Should I buy a Harley-Davidson?

I admit it, for years I was a Harley-basher. They've always been the most beautiful bikes in the world, yes, but I was always more interested in utility. A lot of people buy them for the image---and I HATE the image. I like to ride motorcycles, I don't give a damn what other people think of me riding the thing. I never thought I would consider buying an H-D, but due to my height, taste and the type of riding I do, my options are limited and Harley is about the last real bike out there. I am hugely irritated with the plastic faux chrome parts on Japanese bikes in recent years. I've heard that insurance is high on H-Ds, that repairs are expensive (and frequent), and I don't feel good about the belt drive thing. If I went Harley, I'd have to go with the 1200N Sportster. Fill me in, people.

By "real" bike I mean that the parts actually seem to serve some function, unlike the faux air cleaner covers and plastic "chrome" on many bikes.

thomy8s: I never said the image was negative, I simply said I didn't like it. And you didn't change my mind much witrh your outburst.

tamarack58: Yeah, I realize I don't have to wear the accepted uniform of the supposedly free-from-conformity crowd. The "image" I don't care for is the low-rent snobbery of the H-D crowd, (see thomy8s comment), the Made In America attitude, and the pretentiousness.

And Ed: I have indeed done the research, and am obviously still doing it, since I asked the question. The high-priced custom bikes strike me as something people want to own, rather than ride.

Thanks all for the responses.

Harley is not just style, it's also the best quality.

I don't like the image Harley used to be either, but they have come a long way baby. Since the development of the evolution engine (still leaks oil, mostly when cold) but yes they are expensive like everything else that is fun .

As far as belt drive, it is the best there is. Shaft drive looses to much power and chain drive is high maintenance and is noisy. There is nothing wrong with belt drive, my dads Harley is a 1996 soft tail with over 50,000 miles and has the original belt. I have a 130 hp. Honda rocket with over 25,000 miles on it and have gone through numerous chains and sprockets.

I don't care what your ride is, bikes are awesome and props to anyone who loves it for the freedom that it gives you no matter what style you prefer...

I can only say that with the new Evo engine, Harley's now become the reliable motorcycles that people had been looking for. Now anyone is able to own a classic Harley and not have to be a worried about it breaking down in the middle of the night. Nowadays Harley-Davidson is at top of sales in the United States. Every bike Harley makes is already sold before it leaves the factory. Its because of their dedication to motorcycles they are at the top once again...which I think is enough is to prove the Harleys quality...

Personally, I will prefer a Suzuki-Hayabusha...or a Honda CB750...

OK so I have been Honda for many years as well

Never been a sports biker but have had a few Wings

Always admired Harley's and got my first in 2004 and have now my second and would not go back. Not that the Wing is not a great bike.

I now ride a Screamin Eagle Ultra Classic Electraglide and I love it to bits

Servicing on the new range is 7500 miles and probably no more costly than any other make and to be fait I have not experienced "breakdowns" but I did change the Roadking with very low mileage.

Belt drive is no problem and will be tensioned on routing services

Should you buy one or not is really up to you but I feel that you are nearly there anyway. Foundry Harley in Canterbury have an open weekend 29 and 30 March with test ride outs. If you are near enough give them a ring and book some test rides. BBQ also on Sunday

Good luck with your choice and keep safe

don't be scared do it !!! you'll love it, you might want to check out the dyna line of hd seems to be better to me the repairs are not frequent thats bull Ive had three at the same time
insurance try Markel there great and alot more reasonable then most

Harley is indeed the only real bike out there, but if you are concerned about a negative image... we really don't want you.

don't let the belt drive fool you, these belts are beyond tuff. they outlast chains (I've seen 100,000 miles +) and they are toothed timing belts so they don't slip, and they don't stretch.

Don't do it. If you don't like what Harleys stand for either you will become what you don't like or you will never feel right about it.

1200 Sporty? Now there's an oxymoron for you. Don't you wonder how Harley can consider this kind of bike "sporting"? It won't even keep up with the slowest Honda or Yamaha cruisers with much smaller engines.

