[xsrdx]

Spoken like a man who knows absolutely nothing about modern Harley-Davidsons.

What? Evo? V Rod? Gimmicks.

Harley has no interest in making real progress, as that would jeopardize the image.

A Harley was a loud, slow V Twin in 1955, and they remain loud, slow V Twins today.

Cool, yes, but hardly the leading edge of motorycle technology.

I will say they don't leak much anymore, fortunately, and the newer bikes do exhibit improved quality and fit/finish.

Still, next to a Honda or BMW, they look tremendously unrefined.

[-YYZ-]

They don't just look unrefined, IMO they are.

OTOH, I'll give them kudos for producing bikes with (essentially) maintenance-free hydraulic valve lifters and belt drives. Of course similar features are available on Japanese cruisers (mostly shaft drives, a few belts). I would like to see more bikes of other styles with similar features - for high mileage riders like me (10,000-15,000 miles per year and up) valve adjustments are an expensive inconvenience and chains are a pain.

[archy]

I will say they don't leak much anymore, fortunately, and the newer bikes do exhibit improved quality and fit/finish. Still, next to a Honda or BMW, they look tremendously unrefined.

And if you're riding a thousand miles a day, carrying a passenger behind you, and pushing a windshield and large saddlebags, Harleys are still the bikes to beat.

[Melas]

What? Evo? V Rod? Gimmicks.

Superficial. Seriously, if you compared even a 30 year old Harley, with a modern one, you'd be surprised. Outwardly, they appear much the same, but that is by design. However, when you start to take one apart you'll find many, many technological refinements. A host of engine sensors that keep the engine computer with flashable ROM's informed up to date so the EFI can adjust itself on the fly. The multi-curve single fire, electionic iginitions, compared to points and condensers?

I could go on for hours. Yes, Harleys retain the character of the older bikes, and that's not borne of laziness or lack of progress. That's a very, very intentional decision, and very much by design. Under the skin, they're different beasts from the bikes that went before them.