I just retired from the Army after 21 years and may have too much time on my hands. I am thinking of selling my 2012 Ultra and getting a 1974 (my birth year) Electra Glide (if I can find one). I use my bike now for commuting, 50 miles round trip, to the new job. Is this even a remotely good idea to pick up a shovel as a daily driver? I am by no means a mechanic, but can follow a manual and currently do all services to my '12 myself. Thoughts???

No relevance, but I also have a 74 Ironhead that I am in the middle of rebuilding from the frame up...

 

IMO Waste of a Classic to use as an every day commuter...
Gonna be pricy too..
Keep a new Twinky to commute, and enjoy the Shovel [or I.H.] on weekends..
As you may notice I think a Disposable [think Jap Bike] vehicle should be used for Commuting, and Classic vehicles should be used Only for Fun!

 

Good advice.

 

My first bike, a kawisucky, is still my daily driver for the 100 mile round trip commute to/from work. Dependability is first rate, and I don't mind beating it up. My 76 FXE however, is strictly for pleasure. I'd feel guilty as hell racking up miles on her just to go to work. If my job was closer, maybe...

 

Herz a couple of possibilities for ya!

http://dubuque.craigslist.org/mcy/4922027535.html

http://richmond.craigslist.org/mcy/4933953434.html

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcy/4967952979.html

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/mcy/4911016052.html

I used my 65 for commute purposes for years (only other bike I had at the time was a chopped 52, so the choice was easy). Rain or shine, hot or cold, didn't matter. Short distances like you, what I call "junk miles". Those miles do add up though. Part of me thinks I would not do that again, the other half kicks in though and recalls that even on bad days of work, the riding to and from made it all worth it.

Fortunately you have a good option in that you have an Ultra that you can dump "junk miles" on. I say go for the 74, use the Ultra 75% and the '74 the other 25%. Use the '74 on those days when you can take the long and slow way home.

And thank you for your service!

 

I commute on my Road King Mon-Thu in the summer - Friday I take one of my other bikes... just a thought if you can swing both

 

a twinkie is a throw away bike at some point its not going to have the value to repair it - the shovel today and i own a few is a great 3rd bike

 

I'm torn on what answer to give you. I have a '77 FLH and currently it's my only bike. However, when I had an '05 Road King and a '92 Fat Boy, I rode the '05 during the week to and from work (about 45 miles round trip) and rode the Fat Boy on weekends. The Road King was nicer for work because I had saddlebags and a comfy seat. The Fat Boy was nice because it had a solo seat and was fun to throw around on the winding back roads. Both had their pluses and minuses.

Like was said, if you can swing it; keep the '12 for commuting and get the '74 for pleasure.

 

selling my 2012 Ultra and getting a 1974 (my birth year) Electra Glide That'd be like comparing/going form a covered wagon to a Ferrari. They both serve a purpose but offer two completely unique experiences. A day in the saddle of my Shovel is about all I can take any more ... then I need a day to recoup. The Shovel is sweet but you'll need to set time aside for routine maintenance every week. As far as "throw away' scooters they all were/are or will/won't be depending on the future and what the market has to offer in the coming years.

 

My first thought is you will miss the 6th gear and the extra ponies your 12 has.