Here is a thought...
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 7
Here is a thought...
Are you considering a new bike? Just some advice for you. No flaming please...
Sit down at your computer and peruse Google images for the color you like. Find a combination that you love. Not just a whim, but one that gives you that tingling feeling. Imagine it in your garage. How proud will you be when you are riding this new steed? It might be a brand new one, or a 10 year old sled.
Now that you have a color that does it for you, consider the engine. Is it one that can be easily upgraded? An 88 goes to a 95 pretty easily. A 96 goes to a 103 for a little change. Then there are the extremes. 98's and 107's. Is that going to be enough to satisfy you?
Now think about the tranny. You want 5 gears or 6? If you don't frequent the slab much, 6 gears might be useless. I've been happy with 5 my whole life. I can count the number of times I longed for another gear on both hands.
How about that rear tire? Does it have to be a wide one? Or is a 150 enough? Remember, if you have to buy a rear tire every year, the 150 is gonna be cheaper than the 180.
How many gallons of fuel must one have? Is 5 enough? Or must you have 6? I find that I like to stop and rest a few minutes every couple of hours so 5 is enough for me. I wouldn't mind if I had 6 though.
Accessories! What kind of goodies has the previous owner added to this bike of your dreams? Are they to your liking? Or are you going to have to start over? Or maybe it's a new scoot that's a blank slate. I see $$$ in your future.
So there you have it. Don't buy a bike that just flashes your fancy today. Educate yourself on what you REALLY want. Buy a bike you can be excited to ride every time you throw a leg over it. Weigh the costs and features that you like vs the ones you can't live without.
That concludes your public service message for Sunday November 24th 2013.
Good day....
Sit down at your computer and peruse Google images for the color you like. Find a combination that you love. Not just a whim, but one that gives you that tingling feeling. Imagine it in your garage. How proud will you be when you are riding this new steed? It might be a brand new one, or a 10 year old sled.
Now that you have a color that does it for you, consider the engine. Is it one that can be easily upgraded? An 88 goes to a 95 pretty easily. A 96 goes to a 103 for a little change. Then there are the extremes. 98's and 107's. Is that going to be enough to satisfy you?
Now think about the tranny. You want 5 gears or 6? If you don't frequent the slab much, 6 gears might be useless. I've been happy with 5 my whole life. I can count the number of times I longed for another gear on both hands.
How about that rear tire? Does it have to be a wide one? Or is a 150 enough? Remember, if you have to buy a rear tire every year, the 150 is gonna be cheaper than the 180.
How many gallons of fuel must one have? Is 5 enough? Or must you have 6? I find that I like to stop and rest a few minutes every couple of hours so 5 is enough for me. I wouldn't mind if I had 6 though.
Accessories! What kind of goodies has the previous owner added to this bike of your dreams? Are they to your liking? Or are you going to have to start over? Or maybe it's a new scoot that's a blank slate. I see $$$ in your future.
So there you have it. Don't buy a bike that just flashes your fancy today. Educate yourself on what you REALLY want. Buy a bike you can be excited to ride every time you throw a leg over it. Weigh the costs and features that you like vs the ones you can't live without.
That concludes your public service message for Sunday November 24th 2013.
Good day....
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Are you considering a new bike? Just some advice for you. No flaming please...
1. Sit down at your computer and peruse Google images for the color you like. Find a combination that you love. Not just a whim, but one that gives you that tingling feeling. Imagine it in your garage. How proud will you be when you are riding this new steed? It might be a brand new one, or a 10 year old sled.
2. Now that you have a color that does it for you, consider the engine. Is it one that can be easily upgraded? An 88 goes to a 95 pretty easily. A 96 goes to a 103 for a little change. Then there are the extremes. 98's and 107's. Is that going to be enough to satisfy you?
3. Now think about the tranny. You want 5 gears or 6? If you don't frequent the slab much, 6 gears might be useless. I've been happy with 5 my whole life. I can count the number of times I longed for another gear on both hands.
4. How about that rear tire? Does it have to be a wide one? Or is a 150 enough? Remember, if you have to buy a rear tire every year, the 150 is gonna be cheaper than the 180.
5. How many gallons of fuel must one have? Is 5 enough? Or must you have 6? I find that I like to stop and rest a few minutes every couple of hours so 5 is enough for me. I wouldn't mind if I had 6 though.
6. Accessories! What kind of goodies has the previous owner added to this bike of your dreams? Are they to your liking? Or are you going to have to start over? Or maybe it's a new scoot that's a blank slate. I see $$$ in your future.
7. So there you have it. Don't buy a bike that just flashes your fancy today. Educate yourself on what you REALLY want. Buy a bike you can be excited to ride every time you throw a leg over it. Weigh the costs and features that you like vs the ones you can't live without.
That concludes your public service message for Sunday November 24th 2013.
Good day....
1. Sit down at your computer and peruse Google images for the color you like. Find a combination that you love. Not just a whim, but one that gives you that tingling feeling. Imagine it in your garage. How proud will you be when you are riding this new steed? It might be a brand new one, or a 10 year old sled.
2. Now that you have a color that does it for you, consider the engine. Is it one that can be easily upgraded? An 88 goes to a 95 pretty easily. A 96 goes to a 103 for a little change. Then there are the extremes. 98's and 107's. Is that going to be enough to satisfy you?
3. Now think about the tranny. You want 5 gears or 6? If you don't frequent the slab much, 6 gears might be useless. I've been happy with 5 my whole life. I can count the number of times I longed for another gear on both hands.
4. How about that rear tire? Does it have to be a wide one? Or is a 150 enough? Remember, if you have to buy a rear tire every year, the 150 is gonna be cheaper than the 180.
5. How many gallons of fuel must one have? Is 5 enough? Or must you have 6? I find that I like to stop and rest a few minutes every couple of hours so 5 is enough for me. I wouldn't mind if I had 6 though.
6. Accessories! What kind of goodies has the previous owner added to this bike of your dreams? Are they to your liking? Or are you going to have to start over? Or maybe it's a new scoot that's a blank slate. I see $$$ in your future.
7. So there you have it. Don't buy a bike that just flashes your fancy today. Educate yourself on what you REALLY want. Buy a bike you can be excited to ride every time you throw a leg over it. Weigh the costs and features that you like vs the ones you can't live without.
That concludes your public service message for Sunday November 24th 2013.
Good day....
1. I bought my Glide new, an Electra Glide in Blue. Colour was OK, but I have just repainted it to a more pleasing (to me!) pale blue.
2. I've done stage 1, enlarged the original engine and subsequently replaced it with an aftermarket 107".
3. Five is fine, although I have altered overall gearing.
4. I've been through stock MT, 140, 150 and now a 160. 180 or bigger is just so gross!
5. Part of my repaint included adding a 'new' 6 gallon tank (actually about 6.25 gallons).
6. I haven't had to bother with what mine came with!
7. Thanks for listening!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Since I only buy used and cheap, I get the basic model/build I want, and change the rest to suit me. Couldn't even get everything the way I'd want it if I bought a new one anyway. Bad thing about Harleys - lot of things I'd feel a need to change on them. Good thing about Harleys - I can get about anything I'd want to change on them. If I had 30 grand to spend on a Harley, it wouldn't be new - it'd be a 5 or 6K used one, and 15-20K for the S&S engine, goodies from Baker transmission, aftermarket suspension, a bunch of other upgraded parts... and no chinese bearings, anywhere. And still have a year or three operating cash left over. But... that 30K is going to stay in the retirement account; life happens and that pension wasn't near as large as expected.
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