WD wrote on 12/01/12 at 16:39:17:And I found just the opposite, wouldn't have another post 1964 Big Twin for love or money. Off hand, I've had 1 1920 HD Sport Twin, 2 1936 EL Knuckleheads, 2 pre-64 Pans in 50s frames, a 57 FL in an EL frame (with VL Springer), 2 K model flathead 45s, 5 Ironhead Sportsters, 2 Evo Sportsters and a 93 FXWG that ate 4 engines and 6 transmissions in 6 months. I don't count the Shovelheads (66, 68 and 70), they were a bad idea from the word go.
Minor problems with the Pans and Knuckles when they were put back in service. Fed 2 of the Ironheads to the Snake River in Idaho.
All 3 Shovels and all 3 Evos grenaded their engines and/or gear boxes.
My Savage hasn't been much more reliable the last 4 years or so than the late model HDs were, just easier to push into the barn.
Actually, you're not saying the opposite, or maybe I wasn't clear. The pre-Evo stuff was pretty crappy, and I concur - would never own one, at least not as a daily rider. There was very little real engineering in the early days. If a part broke, they just made it stronger instead of understanding WHY it broke (I think concepts like "force moment" were not well understood before computers and simulations)! The old Harleys reminded me of old brit cars that were designed by mechanics instead of engineers.
Serowbot wrote on 12/01/12 at 17:04:17:Yes,.. I've ridden Harley's... I'm not a fan...
.. but, the biggest rip against them, is the superiority complex that often (not sayin' always), goes along with them...
We've taken a lot of snubbery from Harley folk on the road whilst out on our Savages...
The criticisms are in jest,.. and play against that...
Some members here, have Harley's right now...
Understand it's tongue-in-cheek, but that's a people problem, not a machine problem. It is however, one I happen to agree with many times. Many Harley riders have their heads so far up, ummm, in the air, they don't understand that we all part of a bigger brother (and sister) hood.