MOTORCYCLE PURCHASE ADVICE NEEDED!!!!
- Thread starter The Big D
- Start date
ChattanoogaPhil
Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2009
- Messages
- 14,601
- Reaction score
- 20,622
I ride pretty much like what you're describing-- fair weather rider on day or weekend trips. I have a Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan cruiser and really like it. I have a windshield, bags, passenger and rider back rests for when my wife and I want to take off for a day or two, or it can be stripped down for solo around town fun as in the below pic. Some of the factory full dresser bikes really aren't designed to be stripped down so thats why I picked this bike but you could do the same with any number of cruisers. The Kawasaki is very smooth on the highway and has lots of low end torque for two-up and mountain riding. It has been trouble free. Mine has spoke wheels and I like em but the newer 1700 models no longer have spoke wheels.
Attachments
ridewv
Member
I really like my Airhead, but since The Big D is interested in a cruiser I doubt its what he will want.
My advice would be to look for a used HD Road King. Some years are more desirable than others so familiarize yourself with the different years. They come standard with bags and a quick remove windshield. You can add racks, back rests, switch to a solo seat, and hundreds of other accessories. The regular Road King comes with cast wheels and tubeless tires, and hard saddlebags. The Road King Classic has leather looking bags and spoke wheels with tube tires.
When deciding on a 2009 I went back and forth between the regular Road King and Electra Glide Standard (no longer offered). These are the same basic motorcycle except the EG has the batwing fairing instead of the RK's shield.
shotguntom
Member
Currently riding a 2005 Road king classic. Had a 99 dyna before this. I would recommend the Dyna over the RK for the type of riding your describing. I would say how big you are may be a factor also.
I.m only 5' 7"' and weigh about 165. Road king is alot of bike around town.
JMHO,
TJ
I.m only 5' 7"' and weigh about 165. Road king is alot of bike around town.
JMHO,
TJ
Harley has a lot going for it and I won't speak againt them. I own and ride a Kawasaki Nomad 1600. Smooth & reliable, I regard my 2006 as one of the best looking bikes on the road. Tubeless tires and excellent factory hard saddlebags.
I really like the HD Road King especially if you are a fairly large rider. May also look into any Road King Police turn-ins in your area. They are usually well maintained/documented and often fairly low mileage.
also the Police RK king has the larger "103" motor, oil cooler, and better brakes. Less expensive than new also. If you want something a shade lighter I agree with those who suggested the Dyna models, especially the Wide Glide or Fat Bob. By the way, I ride a 2007 Sportster and like mine. Ride it by choice. Real fun on back roads and have no problem cruising 75-80 all day. Ride several times a week with Road King and a Thunder Mountain Softail. No problem keeping up on road trips and neither can pass me from a stop thru 4th gear. If I ever decide to move up will probably go with Road King.
also the Police RK king has the larger "103" motor, oil cooler, and better brakes. Less expensive than new also. If you want something a shade lighter I agree with those who suggested the Dyna models, especially the Wide Glide or Fat Bob. By the way, I ride a 2007 Sportster and like mine. Ride it by choice. Real fun on back roads and have no problem cruising 75-80 all day. Ride several times a week with Road King and a Thunder Mountain Softail. No problem keeping up on road trips and neither can pass me from a stop thru 4th gear. If I ever decide to move up will probably go with Road King.
Over the past I have owned several different brands of motorcycles... Honda's in the 1970's while stationed in the Philippines to a few well used Harleys in the late 90's when stationed on Okinawa..
I always promised my self that some day I would own a new bike. My dad passed away in June of 2009 he had always told me "Enjoy yourself before its to late" For the last 3 years I have been nursing I an 89 Softail (for some reason I always aquire other peoples problem bikes...Ride an hour and work on it for 2.) I decided on a new bike I went about it open minded but finally went to the Harley Dealer and fell in love with the 2010 Fat Boy Lo... it fit perfectly. My feet sat flat on the floor when stopped and my Butt was snuggled in a seat that actually had some padding in it... and best of all it has the classic look to it.....and it comes in my 2 favorite colors Black and Black... Well after pricing it in a few different shops I finaly ended up driving To Laconia New Hampshire and saved a bundle.... the people there were nothing short of fantastic ..... So 3 months later and just under 1,000 miles I am a happy camper... Ride safe
Bob
I always promised my self that some day I would own a new bike. My dad passed away in June of 2009 he had always told me "Enjoy yourself before its to late" For the last 3 years I have been nursing I an 89 Softail (for some reason I always aquire other peoples problem bikes...Ride an hour and work on it for 2.) I decided on a new bike I went about it open minded but finally went to the Harley Dealer and fell in love with the 2010 Fat Boy Lo... it fit perfectly. My feet sat flat on the floor when stopped and my Butt was snuggled in a seat that actually had some padding in it... and best of all it has the classic look to it.....and it comes in my 2 favorite colors Black and Black... Well after pricing it in a few different shops I finaly ended up driving To Laconia New Hampshire and saved a bundle.... the people there were nothing short of fantastic ..... So 3 months later and just under 1,000 miles I am a happy camper... Ride safe
Bob
shooboy
US Veteran
Anyone know Mrs Shoo's e-mail address?
