Harley guy converting?

[Cuda 69]

Kinda,sorta ,agree with Steve,BUT...you can sell them for more,but they cost more up front.Almost any part cost at least $100..So what you have into the bike generally speaking is alot more than you'll ever get out of it. As I always say,if it's got 2 wheels, ride! I try to buy American to but doesn't always mean the money stays here. Ever heard the word OFFSHORE ACCOUNT?

[crazy steve]

....Almost any part cost at least $100..

See, that's the common misconception; because it's Harley, it will always be expensive. That is absolutely not true. Sure, if the only place you go for parts is the dealer, parts won't be cheap, but they can be a LOT less than the same part for a comparable metric bike; I've done price comparisons. Not in every case, but more often than not. And if all you need is a stock replacement part and don't mind buying slightly used, a lot of times you can get parts dirt cheap from guys who replace perfect OEM bits with chrome goodies. I've bought a lot of take-off bits off eBay (some literally new as the owner replaced right off the showroom floor) for pennies on the dollar. Plus the fact that nearly any part can be found for nearly any Harley....

[jetmechmarty]

If I go to the nearest dealer for Yamaha parts, they are not cheap. I do a lot of searching to get a break.

[Irondog]

Last I was aware, that was only true of the motorcycle boots. "Made in the USA" is apparently too expensive for bikers, so Red Wing moved that biz overseas. I don't think Red Wing has biker boots at all anymore. The rest of the Red Wing shoes, including the ones on my feet, are made in Minnesota.

I don't know.....my Red Wings are the high-top, lace-up, loggers. I didn't look to see where they were made when I bought them. All I was aware of at the time was that Red Wing made a good pair of boots.....until I bought them and seen where they were made. Don't get me wrong....they're still a heckuva pair of boots...just not MADE IN AMERICA. It kinda makes me sad....everything is going to the overseas factories. I could go on and on....but....

[Brent]

See, that's the common misconception; because it's Harley, it will always be expensive. That is absolutely not true. Sure, if the only place you go for parts is the dealer, parts won't be cheap, but they can be a LOT less than the same part for a comparable metric bike; I've done price comparisons. Not in every case, but more often than not. And if all you need is a stock replacement part and don't mind buying slightly used, a lot of times you can get parts dirt cheap from guys who replace perfect OEM bits with chrome goodies. I've bought a lot of take-off bits off eBay (some literally new as the owner replaced right off the showroom floor) for pennies on the dollar. Plus the fact that nearly any part can be found for nearly any Harley....

That matches my experience with HD parts. New custom chrome stuff is expensive, but parts that make them go are much cheaper than Honda...
Stock used is really cheap. I am running HD shocks from an FLH (big touring frame electraglide, road king etc) on my XS1100.

Before any XS purist get too excited about american hd parts on a japanese bike... Shocks were made in Japan by showa. Not high dollor shocks but much better than my 30 year old worn out originals. Copied that mod from an XSive I met in Wisconsin

[ddragon63]

Ya'll should step into the Ducati Dealership and pirce parts!!!
Thats why the SuperBike is no longer in my stable!

Valve check every 6k and timing belts every 12k or 3 years. plus they chrome plated the opening rockers from the factory and they liked to flake off.... After 28k miles and doing the valves 3 times and belts twice and replacing 5 of 8 opening rockers I decided its time for someone else to enjoy the Italian beauty!

I sure miss the power and sound of the L twin and open dry clutch thou... nothing turns heads like the sound of a Duc lumping thru town! Harley guy's give you respect and Jap sport bike riders envy you.

this is the last day she was @ my house...

[Joab]

Aww...I have always wanted a Ducati...are they all that much of a pain in expense and maintenance?

[ddragon63]

Aww...I have always wanted a Ducati...are they all that much of a pain in expense and maintenance?

Compaired to a Jap sports bike they are ALOT of work.. or ALOT of money. For example the fisrt time it needed valves adjusted and belts I did a dumb thing... took it to the shop. $250 for belts and change, $198 for valve inspection, $49 per valve that needs to be adjusted. If the opening rocker plating was flaking off, not to worry they have "Reman" ones for $98 each. I needed belts, 4 valves adjusted and 2 rockers.... OUCH!

