Can someone tell me what makes a Harley Davidson a good bike?

really its not any better than any other bike…. i have a Harley…. and ive rode about one of most kinds… the bike you get or want all depend on you.. and what or where you plan to ride…. sports bikes think racing…. cruisers big bikes for long trips.. most are like a Cadillac… something to get you a round town any kind would do….i got mind because i like they way they sound.. and i know if i got a sports bike… id have to try it out…..so it depends on the person and yes they are top notch is why they been in business so long…… i have over 70,000 on my bike and still kicking the miles off
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They are easily customized, they have been around for over 100 years, the quality that goes into every machine is second to none, Recall statistics are lower than most other makers. These are just a few of the reasons that Harley is still the world leader in Motorcycle sales
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Made in America by Americans and top notch quality control of the best materials.
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They are just nice ride not cookie cutter bikes like ninja 250's. Once you ride one you would understand. Like the difference between a crap caddy and a Bentley
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Don't they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? It seems most modern cruisers owe a debt to Harley-Davidson. Aren't most of them going for the classic HD archetype? Harley and cruiser are as synonymous as Kleenex and facial tissue.

I've never had a Harley – I'm riding a Honda Shadow right now. I like my Honda and it has been a great bike for me. Still, I'd like to get a Harley some day. When I see my friend's Harleys or I visit the HD store and look at the bikes I notice an attention to detail that I don't really see on my Honda. Also, I see the Harleys don't seem to have any plastic parts like my Honda (for example, turn signal housings, air intake covers, etc.). Some people like the plastic (no rust, lighter weight), however, to me it seems a little cheap.

It's a cliche to bash Harleys these days. Lot's of jokes about oil leaks, time in the shop, etc.. Let it go already. I think HD are making a great product. As far as cruisers go, there isn't a better bike in my opinion. When you're at the top, there will always be nay-sayers trying to bring you down.

I'm not saying that other cruisers are junk. After all, I ride a Shadow ACE and it is an extremely dependable bike. I enjoy riding it and probably will be riding it for many years to come. However, it is a mere imitation of the best cruiser on the market – the Harley-Davidson.
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It is a fan base of sorts. True enough the metrics have plastic and Harleys have all the shine with chrome and real metal. I like their looks too, as would ANY real rider. I ride a cheaper Honda and like it. It has been said Harleys hold their resale value. Maybe so but the last time I looked there were hundreds of Harleys around here for sal and cheaper WAY cheaper by MSRP than any other bike. Why did the owner give premium dollar for top of the line bike and then take a 50% hit on the resale. In many instances only a thousand or so more than a metric? I looked at used Harleys before buying. I have a friend that has a beautiful Harley. He tried to get me to by one but I opted for the bike I have and am satisfied. Their customer loyalty keeps them in business and their NAME and I think name only keeps them at the top. Over priced IMHO.
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If I had to explain….you wouldnt understand
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cause it would be goofy to get a suzuki, kawasaki or honda tattoo…….
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Very simple. Harleys are better bikes due to the fantastic marketing department. Harleys are big pieces of crap. The only exception is the VRod, which was engineered by Porsche and designed by Ness. Harley only MAKES the bike. Now, before all of you Harley guys start jumping all over me, I work on HD motorcycles along with all other brands. HD's are under-engineered, they ARE NOT 100% american, alot of the parts are taiwanese and chinese, just assembled here- so you can stop the "buy American" BS right there. HD sells a lifestyle, not the best bike. HD sells more T-shirts every day than motorcycles produced since 1903. Think about that. I am sure you know of a number of people with the HD stickers, shirts, Ford P/U trucks and boots that don't even know how to ride.. They are marketing geniuses. The bikes are sub-standard compared to other makes. Want American? Go buy a Victory. Pound for pound, a better bike. They actually had to DECREASE the cooling of the oil because the bike is actually engineered correctly, versus the "hot" second cylinder that has plagued HD since, well, 1903!.. I ride a Triumph and a BMW, average 20K+ per year, and work on many bikes. I frequently get HD owners that tell me that they ride "a bunch" every year, and it turns out that 1500 miles per year is "a bunch"!! Hell, that's a weekend for me! I NEVER have mechanical problems, my bikes are comfortable, and they handle!! Nothing like this can be said of 90% of the HD's out there. I do not mean to beat up HD's so much, but a fact is a fact. I am leaving you with 3 of my favorite sayings: 1. A harley by any other name would be just as slow. 2. If HD made an airplane, would you fly in it? and 3. 98% of all HD's made are still on the road- the other 2% made it home. Have a nice day, do not fall into the HD lifestyle trap, buy a real motorcycle, and enjoy the ride!
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Harleys, like Chevy small blocks, are not better, there just is a world of after market parts for them.

Go to any HD dealer and ask them about fuel mileage. They will all tell you the same thing.

"Its not miles per gallon, that counts, its smiles per gallon"

They engine design has not changed that much for many years. They are living on an old reputation.

99% of all those that ride them is for the name.

30 years ago we would look forward to riding to Stergus. We stopped years ago, the lines of RVs towing brand new hogs were more than we could stand.

Ive owned Euro bikes most of my life. I bought and rode one Harley for a year, then gave it back to them. I now ride rice for the 100 mile a day work trip.

Next year when my 100 mile a day trips are shortened , ill get a BMW and ride it the rest of my days
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"Good" is in the eye of the beholder, and the choice depends on what you want in a bike. Harleys have improved a lot in recent years, but aren't my cup of tea (my ride is an R1200RT).

Here's my analysis:

Highs:

Big dealer network; nice sound (if you stick with the stock pipes, straight pipes are awful); low seat height; camaraderie and icon status.

Lows:

Not much good in the twisties; parts scrape all the time if you corner hard. Handling is inferior to many other bikes.

I see a lot of Harleys in town, being used as boulevard cruisers. I see a lot of Harleys on the highways of Western Oregon, where they serve well as a slower touring bike. I see very few when I get into the lonely and distant back roads far away. There Beemers and some Gold Wings seem to predominate.
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