My 2018 Heritage Classic
#1
12-17-2017, 03:36 PM
My 2018 Heritage Classic
Cliffnotes version -- Had a few bikes in the past, been on hiatus since 2010 and now own a 2018 Heritage Classic. Here are some pictures.
I'm finally getting around to posting a few pictures of my new bike. A little history-- started with a 2004 V-Rod at age 21, then a 2005 Victory Vegas Jackpot, a 2008 Anniversary V-Rod, a 2009 Yamaha Raider, a 2010 H-D Road Glide Custom and finally this 2018 Heritage.
I started looking heavily at bikes again a couple years ago thinking I wanted a Street Glide, then changing my mind to a Road King Special but dragging my feet because I wasn't in love with any of the bikes to be honest. I always thought the "old" Heritage was the best bike for me practically speaking because most of my riding is around town with a few poker runs thrown in. I wanted something comfortable and practical first and foremost, but I also wanted something cool and somewhat sporty while still paying homage to traditional HD styling. I didn't like the concho, studded, lighted fender look of the "old" Heritage so I always assumed I would end up with a Fat Boy and add all the Heritage comfort and convenience pieces, but I knew that was going to be expensive, so more foot dragging.
Unfortunately, my father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to his brain back in May of this year. I normally share all my exciting motorcycle and car purchases with him. It was because of him, after all, that I love anything loud, fast or pretty. He was initially given a year or two to live, which was a massive slap in the face. As it turns out, that would have been a blessing as he passed on August 9th after a short but brave battle with the cancer. I put the bike purchase on the back burner because I lost all interest while trying to make my dad as comfortable as possible and because it seemed selfish to think about a motorcycle with my dad's very life in the balance. To make matters worse, I was struggling with having to juggle the hardest thing I've ever had to endure and witness with the thing that has brought me more pleasure than anything else in my now 16 month old daughter. The ebb and flow of that situation was and continues to be the hardest thing I've ever gone through. I can't explain how sad it was to see my dad withering away after only getting to know his first and only grandchild for one year, much of which was spent in the hospital. I am also sad that this is the first major purchase I've not been able to share with him, or bounce ideas off him or make sure he thinks I'm getting a good deal.
Anyways, when the 2018 Softails came out and I saw what they had done with the Heritage, I knew that was the bike I had been waiting for. I decided I wanted a 114" in Vivid Black. There was one within 250 miles for what seems like a month. I work full time and can't get away easily so I thought I would just wait until the "local" dealership got one in. I say "local" because it's 130 miles away. They got a 114" Red Iron Denim Heritage in but I just couldn't bring myself to like the color so the waiting game continued. In the mean time, they advertised doing some demo rides one weekend so a buddy and I headed there in hopes of getting to ride the Softails they did have in stock and some Touring bikes.
When we get to the dealership, I see a silver fortune Heritage in the demo ride line up. I immediately walk up to it and check to see if it's a 114. Bummer, it's not, but at least there's one there for me to ride to see how the suspension and fitment works out. We hop on, me on the Heritage and a buddy on the new Fat Bob and it took about ten seconds to realize two things-- the bike ticked all the boxes and the 107 is no slouch. The $1500 or whatever it is in savings was a bonus, too. The bike already had Street Cannons installed and I was the first customer to ride it so I felt comfortable with this particular bike.
We got back from the demo ride and I sit down with the salesman. We go back and forth and finally strike a deal on the bike. They didn't come off price a whole lot, but I did get lots of accessories and a helmet thrown in. As I'm signing papers, someone from the service department pops his head in and says congrats and casually mentions the bike is now showing a check engine light. It was getting late and I didn't want to ride home in the dark 130 miles so they cleared the code, said it was no big deal and off I went (my mistake). Got several miles down the road and the light pops back up. Bike is running fine, the dealership is closed by now so I ride on home.
Lots of back and forth with the salesman and service manager later, the owner of the dealership agrees to come to my house 130 miles away and pick the bike up as I did not feel comfortable riding it with the check engine light illuminated. They had it for 2 weeks. Replaced a knock sensor to no avail. Next they replaced the entire ECM and the problem has been solved. He delivered the bike back to my driveway in an enclosed trailer and here we are now, too cold out to ride.
The day I bought it-- the first 2018 Softail the dealership sold:
The dreaded code:
Back at the dealer:
Back home:
On the Wish List:
LED turn signal inserts
Ventilator/tuner/Rinehart slipons
Rider backrest
Tour Pak
LED smoked layback tail light
Warm weather and lots of gear
I'm finally getting around to posting a few pictures of my new bike. A little history-- started with a 2004 V-Rod at age 21, then a 2005 Victory Vegas Jackpot, a 2008 Anniversary V-Rod, a 2009 Yamaha Raider, a 2010 H-D Road Glide Custom and finally this 2018 Heritage.
I started looking heavily at bikes again a couple years ago thinking I wanted a Street Glide, then changing my mind to a Road King Special but dragging my feet because I wasn't in love with any of the bikes to be honest. I always thought the "old" Heritage was the best bike for me practically speaking because most of my riding is around town with a few poker runs thrown in. I wanted something comfortable and practical first and foremost, but I also wanted something cool and somewhat sporty while still paying homage to traditional HD styling. I didn't like the concho, studded, lighted fender look of the "old" Heritage so I always assumed I would end up with a Fat Boy and add all the Heritage comfort and convenience pieces, but I knew that was going to be expensive, so more foot dragging.
