You'll be smiling a lot when you ride. So, be sure to pick the bugs out of your teeth before walking into Starbucks


🐜

 

I don't believe it's any different from riding any other bike as far as upkeep goes. I would ride it for a while before doing anything and see if and or what you want to change from stock. Congrats on the new glide it's a great choice IMHO

 

Wait BUY the service manual? you know what I still have the manual from my 15 roadglide, they did not give me one with my 17. I never really thought much of it. I just thought they forgot to give me my manual. ok that's kind of crappy for real if you have to pay for that.

 

I know this may cause a panty wedgie with some of the guys and gals in here, but to me the Harley M8 rides and feels a lot like a metric so its really not all that different now. a lot of folks have been saying change the windshield, shock etc in here, but honestly ride it for a while before you change things. I am still on my stock shock and I really have no intentions of changing it. while its not like a Goldwing shock, its fine with me. I did change the windshield out. I am 6'4 and the stock short screen was horrible to me.

 

To be honest with you the maintenance and riding are not going to be anything different than what you have been used to for over 100K miles. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule in the owners manual just as you would with any other bike

If you carry it to HD for service the price will be high, carry to an Indy shop it will be less expensive. If you did your own service on bikes in the past you will be able to do the same with the HD. I would suggest buying the Service Manual from HD especially if you are doing your own service.

One thing to remember is that with an HD there is a ton of aftermarket parts( probably more so than any other manufacturer) available to give you the look that you want or to change up riding position etc... to give you more comfort. My point in saying that is that you don't need to ride with a bike that is anything more than perfectly comfortable. If you wish you could sit higher, lower, closer to the bars, further away etc.... There is seats etc... that address that. More pull back on bars, less pull back, higher, lower etc... all can be fixed. You want to change the position of legs, feet etc.. all can be changed.

However the key with all the above IMHO is to put some miles on the bike before making lots of changes often you will find after some miles is the changes you originally envisioned are not what you really need. Or things that you originally thought would go unchanged need to be altered.

Biggest thing is just continue to ride and enjoy. If you have specific questions this forum is full of guys/gals that are more than eager to offer advise

 

Owners Manual comes with a new bike, Service Manual you buy..sounds like they owe you an Owners Manual...if all you ever plan on doing is basic maintenance the OM is all you need and available online as well if you Register on Harley Owners at their main site

 

I've always had to buy my service manual. I got the owner's manual and the Boom system books with my bike but then I had to buy the three service manuals.

As far as the maintenance not being too different, mostly that's right, but you didn't say exactly what bikes you've had in the past. I have some friends that have switched to Harley that are kinda taken aback by the little things like; "What? there are 3 holes for oil?" and "I can't find the valve adjustment interval?" among other little things.

 

OP; Congrats on the new ride and all you need, for now, are miles. Let the mods and add-on's come to you...in time.

 

Get 3 manuals - check
Stay out of Oil - check :-)
Touring Forums - check

Thanks man!

 

I am keeping BOTH thank you very much but I DID cut the sleeves out of the onesie. :-)