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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ?
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TOPIC: Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ?
#829815
Sawtooth (User)
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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ? 3 Years, 4 Months ago  
For me, there are certain parts for which I happen to strongly prefer the lines of Harley's design to Yamaha's design. Consider our rear fender, for instance. I don't like how far it sticks out and how it points rather than a flat profile. That's just me. I prefer the lines of Harley's fenders.

For other parts, I prefer the RS lines...for instance, I LOVE our tank and strongly prefer it to Harleys. Down lower, I love our tie rods.

Part of the fun of owning a bike is to make it completely mine and put on it anything I want to make it look or perform just the way I want it. I am not trying to clone a harley, but because I do think that harleys are beautiful machines, it certainly doesn't bother me when someone (often harley riders themselves (not all harley riders study the hell out of makes/models like I do but it blows my mind that a Harley guy can mistake a yamaha for a harley) mistake my bike for a customized fatbob or softail classic or something.
 
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Last Edit: 2014/10/23 13:05 By Sawtooth.
 
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#829818
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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ? 3 Years, 4 Months ago  
All I have on mine from another make is the Road Wing, and even at that, it's thesame ssupplier as the OEM. Lol
 
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#829821
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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ? 3 Years, 4 Months ago  
Oh look...it's this thread again....

The main reason that a lot of us run HD parts is that they're a dime a dozen and dirt cheap too. I used to have an HD batwing on my bike that I was into for less than a Reckless fairing (before adding all the extra goodies like the chrome skirt, SG turn signals, etc.). Most aftermarket parts are designed to work with or look like HD parts too. Look at pretty much any fairing out there, Mutazu's "HD style" bags, Calvary "HD style" bags, Mutazu King Trunk, and the list goes on. It's not that we're trying to clone an HD per say, but when a majority of the market only offers those style parts....

Now I've got the shark nose (Road Glide) fairing that I love, but it's the only HD part I'm running. And honestly, lets face it: HD builds some really sexy bikes. The problem is that they just aren't reliable and are ridiculously expensive to maintain. Meanwhile, the Roadie is a fairly dated design that is rather plain jane, but crazy reliable. So if I can add a bit of sexiness to the reliability factor, why not?

My goal was to build a bike that looks like something that could've been built at the Yamaha factory, so mine is a combo of Roadie parts, Royal Star Venture tidbits, and the HD fairing, but I'm not going crazy with the stretched and widened fenders and bags since that's a traditionally HD thing too.
 
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#829822
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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ? 3 Years, 4 Months ago  
Jclevesque wrote:
75kona wrote:
HD parts are cheaper and more readily available as opposed to parts for the R*. Look up fairings, or bags or anything and you will find 100-1 Harley vs Roadie. That’s the only reason I have an HD fairing. It was cheap. Inner and outer with windscreen and holes I filled with a radio and speakers. I was lucky and it was already set up to run on the Roadie. And for half the price of a reckless or other brand I would then have to paint. Just my opinion…

You said it... "Are cheaper" I finished a few months ago installing a HD fairing and man o man the parts are cheap and flimsy. The cost of those nuts and bolts where thru the roof. I went this route cause I didn't want to buy extra windshield brackets everytime they break. So went to Dchopper brackets and HD fairing. Going with HD lowers cause I like the look of them on the R*. After seeing all these crappy parts, I will never buy a Harley. Next purchase will either be Victory or Indian.


I am definitely looking hard at a Honda goldwing or victory cross country or vision. I really love the Indian roadmaster but before i bought one they have a few years of consumer testing and longevity before they could get my money.

When i first started building my roadstar, i had a vision of a custom metric bagger which i feel like i have accomplished. My next bike needs to be an all out touring bike which the victory and the goldwing fall in that category much more that my roadie bagger ever will.

Ive also been looking really hard at the new triumph trophy, i am digging it! Lol
 
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Last Edit: 2014/10/23 13:58 By blueverclear.
 
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#829833
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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ? 3 Years, 4 Months ago  
If you want to customize a Roadstar there are very few options compared to the millions of parts and accessories available for HDs.

