Hello From Central Florida
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Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 73
Likes: 17
Hello From Central Florida
Hello,
New member here. The plan was to learn to ride but it took me until age 55 to start.
Here's the basics:
-Took the Rider Course at Crystal Harley in Crystal River FL in July of 2022.
-Bought a 2002 Rebel 250... That bike lasted less than a week.
-Bought a 2002 Shadow 600 VLX - (It's kinda like a mini Softail.) with kinda sorta forward controls.
-Been riding that practically daily and except for one flat front tire close to home, have racked up
around 8000 trouble free miles.
The bike has faithfully served its purpose.
I am now tired of that bike. What started out feeling sorta big and kinda fast now feels small and super slow.
Soooooo - I feel it's now time for my Harley. I feel I'm ready.
That being said, I am on the small side - 5'6"-ish, 170 lbs with about a 27"-28" inseam.
I was able to easily flat foot the Shadow as the L in VLX means Low. And it's narrow.
-I have started my bike shopping locally.
-So far I have ridden a 2007 Superglide with the 96" and mids and felt comfortable in being able to handle it.
-Same day I rode a 2018 Street Bob with the 107" also with mids and that one felt more of a handful,
but I think I could get used to either.
I'm not interested in Full Dressers or Tourers, or Sportsters.
I've always liked the smaller Dynas like the Super Glides and Low Riders but I also like the Heritage Classics.
My budget is 5k or under, but I may go more for the right bike.
I'm drawn to the stocker the bike the better, but I guess most people are the same.
All this being said, I find the older Heritages have less available to them, or so it seems.
I found an '02 locally with 16k miles asking $4,500 for example. Opened a few online catalogs
and not as many parts I'd like will fit for that year as they do others.
But I don't own that one yet anyway, so the one I do find might have more parts avail...
Anyway, wanted to say hello and of course I am open to all friendly advice...
Steven Dean
New member here. The plan was to learn to ride but it took me until age 55 to start.
Here's the basics:
-Took the Rider Course at Crystal Harley in Crystal River FL in July of 2022.
-Bought a 2002 Rebel 250... That bike lasted less than a week.
-Bought a 2002 Shadow 600 VLX - (It's kinda like a mini Softail.) with kinda sorta forward controls.
-Been riding that practically daily and except for one flat front tire close to home, have racked up
around 8000 trouble free miles.
The bike has faithfully served its purpose.
I am now tired of that bike. What started out feeling sorta big and kinda fast now feels small and super slow.
Soooooo - I feel it's now time for my Harley. I feel I'm ready.
That being said, I am on the small side - 5'6"-ish, 170 lbs with about a 27"-28" inseam.
I was able to easily flat foot the Shadow as the L in VLX means Low. And it's narrow.
-I have started my bike shopping locally.
-So far I have ridden a 2007 Superglide with the 96" and mids and felt comfortable in being able to handle it.
-Same day I rode a 2018 Street Bob with the 107" also with mids and that one felt more of a handful,
but I think I could get used to either.
I'm not interested in Full Dressers or Tourers, or Sportsters.
I've always liked the smaller Dynas like the Super Glides and Low Riders but I also like the Heritage Classics.
My budget is 5k or under, but I may go more for the right bike.
I'm drawn to the stocker the bike the better, but I guess most people are the same.
All this being said, I find the older Heritages have less available to them, or so it seems.
I found an '02 locally with 16k miles asking $4,500 for example. Opened a few online catalogs
and not as many parts I'd like will fit for that year as they do others.
But I don't own that one yet anyway, so the one I do find might have more parts avail...
Anyway, wanted to say hello and of course I am open to all friendly advice...
Steven Dean
Last edited by sjd7767; Dec 1, 2024 at 10:20 PM.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 73
Likes: 17
Hello,
I will add my usual riding style and habits.
The climate I live in affords me near round riding days.
That being said:
I work approx 3.8 miles each way to work so I don't put too many
miles on the bike each month.
When I road trip I take 4 wheels because my girl usually comes with
and doesn't care for riding,
which is just as well because the few times she's gone it didn't go well.
Let's just say she hated it.
So I'll be riding solo and pretty much around town.
Once I have a bike that can keep up I'll join up with some friends.
All in all I'll probably mostly be in the "bar hopper" category.
Thanks again,
Steven Dean
I will add my usual riding style and habits.
The climate I live in affords me near round riding days.
That being said:
I work approx 3.8 miles each way to work so I don't put too many
miles on the bike each month.
When I road trip I take 4 wheels because my girl usually comes with
and doesn't care for riding,
which is just as well because the few times she's gone it didn't go well.
Let's just say she hated it.
So I'll be riding solo and pretty much around town.
Once I have a bike that can keep up I'll join up with some friends.
All in all I'll probably mostly be in the "bar hopper" category.
Thanks again,
Steven Dean
Last edited by sjd7767; Dec 2, 2024 at 12:35 AM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,784
Likes: 1,437
From: Sydney Australia
Welcome from Sydney Australia.
Best thing is to ride as many as you can (within your budget) and see what takes your fancy. Anyone can make a recommendation but only you know what feels good or not for you.
Best thing is to ride as many as you can (within your budget) and see what takes your fancy. Anyone can make a recommendation but only you know what feels good or not for you.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,593
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
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