Hey Roger

I wasn't intending on picking up the bike today because of prior commitments, but one by one, those fell apart, and at 1:50pm, just ten minutes before bank closing time, I decided to go get it. Riding impressions:
1. Super smooth clutch
2. Very quiet exhaust
3. Proximity alarm is a great feature
4. Small windshield almost useless at 50mph+
5. Tons of power
6. Great throttle response
7. Handling is very taut (perhaps a little too firm, but I noticed AFTER my ride that the HD techs had put 33 psi in the rear air shocks - that's just plain incompetent bullsh!t if you ask me)
8. Riding position not too bad, but very firm seat


Click here for the images on cvoharley.com
http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=17262.0

By the way, the paint is very rich. I am fairly choosy and there are some color schemes that simply do not work for me, but I have had four people in the first 3 hours of ownership tell me that it looks "beautiful". That's a strong statement.

 

Enjoy the bike quint, you two have to get to know eachother for a while before you make any judgements and that's the truth. Read some of the comments that I have made about the SERK, and I hope they help. Break her in right and get a windshield! What's another three hundred bucks? The full sized windshield will make a big difference.

Don't even think about the heating problem with your 110. Mine never came close to overheating so that problem was solved. No gasket leaks either at 3900 mi.

It's a fantastic bike and "beautiful" is almost an understatement....

 

08CVORK

I agree with your comments completely. I went for a 50 mile ride around the lake yesterday and thought, "hmmm, some getting used to here". Today I went on a 150 mile ride around the lake and came back grinning. The bike is fast,comfortable, super smooth and it handles great. I managed to scrape the floorboards a couple of times, but then again, I was well ahead of the pack at the time. This bike does 80 - 85 mph so easily, but my face does it a little less easily with the shorty windshield. May as well call it the bug deflector - deflects 'em straight into my face.

I'm going to look up all your posts to see what you've written. By the way, which windshield did you buy? Was it a standard Road King one?

One final comment: this bike draws attention from other Harley owners. So far, in the less than 24 hours I've owned it, I've had over a dozen "beautiful bike" comments. It's not that I live for the adulation of others, but this bike really draws attention. Be prepared for a lot of side-of-the-road conversations.

 

Congrats on the bike, but why would 33 lbs in the shocks be incompetent, those bikes have the short rear shocks and 33 is just about right for single rider. Those shocks max out at 50lb. not the 35 the standard version does like on a ultra or classic.

 

Gunrunner, thanks for the well wishes. It's a great bike.

In terms of the air pressure, you're probably right.In the FLHRSE4 manual, it says0 - 10 psi for a single rider, with a passenger it's 20 - 30 psi, and with a max GVWR it's 40 - 50 psi. I just thought that most people picking up a bike from the dealer are going to be riding solo - they probably set it up for someone who might be taking a passenger and some gear. My bad. But it did feel as stiff as a board riding it solo.

 

I usually ride with about 8 - 10 lbs in the shocks and even with my wife aboard, that's plenty. Rarely do we get into a situation of a bottom out. 33 lbs in the shocks would be almost a rigid rear! My wife has her own bike and when I ask her if she wants to ride with me, I'm usually shaking my head 'no' to discourage her, but that doesn't work and she climbs on. We are enjoying this bike!

The standard windshield was fine for me - 6'1" but I like to look just over the top. I bought a set of aux. lights and it would probably benefit by them, but I cannot bring myself to install them on the bike! I like it too well just as it is...The only real addition that I have made is the digital dipstick with oil check and temperature and I replaced the zinc plated bolts with SS and some chrome. And I installed the attachment for the tour pack, which is a very good addition to the bike for carrying something like a laptop which will not fit into the bags.

The bike does so well. I haven't had a need to rev it up through the gears to find some power - it's just there. The low end torque with it is great and starting at about 2500rpms the engine will pull a-plenty. The engine is set up as a lugger so doesn't need to be reved like an 88.

 

Thanks Quint, I really appreciate the pics. Enjoy that bike. The $2300 seem high for the pipes. You can buy them online for under 1k. How much do they want to install and dyno ? I think I'm going with the
Vance & Hines dressers with the ovals and the sert.

 

Quint and RottenRoger,

When we bought this SERK the dealer recommended that we purchase a 'gift card' in the amount of $3500 to cover any additions that we may want to do to the bike. The first thing they did was recommend the Rinehart true dual exhaust and the necessary dyno tune to make the bike "come alive" at $975 for the pipes, $150 to install and $400 for the tune. The stock mufflers are still on the bike but we tried to do the exhaust change, following their suggestion. They claimed that the TDs would not fit the '08 SERK because of the brake pedal....(Bub says different). That dealer is returning the remainder of the 'gift card' and we still visit the them but not for service work or recommendations. Point is; shop around among dealers 'cause some are having problems and attempt to solve their problem using different tactics. Some give discounts to make business, some just screw their customers! Sad but true - they panic!

Anyhow, we are throughly enjoying this motorcycle! The bike has an ora as if it knows how the road is going to be controlled and as 'King' is does just that! Best bike we've ever owned. A few noises are part of it so we take them to a HD dealer to worry about. This bike stock is just fine. Enjoy your machine!!!

 

RottenRoger

The known costs which make up the $2,300 are:
- MSRP for Rinehart TD's = $900
- SERT = $450
- Five hours of dyno time = $450
- Three hours install = $270

We're already over $2,000 and I think the $2,300 is a standard bike quote, which would also add in a hi flow air filter, like the Screamin Eagle. You know, the more I read on these forums, the more I believe that creating the right map for the SERT will have a huge impact in terms of:
- Performance
- Mileage
- Cool running

AND... at least I'll have the piece of paper that says 90 Hp and 115 lb ft (or such). I'll let you know what I end up doing.

 

Q....you might consider or give a call to John at Clearview Shields...they can make you a windshield to fit the bracketry on the SERK which will be a bit cheaper than buying the whole shooting match. Clearview shields are great products...the recurve makes a HUGE difference, making the shield effectively 2 inches taller. John can help you determine the proper heightshield to order. It is a high quality product, much thicker than the HD stuff. Everyone I know who's tried one loves it.... a person should really never look through a windshield on a bike IMO, but just over the top, making the shield about nose high or less when sitting in riding position. I have one on my SEUC and wouldn't have any other shield from this point forward.

WindVest is another excellent product.