Not Riding Much - Need Advice
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 227
Likes: 12
From: North Carolina
Not Riding Much - Need Advice
This group provided great advice last year, and the result was my first Harley - a Softail Deluxe.
Since then my recurring arm problems have resurfaced, causing me to sell the Softail, following additional surgery. Permanent arm disability, not able to support any significant weight with either arm, but they still work and I'm grateful. The doctor doesn't want me to buy another bike, but we've agreed to disagree on that.
My wife enjoys riding with me, but she's aboard only 5% of the time. The rest of the time I'm solo, and usually travel for less than an hour at a time, often to work. The lag of storage on the Softail caused me to use it less than I hoped, but the weight of a bagger is a concern.
I've tried Sportsters, find them OK, but not as comfortable as the Softail, not that I expected it would be. The higher up in the frame engine causes me some issues when I'm two up in terms of handling weight at stop lights, especially on hills or tight turns. Wife and me combined with gear are about 300 pounds, but I'm only 5'7" and not getting any taller.
Given all of this, and the significant cost of a Harley, makes me concerned about which bike to get. I'm near 60 and I don't know if I have 5 years to ride or 25. I don't want to tie up $20K in a bike I ride 2-3000 miles a year, but I also don't want to go metric to save some money. I'll admit some of the lower priced metrics are pretty interesting - Suzuki Boulevard in particular especially at $7K for a new 50 CI bike, or a Kawasaki Vulcan at $8,600 with full touring package.
I still would prefer to stay with the Harley - I've ridden enough "just like a Harley" bikes in my life, and now that I've owned one I understand why Harleys are Harleys and everything else is everything else. Still, $7K versus $20K is hard to ignore.
The issue is can I find a Harley with ease of handling and a cost that will justify the few miles I ride. By the way, the new '09 touring models with the new frame seem pretty interesting, especially with ABS brakes. It's not that I can't afford a Harley, it's that I'm not sure how much I'll use it, and if it doesn't work out I may have to sell it soon after I buy it. I sold the Softail, but it cost me more than I expected when I did (those add ons add up).
Any suggestions are welcome, and thanks in advance.
Since then my recurring arm problems have resurfaced, causing me to sell the Softail, following additional surgery. Permanent arm disability, not able to support any significant weight with either arm, but they still work and I'm grateful. The doctor doesn't want me to buy another bike, but we've agreed to disagree on that.
My wife enjoys riding with me, but she's aboard only 5% of the time. The rest of the time I'm solo, and usually travel for less than an hour at a time, often to work. The lag of storage on the Softail caused me to use it less than I hoped, but the weight of a bagger is a concern.
I've tried Sportsters, find them OK, but not as comfortable as the Softail, not that I expected it would be. The higher up in the frame engine causes me some issues when I'm two up in terms of handling weight at stop lights, especially on hills or tight turns. Wife and me combined with gear are about 300 pounds, but I'm only 5'7" and not getting any taller.
Given all of this, and the significant cost of a Harley, makes me concerned about which bike to get. I'm near 60 and I don't know if I have 5 years to ride or 25. I don't want to tie up $20K in a bike I ride 2-3000 miles a year, but I also don't want to go metric to save some money. I'll admit some of the lower priced metrics are pretty interesting - Suzuki Boulevard in particular especially at $7K for a new 50 CI bike, or a Kawasaki Vulcan at $8,600 with full touring package.
I still would prefer to stay with the Harley - I've ridden enough "just like a Harley" bikes in my life, and now that I've owned one I understand why Harleys are Harleys and everything else is everything else. Still, $7K versus $20K is hard to ignore.
The issue is can I find a Harley with ease of handling and a cost that will justify the few miles I ride. By the way, the new '09 touring models with the new frame seem pretty interesting, especially with ABS brakes. It's not that I can't afford a Harley, it's that I'm not sure how much I'll use it, and if it doesn't work out I may have to sell it soon after I buy it. I sold the Softail, but it cost me more than I expected when I did (those add ons add up).
Any suggestions are welcome, and thanks in advance.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Williamsburg, Va
+1 I was thinking the Trike while I was reading the post. With that, no worries about your arms being able to support the weight. I would definatly look into that. Hell, if I had 29k to spare, I would think about it myself.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
From: Newport TN
Man if ya got arm problems ya dont want to make them worse with a heavy bike. in your shoes my wife would not be on back of it. its one thing for you to have problems with your but aboard but dont risk the wife too.
a trike is something to cxonsider. you could have gotten some bags put on that Delux and had the storeage you needed. but if weight is a problem then it dosnt matter what brand bike you get you still got the weight issure to work out. Also I would rather ride a couple thousand miles a year what I love ridein than to ride a decent bike that many miles and not just love the bike.
And older Harleys with low miles still bring a good bit of their purchase price where as older metrics except the Volkeries or Wings drop in used prices preaty hard even with low miles. As for me I'm ridein Harleys wheather I'm 2 k a year or 20K a year, I love ridein the ElectraGlides.....
a trike is something to cxonsider. you could have gotten some bags put on that Delux and had the storeage you needed. but if weight is a problem then it dosnt matter what brand bike you get you still got the weight issure to work out. Also I would rather ride a couple thousand miles a year what I love ridein than to ride a decent bike that many miles and not just love the bike.
