While I don’t have anything against the bikes that Harley builds, I’m not going to support a company that threw its own customer base under the bus in an effort to go upscale.
I think it was the customers who put them on the spot . They had bikes selling for 9k but the traditional Harley owners and dealers downplayed their efforts to the extend they just had to discontinue their cheaper offering as they could it achieve economy of scales.
I was hell bent on the Fat Boy until I found out that Australasian and European HDs are made in Thailand. As are Triumph! No problem with that, but if they’re going to make them there, price them like everyone else does.
@@healingplaces My 2013 V7 Special is a tick under 69,000 trouble free kilometers. Yes, it had teething problems that would p-off anyone with clean fingernails, but once sorted... Valve adjustments, oil changes, tires and basic common maintenance is all it has asked in return for many many great days in the saddle. There is a pleasure I only find in 'old school'
@yukonica4560 , one of the problems , at least here in the US , is that Guzzi doesn't have any dealers that you could even get a bike from . I would love to try one , but , I can't even find one for sale . I think that's what keeps a lot of very good bikes from being popular is that lack of dealers that carry them .
@@JoshuaSmith-fc8kg I was poking fun at that fact (dealership woes) in my original post. My bike arrived in a shipping crate. I generally source parts from a supplier in Texas.
Harley is having a lot of electrical issues on new models...very interesting they update some stuff and immediately start having issues. But also their prices, not worth what you get vs what they ask for their bikes...granted, id never drop 18-25k for a KTM or Beemer either. I just watched a video on the 1390 KTM, way too many electronics on that thing and all of the switches on both the left and right handlebars...if i wanted that buttons/switches on a machine, id just buy a fighter jet lol. I just want to sit on a bike, turn the key and go...show me my speed, indicators lights and how much fuel i have...it doesn't need to be anymore than that, all of the flashy stuff is better left on a race track
I find most of this type of list and discussion baffling. Motorcycling is inherently irrational because it is a passion and we are moved by it. If performance matters, seek out the bike with the most performance, doesn’t matter to me so there are great bikes I would never buy. If reliability matters, seek out the models from any manufacturer that has a good reputation, if style matters buy what you like, I would never buy a cruiser American or Metric because I just don’t get it. Figure out what matters, what moves you and how to balance out the negative factors, every make and every model has its negatives. I bought my ‘03 BMW because I like the look, towards the sport bike side of things but not too much, like the bike’s touring side because it’s not too much. It is fast enough, but not too much, nimble enough, comfortable enough for long hauls, reliable enough, a good blend for what I enjoy even though there are bikes that in each attribute will out perform it. I am willing to pay a little extra for owning the BMW because it is such a nice balance of what matters to me, it moves me, it captured my attention at first glance and first ride, completely irrational, completely passion. I love my Moto Guzzi as much for what it isn’t as for what it is. I didn’t buy it for any other reason than it makes me smile every time I walk up to it, every time it rocks on start up and throttle opening, every time I ride even though it is “less of a bike” than if I had bought something else. I wouldn’t buy any bike that didn’t move me, even if it costs a little more in some way
I have a BMW R18 this is not a bike for everyone. It has such rich character to it. However, in saying that there is aa big negative to the bike and that it is left to right wabble/shake. I do know that this is something to expect with such a large motor it is annoying. As for service and quality, Launceston BMW has made this bike very worthwhile. They have been a pinicle of good service, never once have I had a complaint. If I pull in with a question I am greeted with a free coffee and a good chat. Recently I was involved in an accident where an SUV hit me. I took most of the damage and landed in the Hospital and a rider from my club rode my bike home. It was a Panzer of a bike with only scratches. Those scratches cost $15,000 aud so we are waiting on all the parts to come in. I love the service contract that they offer, I would do it again when this one runs out. All I have to do is pull in and everything gets done without drama. In 1 1/2 years I have put on 30,000 km. They do an amazing job. I wish other bike companies would offer service contacts.
