, the truly hardcore or old school types, the mechanically inclined, the gearheads, they understand the need.

 

[Hohn]

Originally posted by JSmith

In our local paper Harley owners want to sell their bikes. Adds like, $15,000 in extras, sell for $23,000. Give me a break. $20,000 for a Harley, $15,000 in extras, sell for $23,000:-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf





Thats what I call holding its value

$15K in extras?? Extra what-- motorcycles?

 

[Hohn]

Originally posted by Briar Hopper

From a mechanic's viewpoint, the American V-Twin bikes are highly desireable, due to the parts interchangeability, and versatility. No other type of bike has the huge amount of aftermarket customizing choices. It's kind of like another favorite choice of mechanics and custom builders, the Chevrolet/GM small-block V-8.

The rice rockets serve their purpose, but they have no soul. A Harley does.

I suspect a lot of the people who have to pay others to work on their vehicles are also the type to turn up their nose at Harleys. That's good , for several reasons. More to go around for those of us who appreciate them.

It's the old phrase, "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand". I know people who actually don't understand the point behind getting a jeep and going rock-crawling, or getting a race car.

Deep down, the truly hardcore or old school types, the mechanically inclined, the gearheads, they understand the need.

As someone who does all his own work (and LIKES IT), I have to disagree with your generalization. After all, "all generalizations are false", right?



I can see the merit of simple design, and indeed it's one of the things that makes the Cummins a pretty good design.



Your parallel to the SBC is pretty close. The pushrod V-8 isn't cutting edge tech, but it's proven and it works. Some people want this in a bike also.



But even the venerable SBC has been updated. THe current generation of V-8s are amazingly refined.



But the truth is that there's a design limitation, and technology has moved on.



I wish I knew what it was about America that makes us slow to embrace new technology. Exhibit A: NASCAR.



NASCAR is one of those things that should be considered like horse racing and the America's cup: a race based on an outdated technology that we have fallen in love with.



But what makes NASCAR so pointless is that they put so many rules on those cars that there's NO ingenuity whatsoever. I thought the point of racing was to be faster than the other guy?



The truth is, that America has already built sophisticated engines. How about 400hp/liter (that would be roughly 2400hp in a CTD)- NATURALLY ASPIRATED? It was achieved by a two-stroke engine built in Texas.



Oddly enough, it didn't use pushrods.



The Japanese are making literbikes that produce 150 hp! This is more power than the typical 2. 0L engine in a small car, which has TWICE the displacement!!



Why aren't turbos more popular? Why no diesel-electric hybrid cars getting 80mpg? Why only compression ratios in the 9's instead of the 13s-- the technology has been proven and the mpg was much improved!



I digress. The point is that Harleys have only become more refined (and even then, very slowly) because SOME of their customers demanded it.



There are a large population of Harley riders that would pay $20K for a new KnuckleHead, even though the tech is sorely outdated.



With customers like Harley has (who will often buy one no matter how bad one is or how much better something else is), what incentive does the company have to compete??



Why should Ford build a better 6. 0 Powerstroke when thousands upon thousands line up to buy one in spite of the reputation?



As a Capitalist, I want the better guy to win. It really irritates me when I think of the possibility of some guy building a fantastic bike with an ingenious engine and trans, superb handling and rise, and fit & finish worthy of a Rolex, offering it at a great price, and STILL not being able to compete with H-D JUST BECAUSE OF A FRICKING NAME.



Ingenuity should be rewarded. Those who are content to rest on their laurels should be challenged thusly. If it weren't for the American car companies of the 1970's, the Japanese wouldn't have gained such a foothold. Indeed, the "Big three" are now GM, Ford, and TOYOTA! American car makers believed they were kings of the world, pumping out gas-guzzling junk and expecting the public to love it.



I would definitely prefer that the best cars in the world were made in America, and priced reasonably. After all, "made in America" used to mean that the quality was the highest available.



It doesn't always mean that anymore-- too bad.



Justin

 

[SGibson]

I thought briar hoppers comment was right on,H-D's are infinitly rebuildable &modifyable and with the exception of a few components can be done w/common tools by a person w/avg. skills. The engines used in nascar are pretty far removed from 327's & 318's if nascar was was left unbrideled you'd have 300 mph cars by now, who'd make tires? who'd drive 'em?cars crashing,flying over the grandstands and landing in the parking lot? this goes back to the hemi powered wing cars, if the playing field is leveled,then ingenuity comes into play to get an advantage and guys like Yunick, Glidden, Garlits,and W. Johnson are born. And everyone benefits. The only 2-stroke Iv'e ever seen that was durable enough for automotive use had pushrods and is far from cutting edge. Yesterday (4th of July) I saw a couple of pans, a bunch of shovels and alot of cars from the 60's and 70's driving around alot of them unrestored, but not one triple,DOHC450,waterbuffalo,or RD, or any old jap cars, wouldn't longevitey=quality? If your down on American quality or technology look at pratt&whitney or Lockheed or Boeing products, now thats cutting edge and nobodys even close. not to be longwinded or pick a fight, just my opinion, and I don't know why anyone would buy a powerstroke.

 

[JConley]

From what I have seen, most Harleys are rebuilt and modified because they NEED it!

 

[Wayno]

Originally posted by SGibson

and I don't know why anyone would buy a powerstroke.

You ought to ask the Wing owner , it will probably have something to do with real four doors or I just want to own a lead sled ( AKA Tank ) .

 

[Briar Hopper]

The technology in the Harleys is continuously updated. The latest ones, 2004, have twin cams and fuel injection, allowing for a very sweet torque band...

The aftermarket engine builders like S & S, and Rev-Tech, to name just two, are turning out Harley engines with bigger displacement, more horsepower, and no loss in reliability, adding to the fun factor. It is simply a design that lends itself well to hotrodding, and a wide variety of uses. If it was an outdated design, I doubt the metric boys in the Far East would be copying it.

The older ones had their problems, true, especially with AMF failing to invest $$$ in research and development.

The Dodge Cummins trucks have their problems too, some quite costly. But many of us think it's worth the extra cost and trouble, for the enjoyment we get out of these trucks. Harley owners feel the same way, whether or not they have trouble with their bikes.

As for Gold Wings, the stories about having to carry a spare generator at all times are legendary. No machine is trouble free.

Anyway, arguments about favorite brands are just that, arguments. Everyone is going to believe what they want to believe, and that is fine. Freedom of choice, it's still a great country.

 

[RustyJC]

I've ridden Hondas since the 60's - my first was a 305cc Super Hawk. Now I'm looking for a nice Fat Boy. Wonder what the message is in that?? Senility, perhaps? :{



Rusty

 

[Hohn]

OK, I relent. Harley rules! or not. .



To each his own. I love freedom. I'm glad people are free to buy Harleys. It keeps demand for the more sensible bikes lower



jl

 

[Boomer II]

Now who wants a sensible bike?

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by Boomer II

Now who wants a sensible bike?

That statement probably gets to the root of this whole issue. There are very few people who purchase motorcycles for basic transportation or as a tool that's part of their job (e. g. , a motorcycle policeman). For the rest of us, a motorcycle is a discretionary, emotion-based purchase. If it makes us feel good, we buy it. Harley knows that and markets the "total Harley experience" better than any other manufacturer. I don't think that (with the possible exception of the V-Rod) Harley even tries to match technical specifications or cold, hard efficiency with the Japanese manufacturers - they know that there's far more to a motorcycle purchasing decision than that.



As I said, I've ridden Hondas for the past 40 years. Now, I'm ready to have a Harley before I die.



Rusty