Hi,

I currently own a 2020 Sportster. I do like it, and when I bought it I wasn't sure if I'd like riding long trips or just driving around town. Also being surrounded with family members telling me how I would not like going on trips and sitting in a car for longer trips would be something id prefer sort of coloured me. Taking driving lessons on a sport bike also made all the cruisers also feel enormous and heavy, even the Sportster felt intimidating when I bought it.

Turns out I like it way more than I thought I would. I love going on trips with friends on other bikes and also riding with a passenger on the back in the area around the city. I also would like to go on trips to friends who lives in cities 6-8h away from me or trips to back home to visit my parents (~4h) or to the family cabin (~3h).

On my own, and around the back roads and small 1-3h trips around the city the bike is fine. I didn't really like it when I had passenger on. It just feels a bit small.
Having test driven a 2007 Street Bob did not help, either. It fit me much better and it felt really, really comfortable.

There is a Dyna Street Bob 2015 for sale, which has only been ridden 1800 miles. It was owned by a lady, who didn't ride it much. She was mainly sitting on the back on her husbands bike. She is the only owner, and bought it new in 2015.
So it's been sitting in the garage for most of the time.

I have been thinking about a tourer, too ,but living in Europe and the roads being as narrow as they are, a Dyna would be nice in the city so I can split lanes when there's a queue. Would be difficult with a bagger. Basically the Dyna appears to be a good all around bike for narrow city roads, splitting lanes and going on trips.

I am pretty torn about what to do. Financially I can do it, but it feel insanely dumb. If I sell the Sportster I will be left with about $6700-7000 left to pay. A new one cost $~19000 where I live to give an idea of the prices. So I am taking a ~35% loss. I recon I could pay down the remaining Sportster loan and the Dyna in 4 years time.

Part of me do not want to do it, because I feel like I am just giving someone $~7000. At the same time, the Dyna would be a much better fit and make me enjoy it more. I try to think that $~7000 over the course of a lifetime really isn't that much and people and done something like this before me and survived. If not with a bike, then with a car or something else.

Honestly I do not really know what I am asking for.
Just need to air some thoughts and maybe read some comments I guess. If the loss would only be $2-3000 it wouldn't feel so bad. I also feel like I won't come across a deal like this again anytime soon. If the bike was older or not as well kept, I wouldn't be so torn to pass it up. Part of me feels like I shouldn't do the trade, another part feels I should take the deal because such a deal doesn't come up very often where I live so when I do get a bigger bike later, then I will do a "worse" trade.

 

Few motorcycle purchases make financial sense. It's your money, if you want it and can afford it, go for it.

 

Go for the Dyna, it's only money, and you only live once.

post pics of your new Dyna.

 

The Dyna is a great Bike. I had a Switchback in 2013 a few years before the Street Glide.
Great nimble bike in the mountains and a good bike for me on trips.
Previous bike was a Honda in the 80's so I didn't want to go too big but wanted some touring. Moved to the bigger Street Glide when I was ready for big trips.
Good Luck!

 

Well, you know... I think out loud myself. Drive my wife crazy
Frankly, You know what to do.

 

Wife and I have toured 35 states and 6 provinces, her on a Low Rider, me on a Fat Bob. We've travelled two up thru the Tail of the Dragon on a Road Glide; it was a ponderous beast. Rock steady handling but massive weight. We also toured central Italy on an R1200RT; MUCH better suited to those roads...in the end we've happily motored many miles through all kinds of weather on our Dynas. The much nimbler handling and better power to weight ratio compared to the FLH's suits us best. I'm certain that a bike that weighs 140 lbs less (FXDB vs FLHX) will stop quicker too...I started on a Sportster; lasted 3 years and it was fun but travelling on 2 lane roads as we do, the Dyna's win hands down.

 

Thanks for all the replies.
I will continue and see if I can buy it. Have not got an offer back on the Sportster. Hopefully I will get that today. That will determine a lot.

WIll also send an application for the loan to get some numbers back and see how it all ends up financially.

A question:
I think the bike has only had 1 oil change. This was done at the 1000 miles service.
The dealer are doing a oil change and check this week, since the bike is attempted to be sold.

1 oil change since 2015 has me a bit worried. Even if it runs fine now, I might get trouble in a year or two.
I am going to follow up the email and have it verified that it has only been 1 oil change since 2015. The answer wasn't crystal clear.

What are you thoughts?

 

Others may have more wisdom than me on this but if it's only done 800 miles since the last oil change, then I don't think you'll have a problem, providing the oil is changed now.

 

I don’t think a Dyna will be that significant of a step-up from a Sportster if you are looking for a rolling couch. Although you can get a Dyna riding nice in the rear, the front is always going to be light and nimble and jump on every bump.

Sportbikes are a different breed of bike and can ruin your Harley experience if you let it.

 

If you are after the general look of a dyna but want a nicer ride I would honestly look at a 2018+ soft tail street bob if its in your budget. My buddy has a 2019 and his stock suspension is more comfortable and handles better than my dyna with legend cartidges up front and fox rc1 in the rear. We ride together in a 3k+ mile road trip every year and his rides nicer out the gate.