Guys with 2bikes question
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,737
Likes: 17,577
From: Driftless Area
I ride my FLH Shovel most of the time. For trips, I generally take my Bagger because it's newer and more comfortable. But, if traveling solo and not having to pack for the wife, I'll still take the Shovel. A lot of my friends are into their antiques, and if I take the Shovel with them somewhere, I still show up with the newest bike.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 502
From: Northern WV
IMO as long as you have time to enjoy them two or (maybe three) is the ideal number of motorcycles to own. Having even more is nice but the negatives start compounding such as batteries, insurance, yearly maintenance, space to house them, depreciation on the newer ones, etc.
Everyone's different but to me the real benefit of having multiple motorcycles is being able to have completely different types of bikes, such as James here;
Owning two similar motorcycles such as a Road King and Street Glide (or BMW R1200GS and R1200R) is basically a duplication to me.
Everyone's different but to me the real benefit of having multiple motorcycles is being able to have completely different types of bikes, such as James here;
Owning two similar motorcycles such as a Road King and Street Glide (or BMW R1200GS and R1200R) is basically a duplication to me.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
Most riders have a bike budgets.
A budget for money.
A budget for time.
A budget for storage space.
They also have reality budgets and fantasy budgets.
Many dream of having a different bike for every trip. This is rarely reality unless you have unlimited funds, or are willing to ride older, inexpensive bikes.
For me, the answer and comprimise, is a late model Street Glide.
I set it up with a removable tour pak for long distance trips with G/F and can strip it down with a different seat for solo around town riding.
Most everybody has the answers right in front of them, if they will just look at their individual situation.
As far as not selling your current bike because you have too much $ in it, it will NEVER be worth more than it is today. Ride it and live with it, or sell it and move on. Setting it in the corner of the garage, unridden, will not solve the financial issue.
A budget for money.
A budget for time.
A budget for storage space.
They also have reality budgets and fantasy budgets.
Many dream of having a different bike for every trip. This is rarely reality unless you have unlimited funds, or are willing to ride older, inexpensive bikes.
For me, the answer and comprimise, is a late model Street Glide.
I set it up with a removable tour pak for long distance trips with G/F and can strip it down with a different seat for solo around town riding.
Most everybody has the answers right in front of them, if they will just look at their individual situation.
As far as not selling your current bike because you have too much $ in it, it will NEVER be worth more than it is today. Ride it and live with it, or sell it and move on. Setting it in the corner of the garage, unridden, will not solve the financial issue.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 35,239
Likes: 19,070
From: 40.2444° N, 75.6419° W
I have a Sportster and picked up a Super Glide because the Sporty wasn't cutting it for two up. I would take the Super Glide over the Sportster on the highway, but find myself on the Sportster for local rides on two lane roads when I am riding solo. it is a harsher ride than the SG, but its a smaller bike and good for 'romping".
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 89
Likes: 5
From: Oklahoma
I have two. A brand new Street 750 and a '99 Super Glide Sport. I'd have more if I had the money. I'd love to have a Road Glide for commuting, bobbed out Sporty for fun, a 48, a Triumph Bonneville, and a super moto Honda CR450. Unfortunately reality limits me to two.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,788
Likes: 1
From: Maine
I have an evo fxr for longer and or faster trips. I have a shovel fxr for putting around on.
A new street bob would cost more than I paid for these two bikes. As they are both fxr, I can swap parts around which is handy. Though they are both fxr, they have different personalities. Kind of like comparing Maryanne and Ginger. I know that if I sell either bike, I won't lose much money or maybe make a little money too. So as my investment is reasonable and return on investment is probably even, having these bikes sit more than I would prefer, isn't stressing me out. Also, I have Honda CT-90 - it's the kids' bike, honest.
A new street bob would cost more than I paid for these two bikes. As they are both fxr, I can swap parts around which is handy. Though they are both fxr, they have different personalities. Kind of like comparing Maryanne and Ginger. I know that if I sell either bike, I won't lose much money or maybe make a little money too. So as my investment is reasonable and return on investment is probably even, having these bikes sit more than I would prefer, isn't stressing me out. Also, I have Honda CT-90 - it's the kids' bike, honest.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,006
Likes: 1,240
From: On the Front Range, CO
I've had two Harley's for a little while now, maybe 4 years, I think.
I do like having two bikes and aside from initial cost, it's not much more expensive to maintain two bikes than it is one.
The Springer Classic I have is done up with lots of black and set up with a jockey shift. It's also a solo bike, so it's a bit of a selfish indulgence. This one has a special meaning to me as to how and why I have it, so it's here to stay.
The Road Glide used to be a Street Glide that I converted. It was truly the bike that lured me deeper into this foray with Harley-Davidson. For that reason, among other sentimental reasons, it's not a bike I'll consider getting rid of.
I'd like to pick up a Rushmore Road Glide, and still consider a Rushmore Road King. We'll see what happens.
Having more than one is nice...the chance to choose what to ride may seem a bit indulgent, but it's fun to have the choice when the ride doesn't dictate one over the other. Life's short. Can't take any of it with you, so enjoy it while you can.
I do like having two bikes and aside from initial cost, it's not much more expensive to maintain two bikes than it is one.
The Springer Classic I have is done up with lots of black and set up with a jockey shift. It's also a solo bike, so it's a bit of a selfish indulgence. This one has a special meaning to me as to how and why I have it, so it's here to stay.
The Road Glide used to be a Street Glide that I converted. It was truly the bike that lured me deeper into this foray with Harley-Davidson. For that reason, among other sentimental reasons, it's not a bike I'll consider getting rid of.
I'd like to pick up a Rushmore Road Glide, and still consider a Rushmore Road King. We'll see what happens.
Having more than one is nice...the chance to choose what to ride may seem a bit indulgent, but it's fun to have the choice when the ride doesn't dictate one over the other. Life's short. Can't take any of it with you, so enjoy it while you can.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 863
Likes: 2
From: spain and uk
I don't own a car, so owning two bikes is a necessity.
I can't stand to think one may be off the road for something, and not having a spare.
I don't really have a predefined use for each one, I just grab which ever I feel like riding, or if one is dirty and it's raining, I'll take that.
I can't stand to think one may be off the road for something, and not having a spare.
I don't really have a predefined use for each one, I just grab which ever I feel like riding, or if one is dirty and it's raining, I'll take that.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 12
From: NoVA
Had three, now two. An Electra Glide Classic for long road trips and two up. And a 650 KLR for freakin' everything but two up. I figure that bikes should be way different from each other.
If my wife would give up her side of the garage, a Ural gear-up in woodland camo and a café racer would fill out the space just fine.
Life is to short for only one bike or one brand.
If my wife would give up her side of the garage, a Ural gear-up in woodland camo and a café racer would fill out the space just fine.
Life is to short for only one bike or one brand.