"Harley is about the last real bike out there"?????
Give me a break. Harleys are no more real than anything else. Since more poodle bikes are built from Harleys than any other make I would even say that they are less "real" than most other makes.

Re shafts eat up too much power: That only matters if you don't have enough power in the first place. An 80 HP GL1000 with shaft drive will still put more power to the back wheel than a 60HP (I'm being generous here) HD with a chain or belt.

If I was considering a non-shaft bike (not likely, but you never know) I would take belt drive. Belts have been around for a long time and have proven their reliability. I have heard of a number of broken chains or lost masterlinks, but I have never heard of a broken belt.

If you don't like the chromed plastic bits, pick something a bit older and strip off the parts you don't like. Some you will be better off without and some you can find/make better replacements for.

But if you really want a Harley go ahead. You know in the long run that, no matter what you convince yourself, it is a fashion statement. You are the one who will have to live with it.

Besides, if you buy a Harley it will leave the real bikes for the rest of us ;-)

I think you need to do some research. There are other bikes out there to fit you needs. Victory makes a great motorcycle with several different models. Indian motorcycles are available. Granted you would have to buy used or wait until next year when manufacturing starts again. Henderson's are also available used. Those are great American motorcycles.

There are other great custom bikes and metric bikes out there. Triumph, Royal Enfield and the Japanese bikes too. Go to a bike show and see what you like. Check ebay and see the prices.

I don't care for Harley's but if that's what you want then get one. If you "hate the image" then just choose not to portray the image. I've seen lots of people on Harley's not dressed in Harley gear or full leathers or whatever else one would consider a Harley image. These people look like anyone else who loves bikes and riding and aren't concerned about portraying an image.

Ride whatever you want....Just Ride.

I bought my 1991 Sportster new and rode it as I primary bike for 11 years. I still have it. It's a great bike. In my opinion, the classic Harley problems start only after people that really don't know what they're doing start bolting on after market aircleaners and cams and pipes and start beating the dust out of the bike. If you just ride it and care reasonable care of it (read: change the oil), it will last forever. The best Sportster windshield ever is also the cheapest from a company called National Cycle. Add some decent leather bags and you've got a bike that's easy to live with every day. Good luck!

take a look at the Victorys. american made, more power, better handling and better quaility (check the jd powers website) and you won't be a sheep.

I shake my head on this one. In the world of motorcycles, the selection of bikes available to a rider is truly staggering. Bikes have NEVER been better. And yet you and many others foolishly believe and I quote "Harley is about the last real bike out there". On what basis can you make such a statement?
I have compared a Victory to a H-D. The fit and finish on a Victory beats the H-D hands down. Despite all the improvements by the folks in Milwaukee, they are still tweaking a motorcycle that was first designed in 1957! The current version of the 1200 was released in 1988. It was not until 2004 that the engine was rubber mounted to the frame to reduce vibration being transmitted to the rider. So many other bikes out there that are so far ahead of Harley. And I am not including sport bikes in that statement. Harley has NOTHING that compares to the current batch of crotch rockets.
Now I will say this about the current batch of Harleys. The belt drive is great. You can't beat the operation of a bike with fuel injection. Harleys are very well noted for good gas mileage. The engineering and quality control is vastly improved. I used to visit a local H-D dealer back in the mid 70's. Under EVERY NEW HARLEY was a drip pan. With nice fresh oil in each pan. Today if a Harley leaks oil it is a sign of trouble. All that said, I find the offerings from the H-D to be average at best. Nothing Harley makes meets my needs. Especially in the Sportster lineup. They look so uncomfortable, underpowered, and old looking. Please forget about the Harley image and life style. All that is a fantastic MARKETING PLOY by Harley. And a most successful one I will say. Here is another reason not to pick Harley. Air/oil cooling verses water cooling. A water cooled engine will always outlast an air/oiled engine with regular oil and filter changes. Always.
In the end you will do what you feel is best for you. Please do your self and your money a favor, take a look at the offerings by the other bike makers.
All I can say is Good Luck and Safe Riding.

