Total newbie buying first HD
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 704
Likes: 1
From: Dumfries, VA
RE: Total newbie buying first HD
Finn,
Welcome. The Deuce can do all the things you say you want to do. There are some challenges with the Deuce that other softailis do not have. The best saddlebag bracket that I have found is the easybracket. There is minimal hardare left on the bike once the bags are removed. If you are planning on putting a sissy bar on the Deuce, the Harley sissy bar takes about 30 minutes to install and remove once you have done it a couple of times. My first try took about an hour. Depending on how tall you are well determine if you need extended forward controls. I am 6'2" and have 3" extended forward controls. Makes for a more comfortable ride. As far as long trips, the stock Deuce seat is not designed for that. I recently replaced my stock seat with a Mustang vintage solo with backrest. The new seat has definately increased my comfort level. I normally ride with just the solo seat, but I do have a passanger pad and sissybar that I put on it my wifes wants to go for a ride. The passanger pad and sissy baralso allow me to put a large bbag on the passanger pad for longer trips when I need more stuff. Here are a couple of pics with the solo seat and the full up passanger pad and sissy bar. Good luck.
Welcome. The Deuce can do all the things you say you want to do. There are some challenges with the Deuce that other softailis do not have. The best saddlebag bracket that I have found is the easybracket. There is minimal hardare left on the bike once the bags are removed. If you are planning on putting a sissy bar on the Deuce, the Harley sissy bar takes about 30 minutes to install and remove once you have done it a couple of times. My first try took about an hour. Depending on how tall you are well determine if you need extended forward controls. I am 6'2" and have 3" extended forward controls. Makes for a more comfortable ride. As far as long trips, the stock Deuce seat is not designed for that. I recently replaced my stock seat with a Mustang vintage solo with backrest. The new seat has definately increased my comfort level. I normally ride with just the solo seat, but I do have a passanger pad and sissybar that I put on it my wifes wants to go for a ride. The passanger pad and sissy baralso allow me to put a large bbag on the passanger pad for longer trips when I need more stuff. Here are a couple of pics with the solo seat and the full up passanger pad and sissy bar. Good luck.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: England
RE: Total newbie buying first HD
Hi Finn, a hearty welcome from England. The Deuce is a very good looking bike, sadly Harley UK didn't import2007 Deucesinto the UK, but I'm very happy with my Softail Custom.
You can commute on any bike, but some are more suitable or easier than others - particularly in our crowded European cities. If you're not a courier or someone who will filter agressively, softails are a chilled out commute, so much so I usually take the long way home (short/quick way mostly filtering through traffic in themorning as I'm often late[&:]).
If you were using it solely as a commuter in city traffic, at the risk of being flamed, I'd suggest there are better, cheaperchoices.
You say it's your first bike, do you have a license yet? If so, test ride one to get a feel.
You can commute on any bike, but some are more suitable or easier than others - particularly in our crowded European cities. If you're not a courier or someone who will filter agressively, softails are a chilled out commute, so much so I usually take the long way home (short/quick way mostly filtering through traffic in themorning as I'm often late[&:]).
If you were using it solely as a commuter in city traffic, at the risk of being flamed, I'd suggest there are better, cheaperchoices.
You say it's your first bike, do you have a license yet? If so, test ride one to get a feel.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 770
Likes: 2
From: East NM
RE: Total newbie buying first HD
Here is what you need for your bags. http://www.easybrackets.com/index.htm The Harley optional windshield comes off by simply moving a spring clip. Memphis shades takes just a little longer to remove and reinstall because you have to loosen 4 screws, but they look good and cost less.
I don't think I'd want to use a tour bike for a daily commuter and the Sportsters are not really suited for such work,, but any of the Softail or Dyna models would do the job quite well.
I don't think I'd want to use a tour bike for a daily commuter and the Sportsters are not really suited for such work,, but any of the Softail or Dyna models would do the job quite well.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
RE: Total newbie buying first HD
Welcome aboard, You can't go wrong with the Softail line, and I second the above statement about easybrackets...and remember, HD stands for "hundredDollars", when buying extras
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 4
From: South Jersey, AC area
RE: Total newbie buying first HD
ORIGINAL: Oldtimer of NM
The Harley optional windshield comes off by simply moving a spring clip.
