yes i had a plastic maggot, back in the day that name rang a bell lol
Maybe they were unreliable. But, based on my experience in government work (and no doubt your experience too), acquisition and purchase wasn't always a merit based system. To me, it's just as likely that they got offered a better purchase contract from Honda with perhaps a little back door money going to someone in city government. Or maybe a city councilman owned a stake in a local Honda dealer who would coincidentally be the service center for city owned bikes. My own agency was behind the purchase of more than one million dollar equipment acquisition that turned out to be really abysmal, to the point you had to really doubt the competence of the purchase committee. Or made you wonder whose pocket got lined when we got saddled with a duty weapon that couldn't be cleaned with standard gun solvent.Now, I will admit a dislike for Harley although I've never owned/lived with one. So, most of my anti-Harley sentiment is from hearsay.
I have a very good friend with a big Harley bagger with over 250k miles. He hasn't had any issues with his. That being said, he loves to take it apart and put it back together. He says this has likely been the reason nothing has failed.
On the other hand, Fort Worth Texas P.D. stopped using them for reliability reasons. They were about ready to go all in on the ST1300 when Honda discontinued it.
And years and years ago, during a TV interview, a Harley rep made the statement that the best Harley was one that you bought, and without riding it, took it apart and put it back together. I remember thinking that was likely not the bike for me.
In this case it was because of the bike itself. Apparently, they were down more than they were on the street. Now, could that be because of a bad dealership? Ironically, they ended up going with BMW. Specifically, the only dealership in the entire DFW area. Which, between broken parts and poor service, had caused everybody else to go Huntington Beach Honda.. . . . Or maybe a city councilman owned a stake in a local Honda dealer who would coincidentally be the service center for city owned bikes. . . . . I can totally see it happening during the time when HD was owned by AMF . . . .
I’ve ridden plenty of HDs and the ones I dislike the most are the 1200. They vibrate the fillings out of your teeth!Now, I will admit a dislike for Harley although I've never owned/lived with one. So, most of my anti-Harley sentiment is from hearsay.
I have a very good friend with a big Harley bagger with over 250k miles. He hasn't had any issues with his. That being said, he loves to take it apart and put it back together. He says this has likely been the reason nothing has failed.
On the other hand, Fort Worth Texas P.D. stopped using them for reliability reasons. They were about ready to go all in on the ST1300 when Honda discontinued it.
And years and years ago, during a TV interview, a Harley rep made the statement that the best Harley was one that you bought, and without riding it, took it apart and put it back together. I remember thinking that was likely not the bike for me.
Were it not for the bowling ball company and Ronald Regan there would be no Harley Davidson. They seem to be spiraling down the drain again.I can totally see it happening during the time when HD was owned by AMF, when quality control was probably at its nadir and the company was being run by people who made bowling balls and golf carts.
Unfortunately, I agree. Modern car have all the bells and whistles. They perform as well as if not better than most MC's. When it rains the windows go up, that is, if they are ever lowered in the first place. The younger crowd wants/needs Bluetooth, AC and internet.......I'm thinking Harley vanishes with the boomers.
This is already happening world wide. And not just with Harley, but all the Jap makes too. Our licencing laws in the uk now mean a 17 yr old can get a car licence and basically drive anything they can afford to insure, which in most cases is only something small, but even small can be pretty quick these days.......I'm thinking Harley vanishes with the boomers.
I don't think licensing is the issue with the youngsters. In Texas, a 16 yr old can take a basic MSF course, pass the written, and can ride ANY motorcycle they can afford. Period. Yeah, we're a mandatory insurance state, but I know how many people are riding/driving without it. So, availability isn't an issue. I think it's the lack of social media access while on a bike. I pass a dozen cars a day that are on their phones. They're so engrossed with their phones that they don't even see me flipping them off. I've never encountered anybody on a bike doing that. My kids have their RAM mounts for their phones and answer calls on their SENAs, but even they don't try to ride and text.. . . . Our licencing laws in the uk now mean a 17 yr old can get a car licence and basically drive anything they can afford to insure. . . .
Go to Vietnam or Thailand and you’ll see people on bikes texting.I don't think licensing is the issue with the youngsters. In Texas, a 16 yr old can take a basic MSF course, pass the written, and can ride ANY motorcycle they can afford. Period. Yeah, we're a mandatory insurance state, but I know how many people are riding/driving without it. So, availability isn't an issue. I think it's the lack of social media access while on a bike. I pass a dozen cars a day that are on their phones. They're so engrossed with their phones that they don't even see me flipping them off. I've never encountered anybody on a bike doing that. My kids have their RAM mounts for their phones and answer calls on their SENAs, but even they don't try to ride and text.
I looked in the mirror at 80mph on the motorway and caught my wife knitting a while back. I don’t think she takes motorcycling seriously…Go to Vietnam or Thailand and you’ll see people on bikes texting.
It’s a skill that I hope to never acquire.
Yeah… I’ve got mats that used to do that all the time when they were younger.My neighbor with the 'Wing said his wife would fall asleep all the time on the long trips.
my wife falls a sleep on the continent on long days to, she's ok tho our jackets are velco together lolMy neighbor with the 'Wing said his wife would fall asleep all the time on the long trips.
This provides a mental image of someone getting off a bike and walking around with a huge baby attached to their back….our jackets are velco together lol
Can they do the same with cars?I don't think licensing is the issue with the youngsters. In Texas, a 16 yr old can take a basic MSF course, pass the written, and can ride ANY motorcycle they can afford. Period.
Yup. They can get their license in a Ford Focus, and then go drive a 1-ton, four door, 8' bed truck pulling a 35' trailer. Legally.Can they do the same with cars? . . . .