Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 1
From: Bellingham, WA
Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
Hello,
Although I've had my endorsement since 76, my first Harley is 1 week away, and I need some advice. I've narrowed it down to two new07 models. A Superglide Custom 105th Anniversary for a little over $15,000.00, or a Wide Glide (stock except alarm) for a little over $16,000.00. I started out looking at Fat Boys but after talking to a few seasoned Harley riders, I decided against, plus it would be a bittoo much strain financially. The Superglide doesn't have forward controls, but can be put on after market. I've ridden Kz's for many years so mid controls do feel a little more natural at this point. Any advice good or bad would be enormously appreciated, as it's getting down to the wire.
Thanks from the beautiful, but rainy Pacific Northwest.
Although I've had my endorsement since 76, my first Harley is 1 week away, and I need some advice. I've narrowed it down to two new07 models. A Superglide Custom 105th Anniversary for a little over $15,000.00, or a Wide Glide (stock except alarm) for a little over $16,000.00. I started out looking at Fat Boys but after talking to a few seasoned Harley riders, I decided against, plus it would be a bittoo much strain financially. The Superglide doesn't have forward controls, but can be put on after market. I've ridden Kz's for many years so mid controls do feel a little more natural at this point. Any advice good or bad would be enormously appreciated, as it's getting down to the wire.
Thanks from the beautiful, but rainy Pacific Northwest.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,276
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From: Top of Texas
RE: Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
Have you considered renting first? Most dealers have fairly affordable rates during the week - might even let you split a day between the two models; 'specially if they think your going to purchase in the near future.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2006
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RE: Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
That one is on you. I prefer th narrow glide front end, bu the Wides are sure nice.
Like said, ride them if you can. At least go to the showroom and sit on them, stare at them. and walk around then a lot.
It is a BIG purchase. You'll probably make fewer changes to the WG than the SGC..........IMO.
Good luck,
DougJ
Like said, ride them if you can. At least go to the showroom and sit on them, stare at them. and walk around then a lot.
It is a BIG purchase. You'll probably make fewer changes to the WG than the SGC..........IMO.
Good luck,
DougJ
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RE: Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
Do you really like that 105th anniversary paint scheme? Check out the Low Rider. Black powder coat on engine. Mid controls plus forward highway pegs. Seating position is 2" below theWide Glide. And maybe $2,000 less than the Wide Glide.
Or, just buy what you like. What the heck, I'm just throwing in my opinion.
Or, just buy what you like. What the heck, I'm just throwing in my opinion.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 200
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From: Bellingham, WA
RE: Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
Great advice so far, thank you. I will be at the dealer early next week to ride their demo's to compare. I was also considering the Low Rider, but don't really care for the wheels ( I know I can eventually change them, but $ will be tight for awhile). Does anybody have any opinions on handling differences? I wasn't crazy about the 105th anniv. paint at first, but I've grown to really like it.Another thing I'm considering is re-sale value on the 105th anniv. model.
Thanks Again
Thanks Again
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
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RE: Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
Wow! All great bikes. Can't go wrong with any of them. I guess I'd say the WG gives you more of that chopper feeling, the SGC gives you more of a performance feeling, and the LR is just all round Bad Azz. Wish I had all three! You will probably hear that all those that have one of these bikes think there's is the best bike. And it certainly is to them. Really have to ride each one and see which one "Talks to you" the most.
Oh, by the way, the Wide Glide is the best of all of them. (Guess which one I have)
Oh, by the way, the Wide Glide is the best of all of them. (Guess which one I have)
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RE: Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
Nobody cares about anniversity editions, **** they have a lame *** anniversity edition of one bike or another it seems every year or two. Even the 100thanniv. dosent mean anything. Who want's a 5 year old bike that sombody else did god knows what with.Don't listen to anyone who yaps about the high resale value of harleys, you will ALWAYS take a huge hit when you resell. You WILL put $thousands$ into any new harley, and you wont getany of the money you spent on mods back because nobody is going to spend overretail price of a new bike for a used bike with mods. Get the bike you want to keep. Plus the WG is probally going to be discontinued, so if you can get a 96 ci WG it will probally have the higher resell.
