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[Chief2505]

I am new here and have been doing a lot of reading on the forum. I have come to realize that after spending big $ on a new Harley that there are several things one must do.

1.   Tear down the engine and replace the internal parts with other than HD parts.
2.   Take out the HD sound system and replace it with aftermarket parts.
3.   Replace the expensive stock suspension with aftermarket parts.
4.   Now you have a great bike but no warranty!

Harley has built its reputation on the V-Twin but reading through the forum it strikes me that what should be the MoCo biggest asset is actually its worst product. I have read over and over all of the problems that these big twin engines have. I have owned 6 HD motorcycles from the fuel injected EVO in my 96 classic to the 110 in my 13 CVO. I have not spent money to increase the horsepower on any of these bikes. No matter what I do to them they still will not be a crotch rocket. Stock horsepower has always suited me fine.

The only engine I had trouble with was the 103 in my 12 firefighter Ultra. But in all fairness that entire bike was junk from day one. Rear brakes squeal, security system issues, turn signal issues, first gear sounded like it was a siren, starter and start button issues, excessive heat, poor gas mileage not to mention an engine that sounded like a diesel at idle, at 2200 rpm and again at 2800 rpm.  Of course I was told all these things were normal and they all do that. The dealer was worthless when it came to fixing the engine and transmission. Everything else they eventually got around to fixing though. When I traded that bike in, and believe me I did not want another 103 if they all were like this one and I was lead to believe that they were. But I was not crazy giving another 20 grand to the MoCo to get rid of a bike that I felt they did not want to fix. But I hated that bike so much that I finally relented and traded it in.

The dealer principal told me he was not going to resell my 12 bike. He wanted it out of his hair. That upset me and told me he knew that engine had trouble but would not do anything about it. A few weeks after picking up my CVO I stopped at the dealer for some chrome and the sales guy stops to talk to me. He asks how I like the screaming eagle and goes on to say the guy that bought my old bike really likes it. They had to do some work to it to get it running right but he really likes it. I simply smiled and replied well they would not work on it when I owned it and that is why I do not have any service work performed here any longer.

Long story short, that one poorly built bike and the poor service I received on it cost this dealer a customer and it would have cost the MoCO a customer too if I could have found a different make that I liked.
I know this is long and I have rambled on.

My ultimate question is this:

Why do we continue to spend big dollars on a machine that the company does not care about the quality of its product, most times will not stand behind it without a fight, and all of these problems are well documented? The product is outdated and behind on technology, is made with the cheapest foreign parts and has poor customer service.

Why do we keep coming back for more?

I have my theories but am I curious to hear what others think.

[Twolanerider]

My ultimate question is this:

Why do we continue to spend big dollars on a machine that the company does not care about the quality of its product, most times will not stand behind it without a fight, and all of these problems are well documented? The product is outdated and behind on technology, is made with the cheapest foreign parts and has poor customer service.

Why do we keep coming back for more?

Not all of us do....

[CVO Brian]

Ive owned several and have logged well over 150K miles on Harley Touring Bikes in my 48 years of life. Been on a Harley since age of 23. And I have never had a single issue. Just traded in a 08 Ultra Classic with 30K miles that I loved to buy this 12 CVO Ultra that I love even more. Sorry for your bad luck with the MOCO. But out of the millions of bikes they build  I guess someone out there will not be happy.

AS far as Radio- Stock is not so good, but love my CVO SYstem. Hear my AC DC loud and clear at 80MPH
Suspension- Well I think it depends on were you live, Im a flat road rider and have no issues here in Florida, I will say, it could have been better in the hills of Sturgis but I dont live there so Im fine.
Motor- Yes the 110 is a little hot, but get it tuned and let it breath and you will find plenty of power.

People here will say, oh your lucky. But considering there are only a thousand or so memebers on this site ( not sure about the member count ) as opposed to the millions of Harley riders and hundreds of thousand CVO riders out there I think NOT. I was just in Sturgis and there were well over 500K bikes and the 7 days I was there and over a thousand miles ridden, I never saw one bike on the side of the road broken down.

