Motorcycle choices: Harley vs BMW

[Boondox]

I know there are several bikers among us, and it is those folks whose advice I need.

I want a bike in the 650cc and up range. Broad range, I know. Initially I was thinking a daily commuter that gets good mileage, and because I live on a dirt road in rural Vermont I was thinking along the lines of an enduro like the Honda XL650R or the BMW F650. But a lot of my co-workers ride bikes, and most of them are cruisers or sport-touring types in the 1100cc + range. And I can't help but remember that it took two upgrades before I found the right size tractor for me; I don't want to make the same mistake when selecting a bike.

So I went to the local Honda/Suzuki/Yahama shops, but nothing really moved me. The V-Strom 1000 by Suzuki was okay, but nothing really stood out. And the customers didn't interact at all. Customers spoke to staff, and staff to customers, but there was no cameraderie that I could see. And face it, that's part of the charm (at least for me). The staff were knowledgable, friendly, and treated my dog well. (You can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she reacts to the presence of a well-behaved dog.)

On to the BMW dealer. Major sticker shock, but very nice bikes. The F800 looks on paper like a close fit to my needs, but it's just plain ugly. I like the Beemers with the boxer engines -- the R1200GS and the R1200RT -- but they are both very tall and sports bike looking. Folks swear they make great distances seem like neighborhood jaunts, and they seem to last forever. Also the best warranty at 3 yrs/36,000 miles and the fact that all my past riding was on that style of bike (fast and nimble) albeit a lot smaller displacement. There was a bit of interaction between riders, but all the talk centered on the technical aspects of their bikes: the best tires, the sweet spot for mileage, etc. And the dealer was an absolute cold fish! I felt like every question I asked was a huge burden for the man, and that didn't give me a very good feeling. The staff also completely ignored my dog.

Then I went to the Harley dealer. It was very busy! People of all walks of life swarming over the place. Happy people. Burgers being grilled outside. Big guys with leather jackets and tattoos over every exposed inch of skin dropped down to their knees to play with my dog. Total strangers came up to chat with me. And when the salesman joined me we talked about life for ten minutes before we ever got down to his bikes. When a bike was sold, the new owner rang a big brass bell and everybody in the building cheered. It was such an alive group! Totally different than the "dark side" image I had of Harley riders.

So it comes down to Harley or Beemer. I like the looks of the full sized BMW, but not the dealer (and the next closest one is 130 miles away) and the stiffness of the riders I saw (granted it was one day and a small group). I don't really care for the looks of the Harleys, but man were they comfy to sit on, exceptionally well-balanced (while seated on one standing still I was able to put my feet on the running boards and maintain my balance for about ten seconds before I had to put a foot down) and the people associated with them seemed so very human and nice!

Any Harley or Beemer riders out there care to chime in? Corm? Thomas?

Pete

 

[keving]

I have gone through the same struggle as you. I ended up buying a 1999 K1200LT used ($10K) about 4 years ago. I also bought a V-Strom ($5.5K)about a year later as an impulse. I looked at Harleys, but too expensive and not fast enough for my riding style because I like to lean into the corners and lay the bike over a bit.

I currently have and really enjoy the K1200LT. I'd stay away from anything under 1100cc. The V-Strom would be a great bike for a short commute or short rides. I loved the sound of this bike!

The Yamaha FJR or Honda ST may be worth looking at... Good Luck!

 

[Casco1]

I have to throw my 2 cents in here. I've been riding for over 35 years started with a Harley went on to Honda, suzuki, yamaha, back to Honda and now home to Harley

For performance and handling not necessarily "speed" the BMW.

For fun and friends Harley is king.

The following may explain things better than I can

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.


Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don't Wave Back
10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form."
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to ipod, XM, or talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!.
4. Wires from Gerbings is too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.

Good luck, if my experience can be of any help please PM me.

 

[shvl73]

I have an older Harley and find it to be completely different than any of the bikes I've owned. Riding it makes me smile every time. Its a bit of a bull in a china shop feeling, no finese at all, just brutish, but in a good way (to me). I've ridden a newer softail and it was smoother, just less soul to it. There is a lot of carmeraderie with Harley owners, no doubt. The funny thing about the Harley crowd is the need to have every bauble that Harley sells, I don't get it and most likely, never will. The tough guy image so many seem to have purchased, is something I can easily leave behind.
If I was to buy a bike today, I'd look real hard for another Moto Guzzi. I've had two and should have never sold them. They were really smooth at speed yet, had a rumble at idle. The shaft drive is great. They're different enough to gather attention and interest. There was (and probably still is) a great club, the Moto Guzzi National Owners Club (MGNOC) that would send out a newsletter and organize rides. People were super nice.
Have fun shopping!