Nice Glide brother.
Thanks Mike, Glad you like the Glide. Now keep quiet about the chicks to my wife please, Shoo
P.S. The Kawasaki Vulcans are great bikes too in my opinion, rode an 800 Vulcan Classic for a few years and my buddy still owns it, has been trouble free. Chatanooga Phil has the bigger Vulcan shown above, and that's a beauty
Last edited:
If you are not ruling out an American V Twin (Harley) I would recommend taking a Victory for a road test. You get more displacement, better components, a factory oil cooler, 5 qt oil capacity, and a lighter feeling bike due to a lower center of gravity. Don't get me wrong...I love my Wide Glide. I'm just saying you may find a bike with more to offer for less money. It doesn't sound like you are sold purley on mystique and classic looks.
Good luck, lot's of choices out there. Let us all know what you decide.
Good luck, lot's of choices out there. Let us all know what you decide.
shooboy
US Veteran
From one Wide Glide owner to another, that is one beautiful ride Bro !!! Very nice ! I like the bars and risers much better than what I have on my Glide. What year is that ???? Shoo
Last edited:
65kaiser
Member
I picked up a 2000 Yamaha Roadstar used about five years ago, absolutely love it. Very comfortable 1600cc plenty of power and super reliable I know of several guys have gone over a hundred k with only regular maintenence. I get about 45mpg. These are also belt drive like an HD. In todays market they can be picked up really reasonable. I love the HD's but you do pay a premium.
Thank you shooboy. Your's is sweet as well! Like you I am partial to Wide Glides. It's a 2000 model year. First of two years where concord purple pearl was available. I originally ordered black but changed the order when I saw this color. I get compliments at every gas station. I have entered and trophied at 3 ride in bike shows...2 first in class and one 3rd. I bought it new when I lived 20 minutes from the York Assembly plant. That was back during the waiting list days (waiting for MSRP). Bikes were readily available for those willing to spend more money. Things are quite different for HD these days. I do not agree with they hold their value, at least not like they did during the waiting list days...just check craigslist if you want proof...or KBB.
Tech23
shooboy
US Veteran
Thanks tech23, Yeah, I remember that days of putting your name on a waiting list. I bought a first-year '95 Bad Boy back in '94. It was supposed to come in sometime in October. Dealer called me up in the summer and said they were supposed to put a full-dresser on the truck at the factory but accidentally put a Bad Boy on the truck. They asked me if I wanted that one or did I want to wait until the one came in October. Hell yes I wanted it ! They said they had people a mile deep waiting if I passed on it. They never did get another one in. Had one of something like 4500 made that first year. Anyway, like I said before, tons of deals out there right now. Not sure how long that will last. I'm hoping the prices stay down accross the board as I'm dreamin' of picking up a Swift Bar Chopper in the next couple of years. I've seem them going for $12,000 or less for a bike that went for $38,000 on up. Once again, that is one sweet ride ya got there Bro !!! Take care, Shoo
P.S. I stole my Wide Glide for $6850 !!!
P.S. I stole my Wide Glide for $6850 !!!
If you're going to be doing longer rides, as well as around town, I really don't think you can beat one of Harley's touring bikes, either a Road King or an Electra Glide. I got back into riding (after a 3 decade long layoff) in 2002/2003, and bought a Honda A.C.E. Great bike, still have it; however, I bought a new H-D Electra Glide on Valentine's day, 2006. I kept the Honda, figuring I would use it around town, but use the Harley on longer trips, since the H-D was so much heavier (800 lbs vs. 500 lbs). Haha! Over the next three years, I rode the Honda twice (or, maybe, three times). Once adapted to the Harley and used to its weight (took all of 2 or 3 hours), it is not only superior on the highway, but it would out-handle the metric bike in town and at low speeds, just no comparison. I still like the Honda, still have it (paid for is the best option), and I am back to riding it after a guy in a Cadillac SUV decided he needed my lane more than I did while I was on the Harley. Oh well, at least I got it slowed down enough before I went down that I'm still around (touring bikes don't make very good dirt bikes), but the scoot was totalled. I plan on getting another one sometime in the near future, 800 mile days were easy on that bike, actually felt refreshed after such a ride - I don't even want to think about riding that far on the Honda, even though I replaced the stock torture rack (saddle) with a Mustang seat and made other mods, many of which involve comfort. Heck, riding 300 miles in one day is a pretty long ride on that bike, and you feel it at the end of the day. With a stock seat on the Honda, 50 miles can be a torture test for your body (that applies to most metric bikes, BTW). One other thing - the newer H-Ds are notably superior in quality (unlike the bad old days of AMF ownership). Excellent fit and finish, you don't find chrome plated plastic parts (H-D still believes in metal, unlike the chrome plated plastic found all over most metric bikes, such as turn signals, mounts, etc.), and the air suspension on the touring bikes is a delight to ride. The fuel injection keeps that V-Twin ticking whether you're at sea level or 8,500 feet, too. I usually averaged 45-50 MPG on the Harley, pretty good for a big, heavy bike. Oh yeah, it doesn't seem to get blown around by other traffic anywhere near as much as a lighter bike, and it actually makes you want to hit the highway, as opposed to the "I really don't want to be here" feeling you get on a lighter bike out on the highway - the Honda is very "buzzy" at highway speeds, and the suspension just doesn't give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, completely opposite with the H-D. Don't get me wrong, I love my little Honda, but it just doesn't stack up to an E-Glide in any way. Oh yeah, the maintenance - mine never needed anything beyond standard maintenance (oil changes, etc.), never broke down, not even a hiccup (definitely different from the dark days of AMF). It is really a modern machine which looks a bit old-timey. If you get an E-Glide or a Road King, I'm betting your 300 mile trips will soon be extended far beyond that, all the time with a smile on your face!
