I bought my FXST used and the guy did lose a sh*tload on the sale. He gave me all of his paperwork (including the sales info for when he bought it in 03). He bought it for ~$18.5k, added ~$5k and 10k miles, and sold it to me for $14.9k.

I say buy a used Jap bike for a $3 to $6k, ride it and save some dough for a couple of years and then get your HD.

 

Was 48yo when I bought my first HD.......come to think of it I'm still 48...............damn..........just bought a used Softail last year.

Haven't owned anything else, so nothing to compare to. I get a great big smile on my face everytime I put on my leather to go riding.

Go buy a used Harley............won't lose money and you can always trade up later.

Dan

 

I was 28 (New 2003 1200 Sporty). It was all I could afford. Sold it and bought a 97 RK last May. You can only do what your finances allow, brother!

 

Buy what you can afford, ride safely, and ENJOY.

You can check around for the best price on a Sporty - some are very reasonable.

Bought my first bike in 1973 - a left-over Bonneville. Rode it until 3 weeks ago when I bought a Low Rider.

A long time coming, but worth the wait.

Sammi

 

I say look around and buy a used HD for sure.
I got my first one in 1990, I was 19 then and it was a '76 Sporty that looked great, but always broke down. The Evo and TC egines are such another world. You can find nice used mid 90's EVOS really cheap now, grab a cycle trader.

 

24 years old and bought a 79 FLH Shovel glide for $6000 in nice shape. Took out a small loan to get into the bike. Before you push the button on the Honda, where there's a will, there's a way. I saw a few Softail '02+ Standards with low miles are very reasonable prices/low miles (one was $7900) going on the cycletrader and E-bay. There are deals out there but you have to look and be prepared to jump on one immediately! Don't give up on your dream.

 

I got my first Harley last year when I was 35. I did own a Suzuki 450GS before that. Whatever gets you in the wind! You'll get there sooner or later. Waiting's a bitch, but sometimes needs to be done. My Night Train was well worth the 20+ year wait!

Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]

 

I hope you look hard at all the options out there. I just got my first Harley in Jan. 2006. I have had several Kawasaki's and they performed great and got me on two wheels. But I wish I could post the look on my face when I got on my brand new 2006 FLSTCI with tutone paint and the SE mufflers. The sound and feel is like nothing I had ever felt on 2 wheels. I don't know the difference in price but over the life of a loan how much is the difference. I just turned 44 and decided I was not going to get another Harley lookalike and wish I had a Harley. I pissed the wife off but I feel like I joined a family of friends that is awsome. The wife got over it quickly, So all is fine. I would look at low mile used before making the call on what you said you don't want a Honda over Harley. Good luck and ride safe no matter what you ride. Tom

 

46. (ok, 45 and 11 months).

 

I would make sure you truely cant afford an HD, and that brings up another great point. I would look at a Sportster 1200c before I bought the VTX. I just have a feeling in a years time your going to be selling the VTX, I could be wrong though. There is a member here with a Sportster I would own in a heart beat, it looks badass, im trying to find a pic now. Check out the prices at this place, this is as low as it gets, maybe give you a feel for actual pricing. Granted the VTX1300 will out perfrom a sportster, you need to decide what your buying the bike for, uncomfortable speed, or HD comfort and style (and resale).
www.hdcoosbay.com

Blackbirds 1200c is my favorite sportster on HDF heres his link, you cant tell me a VTX looks, rides, and resales like this bike.
http://community-2.webtv.net/@HH!07!A3!9709C6A4049F/RC135/XL1200C/


Oh and by the way, I was 25 when the HD bug bite me hard, my dad had just bought a Heritage Classic, and I wanted a FXSTI standard really bad, but it didnt happen, couldnt afford it PERIOD. A few years past and at 28 yoa I bought my dream bike, my SPRINGER FXSTSI. So we have all been there brother, do what ya gotta do. [sm=patriot.gif]