I was a bike mechanic in a multi brand dealership that sold 3 Japanese brands ( not Kawasaki) and Harley’s. I have a 1996 CBR600 with 60,000 ks which is fast, comfortable, fun, runs faultlessly and has never had any issues. My best mate has given up riding because of the awful experience he has had after buying a late model second hand HD two years ago. If you want drama free riding buy JAPANESE. I have heard good things about CFmoto but I would wait a few years before trying the Chinese brands. Let someone else find out if they are building problems.
Definitely a risky video to put out, because as you say it risks alienating a lot of your viewers. However here is my twopenneth for what it is worth. I have been motorcycling for over 54 years and for most of that time I have been almost exclusively riding Hondas. Honda have always had a bike in their range to suit me and over the years I have had no real problems with reliability, apart from some fairly minor surface corrosion and the very occasional and minor mechanical/electrical issues. I say minor, because non had caused me to actually break down that was until very recently. However, when I did breakdown the result was that it has ended my relationship with Honda motorcycles. The fault itself was relatively minor and easily fixable, although it did take a month to fix. The real problem I had was with Honda customer care, which quite frankly was appalling. So bad I swore I would never buy another Honda bike. Simply put, they did not want to know, even though their own independent claim resolution body were advising them the issues were their responsibility. Anyway, I moved on and bought a BMW and what an eye opener. Over two years and not missed a beat, beautifully made, very high quality and an excellent dealer and warranty service. No issues at all with quality, just a couple of minor recalls and the reassurance of a long warranty and great dealership network. Moral of the story for me, is the actual bike is only part of the story, you also need to know the manufacturer and dealership will also have your back if something does go wrong.
After having worked in a dealership (shipping and receiving) that sold primarily European brands I would never own anything from RE, KTM, or Husky. The RE’s require service every 3k miles (to include valve checks) and KTM’s have chronic electrical issues along with the highest rate of crate damaged motorcycles (shipping). I also completely changed my mind on Ducati as they seem to be able to get parts for service in a timely fashion. They keep the dealerships well stocked (as does BMW) on normal service items.
Our household has two Indians, a Chieftain and a Scout Bobber (wife's ride) which we both love. I recently picked up a Triumph Scrambler 400X and love this little bike for around town.
The newest bike i have is a 2013 Honda CB 1100 the others are a 1971 BMW R50/5 , 1990 Harley FLHS 1970 Norton commando restoration project. You kinda know where im coming from.
My Ducati Supersport has been way more reliable than my old Kawasaki Ninja 650 (both bought new), I think is more about specific models than brands Also I think you cant judge current brand reliability by their reliability 10-20 years ago, things change
I made myself promise to myself to stick with the top Japanese manufacturers as much as possible. All other brands are a gamble, hit and miss. Picking most of the other brands will depend on whether you have a reliable dealership nearby with good parts and service support. It also matters if you are buying new or used. H-D can be a nightmare if you buy new and depend on them for maintenance, even in the USA. Very high maintenance costs and they play "Saw" level games when it comes to honoring warranty coverage. Their shady sales tactics are nothing honorable either. I don't have experience with either Indian or Triumph to say anything, but I hardly believe they can match the top Japanese brands anywhere in the world. My 2 cents.
Own a 21 sportglide....great bike...had a bunch of Japanese bikes but my age needed me to go with forward controls....was hesitant but don't regret it...can't speak highly enough about the harley sportglide...love it
Interesting topic. Don’t have your experience with bikes but currently have a Honda CB500x, great bike for what it is. Would love a Harley lowrider st one day. Couldn’t justify it but love the look of the Royal Enfield Interceptor or the triumph Bonneville. Enjoying your clips👍
Odd that people would get worked up over brands *you* happen to like. Mine would be anything pre '2wheeled-Operating-System-that-can't-function-without-an-IT-department', from there it's simple: money plays a huge role and it needs to be a v-twin. Riding a 1050cc atm, too smol, aiming for a few sizes larger, but I'm happy anyway.
I will only own/ride 2 brands and that’s because they’re the only 2 that have never left me stranded and that’s H-D and Yamaha. I’ve owned/ridden every bike available in America/Canada and those 2 have been reliable as an Anvil and I can’t say that about the rest.