Don't give up on HD Chief. And I think you know why you and others keep comming back the second you hit that start button.

[Fired00d]

Not all of us do....

X2... mine will be 10 model years old in a few days.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[110tHunDer]

 

My ultimate question is this:

Why do we continue to spend big dollars on a machine that the company does not care about the quality of its product, most times will not stand behind it without a fight, and all of these problems are well documented? The product is outdated and behind on technology, is made with the cheapest foreign parts and has poor customer service.

Why do we keep coming back for more?

I think you answered your own question:

... if I could have found a different make that I liked.

[North Georgia Hawg]

I think you answered your own question:

The new Indians may change the minds of some of us...

Quite honestly, I think the real reason I bought into the whole Harley mystique was to satisfy my middle-age male ego "crisis" more than anything else. There - I said it - My name is Ken and I am a Harleyholic. ("Hi, Ken...")


But the experience has been much more rewarding than a simple ego massage...

I LOVE motorcycles and have since I was a kid - and I have had more than a few metrics in my day. I had been off of bikes for a good while, since my ex really hated them and thought they were dangerous (and they are). I acquiesced to her wishes while my kids were growing up and I did the "responsible parent" gig... but trading a part of my soul in the process for their sakes. I don't regret doing that, but now I am in MY time with Mary, and things are different in our lives. I will no longer makes those sacrifices, as I feel that I have done my financial duty as a parent and provider. Mary feels the same about her three grown children.

As much as I enjoyed my less-expensive but much-higher-performing metrics... there just something about a Harley that gets me going. Maybe it's the look, the beautiful paint, the styling, the wonderful sound and rumbling, the CHROME!, REALLY GOOD MARKETING on the part of the MoCo... or perhaps simply my male ego. I don't know.

But I will say that since we bought my first Harley, I have met a LOT of really nice folks via the various forums - plus a select few who turned out to not be so nice and who I have cut out of my life permanently. Life is just TOO SHORT to tolerate "jerks living rent-free in your head", as a friend of mine likes to put it!

There is an interesting brotherhood/sisterhood social dynamic in the Harley ridership that frankly I never experienced with the metrics. Of course, the availability of Internet forums such as CVOHarley have done wonders to enable the sort of social behavior we see now. We didn't have that kind of communication capability back in the '70s when I began riding. So perhaps that same sort of social dynamic happens in other brands' riderships, too. I don't know, and frankly I don't care.

But in owning a Harley, I don't feel as if I'm ever "alone" with it - either at home nor on the road. I feel as if I always have friends along if I need them... and that just feels very nice!

I will also say that the tone of conversation here on CVOHarley is noticeably more civil and supportive than on any of the other Harley forums of which I am a member... and that includes pretty much all of them. Since I became active here when we bought the Honey Badger in Aug 2011, I have stopped even visiting any other Harley forums - except for our local "Georgia Crew" subgroup on HDF. I simply neither need nor desire them anymore!

Ken

[LovemyCVOgirl]

Before I bought my first Harley ('09 Soft Tail) I had been riding the Japanese version of the Harley bagger.  I thought it was the best MC there ever was!  I rode with my Harley friends and just couldn't understand what they saw in their overpriced, breakdown, oil leaking Harley's.  Not to mention that they were always bitching about something rattling or squeaking.

But that all changed in '09 when I succumbed to their teasing and traded in my Yamaha V-Star 1100 on my brand new pearl white/chopper blue Soft Tail.  From the minute I pulled out of the dealer's lot and started down the road, I was hooked!  I understood why my friends owned Harley's.  .  The Yamaha got me from point A to point B and she did it quietly, reliably and was very dependable.  But the Harley.., It got me there rumbling, thrilled, and a Hugh smile on my face!   . The Harley gave me a ride I will never forget.  . The memories of riding the Yamaha were lost in my past.  
When I ride the curves on my Harley, I like to lean so far that I can smell the pavement.  The Yamaha cried when it leaned.  Lol

And perhaps it shall be that riding my Harley and pushing the edge will bring me closer to my last day on this earth.  But I don't fear living or loving ~ What I do fear is boredom and unrealized dreams.  So, I encourage all Harley riders that if they could do anything, it would be to not let your dreams go to sleep.

