Calling all Harley experts..Advice on used Harley

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: bkingrider
As a self made multi millonaire and owner of around 20 bikes it is amazing how stupid people like LOOBED sound. Harley controls over 70% of the U.S. market and that ain't gonna change any time soon.
I own most of the desirable bikes and like my moderately stroked Harley Deuce the best. 2nd would be the Suzuki 1340 B-King.


http://www.kraftbrands.com/koolaid/

It is amazing how the most insecure people always gravitate towards the Harley image. Maybe if you had some self esteem, you wouldn't need a Harley.

 

[FADEC]

Originally Posted By: Loobed
Originally Posted By: bkingrider
As a self made multi millonaire and owner of around 20 bikes it is amazing how stupid people like LOOBED sound. Harley controls over 70% of the U.S. market and that ain't gonna change any time soon.
I own most of the desirable bikes and like my moderately stroked Harley Deuce the best. 2nd would be the Suzuki 1340 B-King.


http://www.kraftbrands.com/koolaid/

It is amazing how the most insecure people always gravitate towards the Harley image. Maybe if you had some self esteem, you wouldn't need a Harley.


Really didn't intend for my original post to turn into a Harley bashing, self esteem issue post. Mainly just wanted some info from people who have/had the models I mentioned.

Thanks to those who provided real info to what I was asking.

 

[Robenstein]

Harley ownership does not equal self esteem issues. Harley makes a quality product, albeit you do not get them at a bargain like with some other makes. Ride what you like, and respect others choices is all I can say. Sure some HD riders can be jerks, but I have seen as many or more metric cruiser or rocket bike riders that have an attitude problem as well.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Robenstein
Harley ownership does not equal self esteem issues. Harley makes a quality product, albeit you do not get them at a bargain like with some other makes. Ride what you like, and respect others choices is all I can say. Sure some HD riders can be jerks, but I have seen as many or more metric cruiser or rocket bike riders that have an attitude problem as well.




VERY well said!

 

[Spazdog]

Virtually all my family and friends have converted to Harley Davidson (and one Buell 1125R) and I still don't get it.

I'm not disrespecting their choices. I don't believe that I have an attitude problem....well not much of one...I still find it funny when some chairborne office monkey decides that he is an "outlaw" dresses up to the part, buys the biggest meanest custom chopper he can get, and "paddlefoots", wobbles, and stalls all over the place. (not that much different than somebody who buys a ZX14R for their first bike)

I just don't get the whole Harley thing. I do not see the quality difference. Control, comfort, handling, feel, brakes, power...etc...are pretty unexceptional.

I've ridden a Shadow 750 and a Sportster 883 back to back. The Sporty does feel a little less anemic (which is sad when a bike with over double the displacement of my 400 4cyl feels anemic to me) but the controls felt better on the Shadow. The Harley had forward controls so neither was better in comfort or handling to me.

Similarly when I've ridden Street Glides, Heritage Softail, Wide Glide, 1200 Sporty.... what's the big deal. None of them do anything my ZN1100 LTD wouldn't do. (and my big LTD would roast them all )

I just don't get it.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Loobed

Have you test rode a BMW?


Not any of the new ones.

I rode a K75S. It managed it's weight very well. Shaft effect was present but well controlled. I appreciated the aluminum gas tank (no rust) and the seating position was very well designed.

But handlebar controls were weird and seemed overly complex and expensive to replace if it fell over and coming off a ZX600C it lacked top end power. Actually felt a little underpowered compared to an '86 VF700C Magna. I ultimately bought a leftover GSX-R.

I would probably appreciate the K75S more now than I would a GSX-R 750M. But the handlebar controls would still be weird.
Give me an R-series anyday.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Virtually all my family and friends have converted to Harley Davidson (and one Buell 1125R) and I still don't get it.

I'm not disrespecting their choices. I don't believe that I have an attitude problem....well not much of one...I still find it funny when some chairborne office monkey decides that he is an "outlaw" dresses up to the part, buys the biggest meanest custom chopper he can get, and "paddlefoots", wobbles, and stalls all over the place. (not that much different than somebody who buys a ZX14R for their first bike)

I just don't get the whole Harley thing. I do not see the quality difference. Control, comfort, handling, feel, brakes, power...etc...are pretty unexceptional.

