Need help choosing my first bike.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Likes: 11
From: Punta Gorda,FL
My 2005 SE Fat Boy sits fairly low. I don't think HD makes anything that sits lower due to the SE lowered rear and the SE seat. The 2006 SE Fat Boy sits an inch higher.
They both also come with the 103" engine and hydraulic clutch.
You might find one of them in your price range.
Good luck,
Tom
They both also come with the 103" engine and hydraulic clutch.
You might find one of them in your price range.
Good luck,
Tom
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 19
From: Dayton
Understand the big bikes are heavy. My biggest thing with my Heritage is getting used to the weight (backing up, parking, maneuvering in tight spaces). Great when it's rolling, but you really need to pay attention when you're stopped or going slow. Do a test ride and understand it will get easier the more you ride.
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Terre Haute, IN
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone, your suggestions have really helped out. Right now I'd have to say it's between the Crossbones and the Rocker. I love the rear fender on the Crossbones, do they make a lower seat for them? Most of the ones I've been looking at have a spring seat. I get why they'd have a seat like that on a rigid frame bike but why do they have it on the Crossbones, going for a retro look? Anyway the bike will mainly be ridden in town with maybe an occasional trip to Tennessee or something like that, about 600 miles for me. I'm leaning towards the Crossbones because despite also loving the Rocker it looks like it would be more at home with some saddlebags. Anyway, definitely have given me some food for thought, now I just have to get my Trans Am sold and I'll be on my way.
When it comes to Harleys you can change just about anything on any bike and get a totally different look. The things you can't change very easy are what you need to chose first, Motor, frame, wheel sizes.
1. Pick a motor A (Dyna,Touring) B (Softail) or V Rod.
2. Pick front, Wide, Narrow, Springer
3. Pick rear tire width.
1. Pick a motor A (Dyna,Touring) B (Softail) or V Rod.
2. Pick front, Wide, Narrow, Springer
3. Pick rear tire width.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 791
Likes: 2
From: Canada
Although you indicated in your last post, your looking for around town cruiser (with the odd short trip) , fair enough, but you may want to consider all types of riding and not limit yourself, if you can have a model that does a couple types of riding well.
1. Seats and handlebars COMPLETELY change the riding positions. And you can swap these out on any HD model although the model frame may limit seating positions at some point.
2. Softail versus Dyna versus Touring is huge difference in ride quality, although can be affected by suspension lowering, BUT you can get a different look for a model just by lowering it, maybe the look you described.
3. As previous others have said take a few test rides and don't hesitate to try them all, you might be surprised by some models, I have known a few folks who went to a dealer to buy a certain model in mind, but were convinced by the seat of their pants on another model that they eventually rode away with.
Good luck with the search.
1. Seats and handlebars COMPLETELY change the riding positions. And you can swap these out on any HD model although the model frame may limit seating positions at some point.
2. Softail versus Dyna versus Touring is huge difference in ride quality, although can be affected by suspension lowering, BUT you can get a different look for a model just by lowering it, maybe the look you described.
3. As previous others have said take a few test rides and don't hesitate to try them all, you might be surprised by some models, I have known a few folks who went to a dealer to buy a certain model in mind, but were convinced by the seat of their pants on another model that they eventually rode away with.
Good luck with the search.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,105
Likes: 1
From: Rowlett, Texas
Get you a Rocker and do like Micahpop did his but with your own touch.
Here is his thread:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...blackline.html
Here is his thread:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...blackline.html
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 523
Likes: 1
From: kingston ontario
might be tough to find a blackline for under $15,000. but it is the lowest seating position harley makes as a stock bike.
a lot of good advise here and i think fxr hamster hit the nail on the head with his post....
i like the last part of his post as i went to the dealer for my first bike with lots of ideas and opinions about what i wanted but i drove away with something else. lol the second time i got a harley (dont ask about the first one, long story) i went to the dealership with some ideas and had a pretty good idea what i wanted my bike to feel like (the important part), saw some i wanted, started test driving bikes (couldnt before but even just sitting on them helps) and discovered that my brain and my eyes are not very reliable... some of my favorite looking bikes would never be ridden more than once by me.
good luck man i hope you find what you are looking for
a lot of good advise here and i think fxr hamster hit the nail on the head with his post....
i like the last part of his post as i went to the dealer for my first bike with lots of ideas and opinions about what i wanted but i drove away with something else. lol the second time i got a harley (dont ask about the first one, long story) i went to the dealership with some ideas and had a pretty good idea what i wanted my bike to feel like (the important part), saw some i wanted, started test driving bikes (couldnt before but even just sitting on them helps) and discovered that my brain and my eyes are not very reliable... some of my favorite looking bikes would never be ridden more than once by me.
good luck man i hope you find what you are looking for
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Terre Haute, IN
Wanted to thank everyone again for all the suggestions. Especially for pointing me in the direction of the Crossbones. I like the bike quite a bit as is and after a little modification think I'll love it for a long time to come. As you guys suggested riding different styles of bike to get a feel for what I like, the only problem with that is that I have next to no riding experience. Plus I'm willing to sacrifice a little comfort for the look I want. I've been cramming myself into Camaros and Trans Ams for years now simply because I like the look so I feel I can do without a super plush bike.