My dreams fell asleep on the boring Yamaha and they woke up when I twisted the throttle on my Harley.  

[North Georgia Hawg]

Before I bought my first Harley ('09 Soft Tail) I had been riding the Japanese version of the Harley bagger.  I thought it was the best MC there ever was!  I rode with my Harley friends and just couldn't understand what they saw in their overpriced, breakdown, oil leaking Harley's.  Not to mention that they were always bitching about something rattling or squeaking.

But that all changed in '09 when I succumbed to their teasing and traded in my Yamaha V-Star 1100 on my brand new pearl white/chopper blue Soft Tail.  From the minute I pulled out of the dealer's lot and started down the road, I was hooked!  I understood why my friends owned Harley's.  .  The Yamaha got me from point A to point B and she did it quietly, reliably and was very dependable.  But the Harley.., It got me there rumbling, thrilled, and a Hugh smile on my face!   . The Harley gave me a ride I will never forget.  . The memories of riding the Yamaha were lost in my past.  
When I ride the curves on my Harley, I like to lean so far that I can smell the pavement.  The Yamaha cried when it leaned.  Lol

And perhaps it shall be that riding my Harley and pushing the edge will bring me closer to my last day on this earth.  But I don't fear living or loving ~ What I do fear is boredom and unrealized dreams.  So, I encourage all Harley riders that if they could do anything, it would be to not let your dreams go to sleep.

My dreams fell asleep on the boring Yamaha and they woke up when I twisted the throttle on my Harley.  

Judy - Mary coincidentally started out on a used V-Star 650. Then we bought an new '08 V-Star 1100 Classic for her - trading the 650 for it in Little Rock at the BBBQ rally in Sept '09 when the 650 broke down there, and the dealer couldn't get a new stator for it until the following week.

She never liked the V-Star 1100, and I HATED it! It rode like crap, and was a BEAR to work on. I had to take the exhaust OFF to even change the oil. I could never get the two carbs properly synched either, and it never really ran very well. I rode it down to H-D of Macon and took wholesale trade-in for that POS when I bought the HB, just to get rid of it! Took a bath on it, too... but at that point I didn't even care anymore. I just wanted it out of our lives.

Mary went through the Harley thing, riding my old '95 FLHTP Police E-Glide for awhile and hating every minute of it... but she much prefers her current little candy lime green Ninja 650 because it is so light and maneuverable for her.  She just likes the small sport bike style better than big heavy cruisers like Harleys. She's never ridden the Honey Badger and she has absolutely no desire to. I'm fine with that! 

To each, their own... but like you, I just love the Harley feel and rumble!

Ken

[LovemyCVOgirl]

Reading your well written post Ken, said everything I forgot to add in mine.   . You are right about the V-Star, it was not user friendly.  .  I love my Harley and as long as I can throw my leg over the seat, I will ride this MC.  . Mary has found something that works for her and that is what riding is all about.  But the best day of my MC experience was getting my first Harley.    The second best thing was getting a RED one.   

[cambo]

Before I bought my first Harley ('09 Soft Tail) I had been riding the Japanese version of the Harley bagger.  I thought it was the best MC there ever was!  I rode with my Harley friends and just couldn't understand what they saw in their overpriced, breakdown, oil leaking Harley's.  Not to mention that they were always bitching about something rattling or squeaking.

