Topic: Honest Harley Davidson Commercial

[Laminar]

I'd rock this in a heartbeat.

[1974blaze]

i like the look of that 48 too, but reviews of the handling by many mags suggest sticking with the nightster or custom sporties. not to mention that those 90's looking tank graphics are atrocious. it's like the bad boy look of an after school special.

i have to say i've been considering picking up any 1200 sportster i can find at a good price and building it into a similar look as the nightster or 48.

[tierinmir]

Yeah, I didn't like the "sportster" graphic on the tank. I looked at a nightster and an XR, I liked them both also.

[Ecosse]

Yeah, I didn't like the "sportster" graphic on the tank. I looked at a nightster and an XR, I liked them both also.

one good thing about hd is that you can have it customized (ie paint) right from the factory. i agree about the graphics tho.

what's the difference between the 48 and the (stupid name btw) nightster? looks very much the same.

the xr1200 is also worth consideration... oh crap!! i got sucked into this infernal thread!!!!!!!!!!

[tierinmir]

Yeah, I didn't like the "sportster" graphic on the tank. I looked at a nightster and an XR, I liked them both also.

one good thing about hd is that you can have it customized (ie paint) right from the factory. i agree about the graphics tho.

what's the difference between the 48 and the (stupid name btw) nightster? looks very much the same.

the xr1200 is also worth consideration... oh crap!! i got sucked into this infernal thread!!!!!!!!!!

The front tire, mirrors, and I believe the tank is smaller on the 48. Besides that, I'm not too sure.

[Terry in Australia]

lol at this thread still going on

I went and looked at one of the forty eights last weekend and actually liked it. Despite many of the things I do not like about the stigma of owning a HD, I would consider buying one of these bikes.

That looks fantastic! I think I want one.......... 

[Frankenkit]

If I wanted that, I would buy this:


http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/first-ride-2010-honda-shadow-rs-just-another-harley-imitator/

actually... it doesn't sound half bad...

[Ecosse]

kit that looks good! i had an '88 shadow (bought new) and i liked it but this one is sharp.

[Terry in Australia]

If I wanted that, I would buy this:


http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/first-ride-2010-honda-shadow-rs-just-another-harley-imitator/

actually... it doesn't sound half bad...

Another "sanitized" Japanese "Harley wannabe", sorry, but no thanks............. 

[Ecosse]

Another "sanitized" Japanese "Harley wannabe", sorry, but no thanks............. 

sticks and stones, terry... sticks and stones. 

you mean sanitized like handles well, starts every time, and is reliable? that describes my 36 yr old cb550. harley wannabe? if it's because of the vee mill ya better lump brough superior, JAP and the rest in there. because of the cruiser lay out? 1) include triumph and scores of others, 2) everything's been done before and everyone's been bald face copied.

now ya done it terry... ya suckered me into being a devil's advocate... curses!! 





 

[Retro Rocket]

I Think that Honda V2 would make a good commuter....    Looks good too....

Mick

[Frankenkit]

Here's the difference between owning a Honda and owning a Harley-  for a harley, I'd also have to drop $60 on a shop manual and $60 on a parts manual.  A honda?  Go to any Bikebandit or Honda site and order what I want right off their fiche, and do it myself.

[RatBikeRandy]

Get the Sportster if you want.  I loved mine and I got 57-62 mpg on a 1200.  Let's see any Honda of similar displacement come close.  Any takers?  Little known fact - tires are WAY cheaper for H-D than similar metric bikes.  I can get a complete set with shipping for less than $100 for my H-D.  In fact, I have rolled out od H-D dealer with a new set installed for $160.  Also more fuel efficient.  Metric cruisers, light touring rigs get horrible fuel economy when compared to H-D.  I'm a cheap kind of guy so it adds up when you ride a lot.

I like the Shadows also, but by all encounters that I have had with riders, they are underpowered.

[Frankenkit]

Yeah MickeyX has an 883 Sporty. The only thing holding me back, really, is the knowledge that my cb650 totally smokes her Sporty, and what can I say, I really like having that kind of power at the throttle in a bike that size (and price).

...and no.  I'm not going to put all the money into a new bike just to put MORE money into it to hop it up.    I'm not 100% sure how a Shadow 750 would compare to an 883 Sportster...

