Honda vs Harley

Hi everyone, I know everyone has a Tacoma, but what about cruisers? I really love the Honda phantom and how sweet it looks, but I loved Harleys growing up. I recently learned about the Honda fury, Harley seventy-two, and the Harley v-rod muscle.

Please help me figure out which is better or more preferred? At times I don't like dealing with my taco because of mileage, but it'll always be sweet to cruise on a bike.

 

Get the one that feels best to you, I've had Honda, Yamaha, and a couple of Harleys. Maintenance is about the same on the newer bikes.

 

I had an 05 Honda VTX1300, owned it for 5 years never an issue with it. You can't beat shaft drive (IMO). I think Harley's are way over priced. My VTX was 9000 bucks brand new, a comparable Harley was twice that price. I have never owned a Harley so I can only comment on price and not quality i.e.Honda vs Harley.

 

I really liked the shaft drive too

 

Harley's are nice if you have the dough. I love my Shadow Sabre though, which is unfortunately for sale. Honda makes some very reliable, easy to work on bikes.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/buy-sell-trade-other/340949-fs-2002-honda-shadow-sabre.html

 

Ummmmm........Honda!

 

It's really a matter of preference and what you can afford. I finally bought my first Harley after owning(and still own 6)25+ Japanese bikes. Harleys seem to not just be more expensive to purchase but also to maintain, but I can't say it not worth it, there's nothing like riding a Harley!

 

Honda ftw!

 

Harley's Marketing people are way more advanced than their Engineering. Honda, well.....probably just the opposite

 

For a lot of people, and I don't mean to stereotype/offend anybody here, but a lot of people who buy Harleys do so for the image and buy HD vests, stickers for their car, ride to the nearest bar on the weekends and only ride with other Harleys.

Again, not saying this is true for the people here, but here in CA it is like a highschool click.

 

Get the Honda. All I ride is Hondas. Pretty well engineered bikes. I know multiple Harley people who left the Harley name, and went to Honda.
My Uncle is about the biggest Harley fan I knew. After his 2nd 50,000 mile Harley, he made the switch to Honda two years ago. The dude he rode trips with had a Honda, and he saw first hand comparison to his Harley. He said it beat his Harley in every way. Now he has 20k+ miles on his Honda, and hasn't regretted it for a second.

I rode a Harley once. Never again. Felt like crap, shook me to death, and didn't want to do anything other then go straight. Its exhaust was pretty nice, but after 10 minutes I was tired of hearing it over everything else.

 

Yea I am a Honda fan. Before my Taco, I drove a Civic. The wife drives an Accord. My dirtbike was an XR250. Cruiser was my Shadow Sabre. Even my mower is a Honda haha.

 

I say go victory if you are going cruiser. I have the Judge, and it out performs most cruisers I've ridden on. Plus, it's quite sexy! THey're expensive, but you get more performance for the price than a Harley.

 

True, but Honda will also be reliable when old too.

 

Yep. I'm sure cruisers require a little more attention, but my 2000 XR250R, 2001 XR650R, and my 1998 XR400R are one kick wonders. Well, the XR400 is being a little prissy right now. Fancy mikuni carb has like 30 different jets, so sitting gas likes to clog things up. The 250R with the edelbrock can sit for 4 months, I can walk to the garage, and fire up the beast with one kick.

 

If you are considering a Harley and have the money, go with Victory. I personally really like the newest Indian Scout, better than a Harley in every way possible.

As for Honda, I have a 79 honda that's my daily commuter to work, 3 times a week and still going strong. I'd put it up against any 79 Harley ever made.

In case you can't figure it out, I'm not a big Harley fan. They're old tech and exist because of their brand name, if they were a start up company there's no way they could compete with Victory.

 

Id go honda friend of mine has a 96 shadow 1300 and another friends dad has a 00 eletraglide ultraclassic both nice bike ive ridden both a couple time loved the harley for long haul rode smoth sounded great but hated the shaking at stop and it geared really low in the first 3 gears kinda hard getting use to shiting so much but the honda was just as nice a ride cruising but was still smooth and comfortable at a stop shifting through gears was easier just felt like a better engineered bike compared to the harley

 

But i perfer my 82 kawi kz1000

 

Function=Honda. It's rare for a bad one. Really rare. They have millions of motorcycles running in 3rd World countries.

Form=Harley. And when I say form I mean ego/perceived look i.e. "biker".

If reliability is any factor at all, I'd go with Honda. Not that Harley won't/can't be reliable. The Honda will be reliable. And likely less money in every aspect.

Honda is an engine company that also happens to make motorcycles, cars, generators/inverters, lawn mowers, small jets, robots, etc. etc. etc...

 

I used to sell motorcycles years back and i have owned the Japs and now own my first Harley (FLHR). I love my Harley. No Jap bike could ever match how a Harley feels and sounds. I love the minimal use of plastic parts on my HD and there is no shortage of "custom" accessories to make it your own. With that said, my next bike will be another Jap bike. They look great, sound good, perform perfectly, and cost about 1/3 of the price to own (i.e. gas, insurance, and maintainance).