Stuff the MoCo got right.....

[Big Dan]

There a couple of threads going on various aspects of this subject, and I thought it might be fun to compile a list of stuff the factory got "right." By "right," I mean stuff that comes from the MoCo that is as good or better (and sometimes even more cost effective) than what is available in the aftermarket. How about you copy and paste the list and add to it, so we have one list. I'll start with the stuff that's already being discussed, or has been discussed recently.

AGM battery
"B" lifters for Twin Cam
SE adjustable pushrods

[Rugby_fxdwg]

Dan,
  Did you ever upgrade your M&M injection? How much torque did you get out of her? Love the new paint job!
I agree the MoCo did quite a few things right, like the new:
Frames,
ABS Brakes
Electronics
Fuel Injection
Cast Wheels (very light)
The newer paint schemes

[Big Dan]

I'm waiting for my BC Gerolamy throttle body to arrive. If I ever get this bike back together, I'll add the throttle body, and then it goes to Brian at Valley Racing for a tune. The paint will have some flaws in it. This was a really big project to attempt for a "first timer."

[CndUltra88]

BD, what version of the SE adjustables... cause there are the newer ones with several flats on them.
But, I do understand the concept of what your trying to accomplish.
Rob

[CraigArizona85248]

In terms of things they got right that have also proved themselves against the test of time...

- The Jiffy Stand
- Styling

[seattledyna]

self cancelling turn signals!, there are still many manufactures that do not offer that function

[gryphon]

Gotta agree with Craig on the jiffy stand. How many thousands of times did we put our full weight on those puppies kicking 'em over and no problems. Lock in place too. I've watched a couple of jap bikes fall over when sliding forward on an incline while idling and flipping up their kickstands.

[gryphon]

SeattleDyna, I see your in P'ville now. I used to own a gas station in Pollock Pines back in the early 80's.

[harleytoprock]

CV carbs.  OR should we give the Japs the credit for that.

HD Chrome. I've been very happy with the Harley chrome covers. Years ago the castings were porous and the chrome shops produced crap results on these castings with greater cost.

[Clintster]

I think they do a great job of staying true to the styling while making them modern machines.  After looking at some of my buds shovels, he sort of deals in them.  Well the fit and finish on some of the older bikes was just ok, there was an era it was poor.  But the great old machines are represented in the styling of the modern bikes.  My RKC is just about the same bike I fell in love with as kid, the 65 pan my Uncle had.  Only they have modern technology and the bike has been very trouble free.  With some upgrades it really rocks and looks like the bikes of yesteryear.  Some of my friends riding competitors bikes are really surprised by the power and handling this road sofa contains.  They do quite a bit Right...

[CDeucer]

  Back in the day, I used to have the strongest right leg in town trying to kickstart my Sporty. My '74 Superglide, with electric start was hit or miss on wether it wanted to start or not.  My injected '02 starts before I can let loose of the starter button. First time, every time, hot or cold.  And I have yet to find a spot of oil underneath her. HD got that right!

[FLH]

I think they got the whole damn show right. What other MC manufacturer has lasted this long? Don't even get me started on this latest Indian reincarnation.
For me, there is no better styling lines than a big twin HD. And stone simple motor we can all work on, with it's basic design and lineage all the way back to '36. Just the sound of one in the distance can take away all my stressful thoughts..... Ahhh...
And made (mostly) in the good ol US of A.
Gimme the open road

[DarrellV]

FLH...

[Deye76]

Wideglide front end. Same basic design since it's inception...1949

[Black Diamond]

Designing the Evolution motor - Aluminum motors from Harley. This was quite a leap of faith as the Harley faithful do not like change! This truly helped save the MoCo.

JW

[Rags722]

Like 'em or hate 'em, the dealer network.  Maybe I'm jaded by living on the East Coast, but when we are on vacation it's hard not to be able to find a dealer in 50 miles if the bike is acting up, and everyplace we have gone they have always put a priority on getting a travelers bike in to look at if it's in trouble.

Again, not the bike, but the HOG clubs.  No other mfg has worked so hard at retaining a customer and offering something to keep them in the fold.

BELT DRIVE.. what can I say, I doubted it would work/last/or hold up to everyday riding.  Sure, they can break now and then, but so can a chain. 

Interchangable parts..  I don't see the need to reintroduce your product every few years like the metrics do.  I kinda like the idea that for the most part, you can take a part off a 10 year old bike and bolt it to a 15 year old bike and it is an exact replacement.

[PC_Hater]

Good: Belt drive,
interchangeable parts across many years. At least one Sportster part fits my 1942 WL!
the 49mm forks on the Dynas. When can we have those on the FLs?
The general 'daft old bike feel' with modern reliability and performance.

Bad: That vile Wideglide front end! I know they copied it from a captured wartime BMW when they built the XA, but really, it should have been pensioned-off 40 years ago!

[takwolf]

EVO engine, whoever designed it, was on the ball. Pulled H-D from going under. Belt drive, didn't trust it at first, but it works great. Keeping the timeless styling.

[willymax4]

the sound a harley engine makes is like no other sound that i know of. when i hear one in the distance roaring down the highway i've got to stop what i'm doing and give that sound special attention. it just makes me want to go fire up the scoot and take a putt.
the moco definetly got the sound right from day 1.

