Soooo You Think Spyders Have Problems?

[Highwayman2013]

There is a bazillion HD dealers out there. :thumbup:

This must be why.

 

[jaherbst]

taking into consideration how many motorcycles HD sold those figures does not hurt HD bottom line that severely ...

osm

There are more Harley's in the world than there are all other makes combined.

Jack

 

[jaherbst]

Regarding the 2013's, while the final result does seem to be great, it is something that they took far too long to acknowledge or address (I understand the time to actually fix it). It was the slowness of their response and the difficulties so many people were having here that reflected far worse on the company than the heat issue itself.

I do hope that they've learned a lesson, and will address issues like this more proactively and openly in the future. They certainly know how to provide great service, as they also have for many of us here.

It's unquestionably very difficult to handle a recall level malfunction for any company. I hope if something like this happens again that they act quickly without the need for a government order or government supervision.

Had it not been for the NTSB forcing them to make a satisfactory change to the 2013, no changes would have been made!

Jack

 

[latony007]

Harleys are notorious for problems, i would assume because they know people are going to buy them anyway just because it says Harley on it. Plus the fact they wont water cool any (or most) of their bikes im sure adds to issues people have. There may be more Harleys on the road than any other bike but there is also more harleys on the SIDE of the road than any other bike by far. I have a yamaha that is just a precision piece of equipment and never had a problem so far, with the suzuki i owned before that either. As for BRP congrats to those two guys that have experienced no problems. I think these have had some serious issues, the heat thing seemed to be very emphasized with the 2013 but its present in a lot of models. My brother has a 2012 that almost burt my leg off the heat coming off it was so bad. We had to install a blocker plate not to alleviate it but to make it at least bearable. My 2008 also gets really hot and smells like gas whenever its over 80 degrees and BRP didnt do anything about any of those issues. With the 2013 in particular as someone pointed out the government made them fix it. Do you think they didn't test it or notice it before release? I can assure you they did but chose to release it anyway and not address it unltil a year or more later when forced to, thats my issue with it.

 

[PaladinLV]

Plus the fact they wont water cool any (or most) of their bikes im sure adds to issues people have.

Out here in the desert where summer is typically 110-120, in all the years I rode Harleys (especially 2008 up) I have never experienced nor know of any local riders that experienced breakdowns because of an air-cooled engine. Clutch, battery, solenoid, shifter, brakes, security systems, seals, but a maintained engine do to overheating none. As for water cooled, 120 is 120. Pushing air thats 120 thru a radiator and passing air that's 120 over heat sinks makes little difference.

In all my years of owning Harleys, the only "breakdown" was from a dead battery (my fault), slipping clutch plates (my fault), and a recall for a solenoid and rear brake actuator switch. However, I did not own Harleys during the AMF ownership

Harleys are overpriced and under featured, but the support network, events, benefits, and service are unbeatable. Name another manufacturer that gives you an option for Roadside Assistance with UNLIMITED tow milage to the closest dealership no cost, unlimited tows per year no cost, hotel/motel reimbursement, and fuel should you run out for $19.95/yr. regardless of whether your bike is under Warranty or NOT?

Do I miss my Harley? Absolutely NOT! Will I go back to Harley? Never! Just loving my Spyder and enjoy riding it far more then any Harley I ever owned :yes:

AJ

 

[MikeandSandy]

There are more Harley's in the world than there are all other makes combined.

Jack

Hmmm, I think that title belongs to Honda!

 

[MidTNDawg]

And you would be correct

Hmmm, I think that title belongs to Honda!

For example the most manufactured engine for many years was the Ford Model T. The Honda 350 took that title before they stopped making the Honda 350 mc. IF you consider only large touring bikes, MAYBE HD holds the title.

 

[dlby]

My five HD bikes were awesome
Trouble free
Lotz fun & fellowship on the road!

I LOVE our 14 rts.e6.

Awesome machine
See a pattern here?

Attitude
Altutude

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T337A using Tapatalk

 

[dlby]

I also loved my Bridgestone 90
Honda 305 scrambler
Kawasaki Mach 3

Yamaha 500 twin ----not so much

Oh hell
Go ride!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T337A using Tapatalk

 

[MRH]

According to an online source, Harley has just over half of the US Market:

https://www.scutify.com/article.aspx?q=543dbfa2d36feb1064aedf36

 

[MikeandSandy]

Honda

The world's best-selling motorcycle brand
If you said Yamaha, Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, or Suzuki, you deserve a pat on the back, as you accurately identified numbers two through five in terms of annual motorcycle sales in 2013. These companies' sales ranged from just over 2 million total units last year to up to 6 million.
However, if you said Honda (NYSE:HMC) then you should have real bragging rights as you correctly guessed the world's top-selling motorcycle brand.

HONDA MOTOR 2013 ANNUAL REPORT (LINK OPENS A PDF). SOURCE: HONDA.
According to Honda's 2013 annual report, the company, inclusive of its subsidiaries and affiliates, sold 15,494,000 motorcycles (including scooters) last year. Sales were widelyskewed toward Asia, which accounted for slightly more than 13 million units sold, with Japan, North America, and Europe combining for just 646,000 total units. Other regions, including emerging markets, totaled roughly 1.8 million units.

 

[ES44AC]

I have nothing against Harley Davidson ,but most of them are garage queen's. People like to say they have one as a status symbol. I bet they make more money on the HD merchandise than the bikes. I know a guy who has a HD edition F250 Ford truck, HD enclosed trailer,signs and a mountain of clothes(never owned a motorcycle of ANY kind).


My dad owned several HD's over the years and I do like the Street Glide model if I had the extra cash,but I would keep my RTS.