First Harley???
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 27
From: florida swamp
if you need to be talked into buying a harley, then just forget it and keep the road star.
IMO, owning a Harley is like owning a sports car or a fancy speed boat. It really has nothing to do with practicality, more to do with emotion and desire.
IMO, owning a Harley is like owning a sports car or a fancy speed boat. It really has nothing to do with practicality, more to do with emotion and desire.
Last edited by carpetride; Oct 1, 2009 at 09:51 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Southern MN
I owned a honda vtx and V-star 1100 but always wanted a harley finaly made the jump to a Electraglide. I would not go back. I have spent less money on upgrade parts for the harley than I ever did for the yamaha. I think the ride on the harley is great improvement over the yamaha or honda (Wife will not let me go back rear seat is very improved for her). Handling with the belt is better verses the shaft drive. Better gas milage with the harley around 45-47 on Freeway could only get 42 with the 1100. Changing oil on the harley is very easy compared to the honda or the yamaha. plus i like the fact that engine oil, primary oil, and Trans oil are all separate on the harley. Plus I will not even tell you how much money i lost selling the honda or the yamaha.
Nothing like the potato potato sound of the harley. Additude is everything
Nothing like the potato potato sound of the harley. Additude is everything
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
It's a gut thing. You won't know till you try it, but it's almost never a bad choice.
I rode metric bikes for a lot of years. I finally bought a Harley as a second bike & because I got a deal on it. It felt strange on the way home, but I soon got used to it. I alternated between it & a Yamaha I owned, & enjoyed both until one day my wife asked me to run an errand for her. I took the Yamaha, & as I turned out of the neighborhood on to the highway I passed a kid on a ratty old Sportster. I had a sudden urge to prove to that kid that I too had a Harley!?! That was when I knew!
I've since had several other brands of motorcycle & enjoyed all of them, but there's always been a Harley in the stable that I could hop on when I needed. You won't know till you've experienced it, but for most owning a Harley redefines how you see motorcycling.
I rode metric bikes for a lot of years. I finally bought a Harley as a second bike & because I got a deal on it. It felt strange on the way home, but I soon got used to it. I alternated between it & a Yamaha I owned, & enjoyed both until one day my wife asked me to run an errand for her. I took the Yamaha, & as I turned out of the neighborhood on to the highway I passed a kid on a ratty old Sportster. I had a sudden urge to prove to that kid that I too had a Harley!?! That was when I knew!
I've since had several other brands of motorcycle & enjoyed all of them, but there's always been a Harley in the stable that I could hop on when I needed. You won't know till you've experienced it, but for most owning a Harley redefines how you see motorcycling.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
LOL @ the replies.... I rode a roadstar for 5 years... It was a great bike. My glide is a better overall package. The only thing I miss about the Roadstar is the power right off idle.
If you could wrench on the RoadStar you can wrench on the harley. You don't have to take it to the dealer for all your service. A good deal of it can be done yourself.
From what I just looked up the new RoadStar Siverado's (as that is what you are really comparing to a road king) are selling for 12-13k. That is about a grand below MSRP. The Road King on the other hand is 17k MSRP in black. So your difference is more like about 4k.
Now with the HD you have the same big noisy air cooled V-Twin. Better brakes, better handling, better dealer network in terms of getting you on the road if you break down on a trip, better aftermarket parts and accesories, more options to build the motor and better resale.
You have to answer to yourself if it is worth the addtional 4k.. To me the RoadStar is about done with it's life cycle. As soon as that happens the aftermarket parts drop off as well as the value.
If you could wrench on the RoadStar you can wrench on the harley. You don't have to take it to the dealer for all your service. A good deal of it can be done yourself.
From what I just looked up the new RoadStar Siverado's (as that is what you are really comparing to a road king) are selling for 12-13k. That is about a grand below MSRP. The Road King on the other hand is 17k MSRP in black. So your difference is more like about 4k.
Now with the HD you have the same big noisy air cooled V-Twin. Better brakes, better handling, better dealer network in terms of getting you on the road if you break down on a trip, better aftermarket parts and accesories, more options to build the motor and better resale.
You have to answer to yourself if it is worth the addtional 4k.. To me the RoadStar is about done with it's life cycle. As soon as that happens the aftermarket parts drop off as well as the value.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
from what i've seen, the maintenance schedule is better on the hd than on similar metrics. and it is so easy to do yourself that its almost a crime to take it into the shop.
you're not having buyer's remorse, since you haven't bought it yet. what you are having is a case of 'should i spend the money?' once you do, and get a good ride in, you won't be thinking that anymore. you'll be cussing yourself for waiting for so long....
you're not having buyer's remorse, since you haven't bought it yet. what you are having is a case of 'should i spend the money?' once you do, and get a good ride in, you won't be thinking that anymore. you'll be cussing yourself for waiting for so long....