sneaky wrote:
I get the same kinda atmosphere at my local Yamaha dealer. Harley dealers sell Harleys pretty much exclusively so they know there brand and Yamaha dealers have a world of other products that there involved in like 4 wheelers, jet skis, dune buggys, scooters, heck my dealer even sells all of the Polaris line as well. There is no way a dealer can have that much diversity in equipment and be able to be the best at all of it.

And to think, it all started with a piano..........

IMHO, in some ways this isn't a fair comparision. Harley offers 3 different engines. The Sportser, big V-twin, & V-Rod. How many different engines does Yamaha offer? Harley owns the V-twin/ cruiser market, Star(yamaha) has a percentage of it. It's easier to know alot about a few engines/bikes than a wide variety of different models w/ different engines. Has Harley felt the need to change ? I don't think so, but the future could be interesting. Also remember, you don't just snap your finger & produce a new engine. R&D takes time & LOTS of $$$$ As far as AMF goes, they actually saved harley. They provided them w/ cash & the York assembly plant. The Davidson family had the fore sight to understand this. They sold HD to AMF, remained in control, got their plants updated, & knowing AMF would want/ expect a quick return on their investment. This DID NOT happen,(as the family predicted/ gambled on). They w/ a group of investors bought it back for pennies on the dollar. Some say"the killing of the century"

Don't get me started on Suzuki. One of my friends bought a M109R bike. Cool bike! He adjusted the mirror and it snapped off. It was made of chromed plastic. I pointed and laughed

now that's funny/sad

I know the Yammi dealers around here aren't too knowledgeable . . . the guy I was talking to yesterday when I was looking at the Strat they had marked down couldn't figure out where to put the key Asked him several questions, and he had NO clue - ironically enough he had on HD gear (belt buckle, shirt, et cetera) - this was the finance manager to boot!

Oh well - just glad I am an informed consumer!

Have you looked real close at a HD's paint and chrome? The R*'s can't even touch it. Most of what comes to light on any of these bikes is the bad stuff the good isn't talked about near as much. HD's are great bike I would love to have a couple but I can't pay the price. Don't get me wrong I love my R*'s.

Have I ever said how much I love riding my harley!

i dunno...i was just thinking about this actually earlier while i was riding... i legit believe the roadstar is top 5 best bikes ever made

but HD really aint that bad a bike...obviously its mechanical and it will have problems and their tolerances can be a lil loose, but they are really pretty damn reliable bikes and designed to be easily rebuilt...there motors are an old design, but didnt our motor take a page from hd with the single crankpin?
I think too many people think of HD and immediately remember leaky shovels and ironheads that needed constant attention...i have an 89 evo sportster that really needs a fresh top end but it fires up faster than any bike ive ever seen! it certainly leaks hah but other than the screw on the battery coming loose from vibration, it hasnt quit on me yet

The most expensive does not necessarily mean the best quality. However they did break ground along hte lines a few times on convenience and comfort factors.

Also, I don't know what HD engine you're looking at, but every one I've seen is pushrod, cams driven off the crank via gear. I'm no HD expert though, so I may be wrong.

sportsters and evo big twins have gear driven cams and twin cams have a cam chain