Have a really good friend who is down on his luck and between bikes. Happens to be one of the better rider's I have had the pleasure of riding with. Called him earlier and asked if he would join me tomorrow and ride one of my bikes. Just torn between which bike. Month old Road Glide or 17 year old Road King. Old bike is worth almost as much as new one, at least to me. Both have their quirks, new just that clutch and power and old the crazy power and again clutch. Barnett Scorpion that is quite stiff. Stupid I know but what would y'all do, what bike? The Road King has almost zero rear brake and throttle lock has been tweaked for so long it is like CC.Thought???

 

My thoughts - have him rent one on his own. Just to play devils advocate for a minute. You let him ride your brand new road glide and he wrecks it, then what? Or you give him your 17 year old road king and something fails, causing him to wreck.

Rental is a better option in my opinion

 

Should be ok, you will be with him when he is riding your bike. Let him ride the new one with no issues.

 

If he can't afford his own he can't afford to fix yours either ... I know it sound cold but that's the way it is.

 

Depends...

if if you are good with him causing any damage, and not paying for it, then no worries.

If not, then you risk your friendship.

R,
Sanjuro

 

That's what a good buddy does. I would let him pick which one he more comfortable with.

 

Here's my philosophy for things that my friends might potentially borrow...my girlfriend maybe...my tools sometimes and my bike never. Or this one ...3 things I never discuss with friends...religion, politics or the possibility of them riding my harley

 

Let him ride one, it'll mean a lot to him. I recently let a girl I ride with try my road king while I rode her bike (at least 3 times now) and my wide glide shovel head last week. She has a sport bike and is interested in a harley so why not? She handled my RK great and I would say she's about 140lbs and 5'7". She felt great having the opportunity and I did for sharing them with her. Life's too short, don't sweat the small stuff.

 

You trust his riding ability, you will be with him, and you have insurance (he may be covered under his own policy also). Don’t worry about him crashing or something like that because it could easily happen to you instead of him. Risks are the same.

Rock, paper, scissors, the winner picks what bike to ride, then switch half way through the day. Make it fun and have a great ride!

 

When I started riding in 2004 my friend lent me his '99 FLHT. I would not have wanted to ride one of his newer bikes. I felt like I was imposing already.

Lend him him the older one. I still value friendship, although I realize people will sue friends today. Something that was unimaginable 30 years ago.

In 2004 I had an unemployed friend that needed a car. Back in the day I would have just lent him a car. But I sold him my '92 Astro for a $1. If he had an accident I didn't want some shyster lawyer telling him to sue me because the brakes were bad or some other BS. He kept that car for 2 years 40k miles. I heard he sold it to his BIL for $1,000 but I never asked him if that was true.