Buying an Harley in Pakistan, are they reliable?

[usmantradersgtroad]

I always wanted to buy a Harley, but i didn't have the resources to buy one up till now. I have kept few higher displacement bikes in the past, but most very really old like 1990s models. I have faced allot of heating issues and what not, and most off the time i was visiting different mechanics. Got fed up by all that so i bought a Benelli TNT25, its not big or anything but it was in my budget and the newest and least driven bike i could find in the market. I never faced any issue with my TNT25 and it has 7500km on its odometer.
Looking into Harleys now, mainly iron 883 cause my budget is 15-22lakh. But i have heard they arnt reliable at all, like clutch plates and clutch assy will literally fry with like 2500km on the odometer. They breakdown cause off heating issue, i know they are air cooled bike and obviously it would heat up more than a liquid cooled motor, but breaking down is a big thing. One person told me its because pakistan is really hot and weather aint suitable for these bikes and so isn't the petrol. And told me to by a vrod only cause it’s liquid cooled.
Reading forums online i couldn’t find anything saying anything near all these claims. And seeing so many people riding Harleys here in pakistan seems they are doing fine in our climate.
But spending so much money on a bike i want to be sure are they reliable or not?

[Xulfiqar]

harleys wont overheat in the heat of arizona, I dont know what heatup you are mentioning, but please rest assured that local regular japanese motorcycle mechanic with 8 tools and reliance on "shleekone, curil, magic ki toobein (tubes)" - it will be a rolling disaster.

And also be prepared for some visits to the chiropractor or a bunch of doctors later on. They shake!!!.

[umairjamil6]

A well kept bike doesnt overheat and aircooled bikes very rarely overheat. Liquid cooled ones do overheat when the cooling system is not working correctly.
That said harleys use very old tech and arent as reliable as Japanese bikes or as powerful. They require massive engines to make little power.

[Xulfiqar]

but harleys have one unique thing,

massive boat loads of torque at low rpm.

[usmantradersgtroad]

what i mean by heating up, is like bike starts missing/coughing, and breaking down. Like an liquid cool bikes starts spraying cooling and stops, and then wont start. Those this happen..?

[usmantradersgtroad]

what i read online, especially about the EVO motor is that it is bullet proof, as they are using almost the same engine form like 1984. If it was so unreliable they might have changed it.
But the people i talked to too they say otherwise, they were all super-bike owners btw.
So kinda confused yk

[umairjamil6]

Well if its from 84 then obviously it is ancient. They are unreliable in comparison to hondas and japanese bikes that can stand a bit of abuse.
You need to do your own research for this as some bikes maybe reliable while others may not.
It all boils down to what do you really want from a bike? What are ur priorities? Are you a good driver? Was the bike maintained properly? Will you ride it regularly?

[usmantradersgtroad]

well online everyone says there reliable, but people i met say other vise
that why i started this thread, to get more insight

[Xulfiqar]

Im not quite understanding what you are trying to to convey, if an engine starts to misfire, its probably an ignition or timing fault and modern harleys are efi anyway so its pretty easy to diagnose them with a scan tool attached to the bike.

If your HD has overheated to the point of engine lockup or failure you should be awarded a medal of achievement. HD motorcycles are thrashed like mules everyday by all PDs around the USA. They refuse to die.

My point is that owning a HD in Pakistan is not easy unless you are your own mechanic or have an actual real mechanic with proper tooling for it. Even just lifting the damn thing is a task as they weigh as much as depleted uranium and are longer than some kei cars.

[asjdsm]

Harley will only be servicible at hardly authorized places and they cost a whole leg to maintain. They will replace anything slightly of doubt. You won't be maintatin it to a level at which point it can called Harley.

I won't recommend you buying it.

Instead buy replica Chinese bikes or have one of your favorite imported. Lifan zongshen jailing makes good bikes. That will be far durable as the engine wiring and other things are replica of tried and tested Japanese tech.