Unfortunately, my father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to his brain back in May of this year. I normally share all my exciting motorcycle and car purchases with him. It was because of him, after all, that I love anything loud, fast or pretty. He was initially given a year or two to live, which was a massive slap in the face. As it turns out, that would have been a blessing as he passed on August 9th after a short but brave battle with the cancer. I put the bike purchase on the back burner because I lost all interest while trying to make my dad as comfortable as possible and because it seemed selfish to think about a motorcycle with my dad's very life in the balance. To make matters worse, I was struggling with having to juggle the hardest thing I've ever had to endure and witness with the thing that has brought me more pleasure than anything else in my now 16 month old daughter. The ebb and flow of that situation was and continues to be the hardest thing I've ever gone through. I can't explain how sad it was to see my dad withering away after only getting to know his first and only grandchild for one year, much of which was spent in the hospital. I am also sad that this is the first major purchase I've not been able to share with him, or bounce ideas off him or make sure he thinks I'm getting a good deal.
Anyways, when the 2018 Softails came out and I saw what they had done with the Heritage, I knew that was the bike I had been waiting for. I decided I wanted a 114" in Vivid Black. There was one within 250 miles for what seems like a month. I work full time and can't get away easily so I thought I would just wait until the "local" dealership got one in. I say "local" because it's 130 miles away. They got a 114" Red Iron Denim Heritage in but I just couldn't bring myself to like the color so the waiting game continued. In the mean time, they advertised doing some demo rides one weekend so a buddy and I headed there in hopes of getting to ride the Softails they did have in stock and some Touring bikes.
When we get to the dealership, I see a silver fortune Heritage in the demo ride line up. I immediately walk up to it and check to see if it's a 114. Bummer, it's not, but at least there's one there for me to ride to see how the suspension and fitment works out. We hop on, me on the Heritage and a buddy on the new Fat Bob and it took about ten seconds to realize two things-- the bike ticked all the boxes and the 107 is no slouch. The $1500 or whatever it is in savings was a bonus, too. The bike already had Street Cannons installed and I was the first customer to ride it so I felt comfortable with this particular bike.
We got back from the demo ride and I sit down with the salesman. We go back and forth and finally strike a deal on the bike. They didn't come off price a whole lot, but I did get lots of accessories and a helmet thrown in. As I'm signing papers, someone from the service department pops his head in and says congrats and casually mentions the bike is now showing a check engine light. It was getting late and I didn't want to ride home in the dark 130 miles so they cleared the code, said it was no big deal and off I went (my mistake). Got several miles down the road and the light pops back up. Bike is running fine, the dealership is closed by now so I ride on home.
Lots of back and forth with the salesman and service manager later, the owner of the dealership agrees to come to my house 130 miles away and pick the bike up as I did not feel comfortable riding it with the check engine light illuminated. They had it for 2 weeks. Replaced a knock sensor to no avail. Next they replaced the entire ECM and the problem has been solved. He delivered the bike back to my driveway in an enclosed trailer and here we are now, too cold out to ride.
The day I bought it-- the first 2018 Softail the dealership sold:
The dreaded code:
Back at the dealer:
Back home:
On the Wish List:
LED turn signal inserts
Ventilator/tuner/Rinehart slipons
Rider backrest
Tour Pak
LED smoked layback tail light
Warm weather and lots of gear
#2
12-17-2017, 03:55 PM
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#4
12-17-2017, 04:09 PM
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#6
12-17-2017, 04:29 PM
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#7
12-17-2017, 05:05 PM
Tourer
Ditto
Wow, what a story.
First, Real sorry to hear about your dad, you may see a few of my post referring to my heritage and my father as well. It's a very weird thing to have a bike that makes me feel like my dad is with me. More so than any other bike in the past. No comparison.
2nd. Your bike looks GREAT! Love the addition of the highway bars and lay down plate. Black is great, but I'd say you ended up with a real winner there.
Hope you get some time to enjoy it and recall some of the many good times with your father.
First, Real sorry to hear about your dad, you may see a few of my post referring to my heritage and my father as well. It's a very weird thing to have a bike that makes me feel like my dad is with me. More so than any other bike in the past. No comparison.
2nd. Your bike looks GREAT! Love the addition of the highway bars and lay down plate. Black is great, but I'd say you ended up with a real winner there.
Hope you get some time to enjoy it and recall some of the many good times with your father.
The following users liked this post:
Gizmo83 (12-17-2017)
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#8
12-17-2017, 06:02 PM
Wow, what a story.
First, Real sorry to hear about your dad, you may see a few of my post referring to my heritage and my father as well. It's a very weird thing to have a bike that makes me feel like my dad is with me. More so than any other bike in the past. No comparison.
2nd. Your bike looks GREAT! Love the addition of the highway bars and lay down plate. Black is great, but I'd say you ended up with a real winner there.
Hope you get some time to enjoy it and recall some of the many good times with your father.
First, Real sorry to hear about your dad, you may see a few of my post referring to my heritage and my father as well. It's a very weird thing to have a bike that makes me feel like my dad is with me. More so than any other bike in the past. No comparison.
2nd. Your bike looks GREAT! Love the addition of the highway bars and lay down plate. Black is great, but I'd say you ended up with a real winner there.
Hope you get some time to enjoy it and recall some of the many good times with your father.