And older Harleys with low miles still bring a good bit of their purchase price where as older metrics except the Volkeries or Wings drop in used prices preaty hard even with low miles. As for me I'm ridein Harleys wheather I'm 2 k a year or 20K a year, I love ridein the ElectraGlides.....
Banned
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 2
This group provided great advice last year, and the result was my first Harley - a Softail Deluxe.
Since then my recurring arm problems have resurfaced, causing me to sell the Softail, following additional surgery. Permanent arm disability, not able to support any significant weight with either arm, but they still work and I'm grateful. The doctor doesn't want me to buy another bike, but we've agreed to disagree on that.
My wife enjoys riding with me, but she's aboard only 5% of the time. The rest of the time I'm solo, and usually travel for less than an hour at a time, often to work. The lag of storage on the Softail caused me to use it less than I hoped, but the weight of a bagger is a concern.
I've tried Sportsters, find them OK, but not as comfortable as the Softail, not that I expected it would be. The higher up in the frame engine causes me some issues when I'm two up in terms of handling weight at stop lights, especially on hills or tight turns. Wife and me combined with gear are about 300 pounds, but I'm only 5'7" and not getting any taller.
Given all of this, and the significant cost of a Harley, makes me concerned about which bike to get. I'm near 60 and I don't know if I have 5 years to ride or 25. I don't want to tie up $20K in a bike I ride 2-3000 miles a year, but I also don't want to go metric to save some money. I'll admit some of the lower priced metrics are pretty interesting - Suzuki Boulevard in particular especially at $7K for a new 50 CI bike, or a Kawasaki Vulcan at $8,600 with full touring package.
I still would prefer to stay with the Harley - I've ridden enough "just like a Harley" bikes in my life, and now that I've owned one I understand why Harleys are Harleys and everything else is everything else. Still, $7K versus $20K is hard to ignore.
The issue is can I find a Harley with ease of handling and a cost that will justify the few miles I ride. By the way, the new '09 touring models with the new frame seem pretty interesting, especially with ABS brakes. It's not that I can't afford a Harley, it's that I'm not sure how much I'll use it, and if it doesn't work out I may have to sell it soon after I buy it. I sold the Softail, but it cost me more than I expected when I did (those add ons add up).
Any suggestions are welcome, and thanks in advance.
Since then my recurring arm problems have resurfaced, causing me to sell the Softail, following additional surgery. Permanent arm disability, not able to support any significant weight with either arm, but they still work and I'm grateful. The doctor doesn't want me to buy another bike, but we've agreed to disagree on that.
My wife enjoys riding with me, but she's aboard only 5% of the time. The rest of the time I'm solo, and usually travel for less than an hour at a time, often to work. The lag of storage on the Softail caused me to use it less than I hoped, but the weight of a bagger is a concern.
I've tried Sportsters, find them OK, but not as comfortable as the Softail, not that I expected it would be. The higher up in the frame engine causes me some issues when I'm two up in terms of handling weight at stop lights, especially on hills or tight turns. Wife and me combined with gear are about 300 pounds, but I'm only 5'7" and not getting any taller.
Given all of this, and the significant cost of a Harley, makes me concerned about which bike to get. I'm near 60 and I don't know if I have 5 years to ride or 25. I don't want to tie up $20K in a bike I ride 2-3000 miles a year, but I also don't want to go metric to save some money. I'll admit some of the lower priced metrics are pretty interesting - Suzuki Boulevard in particular especially at $7K for a new 50 CI bike, or a Kawasaki Vulcan at $8,600 with full touring package.
I still would prefer to stay with the Harley - I've ridden enough "just like a Harley" bikes in my life, and now that I've owned one I understand why Harleys are Harleys and everything else is everything else. Still, $7K versus $20K is hard to ignore.
The issue is can I find a Harley with ease of handling and a cost that will justify the few miles I ride. By the way, the new '09 touring models with the new frame seem pretty interesting, especially with ABS brakes. It's not that I can't afford a Harley, it's that I'm not sure how much I'll use it, and if it doesn't work out I may have to sell it soon after I buy it. I sold the Softail, but it cost me more than I expected when I did (those add ons add up).
Any suggestions are welcome, and thanks in advance.
http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/788307931.html
You'd be safe and styling all at the same time but not breaking the bank.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 4
From: Oklahoma
Test drive the Dyna SuperGlide. Light, nimble, low center of gravity. Around $12k MSRP. Add throwover bags and a seat for your wife.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,264
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From: Ft. Lickerder, Florida
You seem to be indecisive on whether to save on a metric but want the harley. Posting on a Harley forum you want us to push you off the fence to the harley side 
Worried about how much you will use it, the re-sale on the harley will be better as you know if you dont wind up keeping the scoot.
Why do you have to buy new? Get a used maybe 5-7 years old and save a bundle witha few add-ons most likely already on there!
Worried about how much you will use it, the re-sale on the harley will be better as you know if you dont wind up keeping the scoot.
Why do you have to buy new? Get a used maybe 5-7 years old and save a bundle witha few add-ons most likely already on there!