I don't know about Harley Davidson these days. I have a 1988 Lowrider Sport, it has been very reliable in the 35 years I have had it. I have a 2022 Pan Am, it is pretty cool, but the tech is problematic. It is in the shop at present for an idle problem, at 14,000km, over one week now and they can't tell me what the issue is. It is not idling after a 30min ride, revs go from 1000 to 1500, rather than the normal 1200 rpm, then it cuts out. I think it is a crack in the inlet manifold, that is opening up when it is warm. I had battery issues, which the shop refused to address, I fixed by buy a new battery and replacing it myself. I had starter clutch issue, they replaced under warrantee. I had service issues where they didn't tighten the spin on oil filter, I noticed oil dripping from it after the service and I was able to turn it a full 3/4 turn to make it tight, and had to top up the oil. Great bike, but for my modern Harley Davidson experience, not so great so far. I have friends that have BMW, the service costs seem to be very expensive, even for old bikes. My daughter has a Royal Enfield 350 and I have a friend with a 650, no problems at all.
The Japanese bikes are hard to beat for performance, reliability and price. I did some research on the Honda CMX1100 cruiser and surprisingly it’s performance compares favourably to much more expensive cruisers.
I agree. I've put 60k miles or so on several bikes from your top list. In fact, I have a Thruxton with 62k miles and a Road King with 58k miles in the garage now. The Triumph had one issue with a little dowl in the gear box that had to be replaced. Aside from that both have been as reliable as a sunrise. I've only owned Ducs from your bottom rung and they were much less reliable and much more expensive to maintain. Still love them though.
I'm not a cruiser rider but I agree with your analysis, I'd extend the lemon list to anything European if its my cash we're spending. If anyone out there wants to give me a Ducati, and pay for any maintenance, if it's in mint condition, and less that a year old, I might take it.
A Harley Davidson owner talking about bikes he likes is like a wombat talking about building a rocket ship, is this a parody cause I was laughing most of the time. Your list is upside down mate. I have 40years rider experience and yes I've riden Harleys I think their dangerous too slow no brakes no handling except for the sporties.
Like watching your videos mate I have a Harley-Davidson electra glide ultra classic 2010 for the lasts 3 years 9 months no issues there and I love it and I have a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 4 years 17000 kilometres no issues there although I got it new its been fun for me anyway no brand is perfect Harley-Davidson is expensive but if you by second hand its not so
I pretty much agreed with how you put things. I’ve owned a few of those brands over the years. Mostly they were used and like you stated more than once, it’s your opinion.
I currently have a 2018 KTM Super Duke 1290 R. I haven’t had a single problem out of the bike since I purchased it. I considered selling it for the new 1390 SDR EVO but decided to keep the bike and purchase a new Indian Scout 101. I may one day purchase the new KTM but I would like a more cruiser oriented bike for now. The only problem I have with the Indian is the value proposition. Indian is charging almost the same amount of money for the Scout as KTM for the Super Duke. KTM gives you so much more for only 3K dollars more. Maybe I am making the wrong decision but only time will tell.
@@twmclean1 I love my Moto Guzzi V7 Special. I meet with a local group monthly, some of them have 100k miles or more on a bike and own multiple and have been owners for decades. I think the biggest issue is with such small sales numbers, dealer and local support is thinner than other models. But the community and forums have a wealth of knowledge to share.
I think are models under the so called unreliable brands that are really good without any major issues. It is difficult to say a brand is unreliable without being more model specific. I proposed the question of motorcycle reliability based on call backs and breakdown statistics to ChatGPT. The answer which brands were most reliable are: Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, BMW, and Harley Davidson in that order.
I've always had Ducati and I agree regarding all bikes before the MotoGP era. After that Ducati has become very, very reliable cuz of all the money they put in the development for the MotoGP championships, as we can all see from the races results (world champion several times). Their bikes are excellent now, both un terms of reliability and performance cuz they applied that tech to stock bikes too. In fact, from 2010 models on I haven't had a single issue. I also talked to several mechanics who work on many brands and they all told me that their reliability ranking is this: Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Ducati, KTM, Royal Enfield, Triumph (on the latest models like the scramblers electric issues and not so good assistance). None of them works on Harley so they can't tell. Don't worry cuz you won't lose me as a subber. I still like your channel 😁!
