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In 2008 when I was first returning to riding, I was convinced the 883 Iron was the bike for me. Was the money I wanted to pay and was the dark custom Harley.
I test rode one and test rode the Street Bob, ended up buying the Street Bob.
Then a year later, I had to trade in my dyna and my wife's Nightster to get a lower payment plan (she lost her job) and ended up with a Fat Boy Lo...the bike just made me smile and keep smiling! It was something to get that thrill of the bike as you look at it and then wash over you while you rode it, no other bike gave me that.
Find the bike that is best for you the one that makes you want to ride and gives you that little bit of disappointment when you must dismount.
In an ideal world... we'd all have several bikes....but in the REAL world most of us have one bike.
You said you're waiting for spring, and odds are you'll filp-flop a few times. Keep road testing every bike you can...when you find THAT ONE BIKE.... you'll know it, and you won't need to ask us
I have a Sporty now, and will be buying Dyna or a Road King this winter.
I definitely have vacillated. I'm really not into the Softail B Motor, though I love the look of those bikes. It seems too smooth and mellow, but that's kinda illogical for me because mostly I'm just cruisin' around locally.
I like the Dyna because it's like a Sporty on steroids, and I like the handling. The Dyna's have a more raw, volatile feel-even though I don't do anything particularly raw or volatile.
There's this whole concept of riding style, but I keep thinking my riding style might change if I had Road King-like I might ride further if I was on a more comfortable bike.
Good luck. It's nice to have a lot of equally cool Harley's to choose from. You'll find something you love.
Definitely wait. I rushed into a great deal on a Night Train just to trade it in on a Dyna less than a year later. It is what I wanted in the first place
I went from Sportster to Dyna though originally I wanted a Soft Tail. Loved their look. Got the Sportie because it was inexpensive. However I came to love that bike and still have it even in it's twisted, mangled form. That's why I got the Dyna...fits me a bit better, love the look, and it's an upscale Sportie. I like the raw, unrefined ride. It just...feels right.
Is it normal to flip back and fourth on which Harley you want to get? Had it narrowed down to a Forty Eight, Fatbob. Took them out for a test ride over the weekend. After getting back from test riding them both the salesman wanted me to take one last bike for a ride the Fatboy Lo. After the ride you couldn't have prided the smile off my face. Loved the low stance to the ground and how smooth the bike was.
This is a lot more than I was planning on spending but I think waiting has been worth it. Just going to have to wait until May / June now.
Just hope I don't change my mind again.
That's the beauty of Harleys. They keep you confused . . . LoL
I looked for two years trying to decide between a street glide or an ultra. One day i just happend to try a heritage and it was the one that fit me best.
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I looked at HDs for several months before deciding what I really wanted. I first thought I wanted a Heritage Softtail. Then thought I wanted a road King. Then thought I wanted a Street Glide - looked at prices and figured I would have to get an older EG and strip it down some.
Kept looking for an EG that "spoke" to me, but that didn't happen. While looking at EG's found a Street Glide that "spoke" and got a great deal - when it's right you will know it.
I think most of us know the feeling you're having . As others have said , take your time , ride and reride as many as you can and find the one that you feel right on . When buying new or nearly new it can be an expensive mistake to make a move too soon and have to trade shortly after . Good luck in your search .
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.