Actually I like Harleys, and I suspect the anti-Harley thing is more a cultural "fashion", Harley riders did "bash" jap bike riders for years, (memories of the brutality of the Japanese in WW2 were still simmering under the surface, for many American folk) but I can't help but think that it is also tinged with a little guilt that Americans aren't fully supporting their last real Motorcycle manufacturer.
For anyone to say that a modern Harley isn't as well built as say a modern bike just shows how little some guys know, a new "Evo" engine will last for at least 100,000 miles with timely maintenance. Oil leaks? I haven't seen an oil leak on a Harley since the Evolution engine was released in the early 1980's, so that's another "old wives tale", in my humble opinion. Handling? Sporty's handle fine for "canyon racing", but bigger Harleys are restricted by their cornering clearance, but compared to all the Japanese "Cruisers", they're pretty much the same, due to their similar configuration.
While Harleys have retained their 45 degree V twin, modern Harleys have electronic ignition and electronic injection, and boast better fuel consumption than pretty much any jap bike of similar capacity. The Japs have tried to emulate Harley Davidson (the term cruiser is just a cynical solution to the previous industry nickname "Harley Clone") for many years, and they'd love to kill them off completely, like they did to the British industry.
Luckily for Harley and America, that the Japs are brilliant engineers, but their taste for "Cruisers" is in their collective ass, because as soon as they can capture the "Character" that their bland attempts are totally devoid of, (just look at the resale values) another American icon will disappear. I really think it's ironic that proud Americans are happy for "yuppies" and Outlaw motorcycle clubs to keep one of their oldest household names, a company that has employed generations of Americans, in America, alive.
Already America has lost so many of it's iconic brand-names to cashed up Asian and Middle Eastern companies, it'd be a shame to see China buying Coca Cola, or Iran buying Chevrolet, if the fashion of decrying "Home" brands in favour of foreign imports continues. You can kid yourself that Foreign owned products manufactured in the US are ok, and yeah, they're better than imports because Americans are employed in their manufacture, but the profits are still being sent to make old enemies fatter and more powerful. Just my 2 cents worth of course, and I still love all my jap bikes, but I'm not blind either............ Cheers, Terry.
