Buying a Harely need opinions

WOW Good for you..Love Victory. Another company leaving HD in the dust technologically. I would be right there with you on an 8 Ball lol, but I don't ride as much anymore to justify the cash outlay and am looking maybe to get me a small sport bike to add to the stable and sell the one I use the least.

But I love ogling those Victorys come Bike Week. They really stand out from the "me too" crowd

 

Since 2005 there have been a flood of new riders, new motorcycle owners, motorcycles have become very popular and most of the people out there are new to motorcycles.
A Lot of guys that never rode a bike before want a HD as their first bike, any HD is not a good bike for any beginner, many older men in their 50's are beginners owing and riding a HD.
A HD is a tough bike to ride for a beginner, its heavy, it handles like a horse wagon, its uncomfortable and it vibrates.
I have a problem when a beginner on a HD calls me names of cuts me down because I ride a Japanese bike, I simply tell them "Nice bike, too bad you can't ride it"
I have no problem with HD Motorcycles, I just have a problem with the people that ride and own one.

 

That's totally true, but the question is, if harley made a v-twin tmax style scooter, would you feel any pull to buy the HD scooter or jeep the jap bike?

 

I bought my 2001 Ultra with 6800 miles on it with everything you can see for 14900 and sold it for 14500 with a little less than 30000 miles on it. I have owned 5 Hondas and only 1 Harley. My Goldwing(1976 GL1000 with a windjammerIII fairing) was faster, smoother, harder on tires and got less gas mileage. Only two of my friends own Harleys,some have crotch rockets ,V-max Yamaha, Goldwings, big Jap Twins and we all get along because its all about the Ride not what you ride.
Ride or not enjoy life with what you have.

 

That is the way to buy a Harley (as any expensive vehicle).... used. Let the original owner take the beating. Especially when it comes to accessories. My first ride was a GL1000 Great bike.

Unfortunately attitude prevails here in Myrtle Beach when it comes to monikers, Which is why I love their faces when they see the very real looking "plastichrome" Toyota emblem on my fender, The local Toyota Dealer here puts them on vehicles they sell. I took it off my wife's RAV and put it on the bike. Been confounding HD owners and confusing the general public since. Yamaha doesn't put the name Yamaha anywhere but a on a small cover. You really have to look to find it...and people do stop and take a look around the bike when parked and they see the Toyota emblem...I love it.

I work with an OCD Harely owner. He is one of those eat sleep breathe orange and black guys. We are always jabbing each other. One day I will pour some Olive oil under his bike.....another day he puts a pile of rice under mine....Funny stuff but always in good fun. I get ribbed more by people I know who ride Harleys than I dish out. I call them walking Billboards for HDMC. Some should collect a check for their advertising. They invite me on rides but their are about their bikes and not the ride which usually consistso of a short run to Murrells Inlet where they park with 100 other HD owners, drink beer and talk about ...... well it is a brotherhood thing. I don't belong and don't care to pay the entry fee on many levels. Maybe a few years from now when I too have a white beard and have nothing better to do than polish a bike..over 60 it's either GW or HD...I won't buy a Gold Wing

 

Or would you fly in a plane designed by Harley Davidson?

 

That'd be a 2005 Ford Tri-motor, right?
Naw, I only jest. The other American company makes some nice bikes. I really like the Wide Glide, and I suspect I'd feel the same about a Deuce or an STC. But Kool-Aid has never been my drink of choice, and hey... if I have to MAKE the adverts for my bike of choice, I will.... check out the front of my Taco.

 

Why would you guys buy a HD when they need constant upkeep and repair? Why not get a victory or something like that so you can enjoy your bike and not have to keep it plugged into life support

 

I enjoy my V Rod (as this is my first cruiser) this from an avid sportbike rider/owner for the past 11 yrs.

I still miss the rush a sportbike offers & get all nostalgic when I see the Zx10's, R1's
Gsxr's of the world riding around, yet my 39 yr old back/body cant tolerate it anymore.

Now with my V Rod.. seems this bike is somewhat shunned from the die hard Harley gurus & old timers as I have been told on a few occasions..

"that aint no Harley bla bla bla" "you shoulda got a bla bla bla"

I turn a blind eye & go about my way. This so called tradition/herritage pffft..

I dont give 2 shits about HD's image & this so called way of life some guys get warped into. Its a freggin motorcycle for goodness sake!

Like stated above its about the ride..not what you ride, the comradery it offers or can bring.

 

You got the engine setup Harley SHOULD have put in all their bikes....The "evolved" HD motor is in the V Rod. "V" for VERY nice bike.

 

That FXR must have been tough on your ego. Take a look at the newer HD's today, they make them for short people now. Go check them out and pick yourself up a jacket while your there.

 

Like this?

 

The FXR was tough on my ego leaving me on the side of the road twice and tough n my patience as well. I have never since been stranded by a motorcycle. Sorry I don't need approval anymore from the "buds" or "brotherhood" I am comfortable in my solitude and individual choices, I live and ride from the inside out.... You are right though H-D is defintately designed for old short legged people with fat beer bellys.....and thats pretty much what you see riding them most of the time.

