New Guy with a big?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
RE: New Guy with a big?
I first want to say CONGRATULATIONS on your retirement and THANK YOU for your service to our country... 20 yrs in the Army, that's just awesome. You do indeed deserve to treat yourself!
Welcome to the Forum, this is the #1 best site on the web. You'lllearn about what these bikes are all about and have alot of fun here too.
Which bike? Pick the one that grabs your heart, they're all wonderful machines.
TAKE THE MSF course is my first suggestion, as riding on the street has a few very different things that you won't just "know" thru logic/common senseor dirt bike applications - such as in braking andin handling turns/curves.
Let us know what you decide and we hope to hear from you as things progress.
Welcome to the Forum, this is the #1 best site on the web. You'lllearn about what these bikes are all about and have alot of fun here too.
Which bike? Pick the one that grabs your heart, they're all wonderful machines.
TAKE THE MSF course is my first suggestion, as riding on the street has a few very different things that you won't just "know" thru logic/common senseor dirt bike applications - such as in braking andin handling turns/curves.
Let us know what you decide and we hope to hear from you as things progress.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 117
From: ARIZONA
RE: New Guy with a big?
My two cents, the seat and handle bars are probably the two things that will set up a bike with foot controls coming in third. If you like the SB, negotiate new bars and a seat into the deal. Most Harley shops should have a good selection of used bikes that have more than likely been customized (bars, seats etc.) so sit on a few to see what riding position suits you the best, and work with the parts department to find the right bars and seat that will get the bike that YOU like set up to that configuration. Its a new bike, and most dealers will try to work with you by either adding tha parts to the finance or including them outright. Play the "Unsure because if you dont get the parts to make the bike the way you like it, then you wont buy it" attitude right, and you may end up getting the bike YOU want set up the way YOU want with everything included.
As someone already mentioned, renting the bikes your interested in would be a good way for you to see what you like about each model. I ride a Fat Boy and I can say I love that Softail suspension, and since it has the touring front forks, the total ride quality is superb.
It sounds like your going to be doing some distance riding. If thats the case, Id say take a look at a softail with touring forks. The models that come with touring forks will begin their model designation with FL (ex. my FatBoy's model is FLSTF).
Now thats not to say that a Dyna isnt capable of doing long distance cruising, but a Softail with FL forks will no doubt give you a smooth comfy ride on long journeys.
But no matter what, it will be YOUR bike and dont buy one if you have to convince yourself that you like it. You either love it or dont get that bike. You worked your but off in the Army and reached retirement. You deserve to get the bike you love. The Harley parts will take care of your riding position.
My opinion
As someone already mentioned, renting the bikes your interested in would be a good way for you to see what you like about each model. I ride a Fat Boy and I can say I love that Softail suspension, and since it has the touring front forks, the total ride quality is superb.
It sounds like your going to be doing some distance riding. If thats the case, Id say take a look at a softail with touring forks. The models that come with touring forks will begin their model designation with FL (ex. my FatBoy's model is FLSTF).
Now thats not to say that a Dyna isnt capable of doing long distance cruising, but a Softail with FL forks will no doubt give you a smooth comfy ride on long journeys.
But no matter what, it will be YOUR bike and dont buy one if you have to convince yourself that you like it. You either love it or dont get that bike. You worked your but off in the Army and reached retirement. You deserve to get the bike you love. The Harley parts will take care of your riding position.
My opinion
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
RE: New Guy with a big?
Thank everyone!
Great feed back. Just what I thought you'd give.
The idea of having the shop set it up prior to takingi t home, I will definately give a try.
The good thing is, living in Central Texas there are at least 5 HD dealers withingn a 100 mile radius that I know of.
When I went to the factory at York, Pa and saw the NT, I really thought "that's the one". But now that I got to see and set on the SB, it seems to be speaking even more. I guess the main thing that concerns me are the spokes and on road repair. Has having spokes ever left anyone of you stranded because of a flat? Maybe I am worrying about that (spokes vs cast wheels) more than I need to.
But thanks for the advice and kind words about my service. 24 yrs is a long time, especially after a few trips to the big sand box. That is one of the things that made me decide it was time to get riding.