[Retro Rocket]

WOW.....how long did it take you to make all that up....    Cheap tyres are nothing to brag about and i never ride with cheap ones and even though Harley's don't go round corners that well i would still use good tyres. Also seems like there are plenty of other bikes with similar sized rims, are you now claiming the tyre manufacturers make the best or cheapest{ which isn't much of a claim to fame}tyres for Harley's.? You fuel consumption statements are just bull#$%* considering that there are multiple displacements with varying fuel economies, blanket statements are ridiculous. Now also considering that your Harley needs 1200 cc's to produce less power than a Jap 600 {by miles} your fuel consumption figures are worthless.

Ok found some fuel charts , your figures weren't even close....

Honda    http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/MotorcycleFuelEconomyGuide/Honda.htm

Harley    http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/MotorcycleFuelEconomyGuide/Harley-Davidson.htm

Mick

[Gordon]

Going strictly by looks, I give a slight edge to the Sportster pictured over the Shadow pictured.  It looks a little meaner with the fat front tire and solo seat, but those things could be easily changed on the Shadow.

What's the price and performance stats difference between these two bikes? 

[Frankenkit]

2010 Honda Shadow RS
VS 2010 Harley sportster
Harley-
Displacement- 53.88ci
HP- 45 HP @ (RPM unspecified)
Torque- 70.00Nm at 3750 RPM
Compression 9.0:1
Air cooled
5 speed
wet, 9 plate clutch
front/rear disk brakes
Dry weight- 562.2#
belt drive

Honda-
Displacement- 45.46ci
HP- 44.92HP @5500RPM
Torque- 64.00Nm @ 3500RPM
Compression- 9.6:1
Liquid cooled
5-speed gearbox
Dry weight- 507#
shaft drive

All that info is off Bikez.com except the Harley horsepower which was off Nightrider.com

[Gordon]

Thanks, Kit

On paper they look pretty equally matched.  Equal HP, the Harley has the edge on torque but the Honda is significantly lighter.  

Price wise, from what I can find for base models the the Honda is at $7K with the Harley at $8k, but it looks like the Harley in the previous picture has at least a couple of options on it that would increase the price.  

This is all pure conjecture because I've never ridden either of these bikes, but if I were (and that's a BIG if) in the market for an entry-level V-twin cruiser, I would be taking a serious look at the Harley.

As much as I love my Hondas, I am still an American male, and as such susceptible to good marketing and generations of heritage/machismo.

[Frankenkit]

The harley in the previous pic is a Nightster and the stats are on an 883.  Obviously of you have to compare a 1200 sportster to a 750 shadow just to say "Well, the sportster wins!" you're going to be just a little biased.

[Gordon]

The harley in the previous pic is a Nightster and the stats are on an 883.  Obviously of you have to compare a 1200 sportster to a 750 shadow just to say "Well, the sportster wins!" you're going to be just a little biased.

Well, the entire American auto industry was built on "displacement over performance", and it did really well for several decades.  Let's just pretend the last two years didn't happen.

I'm a huge fan of all kinds of vehicles for all kinds of different reasons.  I love the light, fast, high-revving classic European sports cars as much as I love the big, heavy, huge-displacement, high-torque American muscle cars.  It's apples to oranges as far as I'm concerned, and the comparison between a Sportster and a Shadow is just an orange disguising itself as an apple to get sales. 

And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that.  It's not a cut-and-dried issue.  Each person has to make that decision for themselves.     

[1974blaze]

i have say i'm really surprised with the shadow loyalty here.  this is an air cooled forum right? those big radiators on the front of a cruiser look awful.   i have ridden both.  no contest.  modern harley is a more fun ride than a shadow.  more power and better at speed. a little trickier around town until you get used to it.  883 isn't a great buy, most harley buyers trade up for the bigger one after a year or so.  but honestly, the shadow? kinda lame guys. every one of our CB's are better looking and more packed with soul. 

[Ecosse]

i have say i'm really surprised with the shadow loyalty here.  this is an air cooled forum right?

nope. look up... it says open forum. and many folks here own all sorts of machines.

those big radiators on the front of a cruiser look awful.

while that's subjective i tend to admire the elegance of most air-cooled machines.

i have ridden both.  no contest.  modern harley is a more fun ride than a shadow.

again, subjective.

but honestly, the shadow? kinda lame guys. every one of our CB's are better looking and more packed with soul. 

it's all a matter of personal taste. this whole thread has become a collection of ppl telling a bunch of others their opinion is wrong. as for the honda cb having 'soul' there are scores of hd owners who would make the claim no 'jap junk' has any soul.

[Frankenkit]

I hate to break it to you, but these are all machines.  They all come off a production line, with scores of Japanese parts with Japanese people fretting over them, then one has its parts shipped to Milwaukee, York, KC, etc etc where people might do some pinstriping on a bigger more $$ model, lace the rims, and assemble.

