semper fi

 

Semper fi to Lowman and rigidpanman.

I was with 1 MEF in 2003. Yep; this Army guy----Because of being "attatched" to them; the Army and Marines allow my unit to wear the 1 MEF patch as a combat patch. I don't wear it though---for some reason these two branches of service are not ready to tear down the walls of "testerone." I get a lot of luv from the 2 MEF guys who are here now because my story has made it to them. I have much luv for you guys. When I fly out to those guys now; I see them fighting a fight that is normally reserved for the Army.
I value the experience I gained from them in OIF I; but now I see the entire war as my brains are being used mostly in OIF III

Hey guys---we're not talking about my 06 Deluxe in my original post.

 

Hey sfcmo357
Just want to say thank you very much for your service.
Get home safe & ride free brother!

 

I can't add anything more to what has already been said about your bike question, accept I put the V&H Big Shot Staggered on my 05 Fat Boy and love them.

More importantly - a personal thank you for your bravery, courage and sacrifice for us!

My prayers go out to you that you return to your family (and Harley) safely and quickly.

God Bless America!

 

Yeah from a performance standpoint, I think you'll love the staggereds.
The stage 1 breather kit will let it "breathe" and I imagine the power commander will do some good as well.

Sounds like you've done the sportbike thing so this will be a change for you.. Is this your first V-Twin? If so, it will be a far cry different from the inline four "rarr rarr" that you're used to.

Also, don't go taking curves like it's a GSXR or CBR (depending on your favorites)... But it's 750 pounds of steel that is pretty much the same performance of the state of the art motorcycles your typical rider would have back in say 1955. Except for the fact it's smoother, faster, better engine, and doesn't mark it's territory every time you park it. Better not anyway. hehe

What else are you putting on it? Adding any chrome? Howabout grips, pedals, etc?
Do you have the new 06 accessories catalog.. Now THAT's some good reading.

SB

 

Babs, this is my first V-Twin. I've done sport bikes for the longest and I really do love them. The problem is that I couldn't do right by the law on them. We would outrun the police every weekend. So, I got selected for promotion to E-8 (1SG-firs sergeant) and I started thinking. "I will be in charge of an entire unit----grow up and be more responsible now." So; I had two choices---do right or sell it. So I sold it right before I came here. No better bike than a Gixxer. I raced on a small circuit for the last 3 years; but didn't have the time (military) to really put into it.

I don't have the 06 catelog. I was looking at an 05 one yesterday. I will be in Fayetteville the 1st of the month; so I will go by the dealership and get one and finally get to sit on the deluxe. For now; I want a different seat--I keep hearing about the "Tall Boy" I also would like bags; but I don't want them for daily riding. So; I don't know which to purchase. I like the stripped down look. I only want them for those trips to Myrtle Beach and Daytona. A shield for those same trips would be nice along with sissy bar for the wife. I wont buy any of that at first. I will learn to ride this big monster first.

Lastly---here is my invoice. Whatcha think
MSRP is $17, 220.00. I get it for Invoice at $15,842.00 + 5 year unlimited mileage warranty for $999.00 + inland freight charge of $275.00 + delivery point processing service of $379.00 + stock storage fee of $100.00 plus security system of $253.00 and the profile optional wheels of $253.00. This totals $18,101.00
I can remove the extended warranty and optional wheels if I want and pay $16,849.00
Now I do have to pay the Tags, tax, etc once I pick it up in Fayetteville. I believe it's about $600 or so dollars. I wil find out.
IMPORTANT QUESTION-----IS THAT WARRANTY WORTH KEEPING OR DO SAVE SOME MONEY AND REMOVE IT. If it were a crotch rocket; I wouldn't get the warranty because the new bikes are basically maintenance free. I've heard the new Harleys are too----but I don't know if I want to remove the warranty.

 

Stripped down and clean verses comfort. This is exactly the delimna a lot of softail guys face. Want a cruiser that's cool, but those bags and that windshield are just too convenient, to the point of necessary. That's why the Heritage is still going strong. I actually broke down and added the hardbags to my fatboy.. I can't look at the thing but man it's sure nice to flip up the lid and stuff my junk in there.

Honestly, if I had it do again, it would be either a Heritage or a Road King. I've had the heritage and it was very cool. It's the epitome of the classic softail look to me. The one I always wanted. My thinking is I might as well just accept the niceties of a windshield (which is still detachable) and bags. The bags just look "correct" on the Heritage so it's ok. The Road Kings can look pretty serious when they're tricked out with chrome and wheels. Speaking of.. I love those profile laced wheels.. Keep 'em.. but that's my opinion again. I think they're very clean.

Also, keep in mind the price of the bike.. Actually that price is about right on your bike, though they add the fluff profit by calling it other things. My dealer just says, Here's MSRP and here's my cut above it, take it or leave it. Still not much haggling with H-D dealers. They've enjoyed a premium seller's market for a long time. C'mon Victory and C'mon Indian make a comeback with an engine that will actually make it to the end of the street. H-D needs some competition. But back to models and what you don't get vs what you do.. The Heritage was only $350 more than my Fatboy which came with No bags, No windshield, No passing lights, No sissy bar and a cheaper seat. The stock seat on the Heritage is a great tour seat. But the Fatboy is supposedly one of, if not The most popular or sold models without all the goodies that are standard on the other one. Go figure.