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2006
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RE: Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
I love my '06 Wideglide. Most versital model I think. Handles canyons roads great. Smooth on the highway. Have removable saddlebags and quick release windshield. I'm more comfortable on my WG than in my car on a long ride or trip! Seriously! I love the forward controls. I added mid-pegs for another foot position on long rides. Corners and handles great. Looks good, even with the nearly invisible QR windshield. I really like the mini apes, and they can rotate back. I use a sissybar bag as a back rest on long rides/trips, yeah got removable sideplates with sissybar for next to nothing on sale. This bike can do it all.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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RE: Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
You need to ride them or at least sit on them and see which feels best to you. I've never ridden a WG but I hear that it doesn't handle the twisties as well but that's relative to other bikes. It probably handles them fine if you aren't comparing to something else - if that makes sense. That anniv. paint scheme hasn't grown on me yet at all. Looks like something OCC would come up with for a Duracell Company Theme bike. I haven't seen one yet but it has been reported over and over on this forum that the MSRP on the 08 (non-anniv) Super Glide Custom is $12,995 which is significantly less than last year (unfortunately for me and some others here). If that is true, that bike is probably the best value for a dyna in this year's lineup.
Also, if you are torn between mids and forwards, it's much easier/cheaper to put forwards on a mid-control bike than it is to put mid controls on a forward control bike, plus, if you use the right kit/method, you can easily switch back to mids on a bike that came stock with them. Or, you could go with the mids and try highway pegs for a while. If you end up like I did, finding you prefer the highway pegs as much as possible, you could spring for forward controls when you have the cash but still have an optional forward control positioning for your feet until then.
All the dyna's are great bikes so they are hard to choose between and you probably won't go wrong with any of them. But don't oversell yourself on the anniv. edition. It doesn't really mean much for resale. You just have to go with your heart and gut and get the one you like best within your budget.
Also, if you are torn between mids and forwards, it's much easier/cheaper to put forwards on a mid-control bike than it is to put mid controls on a forward control bike, plus, if you use the right kit/method, you can easily switch back to mids on a bike that came stock with them. Or, you could go with the mids and try highway pegs for a while. If you end up like I did, finding you prefer the highway pegs as much as possible, you could spring for forward controls when you have the cash but still have an optional forward control positioning for your feet until then.
All the dyna's are great bikes so they are hard to choose between and you probably won't go wrong with any of them. But don't oversell yourself on the anniv. edition. It doesn't really mean much for resale. You just have to go with your heart and gut and get the one you like best within your budget.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
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From: Trophy Club, TX
RE: Buying 1st Harley Need Advice
Great advice and points from all. I'll throw in my 2 cents worth.
- FXDC vs FXDWG:I've ridden both and just went from a 1200C to an FXDC. The Super Glide handles better in the twisties than the Wide Glide which is a ride that's more like my Sporty. That being said, the Wide Glide is still a great ride. I think that it depends to a certain degree what your riding style is. You can't go wrong with either bike.
- 105th Anniversary Edition:I wanted something that commemorated that my new bike was a 105th Edition, but I didn't want all the other do-dads that the MoCo slaps on for their Anniversary Editions. I went simple with a 105th Anniversary back pad for the sissy bar and a medalion for the back of the sissy bar. That way, if I ever sell it and folks don't like the anniversary stuff, it's an easy thing to change.
Good luck,
Royce
- FXDC vs FXDWG:I've ridden both and just went from a 1200C to an FXDC. The Super Glide handles better in the twisties than the Wide Glide which is a ride that's more like my Sporty. That being said, the Wide Glide is still a great ride. I think that it depends to a certain degree what your riding style is. You can't go wrong with either bike.
- 105th Anniversary Edition:I wanted something that commemorated that my new bike was a 105th Edition, but I didn't want all the other do-dads that the MoCo slaps on for their Anniversary Editions. I went simple with a 105th Anniversary back pad for the sissy bar and a medalion for the back of the sissy bar. That way, if I ever sell it and folks don't like the anniversary stuff, it's an easy thing to change.
Good luck,
Royce