Good or bad idea
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Austell, GA
Appologies to whom ever said you can never be to rich or to thin.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
I'm one who has an addiction to motorcycles and riding, and doesn't want to get better!
I've always regretted selling my Sporty to get a touring bike... so I finally just added a Forty-Eight to the stable. (Riding my girl's Sporty wasn't working for me... mid-controls didn't fit, and sometimes she actually wanted to ride it at the same time!)
Turns out, having one of each, a long-distance hauler and an around-town fun bike, is the perfect pairing. I suppose I'm late to discover that: most of the riders in the touring forum also list a smaller bike in their signatures too. With two, you can pick what you want to ride depending on your mood and the needs of the day.
For those who are concerned about "cred" or "image" or "not being a poser," two bikes communicates to others that you're not a "fifteen grand and fifteen miles" rider. I personally don't care about that, but recent threads tell us that's a big deal to many forum members here.
But in short, my first paragraph above is the bottom line. Passionate music collectors spend their money on vinyl albums and diamond-tipped turntable needles. Passionate knitters spend their money on fancy skeins of yarn.
I ride. So I spend my money on motorcycles and gasoline. That's just how life goes, and I don't really want to get better.
I've always regretted selling my Sporty to get a touring bike... so I finally just added a Forty-Eight to the stable. (Riding my girl's Sporty wasn't working for me... mid-controls didn't fit, and sometimes she actually wanted to ride it at the same time!)
Turns out, having one of each, a long-distance hauler and an around-town fun bike, is the perfect pairing. I suppose I'm late to discover that: most of the riders in the touring forum also list a smaller bike in their signatures too. With two, you can pick what you want to ride depending on your mood and the needs of the day.
For those who are concerned about "cred" or "image" or "not being a poser," two bikes communicates to others that you're not a "fifteen grand and fifteen miles" rider. I personally don't care about that, but recent threads tell us that's a big deal to many forum members here.
But in short, my first paragraph above is the bottom line. Passionate music collectors spend their money on vinyl albums and diamond-tipped turntable needles. Passionate knitters spend their money on fancy skeins of yarn.
I ride. So I spend my money on motorcycles and gasoline. That's just how life goes, and I don't really want to get better.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 762
Likes: 1
I agree with merlin - it's no one's business what you buy and ride. you gotta pay for it, get what you can want or can afford.
HOWEVER, if you have it in your heart to have a softail or RK, buying a Yamaha or Kawasaki will not satisfy that longing. meaning you'll either not ride the metric or you'll start trying to figure out how to get what you want.
if you are willing to pay $6k for a metric, it really won't cost you much more to get a Harley. for example, I just got a pristine '03 Road King Classic, 19k miles from a local dealer for approx $9000. good deals are out there, if you're willing to wait and look for them
good luck with whatever you do - remember, you only have to please yourself.
HOWEVER, if you have it in your heart to have a softail or RK, buying a Yamaha or Kawasaki will not satisfy that longing. meaning you'll either not ride the metric or you'll start trying to figure out how to get what you want.
if you are willing to pay $6k for a metric, it really won't cost you much more to get a Harley. for example, I just got a pristine '03 Road King Classic, 19k miles from a local dealer for approx $9000. good deals are out there, if you're willing to wait and look for them
good luck with whatever you do - remember, you only have to please yourself.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,192
Likes: 990
From: Hastings MN
Being cheap isn't a bad thing. Riding a Yamaha or Kawasaki isn't a bad thing either. Only you know what you want. Think of this, a guy in a machine shop buys a small welder to use because it's only an infrequent need. So, he tries to save the company money by not buying a large lincoln Mig welder. Then the little 110 amp one burns up and he has to buy the larger one anyway. He actually wasted money instead of doing it the right way the first time out. If you want a bike, buy what you feel comfortable spending. If you want a Harley, get one and be done with it and keep it and ride it. It'll be less expensive in the long run. You know what you want. Go get it. Whatever it is. Be cool. Noname
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 913
Likes: 0
Losing your shirt when you go to sell the metric won`t help your pocket book any. Not much time left this year to ride (unless you can ride year around in TN). Think about it over the winter and come back in the spring with fresh thoughts.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 2
From: Hallsville, Tx.
I bought the bike in my sig pic this spring with 5900 miles on it. The dealer had replaced the tank and the bags as well as new Michelin Commander tires. The bike was/is like brand new. I traded an 8 year old Sporty and 4 grand for it and it was worth it! Over 10,000 miles on it now, would be more but our spring sucked!
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