But yeah......I go to the Harley Boutique now and then. I do have friends that proudly make payments on on them and let me tell ya, the childlike glow in thier bloodshot eyes around Christmas time is priceless when they open yet another (Bar and Shield wrapped) gift I am giving them of still another cheap Chinese trinket with HD emblazoned on it somewhere..Anything will do...Toilet paper. Shot glasses..or baby diapers. As long as the Bar and Shield is pasted somewhere. I am golden. and I am contibuting to 5% of H-Ds revenue stream!!! Win Win

Can shop for many birthdays and Chritmasses years and never lack for something to buy or something they will not want as long as they ride that hunk of Japanese parts and German design called "Tradition and Heritage"

So yeah I see the "new" old bikes......Not much has changed, Cut off the rear cylinder to avoid overheating...Thats "new" and then there are the mega changes , paint schemes, move some chrome around, black out some parts, change out some bars and tires......Same old potato pitching decades old design of an engine though...

They whined their way through faiulure in 52 and again in the 80's for Nanny Government help to ultimately sell a whopping 300K bikes in their best year. For a company that supposedly makes great products, their competitors are sure selling far more copies of them and many at the same prices.

 

Maybe you should learn how to wrench and then your bike won't leave you stranded. After reading all your constant anti-HD rants, oooh a dealer ripped me off and now HD sucks, I have come to the conclusion you belong on a metric. Enjoy the ride.

 

Dont listen to these haters, Ive had my HD for quite a while now and id never trade it for a cheapo jappo wanna-be bike. never had a problem with mine EVER, but my buddies suzuki leaked gas all over his bike one day, and my other friends honda was always in the shop, so he got a harley and he always tells me he'll never get rid of it. you get what you pay for.
and as for as services go, yeah their expensive if you get it done at the harley dealorship like an idiot, just like if you get a service done on your taco at toyota. all you need is proof that you bought the stuff and your warranty is still in effect even if you do it yourself or have another cheaper shop do it. get an 883, and convert it to a 1200 or 1250, the 883 is geared higher so itll be faster than any the came with 1200 from the factory. check out hdforums.com

 

I am looking to get a Night Rod special next year as my first bike. I don't want a Sports bike, just not MY style. I love the look of the Night Rod special. My Dad owns a Harley and loves it, and yes he is the type that has everything Harley, and I do make fun of him for it. My buddy just got a BMW bike and I think its a beautiful bike, again not the bike I see myself riding. I have wanted a bike since I was a little kid, now I am saving up for one, yes it's gonna be a Harley. Will I be proud of my bike? Of course!!! if it were any other bike I would still be as proud, not for what kind it is but that it's Mine. If you have a Harley and like it great, if its a "rice burner", just as great. Get what you want and just be proud that it's yours. Safe Riding everybody!!!

 

It's your choice and money ultimately but, in all honesty, do you think a $15,000, 670 pound, 85 ft. lb. motorcycle is the best learning platform? If it absolutely has to be a Harley for a first time rider I would honestly recommend a Sporty in 1200 (due to 883's being a bit wheezy IMHO). They are not the most comfortable, not highest performing think out there in the price category but they will handle easier and a bit easier on the wallet (I'd look used at a first bike, preferably not overly modded by some jack-ass with intentions of making it faster or adding 30 pounds of chrome).

I could be wrong and I'm not trying to tell you to buy "X" brand or model, but I would be hesitant to tell anyone, best friend or complete stranger, that that would be a good first motorcycle.

 

I know its not the best learning platform, i should edit my post, I am looking to get the cheapest second hand bike i can find for this fall just to get a feel for the bikes. I do plan on taking courses etc etc. I just don't want to get something and outgrow it in a year.

 

That is kind of a myth in my opinion... Over the years I've ridden everything from a 1978 DT125 Yamaha to Benelli Tornadoes to Ducati 1198's to Softail Standards...normally your ego outgrows the bike, nothing else. Granted, how you ride is dependent on what you ride, I wouldn't necessarily take a Full-Dresser to a race-track nor would I intend to super-slab (interstate cruise) on a DR200. Most modern motorcycles will do everything within reason that you ask them to do, within a reasonable amount of civility.

I was just liken a brand new rider jumping on a Street Rod in the same category as a new rider buying a Hayabusa to learn on... A sledgehammer might make an effective flyswatter but they are hell on furniture...

 

I would never buy a harley davidson....reasons are as follows:

Pushrods.....nothing modern should have pushrods....period

An 883 sportster makes 47 horsepower.....a SINGLE CYLINDER Japanese 450cc Motocross bike makes 55HP....lol...silly harley and their ancient engine tech. (used the 883 as an example...I know harley makes more "powerful" bikes).

They dont handle good, and are uncomfortable to ride...and that is fact, not opinion.

You are paying a lot for very little.

Out-dated suspension

Chrome...UGH I HATE CHROME...tacky..

They exploit the "American made" scheme when they are very, very, very far from it.

They Typically redline at 5000rpm....pathetic...

My dad has a 1983 Kawasaki

$199 ZL1000 ZOLEO Satellite Communicator – Two-Way Global SMS Text Messenger & Email, Emergency SOS Alerting, Check-in & GPS Location – Android iOS Smartphone Accessory

ZL1000 Eliminator and the technology on that bike trumps that of a harley. Its faster, handles better, is more comfortable to ride, and looks better.

I admire engineering in a motorcycle. A good example is ducati. L-twin motor that make almost 150HP...impressive. And a harley V-twin can barely make 60HP..

Don't take my comments are personal....just fact.



How do you keep the oil for your harley from leaking onto your driveway???

keep it in the container it comes in.