Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
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Old May 5, 2009 | 08:29 PM
  #31  
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Custom....
 
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Old May 5, 2009 | 09:12 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by Kicks
Zero question.
Custom all the way. I had them both and sold the Rocker.
It was the extra bike for friends. I always got the same response, they wanted to ride the Custom for all the right reasons.
Custom, far nicer ride.
Why are Rockers so polarizing?

It seems to be almost hated where the Bones and Train for example are universally loved?

You hardly ever hear a guy badmouth a Bones or a Train. Yet folks seem quick to hate on the Rocker?

I wasnt a Rocker fan as what I envision in a Harley is kinda old school narrow tires, foot clutches, hand shifted kinda vintage looking stuff in a new wrapper....

Then I saw Rails Rocker.

I must say that is one bad Mo-Foe. Changed my mind on Rocking!!

I wouldnt rush out and buy a new Rocker or a new anything for that matter but I will say its hard to dislike the model when you see so many fine examples pictured on this site.


I'm kinda creepy though.... Money wasnt a driving issue when I bought my bike. I kinda had a vision of what I wanted to do and it wasnt an easy choice for me.

What threw me over the edge is actually wierd and not in step with the general public....I was looking at Road Kings with low beach bars and envisioning a tank shifter and whitewall tires when in the service area of my local Harley dealership I stumpbled across a customers Train...An older 03-04 type. It was black cherry, slammed and I was hooked the minute I saw it.

I went up to the front of the store and started looking at Night Trains. But something wasnt right about em. The rear fender seemed cartoonish and out of proportion to me when I compared it to the older narrow assed bike. I hated the stock bars, pipes and thought it sat awfully high compared to the one on the Harley HD.com website (They photoshop or actually slam the bikes on the Moco website I guess??)

I had a fistful of cash and knew right then what I wanted. A slammed old school narrow assed 03-05 Train. In black cherry.

I wasnt gonna buy anything else.

Found an old ad right here in the classified section and PM'ed the dude.

Crated and shipped it from Atlanta to Denver.

Moral of the story besides the fact that I'm a wierdo? Get what you know you want....It could be an 883 with Apes or an old cop bike. It could be a dyna with a cafe racer fairing. It could be a cross bones, a Train, a Rocker a whatever....

The key is that its yours and its what makes you happy when you stare at it, wash it, ride it, mod it, love it...Oh yeah and pay for it

Settle with Ins companys or ex-wives. Dont just settle on a bike cause its all thats there.
 
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Old May 5, 2009 | 09:15 PM
  #33  
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I've got a Custom... tons of possible mods are available depending on what you want to do. Hell, you can even make it look just like a Train if you want to. I never could get into that whole moving-rear-fender thing on the Rockers, and it costs a bunch to change that for no performance difference.

But like most guys are saying, and like you already know, the economy is WAY down these days... dealers aren't exactly in fat city this year... but if you can't find what you want at your local dealer, there are tons of used/almost new bikes for sale out there.

Besides eBay, try cycletrader.com or other used bike websites... you may even find some holdover last-year's-models still hanging around out there somewhere that it'd be worth taking a little roadtrip for, given the money you'll save over current year new.

Cheers -
 
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Old May 5, 2009 | 09:22 PM
  #34  
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Yeah I know I'm an interloper into the softail section, but I got to throw a Roadking plug.

Unless you test ride one you don't know what you are missing. They truely are the King of the Road. Comfort, handling, place for your stuff and you can customize them also.

For a few thousand more, you get a lot more.

Out.
 
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Old May 5, 2009 | 09:42 PM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by cromagnon
Yeah I know I'm an interloper into the softail section, but I got to throw a Roadking plug.

Unless you test ride one you don't know what you are missing. They truely are the King of the Road. Comfort, handling, place for your stuff and you can customize them also.

For a few thousand more, you get a lot more.

Out.

I was oh so close to being a road king guy as well....Man a tank shiftered, whitewall tire shod solo seated King with a rowdy stage 3 build?


I was a keyboard stroke away from owning this one:

Great bikes. But then I got bitten by that pesky Night Train bug!!

It seems like the OP is determined to get on the Train.

If he sways or settles? He wont ever be truly happy.
 
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Old May 5, 2009 | 09:51 PM
  #36  
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Chazmanian - you've got a great looking bike!
 
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Old May 5, 2009 | 10:38 PM
  #37  
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this is easy!!!

Either get the same old, same old, or break the mold.
Most Hds look the same from 20’ away but not the roc.

Anyways I have had hds for 23 years now.
Find the one that you like the best.
As far as all the roc. Bashing, well, if I had to explain it you wouldn’t understand.
I know this does not help sorry!!
 
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Old May 5, 2009 | 10:44 PM
  #38  
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i have a softail, and would so go with the softail even if i didnt have one.

i cant stand the way the rocker looks. its almost like harley "tried" to make a chopper, as if Harley wasnt already the basis of all that is hogs.

i dont know, i just dont like the bike.

no offense to those rocker-ers, if you move the seat back to the rear fender it would look decent. but the softails give you sooo much options and opportunity!
 
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Old May 5, 2009 | 10:53 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by howolf
here's my opinion:

Rocker C is a model which I did love immediatelly by the time of its release, but the longer I see that bike, the less I love it. I think it's a more 'temporary' model, IMO.

The Softail Custom is a model I know for about 25 years by now, and I still like the model. It's a classic.

just my idea...
The Rocker has been shelved for 2010! FYI
 
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Old May 6, 2009 | 12:52 AM
  #40  
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Well I want to tank everyone for the info and advice. I got ahold of a dealer a little ways from me. He was able to locate a train. so most likely I got one. I was hoping to not have to get a bike and have it sit while Im in Iraq. I also wanted to go through AFFES. But, sounds like im getting my Train Thanks again and great lookin bikes on the posts
 
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