It is so interesting to hear all of the complaining that goes on in this forum about HD. I have owned over 20 bikes, from my Norton 850 Commando to my current bikes; a 2012 Triumph Thunderbird, 2013 Victory Vegas, 2014 HD RK CVO and a 2012 Vespa 300 GTi. I enjoy all of the bikes and each one is a comprimise as almost all things are. I totally enjoy my HD. But I do not understand why anyone that despises a product or complains about a product as often as some do on this forum about HD, bother to even read the forum or spend time on a forum about a bike they so dislike. If you do not like Harleys, simply buy the bike you do like, vote with your wallet, rather than trying to convince others how poor their preferred bike is. In the end Harley is overwhelmingly dominant in the large displacement Motorcycle segment in the US. I often travel aboard, (I am writing this in Munich, Germany), and I do not see another brand that has the world wide cache of Harley Davidson. People all over Europe wear and own or carry Harley logo merchandise, HD seems to be a wonderful US ambassador and something in the US that the rest of the world admires.
I applaud HD for what appears to be a fine engine, although the verdict will take the test of time. I have enjoyed all 11 Harleys I have owned, as well as the Yamahas, BMW, Honda, and Kawis I have owned. ALL have flaws, as does almost everything else I own. But really, if some dislike HD so much, buy something you will enjoy and join those forums to tell them how much you enjoy them.