But that all changed in '09 when I succumbed to their teasing and traded in my Yamaha V-Star 1100 on my brand new pearl white/chopper blue Soft Tail.  From the minute I pulled out of the dealer's lot and started down the road, I was hooked!  I understood why my friends owned Harley's.  .  The Yamaha got me from point A to point B and she did it quietly, reliably and was very dependable.  But the Harley.., It got me there rumbling, thrilled, and a Hugh smile on my face!   . The Harley gave me a ride I will never forget.  . The memories of riding the Yamaha were lost in my past.  
When I ride the curves on my Harley, I like to lean so far that I can smell the pavement.  The Yamaha cried when it leaned.  Lol

And perhaps it shall be that riding my Harley and pushing the edge will bring me closer to my last day on this earth.  But I don't fear living or loving ~ What I do fear is boredom and unrealized dreams.  So, I encourage all Harley riders that if they could do anything, it would be to not let your dreams go to sleep.

My dreams fell asleep on the boring Yamaha and they woke up when I twisted the throttle on my Harley.  

Wow! I am a new member and do not know much about the folks on this forum. But if you are not a writer you have missed your calling. I am a harley fan for the same reasons you stated, though I can not come close to your level of eloquence trying to describe why. So I will just say 'ditto'!

[ultrarider123]

Thought I would chime in here on this one.  
First bike was a 450L Suzuki.  Bought it on a Friday, totaled it the next day....bought it again a year later (future brother-in-law...which is now EX bro in law...rebuilt it) and rode the fool out of it.  Shaft drive was great...no mechanical problems.  Have owned Honda's, Kawi's, Suzuki's and all were great bikes.  I just loved riding.  If I could find a job that paid me to ride and I could take Vickie, man I'd be in hog (pardon the pun) heaven.
My first HD was my dad's '72 and while it was big, heavy, rattled, leaked everywhere and would vibrate the fillings out of your teeth, it was the bee's knees when it came to fullfilling that "gotta ride" need in all of us much better than any of the other bikes I had owned.
Honda used to have the slogan "You meet the nicest people on a Honda".  I'm here to tell you, you really don't meet many folks on a Honda-Kawa-Yama-zuki.  After all the HD's I'd had through the '80's and '90's, I bought a new 1800 GW in 2001 (wild hair moment) and traveled quite a bit on it...just never got the same responses on it and it was a all new model in 2001.  Nobody really cared cause, and this is my opinion after owning one, it didn't have one bit of pizazz.  Own a Harley, however, and you meet all kinds of people.  "Hey, I used to ride one of those"; "I rode a (enter the year here) back in my day/during the war"; "Man, that paint is beautiful"; "That's a nice ride"; "Where y'all (or you) from?"; "Bet that set you back some"; "What model is that?"; "They sure make a good looking bike"....all things I've heard from complete strangers while on one or another of the Harley Davidson's I've been pleased to call my own.  There is something about one that keeps us/me coming back even after I swore I'd never own another one.  Out of date?  Yep.  Old school looks?  Yep.  Issues with motor/tranny/electronics/etc?  Yep.  Keeps a smile on your face a mile wide through sun/rain/cold/heat?  You bet it does!  THAT'S why we keep coming back.  I'm a proud Harley owner.

[michaelbmenaker]

I have to say that I don't like -- but accept the reality of having to modify intake/exhaust/AFR to overcome the EPA mandated requirements. A CAT removal or new header, free flowing slip-ons and a dyno tune are just part of the deal anymore.

But, the stereo is fine for me, and I have never had a problem with stock suspension. I have owned many motorcycles over the years. My first HD was a '90 Springer, had 95 (totaled, but I was repairable), 96 and '02 (CVO) Road Kings and a '10 CVO Streetglide. They just keep getting better.

There's a price to pay if you prefer old technology in a low-emissions world. It's worth it to me. My Harleys all got more miles than any of the bikes I owned before. Just more grins per mile...

[blacktop]

I've 4 Harleys since '99. Never had a problem with any of them. The latest is a '13 Anni and it's stock and am happy with it so far - no plans yet for any mods. The heat - not an an issue here in Canada where it snows most of the year lol ( not really). For me....The seat is great, suspension is OK and the radio is OK, handle bars are a fit. I'm not saying that a little more hp/torque wouldn't be nice but for now I'll keep it stock.

