A lot of newbie motorcycle enthusiasts want to start their hobby by going for a Harley-Davidson, but a lot of people convince them to reconsider their decision. From insinuating that the Harley Davidson services are expensive, the brand’s motorcycles are “unreliable,” or that people buying it will “spend more time in a repair shop than on the road,” a lot of reasons have been presented to keep interested buyers from making the purchase. Some veteran motorcycle enthusiasts have negatively viewed the brand’s motorcycles.
But are these claims valid? Read more to find out!
Do Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Need A Lot of Servicing?
The level of service Harley Davidson motorcycles need is almost the same as any other brand. But most people are quick to reiterate false claims that they spend more time idling at repair shops than being on the road. It’s been thoroughly debunked in the past, but it’s still being spread by the brand’s critics, who usually don’t own motorcycles made by the brand.
Also, Harley-Davidson is ranked by Consumer Reports as the most reliable American motorcycle brand in 2020. After four years, it has only recorded a 26% failure rate, which is much better than their European counterparts like Ducati, BMW, etc. However, Japanese brands are still considered more reliable, according to the report.
How Often Are Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Serviced?
Harley-Davidson motorcycles need proper maintenance, so you should strictly follow their service schedule. The owner’s manual that comes with your bike lists most of the maintenance activities you need to perform. It also organizes them into a timeline, so you’ll know what components need to be changed when your motorcycle reaches 1,000 km to 100,000 km.
Are Harley-Davidson Bikes Expensive to Maintain?
The service Harley Davidson motorcycle needs are priced about the same as other brands. So, don’t believe various “horror stories” that you’ll find online swearing that they spent hundreds of dollars on minor repairs. But some factors can affect the cost of maintaining a Harley-Davidson motorcycle:
· Driving habits: The way you drive significantly affects the price of maintaining your bike. If you often do stop-and-go driving, it can cause your brake and clutch to wear out prematurely. So, change your driving habits if you want to have a more affordable repair bill.
· Service provider: Your choice of a repair shop can also affect the total cost of Harley Davidson services since most dealerships charge considerably more than third-party shops. However, the former offers a warranty for all services done on your motorcycle and other perks not available on the latter.
But some shops like gasolinealleyhd.com.au provide reliable Harley Davidson services, which is very enticing if you want to save on repair costs while not having to worry about if you need to revisit the shop in a few weeks or months because of botched repairs.
If you already have enough knowledge and experience in maintaining motorcycles, you can also do it yourself to spend $0 on maintenance.
How Many Kilometres Can a Harley-Davidson Last?
The brand has been infamous in the past since the service Harley-Davidson motorcycles needed were very pricey. But that has changed now since the price of maintenance and the brand’s general reliability have improved considerably. Although it may seem outrageous, most of the brand’s newer motorcycles can now comfortably reach 60,000-100,000 km or more.