It's a compromise.. I bought the Fatboy because it was "clean", then added the stuff I found that I really missed.. Not so clean anymore, huh. So I'm planning on a Road King later, because it's a "clean" bagger to me.

Yes, go with the warranty.. It is a Harley Davidson, not a Suzuki. A few reads on this forum about revisions to valve springs and cam chain tensioner and needle bearing problems and you'll realize the warranty is a good thing. I have until November if I still can to extend mine out and I'm really considering it, depending on whether I'm keeping this one or stepping up to a bagger or a Vic or beemer or something. I get itchy every now and then for something different. 1200c cruiser or a Vegas Jackpot or something completely strange.. Maybe a bigdog. hehehe But can't put bags on one of those.

 

Babs; I enjoy your point of views because they're things I'm thinking of. I have my bike allocated already; but they're waiting on me to say---it's final. I will call them once I've gone to the dealership and done a once over some of the bikes I like. Originally; I was sold on the Road King Custom. It was so comfortable and the bars were just right. I liked the look and it "looked clean". I don't care much for the look of the Heritage; but I do find the Road King Classic nice. There is something about those white walls. Are the bags on the Heritage and Classice Road King detachable without there being any mounting brackets, etc showing? How about the wind shield?

I really don't need a bagger as most people do. My rides wont be long ones since being in the military; I really don't have the time. But I would like bags and a windshield in my garage waiting to be put on when I decide to take a trip. I guess that's why I chose the deluxe.

Finally; I will be visiting the Victory dealership when I get back. I have to see those bikes in person. Something about that rear tire that says "sportbike" yet the entire bike says "custom"

 

Oh yeah, the RC Custom is in my opinion, the trickest looking of all the tour models. If they gave a choice of bag types (leather or hard) I'd be all over that bike, because I dig the clean lines but also like hard bags. The hardbags kind of finish off the flow of the bike to me, as leather bags strike me as something a little more raw and appropriate for a softail or dyna. The original hardbags finish off the lines on that touring frame, though the leathers are growing on me.

The bags on the Heritage will come off with a bracket behind them. It's a pain in the butt. I don't know if maybe easybrackets or ghostbrackets makes a kit for the heritage (Probably) but I say, more trouble than it's worth. But the bags are kind of an identifying statement of a "Heritage Classic". They are one of the defining things you look for when identifying a bike as a Heritage Classic. And it's almost more trouble than it's worth though to remove the bags.. Especially, when you realize it's so nice just to have your chaps or rainsuit or extra ballcap or whatever with you. I put the original bags on my old 90 heritage with intent on removing them when I wanted to strip down and cruise.. Those bags Never came off.. except to wash behind them.

So it's pretty much a choice... Cruiser or Bagger (still). It's just that now we can get a bagger that's a pretty slick looking 'cruiser' as well. The 06 Heritage (not the classic) is out now (without bags) but it's got some swoopy paint work on the tank I'm not too nuts about.

Yeah I gotta watch myself these days.. I'm catching myself surfing the dreaded "other American company" website checking out the Vegas Jackpot. They made a stab with that fat tire and smaller fatter front tire on the Hammer. I think the Jackpot has finally got the styling right right with that swooped low profile fender over the tire. That's the ugliest part of the Hammer.. "sportbike". I read somewhere they did some mods to the lower engine case and frame too, to help with the poor lean angle also. (one of the few bikes I really drug some pegs on)

Go testride a Jackpot and tell me how it is? (Notice: You can TEST RIDE them).. I rode a vegas (dealer said to me "please get on that bike and give it the gas!".. So I did. It had it's plusses and minuses. The engine was either for accelaration or engine breaking.. Didn't want to just let off the throttle and coast on it.. I found that very irritating.. but, I hit that throttle and look out.. Hang on.. That scoot will move at 92ci, so I'm sure the 100ci will also.. Spanked the softail my buddy was riding off the line. To me, that Jackpot is a SERIOUS head turner.. Good looking bike.

However, keep one thing in mind (resale value).. A fatboy is a fatboy is a fatboy. Vic is changing their models a lot (new company and new designs). They'll depreciate a bit more than H-D. Hopefully they'll get their products stabilized where they want to be and stay there. Pretty much, Harley's are the same scoots they were in 84 when ***** G pulled them out from under the poop pile that was AMF.. Except for better frames, engines and a gas guage (finally).. but there are parts that fit an 84 softail through 2006 softail. But the vics are dang cool looking bikes.. I'm hoping they're here to stay. They are growing.. Faster than H-D right now.

On picking your scoot... Go walk around them.. Look at them. Analyze them. Forget about the small details of bags or no bags. Get a far off view of the bike. Find the one that smiles at you and says "Dude! I'm the one". Then you're there.

That Deluxe is one sweet looking bike.. Nice nostalgic look, and the best stock paintwork off all the softails I say.
Here was my "first love".. You can see what I was after.. It looked like it road out of the 1950's.. except for those chrome wheels. Big fat chunky bike with big fat wheels and a 1950's style duoglide paintjob. Love at first site. It fit me (Big and B

 

Man, I think you made a great choice with the Deluxe. That's a sweet bike that'll take you the long and short of any ride. You can do anything you want to it later for your specific tastes. Stay safe over there and Semper Fi, army dog.