So on average, a Japanese motor is going to wear out sooner than an American? I doubt it.

Sure, sportbikes are ridden harder, but they are designed for it.

In fact, the redline on a sportbike is so high and so unnecessary for street riding, that I bet the average sportbike doesn't see redline as often as the average Harley.

Eyes open

I put on some honest miles and I know many more guys on HDs that out do me 10 fold. They are on their bikes nearly every day, every night, and go on big trips. I would, I simply don't have the free time.

So you proved you know little to nothing about HDs. Just for the FLH line alone off the top of my head...

2008 - fly by wire throttle, brembo brake controls, abs brakes option
2009 - new frame design, new forks, brembo brakes, new wheels size & design.
2010 - optional 103 CI motor, limited model offered
2011 - standard 103 CI motor, cat. converter exhaust

Just saying... you don't know and that was proven.

Why they aren't called squids?

Honestly, it's a decent question. I think as a whole it's a traditional thing. Understand, that these guys have been riding for far longer than the high tech gear has been around. Many of the HD riders are older (this is changing slowly) and in typical fashion of age, don't feel the need for added protection. The mentality that "they've made it this long without", reigns prevalent. Good bad or indifferent, you can't convince many of these old dudes.

This will be a different tone in the next 10 years. There is a different breed coming up. My breed. If you want to see this... come to the next rally in sep. :D

oh shit... Mine's 10 overdue...
(It's not truly broken in until you go through at least one chain and sprocket set).

Hope my v-strom isn't part of that "sportbike" class that wears out around 20k. I already have 10k on it and don't need it wearing out next year.

The average sportbike's torque peak is around 10K. The average Harley's torque peak is just off idle. They don't need to go to redline.

Well my bike feels perfectly broken in at 24000 miles.

I think the question also is how well are they maintained? lotof these squids arent realy up on even basic maintenance, which even withthem being built very well usualy leads to soem sort of failure.

A man that has rode a v-twin

DING DING DING

There is no way you should consider any motor of modern day to end near 20k. With exception to race motors or something...

The reason most harley riders aren't squids is the whole reasoning behind squids. You just don't see that many riding like fucking idiots (It's the lack of gear + riding like a douche that makes a squid.) Harley riders are mostly noobs and fags. There is even a lot of them that ride plum across the country that can barely ride their fucking bike (I met a shit ton of them on my trip.) They just want to get to the bar in the next town and then they are happy.

Plus they aren't out there trying to go a zillion miles per hour.