[bear tracks]

I've owned a barn-find Triumph Bonneville, two Honda Gold Wings and more recently two Electra-Glides.  All of the bikes needed mechanical repairs throughout my ownership.  I loved them all because they made me feel alive, but I am addicted to V-twins rumbling through true dual pipes.  Yes, I am a Harleyholic as well.   

[braymond52]

You have a lot to say about the MoCo based on your your experience with one of the six Harleys that you've owned.  What about the other five?  Your must have had somewhat of a different opinion to keep buying new bikes, especially after the bad one you described.

Most people I know that own Toyotas love them - they say they're incredibly reliable.  I bought a brand new Toyota back in the '80s and it was not reliable.  My point is that all car and motorcycle companies will occasionally build a crappy bike.  Harley-Davidson and toyota included.

I owned a 2011 Road Glide Ultra with the 103 motor and I thought it was a great bike - no troubles whatsoever in 2.5 years of ownership and 15k miles.  If not for falling in love with my CVO, I'd still own it.   

[mark]

Why do we keep coming back?  Because when you're parked in front of your favorite watering hole (or filling up with gas) no one stops to "ooh" and "ahh" at a Suzuki.

[tweeter13]

Well I came back when I could find a CVO ultra for sale new.  My next one will be a CVO breakout new or used.  I sure would like to have more.  Don't even care if I don't get a chance to ride it cause I love this ultra.  To me they are also a piece of art I would put a couple in the living room if I could get away with it. 

Todd. 

[LovemyCVOgirl]

Wow! I am a new member and do not know much about the folks on this forum. But if you are not a writer you have missed your calling. I am a harley fan for the same reasons you stated, though I can not come close to your level of eloquence trying to describe why. So I will just say 'ditto'!

Thank you for the compliment.    .   No, I'm not a writer.., I'm a Harley rider and the words I write are truly written from the experiences and the emotions I feel when I'm one with the wind on my MC.

[Chief2505]

You have a lot to say about the Mo-Co based on your your experience with one of the six Harley's that you've owned.  What about the other five?  Your must have had somewhat of a different opinion to keep buying new bikes, especially after the bad one you described.

Most people I know that own Toyota's love them - they say they're incredibly reliable.  I bought a brand new Toyota back in the '80s and it was not reliable.  My point is that all car and motorcycle companies will occasionally build a crappy bike.  Harley-Davidson and Toyota included.

I owned a 2011 Road Glide Ultra with the 103 motor and I thought it was a great bike - no troubles whatsoever in 2.5 years of ownership and 15k miles.  If not for falling in love with my CVO, I'd still own it.   

The other 5 were great bikes and I had no trouble with them at all. My 2004 went 80,000 miles and never ate the cam chain tensioner (but it wasn't far off). I understand a bad product will get through on occasion and I accept that. What I find difficult to accept is the way a company and or dealer stand behind that product when a bad one does get through. The true test of any company is how well they take care of the occasional bad product. In my case they did not.
But my observation and post was not based merely on my own experience. It was also based on all the experiences of everyone that posts here about poor service and the "they all do that" line that the Mo Co must drill into every dealers brain!
I came back, begrudgingly to another Harley because I absolutely hated that 2012 bike and I could not get it fixed. Believe me I took a bath on that bike. But I do love my Screaming Eagle!

I test rode a gold wing, just didn't like the feel. I test rode a Victory. A smooth powerful quiet cool bike but I just could not get past its looks. The BMW and others of that style my wife said and I quote " You will not get me on that thing" I even looked at a Yamaha Venture but the lack of technology scared me off.

So I, like the rest that have commented on this post. I am hooked on the mystique of the Harley and I agree with many of the other posters that you get a lot of comments wow that bike is gorgeous or cool! Something along those lines. My brother in law that I ride with a lot has a gold wing and he never gets those comments! LOL 

So I guess that makes me a Harleyhalic too!!

