Hi, dude harley owners. I am now contemplating for a harley bike, but I wonder why many bike shops keep discourging me from buying a harley. They told all sorts of problem like leakage, high maintenance, and over priced issue.

I guess they want to push me to buy their in hand Japs Bikes, not to say Japs Bikes are not good but I like to own a harley.

I need some neutral advice from harley owners, is the leaking problem serious ? Require thousands ringgit to repair or to service ? What about normal service ? Are HD easy to break down in here (due to humidity or heat) ?

Regarding overprice issue, how much you think a year 2000 ~ 2005 Road King is reasonable ? I see some selling 96' bike near RM90K, that is crazy.

I don't speed, I like easy riding and convoy long distance. I owned Japs Cruiser before, this time gonna hit American Cruiser. Hope you could enlighten me.

Thank you Bros.

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Added on August 16, 2011, 10:01 amAnyone to share ?

This post has been edited by rayloo: Aug 16 2011, 10:01 AM

Anyone to share ?

my dad used to own a ultra glide and a sportster back in 90's when i was stil a kid.....both have been sold now....he has been riding it for more than 5 yrs for both bikes and no major probs happened to the bikes....ultra glide was newly bought at tat time, and he bought the sportster fr his fren

itz a realy good and solid bike as fr what i recalled fr my memory

my dad used to own road king for like 3mths then sold it off d...riding on road king feels like u're king of the road

Nice sharing. Bro.

They are overpriced. A night rod costs $15500-ish in USA but in malaysia you have to pay RM3000 per month for a 84month loan. Thats close to Rm250000, which is extraordinarily unfair for cruiser freaks like me. If you wish to buy one, try waiting a lil bit longer, who knows the gov might pull back the gov tax on bikes one day.

TEST DRIVE........dun ask here. belum cuba belum tau. Dun ask me where, go make friends

All bikes in Malaysia are over priced. so test drive.

Back then in 2007 before finacial crisis, I sold my Yamaha Royal Star because I felt the bike price would drop, and I planned to get 1 later at cheaper rate. Mana tahu brike price shot even higher.

The good is, after riding for years the price would sustain. so better to get a dream bike instead of dream car.

I agree, HD bikes are seriously overpriced here, japanese cruiser can be same price with HD in other country, but here HD compare to Japs bike same class bike, HD tag lots higher.

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Added on August 22, 2011, 8:32 pmCalled HD office, get told that change casket and over haul should solve the problem, i ask whether the leakage will reoccur, they said should be non.

This post has been edited by rayloo: Aug 22 2011, 08:34 PM

price of goods will always appreciate, the only thing that will depreciate is human value

Not sure if this would help, but my riding partner owns a Roadster 883R. He bit the bullet 1 1/2 years ago getting his new dream bike that is.

All the thoughts of leakings - happens to all bikes. Even Jap and Brit bikes. I have seen coolants, oil and human crap leaking.

Maintenance - u ride a kapcai I am sure you dont expect to pay a RM200 normal lube service rite? Just stick to the scheduled maintenance window and guidelines for normal service.

Breakdowns - love it or hate it. Can happen to anybody anytime at any place despite the best maintenance you can throw to the bike. Why? Coz it is not done by yourself. People tends to make mistakes, and mistakes would cause errors, errors would cause frustrations and despair. Only way to solve this, do it with your own bare hands with the knowledge of the minute details.

Reliability - Have not heard much about this except for normal wear & tear. Again, this boils down very much to the aspect of maintenance. Biggest issue here is to source for parts. Buddy's 883R had some seals or rings ruptured. Had to wait almost 3 months for it. You want exclusivity, you have to wait lor.

Commercial - even local made cars are overpriced, needless to say bikes. Willing seller, willing buyer market ma. Alternatively, move to a country which sells the bike of your dream at the price point you are comfortable at and enjoy yourself. Or, work harder to own the bike you want.

Bike shops - most bike shops focuses on volume sales. HDs are for niche and bad-boy-cult lovers with moolah. This also is closely related to the strong Jap counterparts in terms of dealership and reputation. Does not take much of an effort to convince a middle age dude having mid life crisis who wants a cruiser as his first bike to commit to a Vulcan instead of a HD isnt it?

