It's a strange sentence to hear so often for a company that has been making motorcycles succesfully for 120+ years. A lot of manufacturers have come and gone in that time yet the "unreliable" Harley Davidson lives on....
Whenever I hear this statement, it tends to come from someone who has never owned a Harley, has read an article about a bad Harley experience, or knows someone who knows someone who had a Harley that broke down all the time. In all honesty, I think i do this computer tech and cars so I can't even be annoyed at anyone for saying this. I can however, educate them.
Looking at data from hagarty.com the average lifespan of a motorcyle is about 12yrs. The survival rates after the first 12 yrs of each major Japanese manufacturer has Harley Davidson's clear above the rest. Japanese bikes have always been considered to have a high build quality so they make for an interesting comparison.
Albeit their bikes are mostly sportsbikes which are ridden hard while Harley owners are well known for taking meticulous care of their bikes and riding for the enjoyment rather than the speed.
The data shows that another 25years on and Harleys are still at a 75% survival rate compared to Honda, the closest of the Japanese manufacturers, that sits below 50%.
Interesting stat for a bike that is unreliable...
One myth of the poor performing Harley was the sound. The Vtwin engine with both pistons mounted onto the same pin at a 45 degree angle and both spark plugs firing at the same time gave the very destinctive sound that everyone now knows. PO-TA-TO - Harley even tried to trade mark this in 94'.
That bang-bang-pop makes the bike sound like it is struggling to idle which to a bike owner who is used to hearing the smooth bang-bang-bang-bang of clockwork engine running flawlessly. One reason why non Harley owners used to think the bikes were unreliable - nope they were made that way!
The other is the famed Harley wobble. That Vtwin engine that gives the HD its infamous sound also contributes to the wobble, which to those who havent ridden a Harley or who have just sat on and revved the tits off it, makes the bike look unstable. On the contrary, because of the forward and back counterbalance of the Vtwin pistons, the Harley Davidson is smooth and steady.....as long as it is moving.
Another reason for the stigma comes from the sale of HD to AMF (American Machine and Foundry) in 1969. The production of Harley's was streamlined and wokers were laid off. This cost cutting resulted in poor quality manufacturing of the bikes which when competing against the Japanese big four in North America, led to a large drop in sales.
The company almost went bankrupt but in 1981 a group of investors bought the company for $80mill and turned it around. The bikes produced during this 12year ownership by AMF contributed to Harleys poor reputation around reliabilty.
Like with anything, If you look after it, it will last. Harleys require attention and love to get the longevity out of them. The great thing about owning a Harley is the huge market of readily available parts should you need something or want something for your bike.
Buy a Harley, you won't regret it. I sure as hell don't.
Comments