Greetings all,

Finally paid off my car and would like to purchase a motorcycle. Since home, work, and school are in the same general area, a bike is just the thing I need to get me back and forth. Honda? Yamaha? Suzuki? Help a brother out! -kai

There are many choices but only one for me--Genuine Harley Davidson Road King. Any color as long as it's black. Some day...

Ah yes, a Harley...maybe a Sportster to start out with?

Guys, Harley's are beautiful bikes but, they are far from the most bang for the buck.

Did you hear, he is a student? That means BUDGET!

You need to give more info on the type of bike you want. Like a sport bike, a standard, a cruiser, or strictly a budget commuter.

The japanese bikes in most cases do get you more bang for the bucks, in all those catagories.

Just my opinion.

Mag

Oh by the way, when it comes to Harleys, dont get a Sportster. Chicks ride those.

Mag

Sportsters are great bikes for local stuff, not the best highway bike. I have a '90 883 which I bought new and I still love it. Harley's are cool but there's lots of good machines available.

If you're going to use a bike for every day transportation consider luggage bags. If your bike can't carry a six-pack or some rain gear it may be a cool and fun toy but it ain't very useful for everyday transportation. I have nylon saddle bags over the rear fender and they get me by but sometimes I wish I had hard bags.

Hey Mag,

Don't get a sports car. Chicks drive them.

Don't know how adventurous you are but I might consider a dual sport bike ala Honda XR650R with a street legal kit,a Kawasaki KLR 650 or a Handao XR650L.

Properly equipted, your good to go for all but the longest of highway day trips to a weekend in the moutains.It's an option,I loved ridng my XR 650 until somebody stole the fugger.Good luck!

JJ

Handao? LOL

I "had" a 97 Heritage Soft Tail. Black, Vance and Heinz straight shots, Mikuni carb, polished and ported, 10:1 pistons. Big a$$ cam. It was making 88 HP on an 80 inch motor. Miss Piggey was her name. I loved that bike.. But alas, it was a "martial asset"... And now, the new wife (with new baby) says not just no, but HE!! NO! 😞 I just have to watch them roll by…

Sell the car ,girl ,dog and everthing else get the harley and do not look back!!!!!!!!1

I'd like to go with a cruiser. I think Alsant may have nailed my problem, LOL.

Heritage Soft Tail Classic, or an Indian are my dream choices, as for something a little more feasible, an import is probably your best bet...

Been there, got the tshirt.
I'm Single and loving it.
But if you must be responsible, look for a used midrange 500cc-700cc Yamaha or Suzuki. If you treat them right, proper maint. and not hotrodding it, should get you through several years of cheap reliable transportation. Then dump the girl, buy the Harley, and RIDE. Hell, with a Harley, theres always another girl, but never another love.
Homebrew

Check out the pic post!!

Suzuki Bandit GSF1200s -

- at Stock - punching 89 ft lbs of torque and right at 110 h.p. ...

- out the door for under $8k with a few options and has a 5 Star Rating for reliability.

- add a few mods with a good mechanic and you'll smoke anything that wants to play ...

- how many Haybusa's have you seen used for HoleShot?

- how many Bandit's have you seen used for HoleShot?

.... need I say more ?

Sizuki, Yamaha, Honda, will all beat Harley for value and reliability. Don't get me wrong, I would love a Harley, but, not willing to spending too much of my time on maintainance/Repairs

I bought my mint '93 Metallic Blue Honda Nighthawk on E-Bay for $2600. Complete with grip warmers and Highway pegs! If you want to save money, wait until fall. I'm a big Nighthawk fan, even though I lived in York PA for a few years.

Check out the Honda VTX 1800 - biggest V-Twin on the market - eats Harleys for breakfast, lunch and dinner - and at half the cost.

Suzuki and Kawasaki are probably the best bang for the bucks. I give the edge to Suzuki because of reliability. Harley's are more expensive but they do hold their value better. The Japanese bikes are definitely more advanced and a better engineered product, but Harley's have their place. To me it's like comparing a Porche Turbo Carrera to a 1967, 427 'Vette. Both very cool, but very different.