I went from a 06 Ultra to a 13 Limited and couldn't be more tickled than I am. The 14s are nice but I couldn't justify the extra coin over the 13.

 

It's just you.

Not interested in ANY new vehicle. I only buy lo mile used, and I love my '07; will never trade it.
If I DO buy another bike, it will be a pre-11 Deluxe or NightTrain. Too many things I don't like about the new RK--TBW, bars & seat are fugly, and WAY overpriced. No thanks.

 

I love my 2003 FLHTCUI. Many of the things I like about it are missing or diminished on the 2014s. I love chrome saddlebag guards, lid guards, large Tour Pack lights, massive directionals, light bars, fender guards. I hate the fairing vent, and I don't like the huge Tour Pack, on the 2014s. Makes the bike look like a Gold Wing.
I hope they go retro in a few years, but I won't hold my breath.

 

Plan on sticking with my 09SG, it's not finished with me yet.

 

The higher mileage bikes being traded may make sense, but, when guys have under 10K and trade em in it may be a case of keeping up with the jones.
It seems like not all, but a fair share come on the forum and work real hard to justify their "new" purchase. That may be a tell tale.

 

Pretty much. I couldn't IMAGINE trading my 2013 Anniversary Edition for another run of the mill '14. And not even because of the issues with the clutch, boiling over, display, ect... I'm truly happy with my bike. So I am keeping it..... for a long time!

Besides, if I ever get the desire to ride something with a little more power, that maybe handles a little better, I will ride my Sportster.


.

 

I felt the need to trade and went with an '11 because it made financial sense. The only reasonably priced '14 was in black and something really grates on me when they charge so much extra just to have another stock color (just my pet peeve).
From a forum point of view, I wonder if all the additional '14 posting traffic is normal for a new model year and figure it's partly because of the issues people have had and partly because of the drastic changes in features. But, I'm pretty new to HDF, so it's just my rookie impression.
I do have to admit that my interest in the '14s got me into the dealership and caused the whole damn problem!

 

To me, the whole deal is that it's all about me, the bike, and the road. When I consider getting another bike...rare tho it may be...I ponder how the new bike will enhance that basic relationship. Plain and simple.

Having a vent in the fairing will not enhance my experience. Easier access to storage, although convenient, will not enhance that experience. Having state of the art CERTAINLY will not enhance that experience, and may detract from it. So, the new 2014's really don't appeal to me in that I would have to go into debt to own one.

What DOES enhance the experience are things that increase reliability, improve handling, set me lower into the bike, because the whole thing really hasn't changed for me since the early days of the late sixties. Hell, turn signals don't enhance the experience for me, we didn't have them then.

Going to my current bike absolutely increased our pleasure. It's a 2006 FLXH, more in line with our motorcycling needs. The only things that have occurred in the Harley world since that time that would improve things are the hydraulic cam tensioning system and oil pump that would improve engine reliability and the new frame that reduces squirm and improves handling. I can modify my current machine to incorporate those for a WHOLE lot less than going into debt for a new one. The six-speed tranny? To me, not that big of a deal. I travel at 65-70 MPH, a little less than 3,000, that's the RPM that I expect the bike to be at, not being a twinky newby, not worth the price tag to me. Would be nice to have a tour pack...easily added, again, far cheaper than a new bike. Yes, it would be nice to have that lump sum of disposable cash to be able to handle those all at once, but I don't, in the meantime, we're enjoying that motorcycle...no need for a newer one.

Now, back in the early to mid eighties, the MoCo came out with a total game changer, going from a leaky, undependable shovelhead engine to what was, in my opinion, the very finest engine they've ever built...the Evolution. THAT would have been worth upgrading for! Since then, they took a step backward with the current Twinky engine...considering the additional cam follower problems, they did finally improve on that, but it's not completely cured yet...the only cure is gear drive, and they can't do that for several reasons, ie governmental restrictions. For me, a good reliable Evo dresser would do just as fine a job as my current ride, but it just worked out that I got my 2006 SG, it'll do. When it's time, I'll do the work on it to improve my experience, won't need a new bike to do it. No need to keep up with Johnny Skull Face Mask here!!!!

 

What tire is that on your bike? I am looking for a 21" wheel and tire combo but the 21" WWW selection in non existent...

 

Its a Vee Rubber 120/70-21 on a DNA Mammoth Spoke. There are no quality tire options in that size. I bought the whole package, wheel, tire, rotors, mounted and balanced on ebay for about $900 delivered.