Buying a Harely need opinions

Good point on the power thing, at least on the street. More power is actually safer so long as you don't abuse it.

And do take a rider safety class, there is alot of learned skills in motorcycle riding that aren't common sense. Last week at the big motorcycle event here I saw at least 20-30 novice (or drunk) riders on the streets: braking poorly, making turns all wrong, not setting up at stoplights properly etc.

And remember, you are invisable as soon as you sit on that bike. For some reason people just don't see moving motorcyles.

 

Yes, and every time I have driven by it going into work for the past two years the parking lot is empty. Then again the base model Indian price starts at $30,000.00 aaaaaaaahahahhahahhaha! Not now, not ever.

Indian inc is living a short dream. I give them 5 years before the doors slam shut. It just ain't happening in this economy. Ok, off my soap box.

As for owning a Harley? As long as you have lots of disposable income to maintain it. My 03 Road King cost me $300.00 just to have the dealer replace the rear tire?? What the???? They rake you over the coals in service. Or to add a stage 1 or stage 2 kit for more power to that 55 hp v-twin.

One of the larger Harley Davidson dealerships in the Charlotte area Carolina HD in Gastonia, NC just slammed its doors shut. There are more to follow...HD will continue to trim the fat.

Do a little research on HD before you buy, its not an investment. Just google cycletrader and you will see the flood of used HD's out there. Buy used if you have to have one. But have your wallet ready...cause you are going to see money fly out of it. Your gonna think you work for the US mint...hahahaha!

HD inc has issues which need fixing...for what its worth my wife and I both owned Harleys. She an 03 superglide and I had an 03 Roadking nice garage jewelry, but thats about it. never again.

 

OP, what have you decided?

 

We lost an Indian dealer here in greenville,sc a while back.
I had a Buell S1W "white Lightning" at the time in 2000 when I moved here and hardly anyone even knew what it was. Greenville Harley Davidson didnt even sell them. So I had to take it to charlotte for servicing.

I think if i'm not mistaken, a canadian company has the rights to Indian nowadays.

 

Is this going to be your first bike? If so, buy a used bike and learn how to handle it for a year or two. You will make mistakes that will lead to dropped bikes and bruised egos. Its part of learning.

If this isn't your first, then go look at other rides before getting caught up in all the harley hype. There are better rides out there for much less money that will last as long if not longer. I compared a Road King to a Road Star a few years back and ended up with the Road Star because of more stretch, more torque, and about 5K less. Check out one - really is a great ride for the money and if you're into customizing, I can point you to a place that has some serious mods. They also have a 1300cc ride if the 1700mill is too big. Personally, I like it! Looking at the roadliner next.

Kawasaki's Vulcan is a respectable ride as well. Won't break the bank and is very reliable. I've rode with a lot of guys who like them. Good power and again, comfortable for the all day rides.

Honda is OK at best. I had a Spririt years ago, nice little bike at 1100cc as it produced a smooth power band and handled great. Just didn't have any real power upgrades for it then and I grew less and less fond of the sewing machine sound over time. Great bike to learn on as they are very low cost and easy to ride.

I'm not against harleys, just on to their marketing hype that took an under-powered OK bike, over-priced it, and sold it as a way of life. Once they had their hooks into you, you own everything harley - even the skivvies. Obviously worked on a lot of folks, just not on this one. There are a lot of other choices that are equally good, if not better.

 

It's the same investors that bought Chris-Craft a few years ago - not Canadian, but from London.

http://www.stellican.com/

 

I agree with murphman buy a used bike to learn on you dont want to drop a 15,000 bike. When I get mine it will be the VRSC Night Rod special 1250. All Blacked out and as fast as a rice rocket

 

sounds like you dont know much. You must have had a bad experience on a harley too. Harleys are really fun, not built for speed and part of the fun is customizing it to make it your own... Dont take it to the dealer for service, do it yourself or take it elsewhere if you're so butt hurt over the cost.

 

Here is a very simple test for you. Ride some harleys first. The 1200 sportster, an 883 sportster, and any glide. Then ride a standard position M/C. By that I mean not prone forward and not laid back (cruiser). Anybody who has done this, ( I believe ) will NOT choose a Harley. Talk to a lot of people, so that you wont be stuck with something you wont ENJOY. II have a suzuki 1250 Bandit 2008. I have never riden a better bike. I didnt say faster..... This bike handles well, gets good gas mileage, can take off in 4th gear with a passenger. and has more go than most anybody will ever need. Buy a used one.... also remember: cars ARE out to get you. Just because its green doesn't mean you can sail on through..... Dont let the throttle talk to you! Peace.

 

I used to have a Honda CBR, but got the Harley a few months ago. Nothing bad to say, I know this thread went to Harley bashing really quickly. Like someone else said, get what you want and F@#k the rest.

 

As I noted, HD makes some fine bikes... I personally just don't feel comfortable on them. The only Harley that fits me is the Dyna Wide Glide. Everything else I feel like my knees are in my chest without the expensive forward controls extenders.

