New member, first post.

I don't own an HD yet. I've had plenty of other streetbikes, my last being an 07 Aprilia Tuono.

Here's where the questions start:

1. I hear HD reliability is much improved, that images of broken down on the side of the road are outdated. The question is: about what year and UP are totally reliable? I want to add gas, change oil and forget about it (maintence-wise).
2. I am more attracted to a fatter front tire, like a Fat Bob or a cross bones. Is there a performance difference from Fat to skinny front tire? Is there a handling difference?
3. Here's an important one: Should a person buy a bike based on what they would like as an individual/solo rider, or based on what thier buddies ride? My buddies all ride HD's. They say I should get one, or I won't have anyone to ride with. If I was buying strictly for myself, I'd probably get a sport-touring bike, like a FJR1300. But clearly I wouldn't go ride that with my buddies on thier HD's, so I'm a bit conflicted. I can see enjoying the HD-style of riding...slow, low, cruisin', etc... But I also want to go blast 4-5k miles in 10 day (1x/yr), and then go do 1000mi weekends ~1x/mo.
4. Whats the poop on the XR1200's? Those look really appealing to me, although it's a bit of departure from the Sportsters, Dyna's, and Softtails. While extremely cool to me, they don't seem that popular. I have a big HD dealer near me (Pig Trail HD, Rogers, AR) but they don't have one in stock.
5. Other than rear shocks showing or not, i can't tell the difference between a Dyna and a Softtail...??
6. What's up with the clutch-pull on HD's? On test rides, and in the showroom floor, the lever feel is pretty bad. It's usually very stiff, and only about 1/2 of the lever throw is actual usable engagement/disengagement.
7. Here's a BIGGIE - every bike on the showroom floor has a mile-long set of dealer-installed accessories. The main thing is usually performance-related. A chip, or a tune-up kit is the norm. Always about $1,000 worth. This begs the question: how do the modern HD's run bone-stock?? I've "heard" that basically you don't want to ride one bone stock, you want it tuned up - which is what my dealer appears to do to every bike on the floor...seriously... Whats the scoop here? Do the bikes make the published power figures bone stock? I never hear/see what they make after tuning.
8. What is trade-in value like? It seems HD's are very expensive (for very old technology - 1930's soviet agricultural engine-technology?), and it seems there is a maaasssive glut of used inventory everywhere i look (paper, craigslist, ebay, biketrader, dealer used area, etc), so i'm guessing the trade-in value is pretty poor??

I'm seriously considering an HD, but it seems there is a lot of education that I'm struggling with. I realize "some" of what folks "hear" isn't true, so I'm trying to clear that up with some of the questions above as well.

 

you'd be better off just getting the honda...

 

Oh come on man...I'm seriously lookin' for some insight here.

I didn't mention a Honda in my post above, fyi.

 

buy what u like they are pretty dependable but like anything else **** happens no matter how well u maintain them. IMO i would buy a 09 in touring i dont know much about the xr 1200 or sportsters. good luck on your choice and ride safe.

 

Welcome aboard from New York.

 

oops...i was thinking the st 1300 came to mind.

ok, here we go with the answers...

1) i had an 08 nightster, an 09 superglide and i currently have a 10 fatboy lo. reliability? well, i havent had one break down on me and leave me stranded, but my nightster leaked around the rocker box covers, the fxd had the cylinders honed at 5k mi because the pistons were not moving straight up and down. At 10k mi, on the superglide, the bottom of the cylinders started leaking and i had to take it back to service. On the fatboy, it went into service 3 days after i got it because of a front end wobble. everybody i know that has a harley, has had some sort of problem with it. Personally, i think harleys are pieces of $ hi t, but i would buy another in a hearbeat. My next will be a roadglide.

2)The fatboy is the only one i have owned with a fat front tire, so compared to the other two, take into consideration the deminsions of the other two, the fatboy is quiite stable at speed, but a 747 in the corners.

3)this question i roll my eyes at and is why i recommended just getting the honda, my mistake, i should have said yamaha, but any man that has to ask this question deserves nothing more than an eyeroll.

4)can't answer on this one. basically comes across as a dowtuned buell if you ask me.

5) i went from a nightster to the superglide and the comfort difference was amazing. I didnt expect it going from the superglide to the fatboy, but that was amazing as well. Also, the softail frame has balanced engines and the dynas do not. The power on the balanced engine, in my opinion, is minisule.

6)never had a problem with the clutch pull, it feels "normal" to me.

7)i have only purchased the blank canvas harleys. I maintain the mindset that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I have a buddy that did alot of engine work to his and he is continually having issues with it.

8)trade in value, is crap as with trading in a car, but resell value is much higher when you compare to the depreciation of the metrics.

 

Ok first of all dont let your friends dictate what you buy! If they ride cruisers that doesnt mean you have to. If they wanna buy you one that ake what they give you. I do agree with them as far as not letting rice ride beside them! As far as difference in dyna or softail and cruisers go the difference is huge. Dyna gives you more of a hard feel to the ride, softail means just that... SOFT and cruisers will give you the best riding. If you ride solo or two up makes a big difference. How often do you ride two up? How often do you ride solo? Dont worry about the comfort of your passenger worry about yours. Twist it hard enough and they want be chirping in your ear anymore anyways. From the sounds of it you have grabbed many HD clutch levers. Thats how they are suppose to feel. Metrics feel loose like toys! If your new to the HD world I would say go with crossbones, bobber or fatboy. Stay away from the big bikes for now. NEVER TRADE IN A BIKE!!!!! Sell if private.... you will get 2 or 3 grand more!

 

excellent, thanks for all the info.

DallasBG - scarin' me on the new-bike stories...hoping that's the exception.

 

sorry, thought this was the new member intro section..

Welcome to the Forum and safe riding.
From Indiana

 

Welcome aboard from Biloxi Mississippi!

Your best bet is a good deal on a used bike (let someone else take the depreciation hit), no matter what it ends up being. Test drive many, and pick the best ride deal / value for you!

Good luck in your quest, and ride safe.