![]() As purchased, the Heritage Softail had apehanger handlebars. I’d already been all over the country, just not on a motorcycle – and the motorcycle added something extra awesome to the mix.” Charley Weisel at a roadside motel. “I didn’t know what I was getting into, but it all felt very natural to me. “I took a ride with a couple of friends up to Wyoming,” Charlie recalls. It wasn’t until 2005 when Charlie put money on the ‘03 Heritage Softail that miles really began rolling under his tires. Ironically, the Sportster was mostly ridden around town. “I had the idea that I’d travel, but I’d use a motorcycle to do it,” he says. In 2002, he bought a new Harley-Davidson Sportster. About 22 years ago, Charlie moved near Boulder, Colorado, and eventually got his motorcycle license. Having been taught where the clutch, brake levers and throttle were on a friend’s bike, Charlie would occasionally borrow a machine and ride for an hour or two. Eventually, the fun was taken out of the bicycle racing and the only part I enjoyed was the traveling.” Although not raised around motorcycles, he wasn’t exactly a stranger to them. “I’d win a race, live for a week on the earnings, and then drive to another race and zig-zagged around the country. ![]() “I raced from the age of 11, up until I was 28 or 29. And his mom, who was athletic and a marathon runner, got him interested in road racing bicycles. His dad was a career Air Force man, and the family moved around the country every two or three years. Charlie didn’t grow up around motorcycles, but he was a seasoned traveler. ![]() A familiar roadside shrine near Conception Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico. “Typically, the more remote and difficult roads yield the greatest rewards,” he explains. So, either begging or apologizing!” He rides on all surfaces, from asphalt to dirt, sand and gravel. I have a pretty close relationship with the machine I’m constantly asking it to go just a little further or saying sorry for riding it where I’m asking it to go. “I’ve never named the thing,” Charlie says of his Harley-Davidson. Over the last several years, Charlie has ridden his chopper more than 235,000 miles, traveling the roads of 17 European countries, Mexico, and all 48 contiguous United States. He’s used to the attention, and says, “people do tend to stop and make sure I’m good fairly often, it’s a reminder that humans are far more caring and helpful than we like to believe.” And he’d know. “Everything all right?” one concerned driver shouted out during our conversation. With a car or truck passing every few minutes, Charlie sat astride the 10-foot 4-inch long custom. I’d called him a couple of hours earlier, right when he was elbows deep in the drive side of his 2003 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail chopper. After a short ride, he pulled over and returned my call. ![]() So, to help steer motorcycle fans in the right direction, here's a list of 14 used Harleys worth every penny and three to avoid at all costs.After swapping out a clutch hub bearing and installing a new primary drive belt at Rivera Primo’s shop in Goleta, California, Charlie Weisel (that’s pronounced Wisel), hit the road. But thinking that all Harley-Davidson models are great is a big mistake. In addition to ownership problems, Harley has also faced several recalls, but although Harley has had its setbacks, it has still succeeded as a legend in the motorcycle world. The AMF years nearly stained the reputation of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle until they regained ownership in 1981. RELATED: Why The 2023 Indian Scout Will Give The Harley-Davidson Nightster Sleepless Nightsįor a dark period during the 1970s, Harley belonged to American Machine and Foundry (AMF) and their production was ineffective and lacked quality control. So, we've updated the list of great used Harley choices for 2023 and also added a few more models we'd stay away from. However, these bikes also have a long list of issues that have caused recalls and a negative reputation. Updated March 2023: Due to their timeless designs and rugged features, Harley-Davidsons are one of the most popular motorcycles to buy used. As a result, they have produced some of the best touring bikes that give other top brands like Triumph Motorcycles and Royal Enfield a run for their money. Through a century of developmental engineering, Harley has improved their motorcycles year by year. But no one can deny the company has produced some legendary cruisers. Consumers generally love or hate Harley – or even a bit of both. Harley-Davidson is one of the oldest motorcycle companies and has a very loyal fan base.
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