I'm looking for a bike... the problem is I don't know chit about em. I'm leaning towards a HD for the simple fact that they make a sweet looking bike. The Yamaha v stars are alright, but there's something about a HD that just makes me want to cruise the wide open highway...

So who rides a HD? Which model and why'd you choose it? I don't want a Sportster or a touring style bike, that I'm sure of, but I don't know much about any other models. Any hints to steer a newbie bike enthusiast towards?

Thanks...

- J

I have been riding a 99 FXDX for the past 6 years. I actually have it up for sale right now. Love the bike though... it's got forward controls but not raked out a whole bunch so it handles great and has double disk brakes up front so it stops really well... it called a Super Dyna Glide Sport. The only reason I'm selling it is to get a convertible that the wife and I can both enjoy...

Bluwater

I was in your shoes just a few short months ago. Except for the knowing nothing about bikes thing. : ) I looked at HD, Victory, Suzuki C90T, Honda VTX, Yamaha Stars, etc... For me it came down to comfort. I am 6'7 and 270, so I needed a long bike with forward controls and lot's of torque. I also wanted a softail as I am not a fan of exposed shocks. After much searching, and test riding, I went with the HD Softail Custom. Got an '07 with just a couple thousand miles on it for a steal. Love the mini apes, and the forward controls. I love the bike and know I made the exact right purchase.

Bottom line, ride as many bikes as you can. Be honest with yourself about why you want a bike. How/when/where and with whom will you ride the bike? You can listen to people, and everyone will have their opinion. But only you know what the perfect bike is for you. Once you know the one you want, be patient, it is a buyers market out there.

Also, please take a riders course. Good luck and keep the shiny side up.

(my .02 cents)

Nowadays, you can hardly tell the HD's from the Yamahas, Kawasakis, Suzukis, etc in the "HD" style of bikes, and with the aftermarket parts, they'll even sound just as nice (if you like that sound). If I wanted to buy a bike like a Harley, I'd put my money on the Japanese brands, personally. Plus, if you wanted to buy aftermarket parts for the Jap bikes you'd have a lot of options. Whereas, it seems like most HD riders HAVE to have HD stamped parts. I don't know, do HD riders ridicule other HD riders if they don't go with HD parts? 🙂 Plus, when I see a bike stranded on the side of the road, it's usually not a Honda, Yamaha, etc...unless they are parked under an overpass to get out of the rain. LOL Depending on the economy, HD could be in the situation they were in years ago. At least the Japanese have such a diverse market to sell a wide range of bikes to that should help stabilize their business and dealership networks. Again, just my .02

Herf... I'm actually leaning more towards the softail; it's a beautiful bike. I agree that I need to hop on some bikes and "feel" them for myself... I just wanted to hear why other riders chose the bikes they did... it may help me out with my experience.

Dave... good insight. I am keeping the yamaha v star on the list until I can at least sit on one. A guy I work with has a Honda... I don't care for the look of it.

If my wife had a say, we'd buy a vespa in hot pink... women, what do they know about being cool... LMAO...

Thanks for all the insight so far...

- J

I have owned 4 different HD bikes in the past 7 years. A 95 Road King, 2000 Screaming Eagle Road

Glide, which I still ride, 2001 VROD, and 2003 Screamin Eagle Deuce. I also have a custom chopper with a 107 in S+S powertrain. I have taken several muliple day rides on rented Ultras. I have only broken down once, and was back on the road in a few hours after being towed, by HD, to the dealer. The resale value on an HD is strong. There is a camaraderie among HD riders that transcends demographics, much like that of BOTL. I say if you are going to buy a bike, get a Harley. You may pay more up front, but it will also be worth more when you are done with it...for whatever reason.

That said.... don't rule out a Victory if you decide to go another direction.

To reply to all of you from somone who worked for Harley:

1. imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The japanese have imitated the H-D look and sound. They will NEVER get the ride right. They actually made Harley get it right. LOL!

2. Depending on how you ride, H-D has many diverse riding styles. If you like more power and throttle response, go with the rubber mount bikes(dressers, wideglide, fatbob, even sporter). They are better because they do not have the harmionic balancer on the flywheel. So, more power to the rear wheel. The solid mount bikes(softail models) have the harmonic balancer and hence less useable power to the rear wheel. They have less vibration when sitting at a stand still.

3. You must find the riding position you like best. I personally do not like the riding position of most foreign made bikes. I like the low swept back style H-D has to offer. With the advent of air shocks on the dressers, you get a fantastic ride. If you were to ride the Ultra Classic, the Street Glide and the Road Glide, you will have three different riding postions on bikes made from with same frame package.

Same with the softail and FX series. you can go to a motorcycle event around the country today and ride any bike you want becasue most manufactures offer demo rides(sturgis, Daytona, Laconia, Mrytle Beach) etc. Heck even rent one and spend time with one for 24-48 hrs and this way you will be sure to buy the right bike. The last thing you want is to buy a bike you hate. THAT costs too much in time effort and dollars to get out of.

Happy Riding! Watch out for the young kids texing!

get a scooter.....call it a Hardly Davidson.