The only way this collection of parts will ever have 'soul' is when someone buys it and changes it from the way it came from the factory- adding their own personal decorative touches, putting miles on it until it has a certain riding characteristic, and modifying it for their specific uses.  Until then, just a $7k-$8k collection of parts, and the above stats were to give someone an idea of the technical stats between similar machines.

Unless you need the name, or a 1200, to me, between an 883 harley and a 750 honda, the deciding factor is the availability of parts.  Honda parts you can get at bike bandit, ebay, etc etc.  Harley parts, you usually are stuck going to the dealership, and this is AFTER you buy the $60 book for parts fiche.

Also, comparing a 1200 sportster to an 1100 shadow and saying the shadow is underpowered- it's also 100cc less.  That's an entire dirtbike less displacement.  Of course it'll be less powerful.

[Terry in Australia]

Another "sanitized" Japanese "Harley wannabe", sorry, but no thanks............. 

sticks and stones, terry... sticks and stones. 

you mean sanitized like handles well, starts every time, and is reliable? that describes my 36 yr old cb550. harley wannabe? if it's because of the vee mill ya better lump brough superior, JAP and the rest in there. because of the cruiser lay out? 1) include triumph and scores of others, 2) everything's been done before and everyone's been bald face copied.

now ya done it terry... ya suckered me into being a devil's advocate... curses!! 

You're not playing "Devils Advocate" Bill, I've known since you posted this thread that you're just another "Harley Phobe" who, because of the whole "political correctness" of this site, can't hang sh1t on various minority groups in case you are shouted down by champions of these causes, so like a lot of folk here, you've taken the liberty to take cheap shots at a soft target, Harley Davidson.

If you knew what you were talking about (which you obviously don't, but I know that won't stop you) you'd know that modern Sportsters are just as reliable as anything out of Japan, handle well and have good brakes. (my 1984 "Iron Head" Sportster was reliable, handled great, and had excellent brakes, so it's not a new phenomena either)

There's a write up in my latest copy of "Australian Motorcycle Trader" on that Sportster Wannabe, and it supports my theory that this Honda is aimed squarely at the entry level Harley market. Over here, an 883 Sporty retails for around 11,000 bucks, so (according to the article) Honda have set the retail of this thing at 9000 bucks, to undercut HD. Interestingly, according to the same magazine, the best selling touring bike in Oz is a (shock horror) Harley Davidson, outselling all the other brands, including all the Jap "Land Barges". Harley is also the fifth biggest seller in Oz (after the big Jap four, of course) and outsells all the other smaller "non Jap" brands such as Triumph, BMW, Ducati etc.   

A couple of thousand bucks less for a similar looking bike sounds good to folks who don't know bikes from sh1t and just want a cruiser, even though (if they keep the bike for any length of time) it'll cost them in the end with greater service costs and more opportunity for failure with the inbuilt modern technology that folk here seem to crave like water cooling etc, and when they go to trade it up or just sell it, they'll get nothing back for it, as we all know (but some won't admit) Jap cruisers are the disposable cigarette lighter of motorcycles, infinitely forgettable, and one step away from the metal recyclers. I'd rather push my Harley............ (if I had one)     

[Ecosse]

ya hurt me terry... and i thought we were buds.  


 

seriously terry? i thought i might have said it before, but maybe not, that i'd own a hd if the mood struck. not my first choice but not out of the question either.

i'm no different than many others here, including you, in that i like to tease every once in a while. you can read more into my posts (clearly you have) if you want but i'm not gonna cry myself to sleep over your disapproval. fyi, because this thread went so far away from harmless ribbing i thought about locking it, but for a while i chose to ignore it, thinking it would die off.

if i do have any issue (with the hd culture) it's with those who take the whole image thing way too seriously- hence the point of the video on page one. many of the credit card insta-bikers deserve a good natured ribbing. but then again... whatever floats yer boat is ok with me. i'm tickled people share my interest in machines. but... where i come from if ya stick it out for the world to see, making some statement, etc... expect someone to take that same liberty to say they don't like it or think it's funny.

and as long as we're making personal observations terry i'd like to point out that, in the course of your utterly subjective and over the top psycho analyzing, you have revealed how overly sensitive you are  to criticism, serious or not, of hd. maybe there are those in this thread who fit your professional assessment of harley-phobia but but not here.  truthfully, considering what a tough guy you are, i'm a bit shocked over your thin skin.