Have had a number of Zukis and loved them all- 800 Marauder, 800 INtruder and 1400 INtruder- honestly they all shifted better than my sporty does and they all looked great when I customized them. Never had any mechanical troubles with them. Sold each of them for more than I paid so did ok that way too. Bought my sporty with less than 2000 miles on her- saw sales receipt- owner paid 2 times what I bought her for- good resale value- I don't think so........ My sporty handles well, has enough accessories etc. and I do enjoy riding it on the twisty roads.I find theHarley "family"to be so much bunk. At my dealers there are over 600 members but only about 100 show up for the monthly meeting.and they are all very clickish- no one makes any effort to meet new members etc. I just enjoy riidng but not all the money HD seems to expect riders to put out to participate in their events. When i have taken my bike in for service they constantly attemp to get me to buy a new bike because my 2000 is "Old". and when I had my 1980 shovel theywouldn't even work on it at all.My next bike will be a Victory.

 

I just got a 2006 883 and I really like the bike but, I doesn't run properly and also doesn't get as good gas mileage as claimed. The attitude at the dealer is I need to get pipes upgrades etc. so it will run properly. My position is that the bike should work properly as delivered. There is no reason anything made today shouldn't operate properly and I am disapointed that Harley a mainstay of made in america doesn't accept responsibility and produce a bike that works without blaming the EPA. Like I said I like my 883 but be prepaired to have to spend more money (lots at the dealer) to get the bike to work right.

Ed

 

Just a quick note I'm 41 and was at the stop light the other day when this sweet little car pulled up and two very nice looking girls were checking out my scoot I felt like I was 21 again for all of 15 sec. Can't remember the last time someone on a suzuki told me that. Just my thoughts!

 

We started on Hondas. My wife always had this little voice go off in her head" Buy Harley, Buy Harley". After nearly 3 years on her Shadow, one day we cruised over to our favorite H-D dealer, Smoky Mountain, and wound up buying a used '04 1200 Custom with Stage 1 already done, plus a ton of chrome already on the bike. i was not interested in H-D then, the first time I rode hers, I can remember how much of a vibrator it was.Eventually, I came around to the idea of getting one. We found a used '05 883 C with 181 miles on it at the dealer. all I had to do was test ride it and I was hooked. From then on my Honda was nothing. You can buy a metric, butyou'll probably wind up with a Harley in the end. I think buying a used Sportster is a good idea.

 

You get what you pay for. My OL had a suzi for a training wheels bike. The engine fell apart every 15K miles regular as the 'after' in a laxitive commercial. Also, it had slightly less personality than an electric coffee pot.

Go test ride a Harley. If it seems to be a bit too much for you, go ride one of the new Triumph twins. Even if you get a Triumph, you will probably end up with a Harley when you feel you are ready.

 

I like Suzukis, in fact I still own one but I wouldn't buy one of thier cruisers.They just don't seem to get it style wise thier cruisers are FUGLY. I would however consider an SV650 standard or it's in the same price range as the Sportster and the mid sized Suzuki cruisers and is a hell of allot more fun to ride.