 

Some good advice above. Locking yourself into a type of bike before you even figure out what type of riding you enjoy might very well cost you plenty of $$$ for minimal enjoyment. Of all the cruiser riders I know (not just HD, but the forward control poor ergonomic type of bike designed by marketing types instead of engineers), maybe 10% of them do any serious riding because the position just doesn't fit them.

I ride a Beemer R1200GS because I like going long distances and taking twisty mountain roads at a brisk pace. Even with ten inches of ground clearance I still scrape footpegs now and then, and can do so carrying enough gear for a month long camping trip. There are very few dirt roads I fear to explore. My idea of washing the bike is to ride in the rain.

Others enjoy the ownership thing more than the ride itself. To them it's all about accessorizing and polishing chrome. To be fair, I've seen a few Harleys on the road set up for long distance serious riding. Despite riding a completely different bike, I have more in common with that sort of rider than I do those riding Beemer sport bikes. Whatever floats your boat...but it would be a good idea to figure that out before dishing out so much hard earned cash.

 

Here is mine! It's for sale...

 

If I were ever to cut my quiver down to one bike, it would be a Beemer R1200GS. Good mixture of road handling/comfort and you can still rip the Forest Circus roads and 2 track. Good choice there.

As for the Harley not being ergonomic... I probably just have bad posture but that thing is comfey as hell on the highway; true, the postion is not ideal for manuvering traffic in the city and parkinglots but Ithink it's a great position on the road (Electra Glide).

IMO the dualsports are the most fun. My DR650 is a blast in city traffic, pops wheelies at will, and best of all I can ride all trails (it's a heavy pig on the single-track and nothing short of a full-body workout in the woods... but it can do it.) I've modded the crap out of the motor and suspension and had to add risers and new bars to help open up the cockpit and for riding in the MX position off road but it's still cheaper than most the others and just as fun. Still, my ass is fucking numb after 100 highway miles... I'll ride for 10-15 in at a time standing up, even on road. If I was so inclined I could throw some new wheels/tires on it and motard it on the track.

 

Wow the Harley hate runs deep in here... well, whatever. If I applied the same logic of the "expensive dealer" crap to my Tacoma I wouldn't have the Tacoma. The Toyota dealers around here are charging +$60 to do an oil change. LMFAO Growing up my Dad made sure I had a set of nuts and know how to turn a wrench. Maybe thats the difference between people who own a set of tools and people who own a whole tool box of tools. I have been riding motorcycles since I was 12 years old (dirt and street when of age) and have rode most of the big brands. I ride a Harley because I like the bike. I have rode Honda's Goldwing and felt like I was in a chopped up car, I've rode Kawasaakkiies and just felt the bike couldn't hold itself straight (test rode 3 bikes, same issue), and I tried Victorys. The Victorys were close - but I couldn't see paying that kind of money for a product from a company that had little resale history (this was 4 years ago).

So I have a '97 Fat Boy that I average 15-20k miles a year on (wish I could do more, but I have to drive the truck for work). Anyone who wants to complain about Harley parts being expensive can kiss my ass - my wife's bike is in the garage right now waiting on me to get the spare $150 to replace the starter chain and dogs on her '03 Kaw Vulcan 500. After going through the parts list for that little joke of a bike, once it is running again we're selling it and getting her a bigger bike that is cheaper to work on when needed.

Rant end - I laugh at the idiots that bash Harley then walk over to their Harley clone and ride away.

 

Outstanding post!

 

Well Said

OP ride a shit load of bikes and decide what fits you best We aren't all the same that's what makes life interesting

 

I'd rent them to find out which one you like. There are some that look good on the showroom but you might find you hate the ride.

I rented a Road King on a trip in Hawaii. If I were buying one, that's what I'd get.

 

The newer Road Kings are pretty sweet with the new frame. They handle like a dream, get good mileage, and have enough payload capacity to camp off of for a week or two (depending if your riding two-up). They hold their resale value really well also since alot of the older riders and younger riders like them.

 

I will give you my two cents, I ride a motor for a living (Motor Officer for my PD). I have many of miles under my butt riding various motorcycles. I have owned two HD's (Harley Davidson), the first being a 2003 Softail Deuce and my present bike a 2007 Road Glide. My duty bike is a 2006 BMW R1150RTP with 60,000 miles. Both my Harleys have been rock solid and the only issue I have every had was with my Road Glide when the display screen for the stereo went blank and that was covered under the warranty. Mechanically both bikes were rock solid and I put many of miles on both. As far as comfort goes I would go with the BMW R1200RT. The only draw back is the lack of dealers and services costs are expensive. We have several BMW R1200RTP's in service and we have encountered rear drive failures. If you are use to the service cost at Toyota for your Tacoma then the service cost for the Harley will be no different. Before becoming a LEO I spent 20 years in the Marine Corps as a helicopter mechanic and I do most of the wrenching on my bikes.

Before buying my Road Glide I went to my dealer and did a 4 hour rental that allowed me to ride any bike they had for rental. I originally wanted a Street Glide but after the rental the Road Glide was the bike for me. Find a dealer that rents Harleys and go from there.

I also own a 2008 BMW K1200S (I like all bikes). When I have the itch to do some spirited riding this bikes does it in spades.

Good luck in your decision.