Insurance?
Mine's about $400/yr full coverage with roadside assistance.
Repairs can be expensive.
New ones have a warranty, used ones are a good reason to learn to wrench on your own.
Belt drive?
LOVE it!
After initial stretch is adjusted out (about 500 miles), rarely needs adjusting again.
No oiling, so no oil slung all over rear wheel, sprocket.

The new Sportsters are nice I have an 07 that I ride and commute daily on I have yet to have any real problems at all so far, they are also electronic fuel injected now the only maintenance i have done on mine so far is oil changes every 2,500 miles and I just replaced the tires for the first time right now I have put just over 15,000 miles on my bike and like I stated I haven't had any maintenance issues and there is a lot fo aftermarket parts for the Sportsters a lot more then there is for the metric cruiser's I am paying $321 a year for full coverage insurance on mine

If you are an experienced rider, you'll get sick of the sportster after about a weekend. It doesn't have enough motor to keep you interested, and the longer you're on it, the smaller it'll feel. If you go with Harley, go with one of the big twin models (dyna, softail, dresser, or possibly even the v-rod). Don't worry about the belt drive thing. It's a non-issue. And, I don't believe you'll see a significant difference with maintenance and repair costs, compared with similar non-harley bikes. Insurance should run about the same as well, it depends mostly on the value of the bike. Watch out for the accessories and dress-up pieces though, that can get expensive if you want to do any of that.

However, if you really aren't looking to buy in to the Harley persona, then i would have to agree with Ed and Victory Riders answers. Spend some time Looking at the Victory and Trimph models, and some of the other metric cruisers. For about the same money, or even less, you'll get a better ride, it just won't come with the "harley" image, but that's not what your after anyway, right?

If you think that HD is the only real bike out there, then you have already been sold on hype and image. I realize that being a "Harley basher" doesn't mean you rode.
The drive belt is the best thing on a bike that, basically, has a seventy year old engine design. My bike has those modern "faux" parts that don't rust or dent, by the way.

If you just got to have that label then look at
V-Rod.

I love my Harleys, I've had lots of bikes, Jap and English .

There's not a damn thing wrong with belt driven finals, no maintenance and they last 30-50k.

If you are going HD ,get a Big Twin, The new Dynas are pretty sweet.

The only down side to a Harley is that they are not the canyon bikes that the Japs are, but for cruising and touring they're the greatest.

I like Harleys. I can say that, since I've owned 26 different bikes personally over the last 42 years. And ridden just about anything out there. I'n not putting down any bike, just saying that my last 5 have all been Harley's. I've ridden chain driven, shaft driven and belt driven. Shafts work well, belts work great. I've never broken a belt. Worn a few out with high miles, yes, but never broken one. Maintenance is no different or more expensive than any other bike. Buy a good service manual (the best investment you can make for ANY bike) and do the basic maintenance yourself. It's fun, and saves you a ton of money. Just do it at the factory recommended intervals, use factory spec supplies, fill out the report in the manual and date it, and keep your receipts. This way it will not void your warranty. I am curious as to why you would "have"to go to the 1200 sportster? It's not a bad bike, just made more for in town and short highway hops. Although I have seen gus take em cross country, they are not made for it. My favorite bike is the Dyna wide glide. Old school looks, comfort and plenty of power. I've done a thousand miles at a time on one easy. Although I admit that my newest bike is an "Ultra" that is like riding an easy chair down the road at 80 mph. Yes, I finaly gave in to the comfort. My wife has a bad back, and I have a bunch of injuries,aches and pains that really get to hurting an a long trip. So, I bought the ultra. With cruise control, CD,CB,stereo and all the comforts there are on it. a 1400 mile trip is fun. At just under 6'3" and 315lbs with bald head, long mustache and tattos galore, I really don't give a darn what "image" I give off. I ride for me, not for image. There are some great bikes from Honda for example. I've owned a few goldwings and enjoyed them a lot. But I just keep going back to HD. for me, they work. If it is what you want, go for it. No reason to explain why you want it. No matter which bike you ride, there are always some loud mouth who thinks it is a poor choice and only what they ride is good. Just smile at em and ride on by.
ride safe

You have to look the cost of ownership after you own a HD
You have to be rich cause even the simple maintenance products for an HD is high priced
accessories for a HD cost 4 times as much as any other brand of bike
when the warranty is expired engine repairs will cost at least $3K
every HD Owner I talk too always talks about the big money they spend just to maintain and keep their HD on the road.