I've ridden a Shadow 750 and a Sportster 883 back to back. The Sporty does feel a little less anemic (which is sad when a bike with over double the displacement of my 400 4cyl feels anemic to me) but the controls felt better on the Shadow. The Harley had forward controls so neither was better in comfort or handling to me.

Similarly when I've ridden Street Glides, Heritage Softail, Wide Glide, 1200 Sporty.... what's the big deal. None of them do anything my ZN1100 LTD wouldn't do. (and my big LTD would roast them all )

I just don't get it.

That's why we Harley riders say "If I had to explain...you wouldn't understand".

Note: It's also like that with Jeeps, Corvettes and such.

 

[Spazdog]

I guess so...

It's not like I'm an inexperienced rider. I started riding on the street when I was 15 (license restriction -125cc or less) on a CB125S. For many years, my motorcycle was my car. I either had a complete junker for a car or just didn't have one.

I'm not so fixated on Japanese bikes that I cannot ride anything else:
I had a BSA Starfire for awhile. (long enough to learn how to shift with my right foot and to know not to rev too high at night lest you blow out the headlight)
When I had my RD350, my friend had a Moto-Morini 3 1/2 (he has a Street Glide now). The 2 cycle Yamaha would work over the V-twin Italian in straightaways but the pint size pasta rocket would hold it's own in the twisties. I liked the 'Morini.
I've long had a fascination with Moto Guzzi....not enough to buy one, but maybe a V7 Special is in my future. Maybe my weird fascination with 'Guzzi is the same as a prospective Harley buyer feels.

 

[clarklawnscape]

Originally Posted By: bkingrider
As a self made multi millonaire and owner of around 20 bikes it is amazing how stupid people like LOOBED sound. Harley controls over 70% of the U.S. market and that ain't gonna change any time soon.
I own most of the desirable bikes and like my moderately stroked Harley Deuce the best. 2nd would be the Suzuki 1340 B-King.

if i had the money, id have an indian

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: bkingrider
As a self made multi millonaire and owner of around 20 bikes it is amazing how stupid people like LOOBED sound. Harley controls over 70% of the U.S. market and that ain't gonna change any time soon.
I own most of the desirable bikes and like my moderately stroked Harley Deuce the best. 2nd would be the Suzuki 1340 B-King.


Gosh, I don't need to tell you how much I make to contribute do I? Not only will I not state my income but I do not list all my holdings either!

Starting your comment with that declaration colors your comments in a bad light before I even examine the content.

I certainly hope you like your bikes. They are an acquired taste, and for me they have never delivered the smooth quiet performance of my rice burnin' sake suckers.

 

[Finn]

This is my ex-2004 RKC with S&S 124" engine and some bits here and there. With Progressive Suspension parts and Metzelers it rode very, very well.

How could one not like Harleys?

 

[ammolab]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: Loobed

Have you test rode a BMW?


Not any of the new ones.

I rode a K75S. It managed it's weight very well. Shaft effect was present but well controlled. I appreciated the aluminum gas tank (no rust) and the seating position was very well designed.

But handlebar controls were weird and seemed overly complex and expensive to replace if it fell over and coming off a ZX600C it lacked top end power. Actually felt a little underpowered compared to an '86 VF700C Magna. I ultimately bought a leftover GSX-R.

I would probably appreciate the K75S more now than I would a GSX-R 750M. But the handlebar controls would still be weird.
Give me an R-series anyday.


roger that. I have a K75C and a R1200R. Both great bikes that I don't have to wear all black to ride, and I have never purchased a single pair of leather chaps in my 50 years of bike riding.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Finn

How could one not like Harleys?

I like it. No disrespect intended.

I just doubt that when on the road I would be able to tell a discernible difference between a Harley Davidson Road King and a Yamaha Road Star. Or Kawasaki 1700...or whatever.

Just being objective. There is obviously something there for a lot of people. Maybe it's something real that I'm just not in tune with. Maybe it's just good marketing. Maybe it's more about the way it makes one feel when he (or she...my older sister has a Street Glide) is posing on it in front of the Blues bar.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
I guess so...

It's not like I'm an inexperienced rider. I started riding on the street when I was 15 (license restriction -125cc or less) on a CB125S. For many years, my motorcycle was my car. I either had a complete junker for a car or just didn't have one.