The Harley optional windshield comes off by simply moving a spring clip.
Not the Quick Release windshield, it has 4 clamps that are mounted on the windshield, they "clamp" onto the forks and there are no brackets, pins or spring clipsto worry about, it's literaly on or off in seconds![8D]
I love the fact that there are no windshield brackets on my forks.
check it out on the HD website.[8D]
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
RE: Total newbie buying first HD
ORIGINAL: shortfatboy
and remember, HD stands for "hundredDollars", when buying extras
and remember, HD stands for "hundredDollars", when buying extras
Those poor guys need a place to order parts from here or on line that will ship for a reasonable cost.
I wonder if Zenotti's can ship stuff over to europe?
They could make a good buck selling to overseas customers if they don't have to deal with importcharges or other "taxes".
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 55
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Total newbie buying first HD
Hey Finn,
Welcome; i have lived in germany for the past six years and for three of them i owned a softail standard and love it. But With all the great rallies in europe and fantastic roads i have here in the Eifel region i sometimes wish i had a Heritage or a Roadking. I think the Duece is a great bike but it is so much easier to load up a Heritage or a road king and head out for the weekend.
I will be leaving here in July but if you get your bike before then maybe we can hook up an tear up the Neatherlands.
Welcome; i have lived in germany for the past six years and for three of them i owned a softail standard and love it. But With all the great rallies in europe and fantastic roads i have here in the Eifel region i sometimes wish i had a Heritage or a Roadking. I think the Duece is a great bike but it is so much easier to load up a Heritage or a road king and head out for the weekend.
I will be leaving here in July but if you get your bike before then maybe we can hook up an tear up the Neatherlands.
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4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
RE: Total newbie buying first HD
ORIGINAL: Citoriplus
Remember he's overseas, that means he may have to nearly double the price of what we have to pay.
Those poor guys need a place to order parts from here or on line that will ship for a reasonable cost.
I wonder if Zenotti's can ship stuff over to europe?
They could make a good buck selling to overseas customers if they don't have to deal with import charges or other "taxes".
ORIGINAL: shortfatboy
and remember, HD stands for "hundredDollars", when buying extras
and remember, HD stands for "hundredDollars", when buying extras
Those poor guys need a place to order parts from here or on line that will ship for a reasonable cost.
I wonder if Zenotti's can ship stuff over to europe?
They could make a good buck selling to overseas customers if they don't have to deal with import charges or other "taxes".
I'm headed to the US (DC area) for a friend's wedding in June and I'll be buying most of the riding clothes at that time. Leathers especially have insane markups this side of the pond.
ORIGINAL: a72396
Hey Finn,
Welcome; i have lived in germany for the past six years and for three of them i owned a softail standard and love it. But With all the great rallies in europe and fantastic roads i have here in the Eifel region i sometimes wish i had a Heritage or a Roadking. I think the Duece is a great bike but it is so much easier to load up a Heritage or a road king and head out for the weekend.
I will be leaving here in July but if you get your bike before then maybe we can hook up an tear up the Neatherlands.
Hey Finn,
Welcome; i have lived in germany for the past six years and for three of them i owned a softail standard and love it. But With all the great rallies in europe and fantastic roads i have here in the Eifel region i sometimes wish i had a Heritage or a Roadking. I think the Duece is a great bike but it is so much easier to load up a Heritage or a road king and head out for the weekend.
I will be leaving here in July but if you get your bike before then maybe we can hook up an tear up the Neatherlands.
But I want to know what those pipes of yours are. I was going through the tens of pages of Deuce pics on here, and saw couple of them with those curved pipes and I just got to have them
I checked HD's site and couldn't find those manufactured by HD.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Total newbie buying first HD
Hey Finn, they are V&H Big Radius. I've got em on my Fatboy. They sound awesome!A bit pricey, but I do recommend them.
Bubba
[IMG]local://upfiles/20575/FC99A099416540D3AA2A58882B5E67ED.jpg[/IMG]
Bubba
[IMG]local://upfiles/20575/FC99A099416540D3AA2A58882B5E67ED.jpg[/IMG]