Ducati Scrambler: 65k mi no problems except for slipper clutch plates. I love the thing. Now, desmo services are the dues you have to pay. I knew that when I bought it.
In my 5+ decades of riding and owning different and vast motorcycles, I would never lump/pigeon hole all the Euro brands together. While, generally, not up to Japanese levels of being an 'appliance', there is a vast difference in quality, reliability, fit/finish, dealer network etc., between these Euro brands. Cost aside, I've had good experience with BMW/Ducati...and KTM was an absolute nightmare debacle, top to bottom. Current stable is ducati/triumph/kawasaki...love 'em all and all for different reasons...hint: 2, 3, 4
With all due respect,I love all motorcycle's,but Honda as been so good to me for 42 years,as for my VTX1800R with 91,000 mile's,my 1100 SHADOW with 53,000 mile's, and I use to own a 97 Valkyrie with 41,000 mile's,great bike but those 6 dam 28mm Mikuni carb's sucked up alot of fuel,first bike,a 86 700 Night Hawk S, I have to admit,love the Indian motorcycle's,Spazz in Cali.
I agree with your opinion on reliability. On best bikes? Not so much, I don't get the cruiser stuff, and the only Indian I like the look of is the FTR, but it has a silly small fuel tank. Personal opinion and all that.
Couldn’t disagree. Although the R18 is a bike I’d like to ride. And despite its being a BMW, a used one with almost no miles can be had amazingly cheaply here. Maybe cheap enough to offset maintenance costs. I wouldn’t trade in my Springfield, though.
Go ole gopro. I took mine on Sunday and left the sd card at home 😢. I think my next bike would be an Indian, Harley haven't impressed me much except for the sportster s but i haven't tried a m8 yet so reserve judgement till then. Don't like Honda cb lineup, that tank just shits me, Triumph looks good i like the bobber in black. Kwakka with their vulcan s would be a consideration and yammie with their v-star seems to be ole reliable. Cfmoto are the smokey, ktm engine and electronics at a really good price point like Royal Enfield
The sportster s was the biggest POS I ever owned …spent more time in the shop then on the road…sold it and lost money and bought super meteor . Zero problems
You just hurt my Ducati feelings😂 Love my Ducati streetfighter V2. I’ve had no issues in the 2 years and 15,000 kilometres. Amazing bike💪🏽 Indian is owned by Polaris🤔
Everyone one has an opinion usually because of price. But in the right bikes I've owned, Japanese bikes included I personally prefer the last two Harley's. They have character and are a lot of fun to ride. My dealer is great. If I had a second choice I would like to try a Triumph probably an adventure bike or even a CF Moto. They manufacture for KTM so how bad can they be.
@BikesILike well I must say I was like you ...really on the fence about Guzzi... I've owned lots of bikes been a rider for 50 plus years.. let's see 4 Suzuki 125enduro 400 Enduro 1000 Strom and 650dr currently... Honda Gl1800 and cb 900... Yamahas 3.. Venture 1200 vstar 1100 and Roadstar 17... BWW r1200gsa F800GT F800Gs these all long-term about minimum 2 years on some much longer on others. This guzzi is different than all the previous bikes I have owned with the 1200gs the closest in feel.. and serviceability which is important to me. Even though I have a dealer very close to me 17 kms.. I prefer to do my own thing on my motorcycles. Had too many stupid things happen using dealer services over the years... anyway all things said... this bike the V85tt Guardia d'onore edition is ticking all the boxes for me right now. I encourage anyone like minded to check the brand out... an iconic brand without the plus plus plus pricing at least here in canada.
@@ksut5917...Nailed it. 22 years and several brands n styles. My v85 has captured my ❤ and ticks those boxes. Guzzi is gaining more ground in the Southern US. 👏👍
H-D and Indian.... no opinion as to reliability/customer service, as I've never owned either. Aside from the H-D Pan America, though, neither brand has a bike I'm interested in. As a side note, Husqvarna is owned by KTM - not sure how much product overlap there is.
