Which model to go for?
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: Victoria, Australia
Which model to go for?
Hi All
In the market to buy my first Harley, and feeling overwhelmed at the vast array of choices.
Background and experience level
Raced state level Motocross as a teenager, but have not owned or ridden a cruiser/road bike.
Type of riding
This is the hard part - the type of riding I do will be varied! Could be anything from a quick 30 min trip around my town to take my mind off a busy day, to a weekend long ride around the state and anything in between. I'll be doing a combination of solo and group rides. Group companions have ranging bikes, from Street Bob to Road King. Roads we ride would be a combination of highway and twisty.
The bike
I have a bad lower back (burst disc with sciatica), so the comfier the better. I would like to have something that is both comfortable, but can handle the turns without feeling like a semi truck. I don't like bikes with gauges in the fairing/windshield that restrict your vision. I don't know whether I would like a windshield (perhaps removable, for the best of both worlds?).
I don't mind what the price is, they vary between 25k and 50k here in AUS.
Ultimately, I will head to my local dealer to test and see what feels right. If I can get some help from the knowledgable folks in here, will assist me when I head into the dealer and potentially make a very expensive mistake.
Cheers
In the market to buy my first Harley, and feeling overwhelmed at the vast array of choices.
Background and experience level
Raced state level Motocross as a teenager, but have not owned or ridden a cruiser/road bike.
Type of riding
This is the hard part - the type of riding I do will be varied! Could be anything from a quick 30 min trip around my town to take my mind off a busy day, to a weekend long ride around the state and anything in between. I'll be doing a combination of solo and group rides. Group companions have ranging bikes, from Street Bob to Road King. Roads we ride would be a combination of highway and twisty.
The bike
I have a bad lower back (burst disc with sciatica), so the comfier the better. I would like to have something that is both comfortable, but can handle the turns without feeling like a semi truck. I don't like bikes with gauges in the fairing/windshield that restrict your vision. I don't know whether I would like a windshield (perhaps removable, for the best of both worlds?).
I don't mind what the price is, they vary between 25k and 50k here in AUS.
Ultimately, I will head to my local dealer to test and see what feels right. If I can get some help from the knowledgable folks in here, will assist me when I head into the dealer and potentially make a very expensive mistake.
Cheers
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,837
Likes: 1,430
From: NJ
Hi All
In the market to buy my first Harley, and feeling overwhelmed at the vast array of choices.
Background and experience level
Raced state level Motocross as a teenager, but have not owned or ridden a cruiser/road bike.
Type of riding
This is the hard part - the type of riding I do will be varied! Could be anything from a quick 30 min trip around my town to take my mind off a busy day, to a weekend long ride around the state and anything in between. I'll be doing a combination of solo and group rides. Group companions have ranging bikes, from Street Bob to Road King. Roads we ride would be a combination of highway and twisty.
The bike
I have a bad lower back (burst disc with sciatica), so the comfier the better. I would like to have something that is both comfortable, but can handle the turns without feeling like a semi truck. I don't like bikes with gauges in the fairing/windshield that restrict your vision. I don't know whether I would like a windshield (perhaps removable, for the best of both worlds?).
I don't mind what the price is, they vary between 25k and 50k here in AUS.
Ultimately, I will head to my local dealer to test and see what feels right. If I can get some help from the knowledgable folks in here, will assist me when I head into the dealer and potentially make a very expensive mistake.
Cheers
In the market to buy my first Harley, and feeling overwhelmed at the vast array of choices.
Background and experience level
Raced state level Motocross as a teenager, but have not owned or ridden a cruiser/road bike.
Type of riding
This is the hard part - the type of riding I do will be varied! Could be anything from a quick 30 min trip around my town to take my mind off a busy day, to a weekend long ride around the state and anything in between. I'll be doing a combination of solo and group rides. Group companions have ranging bikes, from Street Bob to Road King. Roads we ride would be a combination of highway and twisty.
The bike
I have a bad lower back (burst disc with sciatica), so the comfier the better. I would like to have something that is both comfortable, but can handle the turns without feeling like a semi truck. I don't like bikes with gauges in the fairing/windshield that restrict your vision. I don't know whether I would like a windshield (perhaps removable, for the best of both worlds?).
I don't mind what the price is, they vary between 25k and 50k here in AUS.
Ultimately, I will head to my local dealer to test and see what feels right. If I can get some help from the knowledgable folks in here, will assist me when I head into the dealer and potentially make a very expensive mistake.
Cheers
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,846
Likes: 7,482
From: OH
You don`t state age or height but, with a "bad" back I would avoid anything that did not place the pegs / boards in position where you can brace for the inevitable large bumps.
JMO
JMO
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 160
Likes: 77
From: North Carolina
I know you said you don't like the gauges, but I recently upgraded from a Fat Bob to an Electra Glide, and the comfort in riding is night and day. But at the same time it was that way when I went from the Sportster to the Fat Bob. I'm 5'8" and don't have any issues with the fairing obstructing the view, personally I like not having to look down to find the speedo. Since I love to ride year round it made a tremendous difference on the cold rides. The only thing I do have to reach for is the kick stand, and having the driver's back rest helps my back out a lot since I have horrible posture.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,983
Likes: 2,144
From: Ohio
Save yourself time and money and just get a touring bike. You'll eventually end up there anyway, and you might as well skip the hassles and headaches in between. I've owned just about every HD they make, from Sportsters to Electra Glides, several dynas (which is my favorite Harley model, but not very useful for carrying things without adding a bunch of bolt on bags and windshields which, IMHO, run the whole look of those bikes), there nothing like a touring bike to cover all the bases.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 2,935
From: Mostly Florida, some Michigan
I recommend the Heritage as well. I started riding in 1974 and rode for 5 or 6 years, then life got in the way. Fast forward to 2018 and I got back into riding on a Heritage Classic and took to it like a drunk on a barstool!
ETA: it's great for scooting around town or a 2800 mile round trip to Mt. Rushmore!
ETA: it's great for scooting around town or a 2800 mile round trip to Mt. Rushmore!
Last edited by YZR; Jan 23, 2023 at 11:26 AM.