But I will say this... per cubic inch they are less HP than Jap bikes. But nothing feels as glued to the road than a Ducati. My buddies are glad I got back on the R1 cuz now they can keep up with me thru the corners.

Ultimately what got me off the Duc was the saddle. it is WAY uncomfortable for a longer ride. Especially when your 6 foot 218lbs and have a bad lower back!

I will own another. I want a Sport Classic 1000 or a big cc monster. something more upright with a bigger saddle.

[Rasputin]

I don't know.....my Red Wings are the high-top, lace-up, loggers. I didn't look to see where they were made when I bought them. All I was aware of at the time was that Red Wing made a good pair of boots.....until I bought them and seen where they were made. Don't get me wrong....they're still a heckuva pair of boots...just not MADE IN AMERICA. It kinda makes me sad....everything is going to the overseas factories. I could go on and on....but....

Not to turn this into a HBT thread but the whole overseas manufacturing is taking away from our own countries abilities to have a stable economy. The simple fact is we are all wanting value for our money. If Harbour freight or Princess Auto will sell us something that will do the job why would we spend more to have one from our countries makers.
If I can buy things I will use frequently from a Canadian maker I will. If it is something I need for only a one time use or infrequent use I will buy the cheap one. Every single foreign part or product we buy has its consequences be it a birthday balloon or a car.
What it boils down to is that foreign manufacturers (child labor or whatever) are making an equal or superior product for less.
What does a person do? We all have limited funds (in some way) and we do the best we can. I guess the best I can do is to buy from a Canadian or USA dealer thhat sells the stuff I need. If their supplier is foreign well that will just have to do.
Incidentally when I bought my 79SF it was the by far best value for the money and Harley was (around that time) in the AMF mode which was made in china anyways. Besides I liked riding and not fixing back then.
Ok Rant over as I seemed to have settled down a bit

[BA80]

[EricHa]

I believe that the air cooled Ducatis are cheaper to maintain than the Superbikes i.e. 748/916 series. I really wanted a 748 about 10 years ago but wound up getting a Monster 800. It was a great bike for the short time that I had it (sold to finance home expansion-kids). It had good power from 3000rpm to 9000rpm. Kind of like an XS.

[ddragon63]

I believe that the air cooled Ducatis are cheaper to maintain than the Superbikes i.e. 748/916 series. I really wanted a 748 about 10 years ago but wound up getting a Monster 800. It was a great bike for the short time that I had it (sold to finance home expansion-kids). It had good power from 3000rpm to 9000rpm. Kind of like an XS.

Even the air cooled ones have timing belts and the odd Desmo valvetrain. It is very cool to see how the 2 rocker arm per valve works (1 too open 1 to close it) very ingenious way to do it. but What a PITA to adjust.... its how they make the L twins rev so well with out rattling apart. The peek HP on my 748 was make @ 11,000 rpm

[Danny Crawdad]

I work with a bunch of Harley owners and occasionally ride with them. I get some good-natured ribbing about my "little bike", but then again I dish just as much back about their $30,000 bikes that are missing two cylinders. The way I figure it, I bought a bike to ride, not to enter some serious wiener-waving contest about what brand is on the bike. Ride it, enjoy it, ignore everything else.

[Irondog]

...<snipped>..... I bought a bike to ride, not to enter some serious wiener-waving contest about what brand is on the bike. Ride it, enjoy it, ignore everything else.

Now, that's some funny stuff and so true. It really shouldn't matter WHAT you ride....as long as you DO! I know my buds place a LOT of emphasis on WHAT you ride, not what you ARE riding. It doesn't matter if it's a $30,000 bike or a $500.00 metric. The fact of the matter is that you're enjoying a 2-wheel adventure and nothing can disguise that fact.

[b.walker5]

Now, that's some funny stuff and so true. It really shouldn't matter WHAT you ride....as long as you DO! I know my buds place a LOT of emphasis on WHAT you ride, not what you ARE riding. It doesn't matter if it's a $30,000 bike or a $500.00 metric. The fact of the matter is that you're enjoying a 2-wheel adventure and nothing can disguise that fact.

Spoken like a true Non-Harley rider.

I totally agree with you but you're never gonna convince the fashion conscious Harley rider on that. I refer to them as people with LDS. (Little Dick Syndrome)