Insurance on my Harley Dyna Super Glide is less than $350.00 a year. Not bad. Also, the Harley's of today are very reliable. Mine is a 2002 and does not leak oil and has never left me stranded on the side of the road. I've had no problems with the belt drive either. It runs great. As far as the "image" thing goes, you create your own image. If you don't care what other people think of you while riding (as you stated in your post) what's the problem? Enjoy your Harley.

On my '06 Superglide Anniversary, the insurance is exactly the same as on my '80 CB750. Liability, with riders. No collision or theft.
Maintenance has been oil changes and replacing worn out tires.
Many like the belt drive. I have not met anyone (other than myself) who doesn't like it.

Find what you like and ride it.

Buy what you like.
Don't worry about the belt drive. It will last longer than a chain would.

Go to your local Harley dealer, and see if you're okay with the weight -- imagine pushing it with your feet to back it up (the dealers might let you actually try it... but might not).

You want to RIDE. Thats it. No image, no pretenses, no bother with repairs or non starting bikes, no oil leaks, no gangs...
Then don't get a Harley. Get a reliable, start any time, run like the wind, no repair shop visit.... Japanese bike.

,If you sit well on a sportster there are a ton of jap bikes made through the years that would be cheaper to buy, maintain and get parts for at decent prices. I'm 6'1" with a34" inseam I can't ride a Buell or a sporty or an fx with mid controls.So unless you are set on a new bike, you have a lot of options.
What ever you decide may your quest be fun, and your acquisition be an asset to your joy of living

Reading through the other answers, there are alot of opinions... opinions are like **** holes.... everyone has one

A harley is very reliable, the people yipping and yapping about them are just being parrots and repeating what's been said since the early 70's.... sure in the early 70's they weren't as reliable.... show me a decent import from the 70's that hasn't gone through the same to stay on the road today. But for piece of mind, there is a great dealer infrastructure, so for any service or maintenance, it should be a piece of cake to get to a dealer near by.... can't say the same for all the imports or even the victory. A harley also has a great deal more support in the after market than any other, more service parts, more upgrade parts, more cosmetic parts.... period, there's no arguing that.
Image wise, well, that's a variable.... so that's your own thing, if someone else's comments can effect your image, then it says much more about you than your bike.
And for a sportster.... this is where the real ignorance of many shows true.... a sportser IS the sports car of harley davidson. power to weight is much better than a "bigger" bike like a soft tail or dyna... a mustang may not be as big, fancy, or expensive as a lincoln, but it can certainly whip a lincoln
These ignorant people also yip about how a sportster (or any harley) is underpowered compared to their crotch rocket or whatever.... if horsepower is all you look at, you don't know wtf you're looking at. any harley has a torque curve as flat as can be, meaning these things pull no matter what the rpm.... whoopity doo... an import might have 20 more hp at 6000 higher rpm.... i really don't care, you need to look at torque for comparing the feel of a bike, and I don't care to rev anything to 10,000+rpm!
I have no idea on insurance... I'm in Canada so I imagine it's different here.... but I paid about the same for my last kawi as I do for my sporty, and the sporty is newer.
Now finally, not enough details about your height and type of riding etc to say whether the N is the best choice.... i think it's a great bike for a short person that does short trips. If you're tall &/or want long trips, I think the C would be a better choice.
Don't get me wrong, i'm tall and do all sorts of riding, and i'd love an N, but i know i'd be happier with a C
good luck, enjoy your bike shopping, and ignore the peanut gallery

You should definitely buy the Harley. Well, unless you're straight.

sportsters are for granny's and pussy's i think jap. sport bikes the only way to go