(sank u, sank u.......I be here all zee week)

2000 Fatboy. i love it. i'm short, so i really like that it sits low. i recommend harley. i've never had a major problem with mine, and i've had it about 7 years. the ONLY two things i don't like about them are price and power. if you want some power out of your harley, you need to get a vrod or spend some money on modifying the motor. i'm probably going to spend about 3500 this fall/winter to add about 30 horses. that should make a significant difference.

should.

I usually advise people who ask me to check out the bike mags for a year, or at least for several months. I specifically recommend CycleWorld and Motorcyclist.

The simple fact is, when you're first shopping for a bike, you may not know what all is out there. There may be some feautres you later hear about and wish you had, but which are not available on your bike (or were, and you didn't order a bike with them, and they can't be added on).

Additionally, you might want to take in a show. I fell in love with Moto Guzzis one year. I needed to move up to a bigger bike, and loved everything about the bike. I researched them, asked around, etc.

Then I got to the bike show in Seattle. Sat on one and hated it instantly. The ergos on it were ridiculous. I'm 6'3" and I could barely touch the ground with my toes. The heel-toe shifter seemed to be about 5" apart...bit of a problem if you wear a size 14 shoe, like I do. The hand grips were tiny, etc.

I nearly fell in love with a Triumph Legend, although I would have had to change the seat and handlebars to accomodate my dimensions and be able to ride two up comfortably. Then Mrs. Pacman spotted a Vulcan 1500 on the way out the door. Shaft drive, water-cooled, and fit me perfectly. Stock seat was (and still is) all-day comfortable, etc. Sticker price was $7999, about half of what Harleys were running.

I went home and began researching the bike. I opted for a 1998 model as I liked the colors, the 99 colors were blah and my research showed me the 1997 model the dealer tried to sell me had problems with at least one gear.

I've had the bike over 10 years. I still love it, I could give a **** whether Harley guys consider it a "real bike" or not, and I've managed to customize it quite nicely. My wife and I both fit on it comfortably, and with custom paint, pipes, bags, airhorn, etc., I'd bet maybe 3% of the population at most could identify it from 50 feet away or more.

Oh yeah...it also sounds great, makes more power than I'll ever need, and should outlive me. 10 years and change, and not a drop of oil appearing on the garage floor. Ask around about how many owners of air-cooled bikes can say that.

One last thing...if you're serious about getting a bike, as soon as you can, take the safety course. It will likely save your life some day. It's saved mine a few times.

http://www.cigarbid.com/auction/forum/forum.cfm?action=list&forumID=7&messageDisplay=0000000305488 

I have a '99 VStar 650 Classic. It's not entirely for touring, and it's not entirely for a commuter. It does it's job admirably, and I love it. I used to really dislike it til I realized it wasn't a loathing of the bike but a loathe for the old leather saddlebags that were coming apart. I've replaced them with these great fiberglass ones from Tsuyaku and I'm back in love. The commute is now too short, and my weekends not long enough.

One thing you could add to bikes that you are considering is how repairable they are. My VStar is very easy to maintain, and all my modifications have been very straightforward. The manual is available online in a PDF format and easily readable. Fit and finish is great.

My brother has a 2003 Sportster (XLH). It leaks on my driveway and he's a trained mechanic from MMI. Guess he learned a lot. He says the seals need to be replaced every time he visits. I've only replaced one seal that was pinched and developed a leak. Turns out the dealer pinched it when they assembled it.

Our local community college has a safety course that is three days and at the end you test for your motorcycle license... the cost is $100 so I think I'll do that when I can give up an entire weekend...

Thanks for the research tips Pac... maybe I'll pick up an issue of both... I research my buys so much it drives my wife crazy... I hate buying something that will not work when it's only a few years old...

Another question: I've read that buying a used HD has great benefits... 1) most HD owners take great care of their bikes 2) they've already been customized to some extent eliminating my initial cost and 3) depreciation has already hit it the hardest when it was brand new...

What are your thoughts about buying used? Do I have more wiggle room with the price of a used bike or with a new?

Thanks again for all the great info...

- J

#5 well you do drive a Freightliner......

Oh crap I thought Wes was the OP. Sorry!

I need to go to sleep.

^ too many 40's Cooper?

- J

I agree take the safety course it will nake you a better rider if you are not already. I took it after riding for ten years and the skills I learned help save my skin a few times.

I started riding in 1980 and love it.

harley davidson.

if i hafta explain, you wouldn't understand...................

#12 Glad to help. I've learned a few things from riding and owning, always happy to pass that along. I think you'd find most other riders would, too. I also don't know of a better source of info. on what's new, what has changed in newer models, etc., than the good bike mags. I think taking a little time to make sure you get the bike that is right for you is well worth it.

BTW, you don't have to ride a Harley to take good care of your bike, nor to customize it. Mine has been customized a great deal. It's not a Harley. I also know there are a lot of bikers who think Harley is the ONLY brand, and some of them will even give you crap if your Harley isn't black.

However, in my experience, most riders are pretty cool, no matter what brand you ride. I once road a small Suzuki onto a ferry, trying to hang back of a large pack of Harleys that pulled out in front of me just a few miles from the ferry. I was new to bikes, and was afraid I was going to get all manner of abuse.

To my surprise, most of them spent the ferry ride asking about my bike and complimenting it. Even the guy who had paid more for his bike's saddle than I paid for my entire bike.

With such a terrible year you've had I'm really surprised you can afford a Harley.

Ron

^ who has had a bad year Ron?