One thing for sure, there are some beautiful bike of all the types I am looking at on this forum and itshows me I won't go wrong, which ever way I go.
Thanks again
Great feed back. Just what I thought you'd give.
The idea of having the shop set it up prior to takingi t home, I will definately give a try.
The good thing is, living in Central Texas there are at least 5 HD dealers withingn a 100 mile radius that I know of.
When I went to the factory at York, Pa and saw the NT, I really thought "that's the one". But now that I got to see and set on the SB, it seems to be speaking even more. I guess the main thing that concerns me are the spokes and on road repair. Has having spokes ever left anyone of you stranded because of a flat? Maybe I am worrying about that (spokes vs cast wheels) more than I need to.
But thanks for the advice and kind words about my service. 24 yrs is a long time, especially after a few trips to the big sand box. That is one of the things that made me decide it was time to get riding.
One thing for sure, there are some beautiful bike of all the types I am looking at on this forum and itshows me I won't go wrong, which ever way I go.
Thanks again
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 117
From: ARIZONA
RE: New Guy with a big?
With regular maintenance services, the mechanic looking over your bike should check the spokes each time. If spokes do worry you, there are alot of aftermarket companies the make allow rims. However, if youd like the bike to come with OEM alloy rims, the Dyna Lowrider offers an option for them. It seems that the difference between the SB and the LR is the Bob has the blackout treament where the Low Rider has alot of chrome, and the Bob has mini apes.
Something you may want to consider asking at the dealer, it appears that the front ends of the low rider and the Bob are identical. If you like the blackout treatment but dont want spokes, see if the dealer could swap low rider alloys onto the Bob.
Let us know how it goes!
Something you may want to consider asking at the dealer, it appears that the front ends of the low rider and the Bob are identical. If you like the blackout treatment but dont want spokes, see if the dealer could swap low rider alloys onto the Bob.
Let us know how it goes!
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 0
From: Diamond Bar, California
RE: New Guy with a big?
I have an 05 FXD and a 94 bagger, the FXD is a great place to start If you want to do things your way, I didnt like the bars that it came with until I changed the seat to the deep bucket touring seat, then I could reach it fine, My next big issue was with the power, a Head-Quarters 95 in. kit fixed that, I have also done some new mags, and started to give it a signature of my own.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From:
RE: New Guy with a big?
Hey RetGrunt,
I'm currently in Iraq and when I went home for leave I bought myself a "gift" like you're doing. I bought a 2007 FXD. I love it. I only got 60 miles on it while I was home but it fits me perfectly and I have a nice blank slate for customization. I already have a lot of plans for mods. I'm 5'7" 180 and I feel like the bike was made for me.You can't let other people tell you what bike you should get but which ever one feels right for you is the one you want. No matter which way you go all 3 of those bikes are awesome and you're gonna have miles and miles of great riding. Hooah.
SSG Neil Bailey
07 Super Glide
I'm currently in Iraq and when I went home for leave I bought myself a "gift" like you're doing. I bought a 2007 FXD. I love it. I only got 60 miles on it while I was home but it fits me perfectly and I have a nice blank slate for customization. I already have a lot of plans for mods. I'm 5'7" 180 and I feel like the bike was made for me.You can't let other people tell you what bike you should get but which ever one feels right for you is the one you want. No matter which way you go all 3 of those bikes are awesome and you're gonna have miles and miles of great riding. Hooah.
SSG Neil Bailey
07 Super Glide
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Shady Grove Pa
RE: New Guy with a big?
You will ultimately get what you are inclined to like for what reason. BUT if I were riding 90 miles a day to my job, I'd get a R-King,Street Glide, etc. type bike. The NT,SB are cruiser/bar hopper machines, This is just my opinion. After a short while you'll start thinking, I don't like stretching forward reaching for the bars, wind pressure on your chest DAILY,weather,etc. I felt this way with my FB, now I want a Road Glide, maybe in 08'. I'm still changing my bike to suit me, now I'm thinking I don't have anywhere to put anything, Bags in my future ? probably, windsheild, yeah. Yep, Road Glide in the future.
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