"A bit" was only my wording. I never run that low. 2800 to 3200 is where I cruise. I rarely use 6th gear.

 

 

I've had those two myself. I find the sporty nature of the Low Rider is what draws me to it. Would love to see a version with a serious suspension. They already have decent bits in the Dyna line. The Swithback has cartridge forks and full length shocks. I know its easily remedied in the aftermarket, but one can buy a hell of a lot of bike these days with $15k. Harley could do better than damping rod, two inch travel, bargain basement parts on its sportbike.

 

I've had a bunch of Japanese and most recently a couple higher end German bikes, a BMW R1200R and a S1000R - all great bikes. The S1000R in particular is a technological marvel, active suspension, traction control, stability control, wheelie control (which it damn well needed at 168hp!) amazing brakes and the fastest vehicle I've ever ridden. All with a motor that will last probably as long as a Harley (but it won't rebuild quite as easily)

However when I bought my first used Harley, a 2008 FXD, all that was meaningless. HD's just have something about them that makes up for the lack of techno whizz-bang stuff. My '15 Low Rider is more fun (In a different, less "hair on fire" way) then any other bike i've owned.

Granted the fork is the least favorable part of a LR, but it's worth the small expense to upgrade it. I'll be looking at Ohlins or other cartridges, but the racetech springs and emulators currently in it are pretty damn good. All for about $260 of parts...

 

I take your comment to mean you don't follow Harley's recommended speeds for shifting to the next gear? I think their recommended speeds are way too low personally but if you follow their guideline, you'll certainly be below 2000 RPMS. Maybe it was different before 2015...

 

It is my first HD also, no regrets.

 

1979 Kawasaki KE100 (got it in 1979)
1978 Maico 250 (got it NOS in 1981)
1982 Suzuki GS 300 (got it when I turned 16 in 1982)
1982 Yamaha Maxim 750 (purchased NOS 1985)
1991 Honda CBR600F2 (purchased new 1991)
1993 Honda CBR900RR (purchased NOS 1994)
1997 Honda CBR1100XX (purchased NOS 1998)
2003 Kawasaki ZZR1200 (purchased NOS 2006)
2011 Suzuki GSXR600 (purchased NOS 2012)
2015 HD Low Rider (purchased new 2015)

 

Wow those are some lists. Mine is much shorter as I got away from bikes for many years.


Yamaha 1973 DT3-250
Yamaha 1976 XS-360
Kawasaki 1978 650SR
Honda 1980 XR200R
Yamaha 1988 DT200R


Until I bought this bike 6 weeks ago I hadn't ridden a bike since 1989. I passed the 4,000 mile mark with it yesterday . It had 1,200 on it though when I bought it.

 

Nice bikes! I briefly talked to a sales person at Low Country Harley Davidson here in Charleston. He quoted me a price of $15,853 out the door - no surprises. This will be for a non optioned vivid black low rider. He said if they have any 2015 leftovers come January (NOS) they would knock off 400 -500.

 

I don't mind that Harleys don't make 160 hp. I think they are perfectly adequate and have a great visceral presence. And best of all, they have damn near perfect fueling. Almost unheard of in this day of fuel injection. I still like taking long rides and hitting the corners with some speed and a good suspension that offers a compliant ride yet doesn't get discombobulated when you toss it in a corner and has sufficient clearance to do it without tearing up the bike is high on my priority list. OTOH, I had a black and red one with some great sounding pipes roar past me yesterday. He made a left in front of me while I was at a light. It is a kewl friggin bike.