I've owned a couple HDs and rode them hard and loved them, but while I was saving up funds for a down payment on a newer HD I ran across my 2001 Roadie and fell in love with it. My wife and I genuinely believe this to be a better (mechanically and dependability) motorcycle than either of my HDs. And even after all the mods and changes just for changes sake that we've done, we've invested way less than even entry level costs on a used HD would be.

All that said, I've only got 1 HD part on my bike, at least as far as I can remember, and that is the clutch perch and lever, which I replaced after the stock Yamaha part bit through its 2nd clutch cable. Since installing the HD lever I've ridden over 15,000 miles and not broken a clutch cable or had any issues with it.

Personally, I like the fact that my bike doesn't look like an HD, even though some people think it does, including some HD riders.

Whatever you choose to ride, just ride it. But don't get into trash-talking other brands, that's just juvenile.

enough said, time to ride!

NJ
 
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#829843
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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ? 3 Years, 4 Months ago  
For me? this is my comeback...

When my wife and I were looking for a 2-up machine, that's all the criteria I had in mind. Yes, that's because I was completely ignorant as to the offerings of today. The last bike I had was a 700 shadow 15 years ago. I had no idea of the cost of accessories either.

Our first stop was the harley shop... we had a 7000 budget and they did all but laugh me right out of the show room. I then looked at some interesting video's on youtube comparing the harley police bikes with victory's offerings because victory had some interest in the "police bike market"... and I have to say, that after watching the whole video series, yes, series.... I was very glad I didn't buy a harley (NO BASHING INTENDED) then asking around at the longevity of the HD drive train ... 75000 miles till my first rebuild?

So off to the yamaha dealer... still no idea what I was buying. I literally had no clue.
The guy pointed me to a '05 R*... said this 1700 will do nicely. So, at 6250.00 plus a new tire, and a helmet, I was the owner of my first R*

Then, after discovering this website, I found the mostly good, some bad and ugly? not.

So with all that said... bottom line? I like the "look" of the harley, and thats the reason I fell in love with the R* ... The R* to me embodies everything that a new HD should be in a lot of aspects. It's got a solid drive train. It's affordable for the most part. but as for looks? I still like it, don't get me wrong... as you can see, there's not harley stuff on my machine, ..............yet

Seriously though... I enjoy seeing everything that folks have done to their R*'s It's personal, it's a friend. and stress reliever (my wife says

I have to say also, that longevity wasn't something that concerned me too much, I just assumed all large V-twins died early in life (remember, no clue) but the price was right, with 7500 miles, and a yamaha. That's all I needed. Then, comes the learning.... learning and did I say, Learning
 
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Last Edit: 2014/10/23 15:29 By Starjunkie.
 
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#829861
brown91redcam (User)
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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ? 3 Years, 4 Months ago  
75kona wrote:
HD parts are cheaper and more readily available as opposed to parts for the R*. Look up fairings, or bags or anything and you will find 100-1 Harley vs Roadie. That’s the only reason I have an HD fairing. It was cheap. Inner and outer with windscreen and holes I filled with a radio and speakers. I was lucky and it was already set up to run on the Roadie. And for half the price of a reckless or other brand I would then have to paint. Just my opinion…
Exactly my reasons for having HD bags,crash bar,lowers,spotlights on mine,I have a friend who sells used HD parts
 
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#829863
BikerRon (User)
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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ? 3 Years, 4 Months ago  
I see it as having the engine and drive train Harley never built.

Everything else from HD bolted on is just for 'the look'...
 
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#829864
takehikes (User)
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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ? 3 Years, 4 Months ago  
Frankly when I got mine in 2005 it was very hard to find some things for a Roadie. I never went the whole HD boat but honestly most pegs and things like that were made for HD's so you have to adapt. I freely admit somethings on mine are HD out of ease and availability. I do not have a single thing on it that is intentionally HD save my fuel tank. Sportster tanks are classic and I wanted one so there you are.
 
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#829867
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Re:What's the obsession with Harley parts on Road* ? 3 Years, 4 Months ago  
Is someone putting HD parts on a R* again??? I don't get it.

As far as bikes and cruisers go I think HD makes some of the best looking bikes available. Guess what model I like?? I just don't like some of the things that go with owning a HD like cost and maint. Other than that they make a nice lookin bike (all models) thats why there are so many on the road.
 
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