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6 months in on the Harley saga

Wed, 01/11/2012 - 00:04 — jeveretts

I have been riding for 30 years. I have never ever owned a Harley Davidson. As a matter of fact, I was quite opposed to the idea. I was a BMW GS rider for the last several years. I got with some older gearhead type guys, who were into BMW's as well. But all of them had a Harley in the garage too. After a couple years, I started getting the itch for one. So I picked up a 1983 XLX Ironhead 1000. It was a really fun bike, but it was also a death trap with fasteners always coming looses, iffy brakes, ect...
A good friend of mine owns a car dealership and picked up a 2005 XL1200C at a repo auction. The bike only had 3000 miles on it, and was running like crap from sitting, but I picked it up for a song.
Took it to my local dealer who spent about an hour on the carb, and it was then running great.
I have had this bike since Oct 14, and I have rode it almost every single day. I LOVE THIS BIKE. I never really got the Harley thing, but once you own one, it becomes more clear. No, it doesn't handle great, it is quick, but not fast by any means. But it does seem to have a good bit of soul.

Call me a convert. I still make fun of guys who buy all the Harley clothes though :)

lost in time

Sat, 06/25/2011 - 06:25 — leezer8

old man me.was b s a triumph dude,,,,in 60 s any way,,,883 is to loud,,,pipes are flared on end ,,,will baffles fit in any way,,,where can I get them ? michigan LEE

Harley Reliability

Sun, 02/15/2009 - 08:00 — dennis

Do you see a common thread in some of these complaints on the reliability of Harleys? It's modifications and service done improperly! I just purchased a new 2008 FXSTC anniversary model. The last new bike I bought was a FXRS in 1988. I drove the hell out of that machine, had it cammed up, heads modified, and converted to AMSOIL synthetic in engine, trans, and primary at 10,000 miles. I paid 8,000 dollars for that bike new. I just sold it exactly 20 years later for 9,000 dollars and went and bought my new Softail. I changed the engine oil religiously at every 5,000 miles.

Harley riding experience - 1972 XLCH (ironhead sporty)

Sat, 12/27/2008 - 08:00 — richL

What motorcycle riding is all about to me: My bike: 1972 XLCH (ironhead sporty), hardtail chopper, kickstart only, 45* rake at neck. What is riding all about to me?-raked out chopper - turns heads, easy to pick up ladys-unbaffled drag pipes - saves lives, and fun.-kickstart only- turn any girl on when they see you kick a bike and it comes to life.-harley engine - shaky, vibraty solid mounted engine will get any girl wet within 15mins of riding if you have the right passenger seat for this ;)-forward controls - like sitting in a giant lazyboy going down the road.-45*rake at frame and none at tree - anything above 25mph the steering as unbelievably stable, above 55 I can ride for HOURS without touching the bars except to adjust speed. lazyboy comes to mind again.-hardtail - makes the ladys tits bounce up and down giving me a world class upper back/ neck massage.-pullback bars - get closer to the ol lady of course.-old harley - cheap, easy to fix on the side of the road if needed. and once you have owned an old harley I can guarantee you will appreciate any newer harley you will own in the future, lol. I'm grateful to even have a Harley, not to mention my dream bike is now finished! I'm 21 years old and I started building this bike with this list on paper three years ago and with my own two hands I finished it this past spring.

on my second 02 roadking now

Thu, 09/18/2008 - 08:00 — eric

Hey clayton, I'm on my second 02 roadking now, I sold my other one after serving me for over 6 years and 106,000 miles later and all I can say is these bikes are really tough and I'm working on acquiring another H-D, it's an 05 softail deluxe so that's it for now until next time again.

Bloxsom was a wonderful piece of software...

Sat, 08/23/2008 - 08:00 — admin

....that used to be used to generate this website. No more. This was the original announcement

Welcome to the all-new doesharleysuck.com website.

This is a complete re-working of the site using a blog engine called "Blosxom"[1][2][3] (pronounced "Blossom"), which I am here adapting to behave like a simple Content Management System (CMS).

Harley: 1950 pan/shovel

Thu, 08/21/2008 - 08:00 — BadBlackHemi

I am the proud owner of a 1950 pan/shovel, rocker clutch, open belt primary, hand shift real world motorcycle. Its a joy to ride as long as the cagers behave themselves. Its got an andrews cam and a s&s carb. Points ignition and six volt electrics. I am no mechanic but a bike like this demands owner involvement. Oil changes, plugs and points, tire and wheel removal. Brake service. Oh yeah i have a disc on the front end. It seems to me there is a whole lot of guys out there who want to turn a key and ride off into the sunset.

My Harley Davidson: 2003 FLHTCU

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 08:00 — steve

Hi Fellow Rider, I have a 2003 FLHTCU with roughly 9500 miles on it. When I got it in February it only had 6200 so I put more mileage on her in 6 months than the previous owner put on it in half the time he owned it. I did one service on it so that I could be sure all the service was up to date.

I used synthetic oil and had the service done by the local H.D. Shop. Some of my background includes a Honda 350, and 63 Sportster, a 75 BMW R75/5 (750), A Ducati 650 single, a Honda GL 1000, a Suzuki 1000, a Yamaha V-Star 1100, and my current 03 FLHTCU.

Of all those bikes I am most satisfied with the current one. There is absolutely nothing to compare to the feeling of "Rolling Thunder". The new Harley is absolutely the nicest bike I've ever owned. It runs extremely well, has zero oil leaks, gets good gas mileage, and handles a lot better than I thought it would.

Actually it handles better than my old GL1000 and is more fun to ride than my old BMW R75/5 (750). It's also the first bike I've owned that my wife actually likes. All in all I have to say I love my Harley Davidson.

This bike has proven to me that there is only one REAL motorcycle, and that's a Harley.

Regards,
Steve S.
Northridge, Ca.

Harley - 2006 Ultra Classic

Fri, 07/11/2008 - 08:00 — steven

I'm sorry, am I missing something? I bought my machine new in August of 2005 and the only two issues I have had were an antenna fell off which they replaced under warrantee with one having a spring built in, and the wrong angle fuel injector jets installed at the factory (caused sputter at 2000 rpms)... also replaced under warrantee. I now have over 18,000 miles on the bike and have just changed out the rear tire. I change the oil, check the tire pressure and ride. It really sounds as though I am in the minority.

Re: Harleys And the truth about them!

Sat, 06/21/2008 - 08:00 — randy

I have and still am a harley owner but one of a different type and kind. When I see things for exactly what they are and are not. After getting many of these letters with many different issues pertaining to the american V-twin and longest reigning of all. Not to mention of all that once were. I feel there comes a time and place to call it quits for either owning the machine. Or crying about all the so-called problems when is enough just that. We all must take some sort of responsibility for our choice in anything we do buy. Well in knowing this!

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by Dr. Radut.