Negative folks post. Positive folks buy and ride. Life is more enjoyable that way.

 

I'm positive. Positive I'll never own one of these abortions

 

Gamble71 - That's your decision and right. But also your loss. It is the same response when H-D went from the Knuckle to the Pan then the Pan to the Evo then the EVO the twin cam and so on. Some get developmentally arrested at one point but the majority move on with change. Whatever floats your boat.

Those wars are still being fought today.

 

He doesn't like the new bikes, I don't either....I saw them today when I went to get a part for my Dyna.
You can have them....They're f*ckin' ugly and cheap lookin'.

 

I agree. The new line up simply doesn't have the "it" factor.

 

I see things I don't like in most of the new bikes. I see things I do like in most of the new bikes.

It is unreasonable to expect all 2018 models to be exactly what each potential likes.

Harley has always built a good platform to start with. That's why the aftermarket exists as well as their own parts and accessories catalog.

I have been looking at each model and making mental notes of what I would change if I had that partners bike.

For example, I think the Fat Boy's headlight nacelle is uglier than a dog's ***. But most of the rest of the bike is cool even though it is different. Shouldn't be a big deal to change it. I have noticed this bike looks a lot better in person than online, especially in the Black Tempest which showcases the satin finishes more. In a sense it reminds me of the original gray ghost.

The Deluxe's turn signals make no sense to me, but otherwise the bike looks very much like the 2017. Shouldn't be a big deal to change then.

Softail Slim looks pretty damn good as is in my opinion. It doesn't look much different than the 2017.

The Fat Bob is one of those odd bikes that frequently gets redesigned. This latest iteration of it I think captures more of what they have always been trying to achieve. I don't like the way it looks but then again I never liked any of the fat Bob's regardless of year. Obviously a lot of people like them because they are being bought up quickly.

I haven't seen a Low Rider around so I am reserving judgment on that one but on a spec sheet it looks pretty good with an attractive price tag.

I like the Breakout's digital gauge setup which is similar to a product made by moto gadget. I like it a lot better than the awkward looking speedometer on the previous Breakout. I don't like the smaller tank, reduced rake, and a few items like that. On its own, the bike looks alright but parked next to the 2017 Breakout, my preference is for the older one as it looks better proportioned but that's just my preference. Other people prefer the new look.

The new Street Bob looks like the next logical step when upgrading from the Street models. In that sense, that's what that model's target audience is.

The Heritage attracts as many newcomers to it as it drives away traditionalists. Better color options would go a long way towards helping more people to like it. Turquoise and birch white for example would be a good contrast for the black. White walls as a tire option would also be cool and easy to do. They should have handled this like the Road king though. Make a traditional chrome version as well as a blacked out version. They have a nice collection of racks, sissy bars, and your paks available for it in the Hold Fast collection.

The touring bikes and Sportsters are largely unchanged.

The point is all of these bikes are starting points. I guess that concept is lost with the instant gratification mentality these days.

 

My local dealership had a Demo day yesterday. While I'd already seen the '18s prior to yesterday, this was the first time I'd get to demo ride them.

Let me first start by saying, I'm a long-time (30+ years) motorcyclist. I own multiple motorcycles of various makes and models. Each has a purpose. I'm not a fan-boy of any one brand. Just so you know where I'm coming from...

So I test rode the Fatboy and FatBob. I liked them both. The Fatboy handled surprisingly well with that large front tire. The new frame and suspension really works well to make the ride more comfortable. Sound and feel; it definitely doesn't feel, sound, or thump like the Twin-Cam, but it was okay. The Fatbob was really nice from the performance side. Really handled well and accelerated well for a Harley...

With all that said. IF I was in the market for a cruiser today, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be any of the '18s even as nice as they rode. Visually, the '18s don't appeal to me. No lie, no sour grapes but looking at my '17 FLSS parked next to some of the new demo bikes, I'd pick my FLSS all over again even knowing the '18s handle better...

 

I look at both Slims, 17 and 18, and barely detect differences.

 

Again... it's not about the mechanicals. I'm sure they're superior in every way in that regard. They're also fugly, damn fugly... I don't care how well they run/ride/handle when they look like dog's azz

 

No, it's not. I've spent thousands on mine making changes, and I'm going to spend thousands more making more changes. The 18s are not even a platform I'd start with. Until someone proves me wrong, the lines just won't work with a Springer front end