 

[cp1969]

I've had all kinds of motorcycles over the years and have three right now--a Harley and two Hondas.

Believe it or not, the Harley has been the most reliable of the three. The Hondas, known for their reliability, have not been as trouble-free as the Harley. Neither Honda will start today if I try...the Harley will.

For your type of riding, I would think the BMW Boxer, a Honda ST1300 or even a Kawasaki Concours would be ideal. All of them are fast, have good driving position and protection, storage space, and shaft drive. Great machines to cover a lot of miles on.

However, none would be any fun to work on. I've almost come to the conclusion that motorcycles should be air cooled and preferably no more than two cylinders. It would be nice if the two cylinders are in a 90 deg V, as that eliminates a whole bunch of vibration, which you will get to know and love on the Harley. Once you get off of one and then get on a V4 such as the ST, it seems so smooooooooth. That smoothness comes at the price of complexity, though. The Harley seems almost like an agricultural implement by comparison but that isn't necessarily bad.

As far as the dealership goes, I've never spent much time in any of them so the atmosphere there is nearly irrelevant to me.

 

[RoyJackson]

For proper motoring on a motorcycle, you'll need to consider a Ural with a sidecar. That, and the two wheel drive should be very advantageous in Vermont!

Seriously...anyone looked into Victory motorcycles yet?

 

[DUMBDOG]

After having ridden for thirty eight years on various brands, being in the motorcycle business, for over twenty two years selling various brands, and having two Harley's in the shed right now, all that I can really say is that you seem like to nice of a guy to ride a Beemer. The Beemer riders were a breed apart from the others.

Not to be disrespectful to the Beemer riders here, the ones that I was associated with over the years, were just different than the rest. The Harley riders were the best overall. Harley was also better with the warranty than the other brands.

 

[ducati996]

After having ridden for thirty eight years on various brands, being in the motorcycle business, for over twenty two years selling various brands, and having two Harley's in the shed right now, all that I can really say is that you seem like to nice of a guy to ride a Beemer. The Beemer riders were a breed apart from the others.

Not to be disrespectful to the Beemer riders here, the ones that I was associated with over the years, were just different than the rest. The Harley riders were the best overall. Harley was also better with the warranty than the other brands.

I have found the opposite - the BMW riders being some of the most experienced and well rounded riders I have ever encounted - and the harley riders especially the new rigs, having some of the most inexperienced riders imaginable (second to teenager sport riders). As for who's better with warranty? thats a weird statement especially when the BMW probably never needs to use a warranty (no joke), and the harley most likely will.

I think the OP has chosen two entirely different machines (and lifestyles) that It will be real hard to suggest a machine for him. He has to know what he wants specifically, and how he wants to ride.

 

[Egon]

Again it's new toy time for Pete. Seems like once a year.

Since a two week hospital sojourn in my middle teens motorcycles have had little interest for me.

But for looks Roy has beaten me to a neat recommendation. "Ural" with or without side car. There is one in town here. Fresh invigorating look, think it has BMW heritage and could handle a gun mount for those nasty coyote days.

 

[Bird]

I've owned one Zundapp (briefly), one Yamaha, one BMW, three Hondas, and I've spent a little time on a cousin's Harley as well as a police Harley service cycle. I quit riding over 18 years ago, so some of my experience is a bit dated, but for social activities, I think you're right about Harley, although it's dead last choice for transportation, especially if you have to ride very far or very long at a time; too noisy and too much vibration. I've ridden both the Honda Aspencade and the BMW R80RT for over 800 miles in a day; I don't think there's any way I could have tolerated that on a Harley. The BMW was pretty nice but, in my opinion, about the most overrated and overpriced machine you can find. And the big Honda was definitely the most pleasant and comfortable machine to travel on. Of course, I think the Harley is way overpriced, but it might have the best resale value when you want to get rid of it.