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Why Harley?. I like my chrome over metal not plastic. I grew up on dirt bikes, then went to sport bikes, then tried metric cruisers, to include Goldwing and Concours. I have worked on all of them. I believe that the vast amount of upgrades and accessories, that are available, make the Harleys the most desirable. To me the ultra classic is more maneuverable than the gold wing. [lower center of gravity] I had a hell of a time backing the Goldwing up when I attempted to do it with out the reverse. I can back my ultra up no problem. My dad only wants a Goldwing so it is an individual choice. Don't even get me started when I had to replace the clutch on the 96 Goldwing. The carb rebuild involved removing half the bike and then still could barely access the area. I will work on the Harley any day.
Maybe I can help, I've owned all kinds of motorcycle in 50 year of riding so many I can't count. Before buying my first Ultra, I owned my second BMW, it was a K1200LT and I put 65,000 miles on that bike. It was a good motorcycle, but very high tech and complicated to work on. The whole bike was plastic including the chrome, it had a single sided swing arm with driveshaft. BMW had a lot of problems with this design. But the main problem that made me go Harley was Dealer service. BMW closed tons of stores because they want you to sell their bikes only. The closest dealer to me was 125 miles away, I live in MS and I don't think there is a dealer in this state now. If you break down on a trip you are screwed, if you do find a dealer, they will tell you to take a number and get back in a few weeks. Now since I went to Harley, I have never encountered the good service you get from there stores. Every dealer I've went to has been nice and bends over backwards to please. Once on a road trip stopped into a Dealer looking at Tee Shirts and I just mention to a guy that I needed to get my air checked in my tires. Next thing I know a guy ask for my Key Fob, took my bike in the shop checked the tires and brought it back out to us. Try that at one of the Jap or BMW dealers.
Ive got a reverse on my 04 Road King. One of the best modifications I did.
there are a number of reverse gear kits out there, just look on eBay. All but one mount on the side of the transmission. Yelvington has one that is the rear wheel pulley.
the trike reverse will not work on a bike because it uses an electric motor through the differential.
I hear ya, OP. I have two HD's. A 2003 RKC and a 2015 RGS. While the 2015 frame is light years ahead of my 2003 with a frame brace and ohlin's rear shocks, the 2015 is still subpar in suspension. The rear on the 2015 is actually okay to me, but the front is still a mushy mess. Tired of putting money into the HD's to make them up to speed.
If the MoCo doesn't have an updated frame and suspension by 2020 or 2021, I will likely be getting a BMW K1600 (B, GA, K) or BMW R1200RT. The suspension on these 25-30K bikes is atrocious. I don't want to leave HD, but I will have no qualms if a huge upgrade doesn't happen soon.
- Dad owns a Harley and has owned many. He also owned crotch rockets and a Gold Wing, but he always comes back to Harley.
- Not many friends who ride, but those who do ride Harleys.
- I like the classic look and rumble.
- HD dealer with robust selection 10 minutes away from my house
- Somewhat of an impulse buy lol. Was just gonna "look" and walked out with a Road Glide Ultra lol.
I'm thinking about a smaller second commuter bike. If I do go that route I'll expand my search to BMW, Ducati, KTM and Triumph, but I'll always own my big bad Harley.
For what it's worth, I left HD about 4 years ago. I had an '07 Ultra and wanted something different. More bells and whistles, etc. I got a 2013 Triumph Trophy Sport Touring. Great bike! Comfortable, not forward lean like other sport tourers, nicely equipped, and fast, OMG FAST! Two years later, I went to Sturgis at the end of a business trip and rented an Ultra. It didn't take long for me to realized how much I missed my Ultra. I ran the rental bike through all the twisties on Iron Mountain Road, then through the Badlands and Custer National Park. I was back in love with the feel of the Harley. I found a great deal on a used Ultra Limited and I am back in the HD saddle again and very happy that I am. Don't get me wrong, I really did like the Triumph, but just not my cup of tea.
Who says you can't have your tea, and drink it too?
Im back again.. traded in the 14 Ultra Classic I had for a K1600 GTL. 2 1/2 years, 10 western states, all over my home state of AZ, 44,000 mi later, still love it. I can / do most my own work. Bought my own scanner which helps a lot. Ive had my share of frustrations w/ it BUT it has always gotten me home. Can be stupid expensive to repair. But wow. the seductive 6 cylinder, incredible handling....
That being said... I did miss my Ultra Classic... a lot. The storage, the riding position, the look, the dealer network..
I looked and looked and looked some more at all the current touring platforms available. After a few demo rides, I was torn between a new Road Glide Ultra or a new GTL. I just could not justify a new ride at this point in my life.
In the end, here about 2 weeks ago, life smiled upon me and I added a beautiful 09 Ultra Classic. I am fortunate to own 2 beautiful bikes that could not be more different and I thoroughly enjoy both.
For me, I need to like the "look" and "feel" of a bike. I love my 14 Ultra. Few years back, I was riding an 02 Classic and my cousin had a newer Goldwing, He insisted I take it for a spin. When I got back, I wanted to kick my 02 over in the parking lot. I was about 43 at the time and in no way could see myself buying a goldwing. Guess in my mind, its a geezer bike....to each his own I guess. I like the nostalgia of the harley.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
