Sportster vs M50

[scumdog]

Fixing.

As in, the bike won't start
The engine hiccups and cuts out
The charging isn't working
The gearing is clunky and hard to get into X gear

For any number of reasons, most commonly "I'm not sure.. I have to take it to XYZ Harley shop"

aahhhh, I even remember the broken down harley that took the fingers off it's riders hands in nelson, when he was trying to figure out why it wouldn't turn over.

Ya must know every unlucky Harley owner around...or those that don't believe in maintenance..

[Shadows]

Ya must know every unlucky Harley owner around...or those that don't believe in maintenance..

Either they all own iron heads or it's just a load of shit.

[scumdog]

Either they all own iron heads or it's just a load of shit.

Even my ironhead wasn't THAT bad...when I first got it (2nd hand from the US, been in a bad crash, had a kajillion miles on it and badly worn valve-guides) it burnt an exhaust valve at Omarama after crossing the Lindis - trailer ride No1, then a few years later it broke a chain at Queenstown and nobody stocked chain of that pitch there - trailer ride No2.

And when hot it use to lose spark to one plug at times - tracked down to crash-damaged ignition coil (But it always got me home)

And that was it for the almost 10 years I owned it.

And as Shadows implicated above, ironhead Sportys were not reknown for low maintenance or reliability.

[peasea]

Either they all own iron heads or it's just a load of shit.

I'd say it's a load of shit. Apart from a few guys who have sought-after Triumphs, BSA's and Nortons as hobby bikes, by far the majority of the people I know ride Harleys, many of them into six-figure odo' readings. I've helped out with the odd belt change (thanks to road works more often than not) and a few have had to replace rocker box and cylinder barrel gaskets. Hardly major work and it can be undertaken with a basic tool kit.

[The Lone Rider]

Or more recently when in the workshop of one of the local harley dealers,

"I'm having a look at this bike because the owner says the clutch isn't working properly"

[scumdog]

Or more recently when in the workshop of one of the local harley dealers,

"I'm having a look at this bike because the owner says the clutch isn't working properly"

Yeah, you would NEVER hear that in a Suzuki/Honda/Ducati/Truimph/Yamaha or any other brand dealership would you eh???


(Stop trolling - the joke's old...)

[The Lone Rider]

Yeah, you would NEVER hear that in a Suzuki/Honda/Ducati/Truimph/Yamaha or any other brand dealership would you eh???


(Stop trolling - the joke's old...)

Yes, you are.

So I have more proof than you it seems.

[Shadows]

One wonders how the workshops providing services to all of those "other" bikes survive when their clutches don't even wear out.

Maybe you could support them by getting a new rear tyre ;P

[peasea]

Or more recently when in the workshop of one of the local harley dealers,

"I'm having a look at this bike because the owner says the clutch isn't working properly"

The great thing about oriental bikes is; they keep wankers off everything else.

Did I say that out loud?

[peasea]

[QUOTE=Shadows;1129699228]One wonders how the workshops providing services to all of those "other" bikes survive when their clutches don't even wear out.

Maybe you could support them by getting a new rear tyre ;P

Is that a cable-operated, drum rear brake I see?

[The Lone Rider]

Still waiting for proof of Harleys being more reliable, as Tommy has pointed out.

Where's your facts?

[dilligaf_nz]

Typical, my questions always provoke arguments AFTER I make a decision...

At least in the meantime, we get to provide some entertainment. Pull out the popcorn, put up the feet, and watch
Perhaps we all need to get together and have a big hug..

[The Lone Rider]

Typical, my questions always provoke arguments AFTER I make a decision...

At least in the meantime, we get to provide some entertainment. Pull out the popcorn, put up the feet, and watch
Perhaps we all need to get together and have a big hug..

Well the good thing is, you went with what YOU wanted.

This thread has mainly established people will argue for their preferred bikes.

[Big Dave]

Where's your facts?

Where's yours? 'Some guy in a tattoo shop says.'?

I'll re-open debate with:

I rang AMPS rental dept and asked how many break downs they have had on those abused vehicles. It's a while ago - but the answer was none - in about 5 years.

As stated earlier in the thread, I rate both vehicles mentioned in the OP, but the 'Harleys are unreliable thing' - since I've been testing and reviewing the vehicles at least - is a myth.

Highly modified vehicles - of which there are lots of Hogs - are/can be unreliable. But so is a Honda or Triumph or anything if it's had 50% more power grafted on. I've still got the busted gearbox bits to show for it.

[The Lone Rider]

Where's yours? 'Some guy in a tattoo shop says.'?
I rang AMPS rental dept and asked how many break downs they have had on those abused vehicles. It's a while ago - but the answer was none - in about 5 years.

It's the same argument as everyone else here.

In the post you are referring to, his 5 friends that own Harleys are constantly fixing them, for the last 10 years.

I don't think AMPS or a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend or word of mouth or propaganda is reliable fact.

If I had said Harleys were great and something else was bad, I bet someone would have asked for proof why it was bad and Harley good - if they are so much into their own bike.