[BaggerProud]

It started in 66 with the purchase of a Triumph Bonnie which I had to keep in a friends garage cuz Pop would have tanned my hide if he knew. That girl lasted 1 day before I broke her down and chopped her and 1 year before I got my first Harley. I've had knukles, pans, shovels, evos. I lived thru AMF and "it ain't leakin' she's just markin' her spot". Thru Honda-drops/bonfires and getting stopped by LEOs every 20 miles for nothing more than "We don't appreciate them 'sickles round here". Every one of those scooters had some issue BUT every one of those issue resolutions was the life line between her and me. When she coughed the wrong way she knew I was gonna fix her and I knew that when the chips were down that piece of rollin' metal had a soul and she would not let me down.
Now, I own the bike of my dreams. I remember in 2005 when those yellow CVO SEEGs came out. I actually FRAMED a picture of one for the garage. And now, 47 years from the start, after losing my 14 year project love, most of my garage and a lot of hair on my head due to fire, there she sits. The most beautiful scoot in the universe - 103 cubic inches (soon to be some more) of the sexiest lady to roll down the boulevard.
Why do we keep coming back? Because, for me, Harley Davidson motorcycles are more than metal & paint and a means of transportation - that's a Yama-Honda-Kawa-Suz-BMW-ski blah, blah, blah. Harley Davidsons have personality, have character, have soul.
But then what the hell do I know?  A 63 year old kid that loves triple digit speed, real tight twisties, naked women, and beer!! AND MY LADY 

[LovemyCVOgirl]

It started in 66 with the purchase of a Triumph Bonnie which I had to keep in a friends garage cuz Pop would have tanned my hide if he knew. That girl lasted 1 day before I broke her down and chopped her and 1 year before I got my first Harley. I've had knukles, pans, shovels, evos. I lived thru AMF and "it ain't leakin' she's just markin' her spot". Thru Honda-drops/bonfires and getting stopped by LEOs every 20 miles for nothing more than "We don't appreciate them 'sickles round here". Every one of those scooters had some issue BUT every one of those issue resolutions was the life line between her and me. When she coughed the wrong way she knew I was gonna fix her and I knew that when the chips were down that piece of rollin' metal had a soul and she would not let me down.
Now, I own the bike of my dreams. I remember in 2005 when those yellow CVO SEEGs came out. I actually FRAMED a picture of one for the garage. And now, 47 years from the start, after losing my 14 year project love, most of my garage and a lot of hair on my head due to fire, there she sits. The most beautiful scoot in the universe - 103 cubic inches (soon to be some more) of the sexiest lady to roll down the boulevard.
Why do we keep coming back? Because, for me, Harley Davidson motorcycles are more than metal & paint and a means of transportation - that's a Yama-Honda-Kawa-Suz-BMW-ski blah, blah, blah. Harley Davidsons have personality, have character, have soul.
But then what the hell do I know?  A 63 year old kid that loves triple digit speed, real tight twisties, naked women, and beer!! AND MY LADY 

Well written    I enjoyed reading your response!   

[FLSTFI Dave]

For all Harleys Faults and short comings, it has character.  No other bike get the attention, or draws conversation like a Harley.

For the most part mine have been reliable.  Since 2002, only one of my Harley's has ever left me stranded out of town, that is my my 2012 CVO Road Glide, the voltage regulator failed on a Sunday on my way to MI.  Luckily my wife's street glide used the same battery, so we switched batteries and rode 1.5 hours, switched again, rode 1.5 hours, switched again and made it to our destination in MI.  Dealer fixed it in MI right away.  Got the recall for it in the mail three weeks later.  The 2012 CVO Clutch Master Cylinder failed, in my local dealer parking lot....So wife had to come get me.

However my 09 in 42 K miles never had a issue.  My wifes 09 Heritage in 91K miles had a stator go out at 51K while still in the 2 year warranty.  My wifes 11 Street glide went 39K with no issues before I traded it on a 13 for her.  11K on the 13 Street glide no issues.  7500 on my 13 CVO King no issues.  03 Fatboy, no issues.

