Looking into HD's
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,290
Likes: 2
you are paying for the name and the sound, well the name anyway! I like the Harley touring because of the ride but rode metric for years when I was younger for the performance. Harley is a niche market, big on baggers or touring for the boomers but short on options for the perforance crowd. I'm still looking for an old KZ 1000 in good condition but love the Harley for what it is.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,626
Likes: 98
From: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Yup, as others have said, the minute you drive out of the showroom on your new Harley, all the rest of the metrics you rode will be in your rear view mirror.
It's not just the name, it's well, a tradition...over 100 years old. I did, and I have never looked back. Doesn't matter what you buy, it just has to say Harley on the tank.
Besides, hydraulic clutches on a tractor are fine (I have one), but on a motorcycle, they are only for people that don't know or care what the engine is trying to tell you. I'm not making this up. A Harley engine talks to you all the time, how you respond is all part of the experience.
It's not just the name, it's well, a tradition...over 100 years old. I did, and I have never looked back. Doesn't matter what you buy, it just has to say Harley on the tank.
Besides, hydraulic clutches on a tractor are fine (I have one), but on a motorcycle, they are only for people that don't know or care what the engine is trying to tell you. I'm not making this up. A Harley engine talks to you all the time, how you respond is all part of the experience.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 505
Likes: 2
Earl IV, If your riding experience is defined by a hydraulic clutch and anti-dive suspension and you fear that you wouldn't enjoy riding without these things then I think you've probably missed the whole point of riding. There is much more to riding than piloting a techno package.
For many years I did the sportbike thing very seriously - Harris Performance chassis, Valentine & Mellor tuned 1260 Suzuki engines etc. so I'm not neanderthal about technology or what it can do for you. But also I'm aware that it will never dictate whether you enjoy your ride or not. Reliability and predictability are more important.
Just ride a Harley, think about suspension upgrades (that's a genuine and scandalous weakness on Harleys) and go with the flow.
For many years I did the sportbike thing very seriously - Harris Performance chassis, Valentine & Mellor tuned 1260 Suzuki engines etc. so I'm not neanderthal about technology or what it can do for you. But also I'm aware that it will never dictate whether you enjoy your ride or not. Reliability and predictability are more important.
Just ride a Harley, think about suspension upgrades (that's a genuine and scandalous weakness on Harleys) and go with the flow.
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 935
Likes: 2
From: Upstate NY
Think of it this way, besides bikes, I like watches. I have several high end mechanical self winders. They look great and I feel good when I wear them. I also have a few inexpensive quartz/digital watches that have loads of features and for accuracy they blow my expensive watches away. The diff is I just don't feel any connection with them. I see bikes the same way, some brands are high on features but lack the mojo, and others are the opposite. Make any sense?
YMMV
YMMV
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Land of the black buggy
OK, Just got back from a test ride...Wow
First off, the CVO's have hydraulic clutches and the Fat Bobs have adjustable shocks (you had me with hellooo)
He had a stock Fat Bob and a CVO Softail Convertible, I rode both
My cheeks hurt from grinning...
The Softail definitely rode softer (not my cup of tea) and the counter balanced 110 engine was smooooooooth...
The Fat Bob fit me like a glove (I'm 6'1 - 210lbs) the only thing I'd change is perhaps moving the pegs out a bit (away from the engine)
He's doing a dealer search for a CVO Fat Bob (Black w/Hellfire flames) and said they are "doing deals" on 2010's cause the 2011's are about to come out.
I'm ready to pull the trigger on this...somebody talk me out of it
First off, the CVO's have hydraulic clutches and the Fat Bobs have adjustable shocks (you had me with hellooo)
He had a stock Fat Bob and a CVO Softail Convertible, I rode both
My cheeks hurt from grinning...
The Softail definitely rode softer (not my cup of tea) and the counter balanced 110 engine was smooooooooth...
The Fat Bob fit me like a glove (I'm 6'1 - 210lbs) the only thing I'd change is perhaps moving the pegs out a bit (away from the engine)
He's doing a dealer search for a CVO Fat Bob (Black w/Hellfire flames) and said they are "doing deals" on 2010's cause the 2011's are about to come out.
I'm ready to pull the trigger on this...somebody talk me out of it
Last edited by Earl IV; Jul 16, 2010 at 03:41 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Land of the black buggy
The whole hydraulic clutch thing is really nothing more than seeing a cable on a $26,000 bike seemed out of place, but I guess HD thought that too.
Riding home on my V65 was not as boring as I thought though, some kid on a crotch rocket thought he found an old fart to f*ck with.
He learned a valuable lesson about testicular fortitude at 140mph
Riding home on my V65 was not as boring as I thought though, some kid on a crotch rocket thought he found an old fart to f*ck with.
He learned a valuable lesson about testicular fortitude at 140mph
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,208
Likes: 374
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
Originally Posted by Earl IV;7010263
[B
[B
I'm ready to pull the trigger on this...somebody talk me out of it[/B]
Has Harley missed the mark on muscle cruisers?
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 3
From: utah
+1 on the CVO not really worth the money. I came from a rocket into the harley and love my little scoot.
My 2 cents is you could just buy the Fat Bob and then take the money you save by buying the regular model to customize. I'm guessing with the money difference you save, you could take that Fat Bob and customize it to exactly what you want.
My 2 cents is you could just buy the Fat Bob and then take the money you save by buying the regular model to customize. I'm guessing with the money difference you save, you could take that Fat Bob and customize it to exactly what you want.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Land of the black buggy
+1 on the CVO not really worth the money. I came from a rocket into the harley and love my little scoot.
My 2 cents is you could just buy the Fat Bob and then take the money you save by buying the regular model to customize. I'm guessing with the money difference you save, you could take that Fat Bob and customize it to exactly what you want.
My 2 cents is you could just buy the Fat Bob and then take the money you save by buying the regular model to customize. I'm guessing with the money difference you save, you could take that Fat Bob and customize it to exactly what you want.
The CVO is exactly what I want though, and the counter balanced 110 engine is not something you can "upgrade" to.
I'm the type that when I go in, I go all-in
...and I like OEM stuff on everything
Last edited by Earl IV; Jul 16, 2010 at 04:35 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 353
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From: Land of the black buggy
I might look into a 18" front wheel swap if they make one to match the rear, the disks are so big you can't see the front wheel at all.
Last edited by Earl IV; Jul 16, 2010 at 05:06 PM.