shooboy
US Veteran
Good advice 310pilot, I hear what you are saying about metric cruiser seats. At about 70 miles on my old Vulcan 800 my butt was done for the day.
I looked at a new Honda Fury factory chopper befor buying my Wide Glide. $12,000 seemed like an okay price for a nice chopper. Then I found out the side covers were chromed plastic. Oh, and what's this ??? The valve covers and the engine side covers are also plastic ??? Are you freakin' kiddin' me ? What was the $12,000 paying for ? Good luck finding replacement parts in 20 years for these bikes, they won't exist, or if you do find them, prepare to mortgage the farm to pay for them. As long as I'm breathing I'll always be able to find parts for my Harley. And they will be chromed STEEL. Nuff said, Shoo
I looked at a new Honda Fury factory chopper befor buying my Wide Glide. $12,000 seemed like an okay price for a nice chopper. Then I found out the side covers were chromed plastic. Oh, and what's this ??? The valve covers and the engine side covers are also plastic ??? Are you freakin' kiddin' me ? What was the $12,000 paying for ? Good luck finding replacement parts in 20 years for these bikes, they won't exist, or if you do find them, prepare to mortgage the farm to pay for them. As long as I'm breathing I'll always be able to find parts for my Harley. And they will be chromed STEEL. Nuff said, Shoo
There you go...proof of what I was saying about resale value. Doesn't matter how much mystique, or classic looks the bike has in todays economy. Saaaweeet deal you got! Even the big buck custom choppers are selling for half what they were during the chopper craze, some for less than half. Sure enough you will find a Swift in your price range. You know Swift is owned by the owner of the trucking company of the same name (and logo). Nice bikes, I like the big tube frames and the clean look of the instruments recessed into the top clamp. Have you looked into a Saxon...another Phoenix AZ custom built bike. The Phoenix craigslist usually has custom bikes listed amognst all the Harley's.
I loved the Bad Boy. I have a Bad Boy slotted chrome rear wheel on my Wide Glide. I watched them making springer front ends during the York open house. A real treat to witness the craftsmanship that goes into taking raw material and turning that material into the springer front end. A real work of motorcyle art.
Thanks again,
Take care,
Tech23
Last edited:
shooboy
US Veteran
Hey tech23, Never heard of Saxon but will do some research. I've been thinking about either a Swift, a Borgett, or possibly a Big Dog.
My wife thinks your Wide Glide is gorgeous too by the way, she loves the color ! Talk to ya, Shoo
My wife thinks your Wide Glide is gorgeous too by the way, she loves the color ! Talk to ya, Shoo
mkk41
US Veteran
The prices on used Harleys have crashed back down to earth and dealers are sitting on '09 & '10 leftovers. Last Halloween , I picked up a 1997 ex-police Road King (FLHPi) with 34,000mi for $5000. Had to put a few hundred dollars and some work into it to bring it up to my standard , but WOW , what an incredible motorcycle. And I own a couple other , older Harleys.
After riding this thing , riding my 1968 FLH or 1950 chopper on a twisty road is like 'dinosaur wrestling'. Air-adjustable shocks , air-adjustable forks , even an air-adjustable shock mounted under the seat , big disc brakes , fuel injected , 45 MPG , saddlebags that'll hold a case of cold beer , each , or a weekends worth of 'stuff'. And I've seen other Roadkings of this era go 100,000mi without any trouble.
Nothing wrong with Japanese bikes. I've owned a few and enjoyed the hell out of them. Main problem is that ya might not always be able to get parts or service on a 5year old or older 'non-current' model.
After riding this thing , riding my 1968 FLH or 1950 chopper on a twisty road is like 'dinosaur wrestling'. Air-adjustable shocks , air-adjustable forks , even an air-adjustable shock mounted under the seat , big disc brakes , fuel injected , 45 MPG , saddlebags that'll hold a case of cold beer , each , or a weekends worth of 'stuff'. And I've seen other Roadkings of this era go 100,000mi without any trouble.
Nothing wrong with Japanese bikes. I've owned a few and enjoyed the hell out of them. Main problem is that ya might not always be able to get parts or service on a 5year old or older 'non-current' model.
Similar threads
- Locked