[umairjamil6]

Harley owners basically worship their bikes so they always praise their bikes. Some are reliable others not so much. I didnt say they were unreliable. They are unreliable when compared to japanese bikes. And every machine is unreliable when it gets in the hands of desi ustaads as they don’t understand it and try jugaars.
What are you looking for in a bike?

[r1]

Leave everything aside, just visit the HD Store or any other motorbike store. The specific series you're looking for wont be less than 4.5-5.5million budget bracket.
Moreover HDs are most reliable than any other available brand in market.

[usmantradersgtroad]

if i would change my option from a harley, then i would go for a boulevard not a chinese replica

[usmantradersgtroad]

i like everything about a harley the looks, the feel, the community everything is amazing
but still i wont want a bike that needs continues fixing cause it has allot of problems
ik Janpanies bikes are more reliable
but the i just want to know do harley face continues issues, or they just like anyother bike

its like comparing a honda cd70 to a united70
honda is relatively allot more reliable in the long run
but united 70 also doesnt face allot off issues

my main concern is do harleys have known issues/fault or not

[usmantradersgtroad]

obviously a dealer wont tell the faults off the bikes he is selling, and i have visited the harley store in lahore.
And i am looking at the sportster lineup not the softails
so they range from 1.5-3.2 million

[umairjamil6]

Oh so its a preference. Ok then you need to google the engines and the bikes to see the regular issues. Overheating wont happen on a good engine so dont worry about that. Watch a few vids and get a test drive to see if the bike is comfortable for you.

[usmantradersgtroad]

done all that, seen hundreds of videos read tons off reviews, the reason i am here is cause i want a true insight off a harley owner in pakistan
Cause our petrol is different, lahore’s climate is hot, our maintenance aint the best, we dont have the same facilities in our country.
Are these bikes reliable, not in general, but in pakistan…with all things considered.

[Xulfiqar]

If you are not your own harley repairman, forget it. . I can assure you that just sealing the primary drive would drive you up the wall if you dont have prior knowledge or access to its repair data.

It seems like you are measuring it against an imaginary scale to be honest.

How are you planning to maintain it? You have parts supplier outside Pk?

[umairjamil6]

Petrol has imptoved a lot and harleys are driven in even harsher climates. The real issue is maintenance. Try searching for harleys fb groups in pakistan and try getting in contact with the owners from there. Keep in mind most people just use them as showpieces and not for driving

[khanrocks]

Well, first of all owning a Harley is not just like buying any other motorcycle, it’s getting into a life style, and either you are a Harley guy Or you are not …

Harley’s do have a glamorous appeal towards them, the shinny chrome, the rumble, the thump, leathers and all .. if you want to embrace that then nothing beats a Harley.

Now let’s come to owning a HD in Pakistan.

We have come a long way and now it’s very easy to own and maintain a Harley in Pakistan, regardless of its model. Once you buy one you would find trained mechanics too and a easy supply of parts aswell (I can guide you) mind it Harley’s are very Tough bikes and only need Regular oil changes. Just to give an idea, it cost Rs 15-20k for a oil change kit (oil/filter/o-ring) for a 883 (depending on which oil u prefer) and Rs 1000-1500 to get it changed … and it lasts 3000-4000 Miles …

Also clutches DONT fry every 2500 kms but if one is a really really I mean really bad rider and rides while
Holding his clutch lever pulled half way .. and eventually cooks the clutch .. it would
Cost you Rs 35k - 45k to replace it on a 883 … and it’s easily available… and Yes there are trained mechanics who can do that.

This was just to give u an idea …

The real COST is not of maintenance, it’s the accessories and upgrades which give you a pinch .. Louder exhaust, better seats, brighter lights, taller handle bars etc etc etc… it’s a never ending story ..

So owning a Harley is just like owning any other super bike in Pakistan.. you just have decide are you a Harley Guy or not .. it’s not a Motorcycle.. it’s a Life Style ..

Also every other crusier out there is trying desperately to be a Harley-Davidson