Will I get another?  You bet.

Most people I know that own Toyotas love them - they say they're incredibly reliable.  I bought a brand new Toyota back in the '80s and it was not reliable.  My point is that all car and motorcycle companies will occasionally build a crappy bike.  Harley-Davidson and toyota included.

While I loved my Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2009 it was the least reliable vehicle I have owned since 1981.  It spent more time in service for quality issues in the 24,000 miles I had it than my 06 GMC truck, 07 Impala, and my 01 GMC truck did combined.  The 01 Truck had 135,000 miles on it when I got the 06, which has 80K on it an the impala has 130K on it.

[D-N-D]

There is nothing out there close thats why we keep buying Harley's !!!!! They make so many Models you got to like one of them.

[smkblwr]

for me it was the history, my 98 road king,"cracked case, blown cyl base gaskets and unfindable rattle" it was a good bike. it had 54000 on it, my 03 road king classic BEST ONE I HAVE HAD. only one issue was a pin hole in the tank pickup line in the 46000 miles i had on it. So i figuared upgrade to an new ultra(2010.5). well i have put just over half what a new GW would have cost me in just Fix'n the darn thing"motor boom 5000miles", primary"rattleing 6500miles"they all do that",radio"smoked", waiting on the compensator to go in the next couple of thousand miles, don't even get me started about the clear coat on my CVO. then got in a fit and got a 2012Night Rod Special, "thinking at least the motor was engineered by porsche" puked oil down the side of the bike in the rain at 360 miles, exhaust flange nuts fell off at 600 miles. Personally the history and mystic have left me. I have a bad taste in my mouth from it, and an empty pocket. The next new one will not be an HD. There are to many other companies that want my money and want to help me with my issues instead of "they all do that". But since i have fixed most everything with the ultra"not much left thats OEM" i will ride it till the wheels fall off.

[brosen101]

On my 4th HD in the last 10 years - I'm hooked.  We all likely have different reasons for "coming back," and it's probably not for practicality reasons!  For me, it's all about the fun factor.  I enjoy tinkering with old technology, the routine of cleaning that outdated but real "purty" chrome, and hearing that air cooled V twin.  I get a giddiness when riding a Harley that I have never felt with any other brand.  It makes absolutely no logical sense whatsoever, but I stopped fighting it about 10 years ago and have ridden Harleys exclusively ever since. 

Brian

[jaymedic44]

Bought my first Harley in 69. It was total junk. But since then I have owned over a dozen Harley's and at time have had as many as four at a time as well as many other bikes ( Honda, BSA, triumph, ect.)
Over all I must say the Harley's have been pretty good. My 09 cvo ultra 110 was using oil at a rate of a quart every 600 miles due to a ring that was not installed properly at the factory and my GPS is junk but other than that ok. That being  said I think I will buy a 2014 Indian. I also have a few Polaris vehicles and they have been flawless so I expect the new Indian will also be. Besides Harley is just getting to crazy on there pricing with nothing new to offer but different colors..

[dayne66]

                        I'm sure everyone knows the definition of insanity!

[lowflight]

Harley is Iconic Americana!  :2vrolijk_21
The vision that comes to one’s mind when you say motorcycle is that of a Harley!
Just as the vision of a helicopter is the Huey!
To me I cannot consider another brand. I rode those before AMF and those while AMF owned the MoCo that I considered junk, so much so that after 1,000 miles on a brand new bike (78) I took it all the way down, every single nut and bolt off the thing and started over. While there are still some flaws -every time I ride I get off my bike I am very pleased with the overall Engineering improvements that the brand has seen.

[chiefs584ever]

Why do we keep coming back?  Because when you're parked in front of your favorite watering hole (or filling up with gas) no one stops to "ooh" and "ahh" at a Suzuki.

AMEN Brother!

[johnsachs]

I LOVE them............ for a number of reasons.
I love riding them  , I love fixing them  , I love where the stock is 
John .