My experience with KTM: absolute, worst, most unreliable of ANY bike I’ve had! KTM stands for Keeps Taking Money, and Known To Malfunction. The Harley was orders of magnitude more reliable!
I ride and love the harley and it has never given me issues, however my son rides a suzuki and he loves that again. At the end of the day we all love bikes and as long as we are on 2 wheels or even 3 it does not really matter does it????? There is too much opinions and negativity between the brands and wwe as bikers are falling for the marketing hype and causing strive between bikers when it should not really matter. Saying all of that though my harley and my son's suzie has never given us any issues so on reliability both gets top marks. Had a cheap chinese brand in the family for a while but that was a money pit so steer clear there. 😃
HD are the most overrated, over priced motorcycles bar none. What you pay VS what you get is ridiculous. People like to clown on the "ducatistas" for buying into the brand, but it doesn't even come close to the HD situation; at least Ducati offers you performance like very few. HD bleeds you dry in return of a badge. And to be honest... there's nothing wrong with that! They have a product that tons of people desire and are willing to pay for, so people clearly see value in their propositions. Good for them. Motorcycling should be all about putting a smile on your face. Personally, given that I'm not into the style and image of HD one bit, and that most of their machines feel agricultural (to borrow the term), they are the worst bang for buck manufacturer that offers mostly image and I would never buy one.
Interesting video for the most part I'd agree except the Japanese brands would be at the top and thats mainly because of reliability and cost. I own a harley and haven't had any issues but man they are expensive to buy and maintain. I guess you could say the same for indian but I haven't had any experience with the brand the same for triump. I total get what you mean about bikes you wouldn't buy.
Interesting perspective and perhaps a bit biased given the lack of your preferred style of motorcycle at the brands you marked down. For me Harleys are amongst the least reliable bikes with awful dealer support, just look at the Pan America. All bikes can go wrong, particularly modern ones, and it's only then that you realise how good the manufacturer support is. Believe it or not BMW are very good at putting things right and i currently own 2 along with a Triumph retro. I haven't had an Indian yet but would definitely consider one.
My personal experience is BMW has been and is considerably more reliable than Harley. The Harley riders I know have had considerably more problems, bigger problems at lower miles than the BMW owners. In 80k miles the only repairs my K100RS only needed plug wires and a fuel pump. 30K on the K1200GT, the only repair so far has been a plastic fuel line fitting leaking (20 year old plastic can suffer failure) the part has been upgraded to metal.
I think Harley has had issues moving into the modern era of motorcycling. I see a lot of people having issues with electronics on their modern bikes. I have a 21 Low Rider S with the 114 and it’s been great, but I take care of it and even installed cooling fans for the engine. It gets hot in Oklahoma! If I could trust their newer stuff, I would have a Pan America. A very versatile machine that can rip! But, I don’t trust it, so I won’t be buying one any time soon.
I agree with you in general. But I like the BMW GS, and especially the 2010-2012 model years. KTM is exactly everything I don't like actually. Pure crap if you ask me. But I like that they keep the weight down. But when the engines and the quality and appearance are terrible, it's nothing to have. But you don't mention Moto Guzzi? Because there are some I really like. But I don't know how the quality is.
@@BikesILike I would have liked to have you test drive the Moto Guzzi because I appreciate what you have to say about things. I am thinking of things like the V7 and V9.
@@magnusenamd Difficult for me to do because we don't have a dealer anywhere near me. But if Moto Guzzi ever were to reach out, I'd definitely like a test ride.
I replied to another comment with something similar, I love my Moto Guzzi, the local group I meet with has guys who have been loyal Guzzi owners for decades, have multiple and have 100k miles or more on a bike. Overall no one seems to have significant quality concerns. The biggest issue is going to be dealer and aftermarket support because of such low production numbers, but the MG community and forums has a wealth of knowledge. One thing to consider, Guzzi isn’t building a bike to be a class leader, other bike will outperform it for sure. I like the V7 because it isn’t “performance seeking”. It delivers enough, it is well mannered, predictable, and has a charm to it that I enjoy. When I want higher performance, I twist the grip on my ‘03 BMW K1200GT.