[codyshop]

If you mean a specific product and not a design or feature, it has to be the SE easy install pushrods for the TC.  It is the only HD product that I will ever use on a customer bike.  I can't think of anything else HD markets that is better than any aftermarket alternative for the price.  Ray

[Hybredhog]

   Another vote for the jiffy stand, pretty much the best one  EVER put on the planet. How often have you've seen a 300 lb. guy standing on an old 4 speed kick starting it for hours, & forgot to turn on the kill switch  I just wish they'd make wider use of the FL version on all models. As for the old 4 speed kick starters, they put up with a lot of abuse, and are easily rebuildable...Jeff

[Big Dan]

Yeah, Ray, that's where I was attempting to go with this. But there's some interesting discussion, nevertheless.

[Princess Butt]

What did they get right? Just about everything they can do right, they've done right.

Where do I start?

Serviceability. You can change sparkplugs in ten minutes with minimal effort. Ever try that on a metric bike?

We can change the oil filter without dropping the exhaust.

Is there anything more classic looking from the factory than a Heritage Softail?

Sportster's handling, when ridden at reasonable speeds.

The 49mm forks on the new Dynas. They just look stout.

Nothing like some good old fashioned, low end torque when you've got a full load.

Fuel economy out of a 1600 cc motor which rivals metric bikes with a motor half the size.

BnEUC

[EagleFTE]

The removable windshields on the FLs are probably better than anyone else's.

[V24me]

What they got right:

  Watching the after market industry and riders mods to see what will sell and letting owners road test, then when sales flatten out, they add proven upgrades to their models.

[Clintster]

I think they nailed it with the riders adjustable backrest.  Adjustable, removeable and nothing makes the long day in the saddle go well for an old guy like me.

[Sonny S.]

They must be doing sumptin right because they've keep the doors open for 106 years

[JamLazyAss]

Something the Motor Co did right huh...

Well, umm, ahh, err, gimmie a minute.

I know, 1903.

Where did they get their start? In a WOOD SHED like me n Panzer !   

[calif phil]

Another vote for the jiffy stand. The 96 and up handlebar switchs are the best in the industry. Having the turn signal on each side is perfect. I hate riding a jap bike with one TS switch on the left side. I hate riding a jap bike period. 

[taz95dog]

didn't amf come up with the evo motor?...taz...

[Black Diamond]

Based on my reading of several MoCo history books: The development of the Evo was started in 1977 under AMF management. The Evo was developed in house while the MoCo hired Porsche Design to develop the Nova motor, a water cooled V-twin. Although AMF did some things that hurt the MoCo, they did some things right like invest in developing the Evo. It's just very easy to bash AMF. They weren't Harley people.

JW

[codyshop]

I'm surprised nobody's said marketing.  Ray

[Big Dan]

Nova was a water cooled V4. Porsche later sold the design to Yamaha, and it became the V-Max. Oh, what could have been....

[Black Diamond]

Nova was a water cooled V4. Porsche later sold the design to Yamaha, and it became the V-Max. Oh, what could have been....

Big Dan

I stand corrected, I should have said V type not twin.

JW

[taz95dog]

and they do have a really good clothing line. i hope they will go back and have some stuff made here.seems like they use to.but i have crs soooo....taz...

[baldoldfxr]

Rubber mounting the engine/trans & designing the rubber mount frame particulary the fxr package ,yes I know Eric Buell had a hand in that.

[V24me]

Codyshop,
If you read mine, that is Marketing. 

They're alot like the big 3 auto makers.  More money into advertising and pushing brand loyalty than giving the public what they want WHEN they want it.

[Glenn W]

Another vote for the jiffy stand. The 96 and up handlebar switchs are the best in the industry. Having the turn signal on each side is perfect. I hate riding a jap bike with one TS switch on the left side. I hate riding a jap bike period. 

Heya Phil! Isn't strange how what one person loves another doesn't I've always hated the separate L&R turnsignal buttons-my truck doesn't have L&R  turnsignal stalks I have no problem using my left thumb to signal for either direction. (BTW my vote was for the self-cancelling signals & jiffy stand but those were already taken)
¿spoom 

[codyshop]

Rubber mounting the engine/trans...

Norton did it earlier.  Ray

[baldoldfxr]

codyshop you're right about nortons rubber mounts predating HD .It took norton a while to get a system that worked well the first version was a pain in the butt to set up then the vernier adjustment  style made life a lot easier, Its interesting that the feeling of HD & Nortons is very similer even though the rubber mounts work in  different ways.  I think Im right that other British bikes had rubber mounted engines even earlier pretty sure Sunbeam used it on the inline twins.

[08ultra03deuce]

I'll second the antilock brake.  Rode in the 30's a couple days back.  Roads were incredibly slick.  I came to an intersection with a stop sign that was shaded from the sun.  Hit a sheet of ice.  The second i touched the rear brake the abs kicken in.  Despite my natural reaction i held it in and slid for what had to be 5 to 10 seconds.  The rear end felt solid the whole time.  No squirreling at all.  I was only going 10 mph at the time so i wasn't too worried about tipping it but it's comforting to know the same thing will happen at 70 mph on dry roads.

[JK]

Funny about the Jiffy stand.  Always makes me laugh when I see a non-Harley rider lunge for a bike that does the 1" roll forward as you get off it, knowing the stop is set.   

[buck1032]

The Springer front end. Both the FX and FL Springers are very well made and handle well.