Hi, I was thinking to buy a Harley when I am a little bit older and have the money, and I asked my uncles and cousins which are motorcycle enthusiasts about Harley's, and they said they wouldn't buy them because they are expensive and they need a lot of care and are very sensitive bikes, but I really like these Harley choppers because they are cool, so I was wondering if they are really that sensitive and need a lot of care and cleaning, and if I have to have a lot of knowledge about how to disassemble them and so on. Thanks
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Do I have to be a pro to ride a Harley Davidson?
- Thread starter Danny
- Start date
Let's break it down:
Do you have to be a pro to ride a Harley? No, BUT...Harleys cost a lot of money, so it's not usually a good first bike for a new rider. There are two types of motorcycle riders -- the ones who have dumped their bikes, and the ones who are going to dump their bikes. Harleys are notoriously expensive to fix, so you may want to consider starting off on a bike that won't cost as much up-front and is cheaper to fix and maintain, especially when you consider the fact that your first bike is bound to get dinged up quite a bit while you learn to ride.
Do they need a lot of care? If you want to keep a Harley looking good you'll have to take care of it. However, as one poster already pointed out, it's the older Harleys of the '70's and '80's that were notorious for constantly needing work. The newer ones are much better. Just wash it regularly and follow the maintenance schedule.
Are they sensitive? In terms of potential for damage, they're no more sensitive than any other bike on the road. In terms of handling and acceleration, they're definitely more sluggish than crotch-rockets and can be more sluggish than cruisers made by other manufacturers.
TIP: Unless you really know what you're doing, you shouldn't work on any motorcycle. People who try to do work on their own bikes with basic mechanical skills usually do more harm than good and end up taking it to a mechanic or dealership to get it fixed.
Do you have to be a pro to ride a Harley? No, BUT...Harleys cost a lot of money, so it's not usually a good first bike for a new rider. There are two types of motorcycle riders -- the ones who have dumped their bikes, and the ones who are going to dump their bikes. Harleys are notoriously expensive to fix, so you may want to consider starting off on a bike that won't cost as much up-front and is cheaper to fix and maintain, especially when you consider the fact that your first bike is bound to get dinged up quite a bit while you learn to ride.
Do they need a lot of care? If you want to keep a Harley looking good you'll have to take care of it. However, as one poster already pointed out, it's the older Harleys of the '70's and '80's that were notorious for constantly needing work. The newer ones are much better. Just wash it regularly and follow the maintenance schedule.
Are they sensitive? In terms of potential for damage, they're no more sensitive than any other bike on the road. In terms of handling and acceleration, they're definitely more sluggish than crotch-rockets and can be more sluggish than cruisers made by other manufacturers.
TIP: Unless you really know what you're doing, you shouldn't work on any motorcycle. People who try to do work on their own bikes with basic mechanical skills usually do more harm than good and end up taking it to a mechanic or dealership to get it fixed.
ellusionary
New member
Harley's used to be:
Buy it
Fix it
Ride it
Fix it
Luckily they changed that in the mid to late 90's to make them much more reliable right from the get go. However any used bike is going to have it's share of problems (there is a reason someone is selling it..) so some maintenance costs are going to be there. Now to start off I wouldn't go with a top of the line Harley, start with one of their smaller ones and see what you think.
Buy it
Fix it
Ride it
Fix it
Luckily they changed that in the mid to late 90's to make them much more reliable right from the get go. However any used bike is going to have it's share of problems (there is a reason someone is selling it..) so some maintenance costs are going to be there. Now to start off I wouldn't go with a top of the line Harley, start with one of their smaller ones and see what you think.