Some friends and I went to a benifit Saturday at the local Indian dealer . There was a line to test ride the new Challenger. We all waited in line to ride it . All i can say it was impressive very strong motor dont think Harley has anything that can touch it right now. Im not a bagger guy but if i was the Challenger would be at the top of the list .

 

Bring back the Dyna line!!

 

Harley Dyna Street Bob 103 was popular with the first time Harley buyers in my area.
Particularly with Marines and Sailors that did not want a Sport Bike.
Love my Wide Glide. See many younger riders on Low Riders as well.
Not the first time Harley stopped production of a bike that was selling and cost less to make.

 

Well the 80s were great for motorcycle sales and then fell off drastically in the 90s. The early 2000s saw a resurgence, and then post '08 it tanked again. I believe that it's a matter of being ready to go when then next big wave hits the market.

I rode a new Softail Slim last summer and was thoroughly impressed. Being a taller guy I always fit better on baggers and Dynas but the new 2018+ chassis is a lot roomier. It would make a killer FXRT like the one off posted above shows.

I have tried to like the new Indians and I'm happy for their success on the race track but man they ain't as good looking as a Harley.

 

I have been seriously looking at a Yamaha Vmax for my next motorcycle. That thing hasn't changed much since 2009, including the MSRP of $17,999 yet is nearly unmatched in cruiser power 200HP/100lb-ft tq..stock. Now that I live back in hot flat Florida I am looking for water cooled fun. I guess I'm going through my 2nd childhood looking at a motorcycle like this.

Sadly nothing in HD's line up does anything for me better than my FLSS at the prices they want. The Vmax does. I am looking a Ducati Diavel and the new rocket III but the Yamaha is considered very reliable and the lack of Ducati & Triumph dealers is a concern. Heck at the rate Harley is going their dealer network numbers will be down too.

 

Honest question: what is it about the FXRT? I hear on these forums and elsewhere that it was the best frame HD ever made. I've only ridden one HD (my 2019 Low Rider) so I really don't have anything to compare it to.

 

At the time of it's release it was the best handling HD made. Since then there have been many improvements and to ride one now is "nostalgic". I think the memory is better than reality but that said, to make a new version that had the same design principles - lighter weight sport tourer, would be a good seller. Especially if they used a fairing that looked like the old FXRT fairing.

 

They are coming out with a new sporty with a 117 engine and a six speed one up five down.

 

Can't speak to the old one. However, on the Sport Glide, I think many, including myself, were wanting a fixed fairing Softail. Kind of a Softail Road Glide. Something lighter than a touring bike, with great wind/weather protection, possibly a stereo in the fairing, with good bags (preferably top loading, and not the vinyl wrapped cardboard crappy bags with the locking mechanism protrusion of the new Heritage), higher seat, dual disk brakes, 32+ degrees of lean angle and mid mount pegs or floorboards. A true touring Softail if you will.

Not that the Sport Glide is a bad bike, but it missed the mark on this. Sport Glide is closer to a Softail version of the Dyna Switchback with a mini batwing fairing and forward foot controls. I ride a Switchback and prefer it's floorboards to the Sport Glide's forward controls, and the Switchback bags are top loading.

What gets me is if you put pieces of all the existing Softail models together, HD would have a great bike. Instead, all them miss the mark for me one way or another. What is with the sub 4 gallon tanks on some models? I'd seriously consider a "tourized" Fat Bob, but the 3.6 gallon tank kills any desire for this bike for me. Why is lean angle compromised more so on some models? In reality, it seems like HD moved floorboards and foot pegs further out instead of a slightly higher frame to allow more lean angle....really?...on a brand new frame? Why don't all the Softails have the Heritage / Fat Bob rear shock with 4.5" of travel? As mentioned, I was very impressed with the Heritage suspension. Why not have that on all the bikes?

I've been giving thought to a new bike lately. I've always been a fan of the Road King, but it has inferior suspension to the Indian's and it's 100lbs heavier than my bike. Nothing else in the HD lineup remotely interests me (aside from the Pan American, which doesn't exist yet). $20k is a hard pill to swallow knowing that there are choices out there that do "it" better. I also keep hearing rumors of a mono shock touring frame. I'd kick myself royally if I bought a Road King, only to find the following year they revised the frame.

The Indian Challenger really has my interest (but too expensive for me and accessories are stupid expensive), as does a 2020 Suzuki VStrom 1050. Fully loaded VStrom 1050 XT Adventure is $17k and comes with SW Moto top loading aluminum bags, aux lights, heated grips, electronic traction control and cruise control. Great value, and as a former SV650 and SV1000 owner, I love their liquid cooled v-twin. I've test ridden the Heritage 114, and while very impressed with the suspension, engine and general handling, the crappy bags, tubed tires, floor board ergos and overall buzzyness left me unimpressed with the bike as a whole.

For now, I'm keeping my Switchback, but may add the VStrom, or similar to the stable. Sad, I'd rather buy a Harley Davidson, but they currently don't make anything that makes me scream "OMG, I want that!".

 

The 117 in a Sporty would be something to slobber about. The 1 up, 5 down tranny might take some getting used to though.