My 2 cents worth - Malaysia is and has been one of the best place to ride. We've got toll roads & highway which has no restrictions for 2 wheelers. Compare this to our neighbouring countries such like Indonesia and Thailand - you think you could ride a 2 wheeler on their highway? We'll get smacked with a ticket in no time and butt u out of the freeway on the next nearest stop. Climate, here we are complaining about rain due to tropical climate. I tried riding in the Bay area during winter, and it was treacherous! It was stupid, but just wanted to try it out how it feels like riding in winter - u know me la, kampung boy ma. Threw the keys back to my colleague and rented a car that evening. Bottomline, just get the bike you really want then we go for a ride ok? That is if you dont mind a small sized fry on a Jap kapcai la..

Not big guy lah, size just enough to ride. Roadstar was one of my choice among Road King, Stratoliner. They are the closest HD alike where they are air cooled and with push rod, not to mention the thundering exhaust sound.

But I saw electronical problem from one of my team who rode Roadstar, the bike always suffered from dead engine, still could not ignited despite numerous start up. So I have a shade for the bike.

As for Stratoliner, nice bike, cool look I agree. But still it is not a HD, I will have regret after having it and take a peep on HD which cruse passing by, for sure I will own HD at least once in my life.

Your father was true, don't buy a bike you don't like.

This post has been edited by rayloo: Aug 23 2011, 10:28 AM

Thanks, bro. Your statement is very helpful. I had a chat with some friends that I could recall to had HD before. Well I found out.

I am not sure whether I am bias but.......

1) Yes, all bikes do leak, if it has to. Being told a 535 Virago's leakage, needed to over haul and change the the casket to solve. HD is not alone. And no, HD don't leak...? My retired HD enthusiastic friend who owned many HD bikes before said so, he had not leakage for his 2000 Road King and others.

2) Yes, we do have a dam nice highway to cruise, the veteran HD enthusiastic friend who has been staying in Indonesia. He rode on bumpy uncompleted road, couldn't love more for our straight highway. Too bad he is too old to have one now he said.

3) A friend in Singapore complains he cannot have a perfect safe place to park his Harley, the cover always been uncoverd by naughty kids around or curious passer by. Or get scratched by strangers for nothing..... Usually they park in public.

4) Yes, all vehicles are overpriced in boleh land. Include local manufactured Potong. So, why not Harley Davidson ?

5) It is kind or love it or leave it situation. The fact cannot change even if I open millions of threads in the forum. You are right, get a cheaper HD in else where or work harder to get one here. So......You win, boleh land.

I think I am almost certain for a HD Road King, it is also in conjuntion of my wedding in next year for the convoy.

Better buy first before wedding, otherwise....got to be a ghost rider in the dream only, for the sake of the long hair you all know.

No War, Make Peace.

Bro, you have a nice catch. I could not afford a ER6N in your age, I am sure few years later you already have your dream bike in your garage.

For myself, I don't like Honda's cruisers due to their design. No fierce look, so gentle (Of course just my own opinion). Yamaha has better look and the company has many events, like Sepang Race Convoy sponsored by Yamaha and etc, HD is my best, 2nd would be Yamana.

Rayloo,

My hubby get into this harley fever two yrs back,he started wz sporters iron,one year after he upgradeto streetglide.according to him is like a dream cone true and No regrets.we bought it from naza Pj.no doubt the price is higher comparing to us,but it totally worth it.i do follow him as a pillion sometimes,very comfort and i started to love harley too.

i fell in love with Electra Glide model.....

Hi,

I'm also interested in getting a HD bike for myself, DYNA Wide Glide to be precise.

Any idea whats the services and maintenance cost ?

Thank you.

Sportster XL883L reporting in...

Maybe 5 month from now I'll get my hand on a Vrod, preferably the 10th Anniversary edition. My concerns are: Imma freaking short one just 166cm tall and yea I only ride kapcai, semi auto thing so it's a freaking leap from 105cc to 1200cc. Im a total idiot with clutch stuff, be it moped or car.

As for leak, emm my myvi got a trans seal leak so it's normal thing. Been reading input on hd esp from Vrscdx forum but yea kindly I wpuld love to hear from our fellow HD kings.

its not fast, not comfortable, not cheap, not super reliable, displacement to power ratio is a joke.

but hey, its a Harley Davidson - you buy with your heart, not your head...

Well I got a very good deal up to having it for free if things goes right. That includes expenses to maintain the odds for a year or two.

The torque on VRSCDX, HD Vrod is equal to myvi which is around 110Nm which is for me is enough to propel a 300kg two wheeler. Yea I was aiming for Kawa Vulcan S 650 only back then but the offer got better, a freaking overpriced HD... For free, almost.