Interesting that you judge (quite erroneously) a whole line of completely different bikes by one ride on one model. Yes, a Sportster is a terribly uncomfortable bike....if it wasn’t a Sporty, it just didn’t have a decent seat or handlebars for you personally.
I’ll put my ‘09 CVO “Screamin’ Eagle” Road Glide up against any GW for comfort - only dangerous Harley I’ve ever had because after a big lunch you will fall asleep on it. And even my ‘97 Wide Glide is extremely comfortable. I did take 4 tries on the handlebars & seat to get there - but no bike is as customizable as a Harley. I can ride either on all day and be comfortable.......
I don’t fit the Harley demographic & had my first in ‘64. They were junk then, but now are very high quality - friend has 150k mis. on his and it’s never broken down and engine is intact. Ride ‘em, maintain ‘em, forget ‘em.
Key with Harley’s is NEVER buy new. Buy low mileage, used, still under warranty in Jan - Feb. Best value of any bike.
No, qualtiy still isn’t equal to Jap bikes - but the HD’s hold their value much better. Values on Jap bike drop like a rock. Terrible investment. I don’t bad mouth any makes - most are very good - I appreciate all. Except for sportbikes (my kids have them) - they are for the racetrack and not comfort. I rode plenty of Honda’s & Yamaha’s in the ‘70’s.........
The Triumph T100 is a great bike - may get one.
My first love’s were ‘60’s Triumph Bonnevilles and I have 3 classic old Triumph’s that I really love - unrestored, all original ‘71 Trophy 500 T100C, ‘72 Bonneville T120V I totally restored myself, and a totally restored ‘73 Trident T150V - 750 - 3 cylinder - and the reason I don’t need a sportbike........
I don’t badmouth any bikes - different strokes for different folks.....
To each his own. It was not a sportster but an EG. The Triumph Bonneville is a great bike as well but my preference is a GW or BMW. Have not ridden much more than that.
I’m not much of a rider anymore. Every time I think about getting a bike I think about how much city I have to ride across to get anywhere I want to do and then decide I don’t need a bike. Maybe someday when I get back out in the country. Dad rode his GW until a week before he passed. We had a nice loop of about a hundred-fifty miles with a good place to stop for a meal and some visiting.