I have had a couple of Harleys now, if you asked me 20yrs ago would I buy a Harley I would have replied im not buying one of those pieces of shit.

I like all brands of bikes and they are all made to suit different applications, the best bike in the world is the bike which does what you want it to do.

As it stands I have had a good run out of the Harley's I have owned except for the 2010 Fatboy Lo which I still own, in the first week of owning this bike the compensator nut loosend off and started making a rattling sound. But the good folks at Frasers Concord fixed that up for me also repaced the faulty chrome parts which where flaking of those parts. I was pissed off being a new bike but they fixed the issues.

Many people have spoken to me and bagged out Harley's but they have never owned or rode a Harley so I don't know what they have to whinge about they are idiots. I have had many japanese bikes also a Ducati which was a nice bike. What I really don't like is the people who do own Harley's who bag out other bikes saying their no good and they are a piece of shit and its Jap Crap.  All bikes have their own merits and are all great in their own unique way.

Yes the Harley doesn't handle very well or stop very well and its very overpriced in my own opinion, but there is a certain buzz about riding a Harley.

The other thing I don't understand is why people who get Harley's want to make them go faster and spend mega bucks to make them go just a bit faster, they dont handle and have shit brakes so why bother, but that is up to the individual. Personally I like the power of my 96ci its no power house but it gets me from A to B just the way I like it, otherwise I would just go and buy a Japanese sportbike which will go faster than I could possible want straight of the showroom floor.

One bike isn't enough you need 3 different bikes to satisfy your needs.

Agree with above. Different strokes for different folks. I didn't buy my Sportster to race, or go fast. I bought it to cruise around it, as regardless to the brand or shape of it, riding in the open air is the best feeling for me. If I pass a bike I nod. Doesn't matter what it is.

Anyone who feels like they're superior because they ride a fast Jap bike that goes from 0 to 100 in -1.3s can say and do as they wish. I don't care. I've got a bigger penis then them anyways.

I grew up on bikes like a lot of us - my last two have been EFI and no dramas. The earliest bike I remember riding was a Dax Honda 70 (though I think there was one before that), then I got a 250 suziki ag bike (which I stripped and modded until it was unrecognizable) which I kept for around 28 years as a bush basher. I've fucked with more carbies than I care to mention (no big deal) and only ever pitched one at a wall (off a GPX 250) but I do like the jump on and ride approch. The old bikes seemed to be built to last, but the new bikes are "ease of use" and starting to head towards "safer to ride."
Harley needs to lift their game (most of us have been pissing about that for years) but I'm hoping they get what they have now right, rather than continuing to play catch up with the jap tech - too many corners get cut for the sake of a couple of bucks per bike...they still charge too much for them.

Rocky - my sentiments also. I ride a Road King on big trips, main ride is my Vrod but i also have a Kawasaki ZX6 sport bike. I honestly love all three for what they do. I also have a trail bike which is getting used less and less but each bike has its own purpose and function. Harleys fulfill a very specific purpose and function and its not about race track dynamics. They are about laid back cool cruising - even the Vrod is a cruiser but a lot more fun punching it around than the roadie... its a sport cruiser. Harley in my view are loved for their unique character all over the world and hated because people dont understand what that unique character is all about. They are big shiny chunky lumpy loud pieces of art that live, have soul and say 'i do shit my way'. Others may think thats a wank and they typically are sports bike riders but i dont think badly of anyone who thinks this - i know they just dont get it - yet. Thats cool. Harley riders can similarly be accused of thinking sport bike riders are all wankers because they all think they can ride better than anyone else and unless u are knee scraping or mono'ing u arnt really riding. Again thats ok too because in that case the Harley rider doesnt get what sport bikes are about - pure adrenalin - nimble quick fun machines that have a huge place in the hearts of so many. As i said i enjoy all my rides and never judge any. I will often say g'day to the jap sport bike riders when i am on my harley and chat about bikes. Vice versa when on my Zx6. If you are humble and decent, respectful and genuine (which most people really are despite the gruff outer) there is rarely much substance to the 'bike genre' war....

 No flaming. We agree mostly. We know all this  and we will buy again. Maybe we need our heads read but if thats what makes a Harley rider them i'm one of 'em. Next.

 Agreed, The first things I couldn't wait to was to make it go faster and stop quicker, the brakes that come standard on an Iron would make you laugh if it wasn't such a serious letdown from the factory. Having said that Itsa fucking blast to ride it now, and I've had a few jappas in the past, but a Harley just feels "natural".

For richer or  poorer, in sickness & in health, till death, do us part! ..... End of story!

its funny but untill you actually own and ride a harley you dont realise how bloody great it is! and you wouldnt go back to anything else!

My first ride on a Harley was a real revelation. I rode a few models that first arvo and just fell in LOVE with the things.

That thumping rumble from the exhausts, the size of the Beastie, the seating postion etc; it just 'felt right'. It took me yonks to actually buy one and I had no idea about any of these HD 'issues' with the rusty bits n shit.

But I wouldn't have cared - and I still don't. I just knew I wanted one!

Older Ducatis are known for their dodgy electrics, old Triumphs leak oil and on it goes. Big f*ckin' deal.

I'm not gonna stress on this HD shit. Name me a Bike and/or Manufacturer that doesn't have some issues.

im a strong believer in. once you own a harley you wont change brands