new guy question about a soft ride
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 11
From: Kentucky
To the OP - my softail has a pretty soft ride, but 2 big factors for your back are handlebars and seat (which are easy to replace, of course). You've ridden Japanese bikes, where there really aren't many after-market aprts available, compared to Harley. With a Harley, you can get pretty much anything you can imagine.
Last edited by brenn; Jun 11, 2011 at 06:37 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 445
Likes: 1
From: Boston, PR of MA
Been w/o a bike for 10 years. I owned 6 or 7 bikes starting in 76 with a KZ900 ending with a 1500 Goldwing in 93. In the middle I had a 91 Sportster among others. Thinking about another bike for local rides. A custom 1200 Sportster looks nice but I want to ride my wife on the back and my back (no pun intended) can't take the jarring it did even 10 years ago. I can't afford a touring bike but I want a softer ride. Oh yeah, I'm 6'2" at 190. Looking for any suggestions but it'll definately be a HD and I'm not afraid of buying used. Superglide, Softail?
Thanks
Thanks
Go with one of the bigger bikes, and get some aftermarket rear shocks built for your two-up weight. Front springs may or may not need replacement. You'll have a plush, well-controlled ride. Then find a good saddle. Used bike prices are so low right now (even in season) you can get something nice for not too many $$
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
From: Newport TN
really give it some thought as to how much you WILL ride, not want to ride, but how much time and money you got for actually ridein. so if you will only get to ride weekends and some durrin the week the harder ride of a softtail will be acceptable. but if you really will get to ride hundreds of miles a week for weeks at a time then the touring bikes cant be beat. and if your going to only do arround town and a couple hundred mile day once in a while the superglide is a good ride.
buy the bike to fit your ridein needs. I ride arround 20K a yr and the Ultra is one great bike for me. but it aint nothing for me to throw a leg over her and not get back home for 2 or 3 days, just cause I went for a ride.
AND if you got the experience you say then you will be ammazed how fast you pick up handlin the big bikes. and youll be amazed how good the big bikes can handle.. good luck man
buy the bike to fit your ridein needs. I ride arround 20K a yr and the Ultra is one great bike for me. but it aint nothing for me to throw a leg over her and not get back home for 2 or 3 days, just cause I went for a ride.
AND if you got the experience you say then you will be ammazed how fast you pick up handlin the big bikes. and youll be amazed how good the big bikes can handle.. good luck man
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
really give it some thought as to how much you WILL ride, not want to ride, but how much time and money you got for actually ridein. so if you will only get to ride weekends and some durrin the week the harder ride of a softtail will be acceptable. but if you really will get to ride hundreds of miles a week for weeks at a time then the touring bikes cant be beat. and if your going to only do arround town and a couple hundred mile day once in a while the superglide is a good ride.
buy the bike to fit your ridein needs. I ride arround 20K a yr and the Ultra is one great bike for me. but it aint nothing for me to throw a leg over her and not get back home for 2 or 3 days, just cause I went for a ride.
AND if you got the experience you say then you will be ammazed how fast you pick up handlin the big bikes. and youll be amazed how good the big bikes can handle.. good luck man
buy the bike to fit your ridein needs. I ride arround 20K a yr and the Ultra is one great bike for me. but it aint nothing for me to throw a leg over her and not get back home for 2 or 3 days, just cause I went for a ride.
AND if you got the experience you say then you will be ammazed how fast you pick up handlin the big bikes. and youll be amazed how good the big bikes can handle.. good luck man
I road from ElToro Calif to Baltimore on a KZ900 but that was 1976 . I had a Gold Wing in the 90s that I raod all the time and loved it. Very comfortable and handled like a much smaller bike. I doubt that I'll ride more than 5,000 mile a year and most will be less than 100 miles at a time. I'm thinking I could set up a road king or heritage for a soft ride. As much as I loved all the stuff, intercom, radio , windshield etc...I just don't have the $ to spend for an occasional ride. MAybe I'll change my mind as I'm pricing used bikes over the winter. I'm retiring in a month so I'll have the time to look
Thanks for all the input
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
