2014 Low Rider
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 10,734
Likes: 3,755
From: SWFL
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 436
Likes: 71
I've had those two myself. I find the sporty nature of the Low Rider is what draws me to it. Would love to see a version with a serious suspension. They already have decent bits in the Dyna line. The Swithback has cartridge forks and full length shocks. I know its easily remedied in the aftermarket, but one can buy a hell of a lot of bike these days with $15k. Harley could do better than damping rod, two inch travel, bargain basement parts on its sportbike.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 10,734
Likes: 3,755
From: SWFL
I've had those two myself. I find the sporty nature of the Low Rider is what draws me to it. Would love to see a version with a serious suspension. They already have decent bits in the Dyna line. The Swithback has cartridge forks and full length shocks. I know its easily remedied in the aftermarket, but one can buy a hell of a lot of bike these days with $15k. Harley could do better than damping rod, two inch travel, bargain basement parts on its sportbike.
However when I bought my first used Harley, a 2008 FXD, all that was meaningless. HD's just have something about them that makes up for the lack of techno whizz-bang stuff. My '15 Low Rider is more fun (In a different, less "hair on fire" way) then any other bike i've owned.
Granted the fork is the least favorable part of a LR, but it's worth the small expense to upgrade it. I'll be looking at Ohlins or other cartridges, but the racetech springs and emulators currently in it are pretty damn good. All for about $260 of parts...
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 54
From: GA
2014 Low Rider
I take your comment to mean you don't follow Harley's recommended speeds for shifting to the next gear? I think their recommended speeds are way too low personally but if you follow their guideline, you'll certainly be below 2000 RPMS. Maybe it was different before 2015...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,465
Likes: 6,328
From: pacific northwest
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 15,460
Likes: 14,352
From: Illinois
1978 Maico 250 (got it NOS in 1981)
1982 Suzuki GS 300 (got it when I turned 16 in 1982)
1982 Yamaha Maxim 750 (purchased NOS 1985)
1991 Honda CBR600F2 (purchased new 1991)
1993 Honda CBR900RR (purchased NOS 1994)
1997 Honda CBR1100XX (purchased NOS 1998)
2003 Kawasaki ZZR1200 (purchased NOS 2006)
2011 Suzuki GSXR600 (purchased NOS 2012)
2015 HD Low Rider (purchased new 2015)
Last edited by Ikelove; Aug 4, 2015 at 10:39 PM.
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,046
Likes: 69
From: Alberta
Wow those are some lists. Mine is much shorter as I got away from bikes for many years.
Yamaha 1973 DT3-250
Yamaha 1976 XS-360
Kawasaki 1978 650SR
Honda 1980 XR200R
Yamaha 1988 DT200R
Until I bought this bike 6 weeks ago I hadn't ridden a bike since 1989. I passed the 4,000 mile mark with it yesterday . It had 1,200 on it though when I bought it.
Yamaha 1973 DT3-250
Yamaha 1976 XS-360
Kawasaki 1978 650SR
Honda 1980 XR200R
Yamaha 1988 DT200R
Until I bought this bike 6 weeks ago I hadn't ridden a bike since 1989. I passed the 4,000 mile mark with it yesterday . It had 1,200 on it though when I bought it.
Last edited by Super08; Aug 5, 2015 at 12:18 AM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Banned
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,688
Likes: 1,902
From: Depends on who wants to know.........and why.
1979 Kawasaki KE100 (got it in 1979)
1978 Maico 250 (got it NOS in 1981)
1982 Suzuki GS 300 (got it when I turned 16 in 1982)
1982 Yamaha Maxim 750 (purchased NOS 1985)
1991 Honda CBR600F2 (purchased new 1991)
1993 Honda CBR900RR (purchased NOS 1994)
1997 Honda CBR1100XX (purchased NOS 1998)
2003 Kawasaki ZZR1200 (purchased NOS 2006)
2011 Suzuki GSXR600 (purchased NOS 2012)
2015 HD Low Rider (purchased new 2015)
1978 Maico 250 (got it NOS in 1981)
1982 Suzuki GS 300 (got it when I turned 16 in 1982)
1982 Yamaha Maxim 750 (purchased NOS 1985)
1991 Honda CBR600F2 (purchased new 1991)
1993 Honda CBR900RR (purchased NOS 1994)
1997 Honda CBR1100XX (purchased NOS 1998)
2003 Kawasaki ZZR1200 (purchased NOS 2006)
2011 Suzuki GSXR600 (purchased NOS 2012)
2015 HD Low Rider (purchased new 2015)
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 436
Likes: 71
I've had a bunch of Japanese and most recently a couple higher end German bikes, a BMW R1200R and a S1000R - all great bikes. The S1000R in particular is a technological marvel, active suspension, traction control, stability control, wheelie control (which it damn well needed at 168hp!) amazing brakes and the fastest vehicle I've ever ridden. All with a motor that will last probably as long as a Harley (but it won't rebuild quite as easily)
However when I bought my first used Harley, a 2008 FXD, all that was meaningless. HD's just have something about them that makes up for the lack of techno whizz-bang stuff. My '15 Low Rider is more fun (In a different, less "hair on fire" way) then any other bike i've owned.
Granted the fork is the least favorable part of a LR, but it's worth the small expense to upgrade it. I'll be looking at Ohlins or other cartridges, but the racetech springs and emulators currently in it are pretty damn good. All for about $260 of parts...
However when I bought my first used Harley, a 2008 FXD, all that was meaningless. HD's just have something about them that makes up for the lack of techno whizz-bang stuff. My '15 Low Rider is more fun (In a different, less "hair on fire" way) then any other bike i've owned.
Granted the fork is the least favorable part of a LR, but it's worth the small expense to upgrade it. I'll be looking at Ohlins or other cartridges, but the racetech springs and emulators currently in it are pretty damn good. All for about $260 of parts...