From someone who used to HATE HD I see a ton of hate for Harley Davidson bikes on here. I totally get it, I used to feel exactly the same way. Why buy something expensive that is decidedly low performance while carrying a premium price? In my search for my next bike, I made a few realizations that I'd like to share. (I ended up buying a sportster FWIW). 1. Insurance cost I pay less than $50 per month for full coverage including $2000 of aftermarket parts for my 2013 sportster. I'm 20 years old. My 2006 ZX6R was almost $80 for liability only, and anything sporty was not a lot cheaper. This may be a moot point for older riders. 2. Maintenance I service my own bikes, and can say definitively that my sportster is a whole lot easier to wrench on than anything I've had my hands on before except for dirtbikes. Additionally, there is just a LOT less maintenance to be done. Chain cleaning? Replacing chain and sprockets? NOPE. Belt Drive. Valve clearance check/ adjustment? NOPE. Hydraulic lifters adjust themselves. Servicing a cooling system? NOPE. Air cooled.
3. Aftermarket Parts Simply put, I have never encountered a bike with even a fraction of the options that my sportster has. I guess the first two points were the big ones I was trying to make, but please do yourself a favor if you have never ridden a harley for more than a little bit. They handle easy, have usable and ample power for street riding, and just have a certain rumbley charm that I haven't felt elsewhere. I know a harley isn't for everyone, but if you are like I used to be and hate HD, please reconsider.