Just Bought My First Harley
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 7
From: North Georgia
RE: Just Bought My First Harley
Congrats! You'll be fine riding 2-up. I do plenty of it. Get a sissy-bar and a a nice backrest and then enjoy!
Budget for taking your bike to Stage 1, put synthetic oils in all three holes (engine, tranny, primary), and you will enjoy a motorcycle that will run cooler than stock. A benefit to stage 1 if you change your exhaust pipes is that the upper pipe (off the rear cylinder) will get routed below the passenger peg and gives your passenger more room for the right foot to move around.
The Feds have the Motor Company hog-tied with polution laws and (I guess) Harley is doing the best they can. But the bike will run too lean (read HOT) out of the box and won't sound like a Harley should either.
As mojojones stated, you are just getting past the down-payment portion of Harley ownership.
Post some pics when you get it home, and keep reading the forum. Tons of wonderful info here.
Budget for taking your bike to Stage 1, put synthetic oils in all three holes (engine, tranny, primary), and you will enjoy a motorcycle that will run cooler than stock. A benefit to stage 1 if you change your exhaust pipes is that the upper pipe (off the rear cylinder) will get routed below the passenger peg and gives your passenger more room for the right foot to move around.
The Feds have the Motor Company hog-tied with polution laws and (I guess) Harley is doing the best they can. But the bike will run too lean (read HOT) out of the box and won't sound like a Harley should either.
As mojojones stated, you are just getting past the down-payment portion of Harley ownership.
Post some pics when you get it home, and keep reading the forum. Tons of wonderful info here.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 88
From: NJ
RE: Just Bought My First Harley
Ride two up on mine almost every weekend. Softails work fine for two up riding just make sure your passenger has a comfortable seat and back rest. If you take long trips you got to stop for gas every 185miles or soanywayandit's not a problem to last that long on any softail. Hell after 3 hours in a car I want to stop and stretch so enjoy your new ride.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Houston , TX
RE: Just Bought My First Harley
i have an 07 fsxt an i 2 up all the time. so a fatty should be fine. but buy a backrest and you are your rider should be fine. as they said earlier, we feel sorry for your credit cards cuz i can garuntee you will wanna buy somthing everytime you turn around.
good luck and god bless
good luck and god bless
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Just Bought My First Harley
Drummer, great choice of bike. I know. I've had my 07 Fat Boy for over a year and just performed the 10K service. Great all around bike and awesome for commuting to work. I've had no problems whatsoever with this bike. Two-up? no problem, my daughters and wife love it, very comfortable. Hard seats? maybe those who complain have bony butts (yuck) lol.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 956
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
RE: Just Bought My First Harley
I ride 2 up every weekend and no problems. I did have to get a new passenger seat and replaced the passenger footpegs with floorboards to stop the complaining about comfort. It worked.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Just Bought My First Harley
Welcome, congrats and ride safe.
I have a Deluxe and ride 2 up almost exclusively. No complaints at all.
I have a Deluxe and ride 2 up almost exclusively. No complaints at all.
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Just Bought My First Harley
Well done, fine choice.
Ihave a 2007 Fattie in black pearl. A couple of recommendations, change the header pipes, the mufflers, install a PC111 and finally a decent air filter (big sucker or K&N). You won't believe the difference, it will sound good, it will run cooler and probably pick-up the odd additional hp and a couple oflbs of torque.
Good luck and enjoy your scoot.
Cheers
Gucci
Sydney Australia
Ihave a 2007 Fattie in black pearl. A couple of recommendations, change the header pipes, the mufflers, install a PC111 and finally a decent air filter (big sucker or K&N). You won't believe the difference, it will sound good, it will run cooler and probably pick-up the odd additional hp and a couple oflbs of torque.
Good luck and enjoy your scoot.
Cheers
Gucci
Sydney Australia
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 1
From: Bellingham, WA
RE: Just Bought My First Harley
ORIGINAL: Gucci
Well done, fine choice.
Ihave a 2007 Fattie in black pearl. A couple of recommendations, change the header pipes, the mufflers, install a PC111 and finally a decent air filter (big sucker or K&N). You won't believe the difference, it will sound good, it will run cooler and probably pick-up the odd additional hp and a couple oflbs of torque.
Good luck and enjoy your scoot.
Cheers
Gucci
Sydney Australia
Well done, fine choice.
Ihave a 2007 Fattie in black pearl. A couple of recommendations, change the header pipes, the mufflers, install a PC111 and finally a decent air filter (big sucker or K&N). You won't believe the difference, it will sound good, it will run cooler and probably pick-up the odd additional hp and a couple oflbs of torque.
Good luck and enjoy your scoot.
Cheers
Gucci
Sydney Australia
I can totally relate to headers, pipes, air cleaner, but, What the hell is a PC111? IGoogled it briefly and I don't think it is this Sennheiser Pc111 Over-The-Head Mono-Aural Headsetas applied to this forum.........
Also, what are good pipes and headers for the Fat Boy? I have the Harley parts catalog, but is there better out there?