I don't know if this is necessary, but given the number of posts I've seen talking about the new 6 speed transmission, heat issues, and what have you I figured I'd throw this out as a completely new perspective on things. That, plus it's raining out so my riding is off for now.

Brief history is that I started riding last June and got a 1200C as my first motorcycle (which I still have). This is where a majority of my cruiser experience comes from. Past that the Harleys I've ridden were maybe 10 mile runs on a Deluxe, Roadking and StreetRod at a demo ride (I can't remember if they were '06 or '07 models).

That being said, I just bought an '07 Springer Classic yesterday and figured I'd throw out the "new guy" perspective on the first 50 miles on it.

To throw out the Springer specific things first, I really like the handling on this. I don't know how much of this is the 16" versus 21" front tire or the different fork and suspension but it seems like the Springer handles a bit better when leaning into the turns. I was originally worried that the beach bars might make turning less natural, but they have been very nice also. I have not had a chance to do the "long" miles yet, but so far the stock seat is pretty darn comfortable. It actually feels a bit like the Mustang Vintage I have on my Sportster. I did notice, as others here have pointed out, that wind buffeting when semi's passed the other way blew me around less than on the Sportster. The first few stops on the Springer were a little different due to the single piston front brake and an extra 150 or so pounds, but it didn't take too long to get used to that. I think that's it for the Springer specific items.

Moving on to more general Softail (or '07 emissions and tranny) issues I'll throw out my observations. Starting with the transmission noise I've read a bit about (though I know this is more a problem on the Touring line) , I guess I don't notice anything "weird" so far. Heck, the "sewing machine" noise I get from the Sportster seems stranger than what I get off the Springer. I've noticed that some gears produce more of a whine than a mechanical noise but that's been explained as a side effect of the new helical gears in the 6 speed. I should point out that I'm pretty much riding a stock Springer right now, so the pipes are pretty quiet and I imagine I'll hear most any tranny or engine noise better. Call it a quirk, but I waited until the 1000 mile checkup before getting the stage 1 on my Sportster, partly because I want to feel and hear what the stock motorcycle is like before changing it up. That being said, the engine and tranny in general are almost too quiet for me. Without the sound I get from something like the V&H pipes I have on my Sportster, and with no particular engine or tranny noise it's actually challenging to know when to shift without just sensing what speed I'm at, or looking at the speedo.

I'm still nursing things during breakin, so I have not opened her up yet, but moving through the gears seems pretty smooth also. The one odd issue I'm having is that it's a little tougher for me to kick up from 1st to neutral than it is on my Sportster. It seems like I skip through neutral alot when doing this, but it may just be a little breakin issue. Something I really like (simple as it is) is the "6" light on the speedo since I can at least tell at that point that I'm at the end of the line. I can't say how many times I've gotten the Sportster up past 65 and I have to try to kick up the shifter just to make sure I'm all the way up.

Moving on to heat, well, I'll admit that the Springer is kicking off a bit more heat than the Sportster at the lights. It was not entirely consistent (though it was windy out yesterday and today, so any inconsistency may have had to do with wind shift). At most lights I felt some heat on my left thigh right around the seat. At one or two lights it was