As you are thumping along looking at the scenery in a place where nobody is to be found, you will see the hand of a rancher waving "hello" to the low rumble of your exhaust while you are passing thru at a pace to take in the scenery!

 

I used to have a Shadow it was a great bike and looked a lot like a Harley. Had an accident on it because of unusual traffic and poor tread. Stopped ridding for a while.

Next was an 883 Iron Sportster. Awesome around town but a little lacking on the highway, it kind of beat you up.

Now I'm on a 2012 Fatboy Lo and there was a learning curve for me. But once I got familiar with the Lo I noticed how smooth it was. When I was going around 65 to 70 mph on the 883 it would feel like going a round with Mike Tyson but on the Lo when I get to 65 to 70 I shift into 6th gear and it just starts to purr!

I love it and there ain't no looking back for me.

Ironbat

 

Well since you are commuting you will appreciate the 6 speed right away. Yes the Harley weighs more however it's balance is far better. The extra weight is down low and not really noticeable,well not in a bad way anyway.
I had an 1100 v-star before I bought my Harley. The yamaha was a great bike. And I rode that thing everywhere. All I ever did to that bike was change the oil and gas it up.
Now the Harley. Well I've bought new pegs,different bags,a few sets both hard and leather. New grips,quick release bitch bar etc etc etc.
Buying the bike is just the down payment. Mods are going to clean you out and you will love every minute of it.
The Harley will also make you see and feel what the metrics are trying to achieve,but just can't get. You have to ride them both to understand what I mean.
Let us know how it went.

 

I can't sell anything. Honda 90 trail, cb350, Kawasaki 500, BSA Victor 441, Triumph Bonniville, Trident. 72 FLH, 79 FLH, 84 ironhead, 89 TourGlide. 98Dyna convertible, 2000 SE RoadGlide. Ready for a year old switchback. Oh Yeah!!!!

 

I agree with every post here. I had the first year 1100 shadow Ace (white with purple scallops. 94? Can't remember the year...but when it showed up at the dealer I sold everything I had to buy it). It was a great bike. The Harley will make it feel like a whiney rickety toy.


One thing to keep in mind for the Fat Boy Lo model is it is "low".

Low + floorboards = not a lot of lean angle. Dont expect to be aggressive until you find the limits. Running out of turn clearance sucks. Try the Dynas too. Way more lean angle. You'll have a lot of fun no matter what you ride. If you are going to Glendale HD I might see you there. Great dealership.

 

It's the difference between jerking off and getting *****

 

so i just got back from demo day,was kinda an upsetting start because i go outside to my garage to get my bike out to ride it to glendale and my mom left up north and left my grandpas car right in front of my garage so i couldnt even get my bike out!!! so i had to go with my friend we took his truck,then we got to demo day and i was kinda dissapointed when i saw there was NO fatboy los or regular fatboys for the demo ride when they told me there would be some,also no softail deluxes...anyway i ended up first demoing the Fat Bob as my first harley ride ever! and boy let me tell you WOW! that thing has some badass power and acceleration! especially when we took them on the freeway i never knew a bike could feel so natural on the freeway and accelrate so fast! as opposed to my honda shadow where the freeway seems like a constant battle i wanted to keep going on the harley and the fat bob tires were so badass taking all the grooves and cracks with ease! the twisties were kind of intimadating,never really ride twisties at all and imagine doing it on a harley for the first time!! overall the ride was awesome but couldnt stand the handle bars or seat position on the fat bob,fast forward to me trying out a street glide next after a few hours the wait was horrendous! well i am defiantly not ready for any kind of touring bike! around 830 pounds,i go around the first few corners then when i stop because the breaks are very new and so damn touchy and the bike has so much power i actually tip the bike over,its was one of those VERY slow drops where u think u can save it but its past the point of return and all u can do is lay it down gently and slowy,then another guy had to help me pick it up,really embarrsing! they asked if i wanted to continue and i said i better not,then the lady asks if im ok and i say the only thing that is hurt is my pride..i didnt even stick around for the next ride where i was schelduled to ride a street bob out of embarrasment but apprently i wasnt the only one to tip a bike according to a instructor,ive only droped my honda once and that was the very first ride i ever did on it and it was a slow drop as well,i know for sure no touring bikes for me,i just really wish they had some fatboys or deluxes..anyways the fatbob was amazing though so much power and handles great! just dont like the handlebars or seating posistion didnt really like the parade ride style either at least not for the first time on a harley,amd it seemed like everyone else riding the harleys were seasoned harley vets except me and my friend,but it did make me realize i want one very bad and want to test a fatboy lo and deluxe ASAP! love how the shifter on the fatboy is so close to the floorboard too,well thats my story so far

 

The weight makes a big difference. You get used to it. Whoever said you'll only notice the weight difference if you bench press the bikes was obviously joking.
I have a Shadow 1100 and a Road King and I love both bikes. The shadow I'll park anywhere because you don't even have to sit on it to back it up. The Road King needs a reverse gear. Lifting it off of the stand is also different. But on the Shadow
I feel every bump in the road,on long trips the Road King is, well a Road King. Lots of comparisons here but I can only say the Shadow is to the Road King what a bicycle would be to the Shadow.

 

embarrassing story time...

my previous bike was an '83 honda vf750 magna that i bought in '06. i used to keep it in the shed behind my house, which was never a big deal. id just back it out of the shed and drive it through the yard and be on my way. so after i sold it and bought a rk i thought "welp i'll just do the same thing." here's the thing though is that the honda was like 550 pounds while the road king is 800 plus. so with a whole 30 miles on the clock i backed my bike out ready to ride 50 miles to baltimore for work, very exciting, good times about to be had by all, and i'll be damned if that sucker didn't sink right into the damn mud and get stuck, straight up, rear wheel in the mud and frame resting on the lip of my shed's floor. later on it took me and my friend a good half hour to wrestle out BUT i did not drop my brand new bike, of which im proud, and i have not done anything so stupid since

 

No fatboys to ride but love how close the shifter is so close to the floorboard. Are we being taken for a ride here?