I looked at new Harley's today.....

ebiker · Post by **ebiker** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:53 pm

......and came away a little puzzled!

The Tucson HD dealer is a block away from the downtown Honda dealer where I had my Wing serviced today, so I wandered over to check out those lovely Milwakee machines.

I gotta admit those Harley Davidson motorcycles are beautiful!!

The fully loaded Ultra Glide caught my eye. How many horsepower, I asked.

About 65hp, said the salesman..

Whoa, I said. My roadster has more horsepower from the factory and about 300lb less weight than this Glide. My Wing has over 100 HP stock, weights about the same as the Ultra, too. I couldn't forget the Road King I rented several months ago that was straining to get over 95MPH on the Interstate. (Cruising speed in Arizona)

Salesman said I could spend another $2,000 and up the horsepower to about 80 on the Ultra Glide. I could also spend another $3,000 and get about 95-100HP. (103 CI, I believe he said)

Hmmm, have to spend another couple of thousand to get this motorcycle up on it's feet, eh? So I then asked the salesman why doesn't the Motor Company just take that German designed V-Rod motor out to about 1450 CC or so and install that into their touring bikes. Should be good for well over 100HP.

Salesman shrugged and told me many people have asked the same question.

Ed..

big papa · Post by **big papa** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:03 am

I'll take a Street Glide as soon as they double the HP and widen the rear tire a little.

Post by **scottybooj** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:09 am

watch the next few years...you'll see more of the liquid cooled V's making their way into the lineup.

big papa · Post by **big papa** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:27 am

I don't even care about water cooled, I am spoiled with my RoadStar's 108. Gotta have displacement.

Post by **new2BMW** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:42 am

Ed;

If it is HP you want, why did you buy a BMW? You could have doubled your hp, had less weight and better handling for less than you paid for your Roadster. The service would be cheaper and less frequent too.

No offense, but a BMW guy picking apart HD because of horse power is like a band geek picking on a computer nerd.

fnfalman · Post by **fnfalman** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:16 am

Sure, most BMWs don't have as much power as the peer Italian or Japanese bikes, but at least they have enough power to get going with a reasonable amount of alacrity. A 700-lbs bike with 60-hp is a joke by anybody's standard. You get outran by freaking tractor trailers! Not to mention the poor brakes and poor suspensions.

The only Harleys that I am even mildly interested in are the Street Rods. But then they do have help from the German engineers, don't they

Capt. Blackadder · Post by **Capt. Blackadder** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:54 am

new2BMW wrote:No offense, but a BMW guy picking apart HD because of horse power is like a band geek picking on a computer nerd.

Now that's just classic!

Is it true that you have to drop the motor to do the valves on the 'Rods?

Wass · Post by **Wass** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:51 pm

Now I'm no anti-Harley snob or anything, just a band-happy guy/computer geek guy

who likes anything with 2 wheels.
Went for a ride last night with my friend who rides a Heritage. I figured it was time to let him take my Rockster for a spin so we traded bikes for about 10 miles.
He jumped on the beemer and just rocketed away. I jumped on the Harley and followed. It was a nice comfy ride but there seemed to be 2 areas it sorely lacked: accelleration and decelleration.
The motor was straining just to pick up revs, and when it was time to slow down I grabbed the front brake...and grabbed some more...and more.
If I squeezed the Rock's front clamps that hard I would probably time travel back to last tuesday.
But I did like the comfy seat and overal SOLID feel of the HD. It just doesn't like to start and stop.
To quote my buddy: "that BMW is a whole different ball game".

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:37 am

What the BMW is to a Harley, is what a Japanese inline-4 literbike is to a BMW boxer. And what the Harley lacks in horsepower, it somewhat makes up for with low-rpm torque. Apples and oranges, IMO, and each to savor for what they are.

Actually, for us BMW riders to critize Harleys is akin to a guy with 100 IQ making fun of the guy with 80 IQ, while another guy in the room with 150 IQ is standing nearby.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:00 pm

Actually, for us BMW riders to critize Harleys is akin to a guy with 100 IQ making fun of the guy with 80 IQ, while another guy in the room with 150 IQ is standing nearby.

How'd you know I was standing nearby?......

DJ

vintagecycle · Post by **vintagecycle** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 11:03 pm

No offense, but a BMW guy picking apart HD because of horse power is like a band geek picking on a computer nerd

NIICE!!!

ebiker · Post by **ebiker** » Tue May 02, 2006 9:49 pm

yjleesvrr wrote:What the BMW is to a Harley, is what a Japanese inline-4 literbike is to a BMW boxer. And what the Harley lacks in horsepower, it somewhat makes up for with low-rpm torque

In comparing two cylinder motorcycles, our Roadster produces 72 foot pounds of torque compared to a stock TC88 75 foot pounds of torque. (Taken from owners manuals) Roadster torque on an increasing scale, while Twin Cam 88 torque levels out about 3,500 RPM.

I rented a Road King for 24 hours last year. Put about 250 miles on it and really enjoyed the bike around town. On the interstate it needed more power, in my opinion!

While in Phoenix on Monday, I visited three Harley dealers to inquire about the 2007 model line, announced for late July. However, new model info is being kept secret at this time! So, I looked over some Harley trade ins; 2,000 miles, 1800 miles on the Odo......not even broke in. Salesman told me about one rider who sold the dealership his two year Harley with just over 500 miles on the Odo.

Buyers remorse, I guess.

So, I got back on the GL1800, hit the Interstate, set the cruise control at 90 MPH and headed back to Tucson. While thinking about that two year old Harley and wondering why anyone would spend $20K or so on a good motorcycle.....and not want to ride it!

Ed..

Brownw3 · Post by **Brownw3** » Wed May 03, 2006 10:25 am

It's just an oil and water issue. There is a bike for everyone. Your typical BMW rider would never be satisfied with a Motor Company bike; too inefficient. A Motor Company rider would never like the Beemer that much. Too efficient, no aesthetic charm. neither are happy with the Asian imports (generally) because they're's not enough heft and the Asian import owners have no idea of why anyone would spend the kind of money we do on bikes.

I think the issue will always come up but at the end of the day you like what you like. Whatever gets you in the wind.

Wass · Post by **Wass** » Wed May 03, 2006 3:06 pm

I'd take a VRod or Street Rod if someone left it in my garage......
Funny how the HD purists really don't like those bikes.

Post by **garylspolar** » Thu May 04, 2006 9:08 am

Save your money on the V-Rod. Harley makes some excellent sport bikes with tons of torque and more than enough horsepower. They're called Buells. It was difficult to walk away after my last test drive.

Wass · Post by **Wass** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:38 am

Gary - I think the Buells are pretty cool. I like the styling and the innovative engineering and all that. But boy are they TINY. I look totally stupid on a Buell. Anybody bigger than 5'8 and 150 lbs are oversized for those bikes.