Ok Sandi you are another very proud parent of an HD, that being said just take one look at that air cooled rear cylinder of your v twin and ask yourself how the hell does the engine cooling fins get any direct cool airflow to keep it from being overheated. It can't. The rear cylinder will fail first. The motor design is very limited to power and only short bursts. The brakes and suspension are substandard. Old hot rod saying is if it don't run chrome it. Or make it noisy. Or do both.
I spent too many years in engineering to waste my money on that stuff. Too heavy. Too slow. Too crude. Not to mention over priced. I refuse to support a company that refuses to build any better than that. ...J.D.
Well, phred, I can only speak for myself--so I will. I have no illusions that I will change anyone's perspective or opinion nor do I really wish to. But I am going to describe my own honest-to-goodness experience with my Harleys. In the 75,000 miles I've put on the Harleys I've previously owned or currently own I've never one time had a bike overheat, a cylinder fail, my brakes not stop me, limited power, or suspension issues. Well, I'll back off on that last one. I've had suspension "issues" on all my bikes--Triumphs included--because I'm so light that consequently my suspension winds up functionally being too stiff often still at full adjustment capacity. Bikes just do not come out off the factory designed for riders who weigh 115 pounds, that's for darned sure. But that's another topic and one for the "Rant of the Day" thread. I've owned a 96ci Twin Cam, a 103ci Twin Cam, and a 110ci Twin cam. I currently own a 2017 Dyna Low Rider S with a 110ci Twin Cam and a Road Glide Special with a Milwaukee Eight 107ci with a Stage IV upgrade taking it to 114ci. Each of them has been absolutely terrific and pretty much flawless. Again, this has been my experience and I am not speaking for anyone or everyone else. I've run each of those bikes hard in temps from the 20ºF to 115ºF and from 1000 ft to 10,000-11,000 ft elevations. I ridden them through pouring rain and wind and dust. Heck, I've even rode my Road King through a fire in the mountains. Well, the fire was nearly out but there were large still-burning downed tree trunks right next to the road! I've done 350-500 mile days on all but my original 96ci Street Bob (my first bike and I hadn't started doing trips yet) and my current 110ci Low Rider S (I do longer rides on my more comfy Road Glide). Through all of this my bikes never missed a beat. There ya have it. To be sure, I am an N of 1. Well, maybe an N of 1 x 5. Perhaps my Harleys have done well because to date I've not owned one past 20K miles. Not because anything was wrong with them but because I test rode something I decided I'd rather have or my riding needs or tastes changed. But I've not experienced any of the issues you listed in your post. Well, other than that dang suspension being designed for people who weigh 170 pounds +/-!! Interestingly, my least favorite engine out of all my bikes has been the 865ci parallel twin in my first Triumph, a 2012 Thruxton. I traded up to a 2016 Thruxton R and loved that 1200ci hp parallel twin. And now I love the inline triple in my Speed Triple RS even more. None of my Triumphs ever missed a beat either. Well, except for the quick shifter on my RS. Again, that's a topic for another thread in the Speed Triple forum. And perhaps most importantly, my Harleys and Triumphs have never gotten into an argument with each other out in the garage.
When I started this thread I had no idea emotions and opinions would run so high. Seems there is a legacy of dislike for HD from certain camps, an irrational contempt from others balanced by real-life objective experience Speaking with a chap at the Harley dealership he told me all Triumph riders are gay. As someone who identifies as a non-gender specific pair of curtains I didn’t comment.
If all HD riders are said to be gay, and they claim all Triumph riders are too, it would be reasonable to expect both tribes to get along exceedingly well. Since we don't, it must just be the HD riders that are gay. Q.E.D Edit: not that there’s anything wrong with that - we are a diversity and inclusivity aware forum, and take the piss out of everyone, each other, and ourselves - equally...
WHAT!? NO WAY!!! I‘ve been kissin‘ 'n huggin‘ my Harley Dealer for several times! Man, was it blokey!
My only.complaint about Harley rider is...To them it is.a RELIGION. They have to preach the word, even on a Triumph thread..Inappropriate in my mind. ...J.D.
Well chap's Ladies I got to chip in here as I think some are talking rubbish. The hotter a bike is the better it runs. Harley's are as good as any other make so don't slag them unless you've tried them. Why annoy other bikers with your tripe keep it to your self's. I have had three Harleys and loved them and my wide glide would ton up all day long. I had a mate with a 1200 sportster and in all the time I rode with him I never seen him beaten in a shoot out. Only Harley I ever knew that need foot pegs every few months. And this is the right Forum to talk to Brothers and sisters no matter what it is about. That's what makes this site the very best. Rant over. Joe.
That's not how Thermodynamics works. The thermal efficiency is a performance measure of a device that uses thermal energy, such as an internal combustion engine, a steam turbine or a steam engine, a boiler, furnace, or a refrigerator, etc. For a heat engine, thermal efficiency is the fraction of the energy added by heat (primary energy - as in the heated gasses from combustion) that is converted to net work output (secondary energy). In the case of a refrigeration or heat pump cycle, thermal efficiency is the ratio of net heat output for heating, or removal for cooling, to energy input (the coefficient of performance). To summarise a hot engine is inefficient. This scientifically explains the joke about HD engines only being efficient at turning fuel to heat and noise, and not much BHP.
Wow some real heat in this debate... For me I don’t care what make or model of bike you ride. But from my experience the HD riders do seem to look down their noses at riders on other brands. They don’t nod or wave at other riders unless you are a HD of course. I don’t get worked about this, as my view is each to their own. Just my two pennies worth.
When I am on my Harley, I wave and grin like hell at everybody else just to let them know, how friendly some HD riders can be... When I am on my Husqvarna, one out of 10 HD riders returns the greeting. And 2 out of 20 GS riders would. I still bought a Gummikuh. By the way, and now I AM SERIOUS: I yet have to meet an unfriendly, or arrogant Triumph rider! Cheers!
There are always exceptions out there Winglad and you are definitely one of them. And I agree about Triumph riders being a friendly bunch ❤️
I have never had any problem. Only ever had one Harley rider who had broke down I stopped and walked back to him and ask if I could help. He told me no you can't help sod of so I did. In my life of riding bikes I think that is fair. And most riders do give a wave or nod. And like most I think they can if they want doesn't bother me either way. Ever pulled up by a crowd of Goldwing owners boy they do get their knickers in a twist. We went to a show in Basingstoke some years ago and parked next to the Goldwing's they had organiser's and all out there to tell us to move as they had reserved the space. So I took my old 400 superdream and parked elsewhere as did my mates. No big problem. Regards Joe
I spent 30 years working on, and operating large stationary equipment. I have 5 years of college on these subjects. Heat is energy. If that heat is USED in the process it is intended for, it is effective. A boiler is and example. The fuel consumed is.turned into BTUs of heat to turn water into steam [or hot water in low temperature applications]. Heat is money spent. Heat radiation off and engine is waste energy. We need to keep that engine at optimum temperature. Not too not, not too cold. An overheating engine is a inefficient engine. Your fuel is either used to make power, or to make heat. Noise does not make power. Efficient use of fuel does. ...J.D.
Hi, Wessa! I try not to look down my nose at anyone (though sometimes that happens if they're much shorter than me.) I'm not always completely successful but it's definitely my intent and goal. I wave to everyone on two wheels whether I'm on a Harley or a Triumph--scooters included! Well, I don't wave to bicyclists while I'm on a motorcycle. But I do wave at them if I'm on my bicycle. Oh, and I don't wave to either motorcyclists or bicyclists when I'm driving my car. All this waving is making me tired.......