I'm not so fixated on Japanese bikes that I cannot ride anything else:
I had a BSA Starfire for awhile. (long enough to learn how to shift with my right foot and to know not to rev too high at night lest you blow out the headlight)
When I had my RD350, my friend had a Moto-Morini 3 1/2 (he has a Street Glide now). The 2 cycle Yamaha would work over the V-twin Italian in straightaways but the pint size pasta rocket would hold it's own in the twisties. I liked the 'Morini.
I've long had a fascination with Moto Guzzi....not enough to buy one, but maybe a V7 Special is in my future. Maybe my weird fascination with 'Guzzi is the same as a prospective Harley buyer feels.


You sound a lot like me

 

[hal2626]

I own a Softail and a Roadking. If I had to choose one it would be the RK. Engine is MUCH more responsive and smoother once underway. It is happy to spin up at higher revs where as my B motor softail is reluctantly dragging along its' 9 pound(!) counterweight balancer setup is just plain unhappy. Both are Twin Cam 88's. The Night Train is fine for plodding around at very low speeds but 60 and up the King is KING!
And for those who just do not "get" the Harley appeal....well a Camry looks way better on paper than a '57 Chevy but I would prefer the Chevy. Sometimes it is not what a machine will do,but what it IS. A Seiko watch is inexpensive and will do everything a Rolex will. I prefer a Rolex. Harleys are one of the few bikes that are fun to ride slow. When I want to go fast or ride in miserable weather or run errands my BMW gets the nod. I ride my Harleys in spite of potentially being lumped in with the pirate crowd. If I gave a darn about what anyone thought about me I would have never started riding in 1962 when all riders were seen as lowlife greasers. You never see a Harley in a junk yard.

 

[FADEC]

Originally Posted By: hal2626
I own a Softail and a Roadking. If I had to choose one it would be the RK. Engine is MUCH more responsive and smoother once underway. It is happy to spin up at higher revs where as my B motor softail is reluctantly dragging along its' 9 pound(!) counterweight balancer setup is just plain unhappy. Both are Twin Cam 88's. The Night Train is fine for plodding around at very low speeds but 60 and up the King is KING!
And for those who just do not "get" the Harley appeal....well a Camry looks way better on paper than a '57 Chevy but I would prefer the Chevy. Sometimes it is not what a machine will do,but what it IS. A Seiko watch is inexpensive and will do everything a Rolex will. I prefer a Rolex. Harleys are one of the few bikes that are fun to ride slow. When I want to go fast or ride in miserable weather or run errands my BMW gets the nod. I ride my Harleys in spite of potentially being lumped in with the pirate crowd. If I gave a darn about what anyone thought about me I would have never started riding in 1962 when all riders were seen as lowlife greasers. You never see a Harley in a junk yard.


Great post!! Thanks for the info about the balanced motors! I didn't realize the balancer weighed 9 pounds.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: hal2626
You never see a Harley in a junk yard.


You do....but it is made in Italy and the only "Harley Davidson" parts are the stickers covering up the Aermacchi badges...

I've seen some ridiculous prices on Ironhead AMF Sporties that were pretty much basketcases. Even if you do get it back in running order, it's still an AMF and not exactly the high point in Harley Davidson history.

 

[JetStar]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: hal2626
You never see a Harley in a junk yard.


You do....but it is made in Italy and the only "Harley Davidson" parts are the stickers covering up the Aermacchi badges...

I've seen some ridiculous prices on Ironhead AMF Sporties that were pretty much basketcases. Even if you do get it back in running order, it's still an AMF and not exactly the high point in Harley Davidson history.



Hey, those old sprints are starting to show up at vintage bike shows.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: JetStar
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: hal2626
You never see a Harley in a junk yard.


You do....but it is made in Italy and the only "Harley Davidson" parts are the stickers covering up the Aermacchi badges...

I've seen some ridiculous prices on Ironhead AMF Sporties that were pretty much basketcases. Even if you do get it back in running order, it's still an AMF and not exactly the high point in Harley Davidson history.



Hey, those old sprints are starting to show up at vintage bike shows.


I can't complain. I had a BSA with the shifter on the wrong side of the engine too.

At least my kickstart was on the correct side of the engine.

The horizontal single does look a lot like something else.....hmmmmm

 

[hal2626]

Beautiful S90!! The first bike I ever rode with a footshift was an S90. Allstates and Cushmans were all we had back in the stone age.