I am about to make my first harley purchase, a new 07 softail custom.

I am looking at three bikes at a local dealer as follows and have some questions:

1.A custom in a color combination I like, cobalt blue and pewter. This particular bike has a lowering kit installed by the dealer. So, naturally it rides with a lower center of gravity but not being an experienced rider I don't know the implications on this. The dealer is willing to take the lowering kit off and make it stock, I am sure for a price. Is this a desireable feature? Or being a first time rider/purchaser, should I stick with stock? Or is this the kind of thing that should be based on my likes/dislikes and not worry about functionality and such?

2. A custom with a factory custom paint set, it is one of 150 in the 07 model year, it has the inverted forks and they have a tag of a little more than 22k on it but say they will cut me a deal. I have attached pictures of the custom paint/seat. Is the customer paint really worth much more? My wife likes it because of the brightness and feels like it will be seen more easily by motorists in traffic and thus a safer ride.

3. A stock custom that is not in the color set I want, for two reasons, one it is not one of my favorite paint combination and two, I know someone that has that color combination and don't want to duplicate, so in that case, I would not likely go with that bike and if I don't go with the one of the other two bikes from this dealer, I will, naturally have to go elsewhere. I know I want to purchase now as I want a bike now and thus it will be an 07 model, as you know inventories are a little low being the end of the model year.

Any expertise you could lend a newbie and a soon to be harley rider would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

jimd4au

 

Good choice in bikes. I had a tough decision between the ST Custom and the Fat Boy. I went with the Fat boy. If it were me I would get the vivid black stock bike for $17,000. A nice custom paint job is around $2000. That will save you about $3000 and then you can do a bunch of other modes. The paint job on #2 is okay, just not for me.