Harleys Are Not The Worst Motorcycles You Can Buy, They’re Second

Consumer Reports recently published their….errr…report on the most reliable motorcycles out right now and Harley didn’t do so well. I’m singling out Harley because of their hold on the American motorcycle market and their popularity with American riders. Yes, they’re not the only manufacturer on this list but you’ll find CR’s findings very shocking to say the least.

Just like any of their reports, they conducted surveys to see which were the most reliable motorcycles during the past four years. Consumer Reports found that Harley and BMW motorcycles are “often accompanied by more problems than Japanese motorcycles from Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha.” Fortunately for you, most of the problems found could be prevented if you did regular maintenance on your bike. This goes without saying, the majority of the problems a motorcycle will encounter are because of negligence from the owner and basic maintenance will keep your bike out of the shop.

Here are a few things that you can do to make sure your bike is running in tip top shape now that riding season is in full swing for most of the U.S.

• Stay on top of regular maintenance – regular maintenance can keep small problems from getting bigger and can keep a lot of money in your wallet if you prevent bigger problems.
• Keep your tires properly inflated – not only will this increase your mileage but it will also decrease your chances of having an accident due to an improperly inflated tire.
• Check your brakes, often – We’ve seen guys ride their brake pads until there are none. There is no reason to do that, ultimately you’re only putting your life in danger and that’s not fun. Be proactive and check your brakes often to make sure you that everything is in working order.
• Inspect your bike regularly –This is especially true if you’re on a long ride across the state or country. You don’t want to be left on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Every day riders also need to keep this in mind. Just because everything has been running smoothly doesn’t mean wear and tear is not taking its tool.
• Store the bike properly –With spring comes good riding weather and that means a lot of us are taking our bikes out of storage. If you live in a cold weather area, this is almost a must. You don’t want to leave motorcycle at the mercy of mother nature if you can’t store it in a garage or a storage unit. If you absolutely MUST store it outside, a good cover would be the least you can do so that your motorcycle doesn’t suffer too much during the winter months.

While these reminders sure help, if you’ve already own a motorcycle you probably already know these, just make sure you get out there and ride safe with a well maintained motorcycle.