Reliabilty? My Springer has 63,000 miles on it. The speedo cable broke twice and the negative ground on the battery broke once. That's about it. My wife's 94 Low Rider has 40,000 miles and has had the base gaskets replaced twice, under warranty, because Harley tried to cheap their way out. Once the bike had James base gaskets installed and the case decked, as it should have been the first time, the base gaskets stopped leaking
I've ridden to Canada twice, Every state on the East Coast, down to Key West and New Orleans. Heading out to what's left of Rt 66 in June
Some cars should be reliable as Harley's. But it's like anything else, don't take care of it, and you'll have a piece of crap on your hands.
Of course, some folks just don't like Harley's no matter what. It's a matter of taste I suppose.
The thing I find disturbing about Harleys - and it really isn't HD's fault - is their relative lack of sophistication. But that's what sells.
How can cast iron, steel, pushrods, and 50hp/liter sell for TWICE as much money as titanium, magnesium, DOHC and 180hp/liter?
A new Japanese sportbike is the two wheel equivalent of a Formula One car, with so much technology, advanced materials and engineering development it makes your head hurt just thinking about it.
A new Harley OTOH, from a performance perspective, is pretty much on par with one 20 years old.
It's just bizarre.
See my profile...avid owner since '68...
My current sled has just under 80,000 American miles on it...Sturgis, Daytuna, Mexico, Redwood run, Love Run, et cetera...know this...besides the trickin out of the evo (necessary and not) that 100HP pony I ride is still on it's first belt, and brakes.
Now if you want to go into my classics, the JD, Knuckle, Pan, and Shovel, well jeez louise, they still will do the tav to tav with no problemo (though the knuckle still eats batteries) LOL!
I welcome the posers and wannabees, keeps the State Patrol guessin!
I am just an enthusiast...