As I said, the funny thing is, I don't have anything against Harleys. I think they're fine machines for what they're intended for (which, as they come stock, doesn't include any sort of contest of performance). I've considered buying (yes, gasp!, me actually buying) a Harley full-dresser for touring on, as the big Honda and BMW touring rigs leave me cold, and I believe Harley's touring cruisers are better in some ways than the Japanese competition's.
Longevity? Harleys are no more durable out of the box than Japanese bikes, in fact I'd say a bit less so. I know people who've gone over 100,000 miles on (liquid cooled, to be sure) Japanese bikes without ever opening the engine at all.
Years from now I expect I'll be riding a new Japanese bike. I like technological progress.
"Longevity? Harleys are no more durable out of the box than Japanese bikes, in fact I'd say a bit less so. I know people who've gone over 100,000 miles on (liquid cooled, to be sure) Japanese bikes without ever opening the engine at all."
I keep hearing that argument, but in practice, the Harleys are far more durable. All I have to do is count the crappy AMF Harleys vs. the Hondakawayamazukis of the same era. The Japanese bikes outsold the Harleys by a wide margin, yet the Harleys remain on the road while the J-brand bikes are gone.
The old technology of the Harley motor, combined with the improved steel of recent times create a motor that is astoundlingly long lived, easy to maintain and reliable. Even the mechanically challenged, like me, can replace the top end every 100K miles or so.
All of that high tech stuff wears out and costs a lot to replace. I'll stick to 1930's tractor technology.
Here's another one of my bikes with crappy old technology that has outlived all of that high-tech stuff.
Pushrods forever! (I love them old Vespas too)