New Rider What Bike

I dont think i would drop a bike, i mean ive rode dirtbikes growing up and never had a problem, im not as big as you guys are thinking i am bc i went and looked at some 1100 and 1300's today and they are huge..Im thinking if i did go with a shadow or vstar a 750 would be perfect or mabey a 600, because there still lower and wider that a sportster, but having a Harley would be bad ass. Ive also looke at a couple 600 cbr's...

The thing about Harleys, and some of the other quality American bikes, is they are special. I started 30+ years ago on Yamahas and Kawasakis (and still ride my Kawi dirt bike) and they were fun 2-wheel transports. But I never loved them like my Harley. I never just sat in the garage and stared at them when I couldn't ride and still had a good time, like I still do with my 'King. They were just tools - good tools, but not art. Those bikes are like the kind of women I dated but wasn't interested in for long - I mean, a great ride but no love. I never felt compelled to learn their every nuance, rub them down, try to keep 'em happy or buy them shiny things. I just wanted to ride. And that goes for the bikes, too!:roflmao:

But a Harley is different. Ya want to buy her chrome and polish her and keep everything as perfect as you can. And then she'll love you back - far better than some wives!

So if ya just want some saddle time that saves ya money, go Shadow or the like. If ya want to fall in love, get the Harley.

You can put forwards on a Sportster that comes with mids (I did on my '95) & vice-versa.

There is one more thing I would like to add. Three years ago I bought my first Harley. I had owned several metric bikes in the past. When I started looking I started to struggle with the price difference and my brother asked why I wanted to buy a bike after 18 years with out. My reason for buying another bike was that I missed it and I wanted to meet some new people. I had hanging with the country club folks on a golf course for the last 15 years and although I new a lot of people not a lot of friends. My brother convinced me to spend another $ 7,000. for a Harley .He said it is hard to explain but after you ride for a while you will get it. After 3 years of ridin a Harley I have more people I can call a friend and count on than I did golfing the same golf course 5 times a week for 15 years.I can't put it into words other than to say it is like a true brotherhood of people.At the golf course you had to watch where you set your clubs due to theft. No one really watched out for each other. It is the exact opposite on a Harley fellow bikers look out for each other even tho they are complete strangers. Well I tried to explain it as best I can

The dirt bike experience will certainly serve you well.

BUT - there are those who have dropped their bike, and those who will.

It's not just Harleys. I find it with all bike owners. I find no one brand has a better brotherhood than any other brand. It's not what we ride, but that we ride.

The only time in my life where I've had a problem with other bikers was when my girlfriend and I rode up to the N.California mountain town of Georgetown a few years ago. I parked my Royal Star next to about 8 Harleys outside this little tavern and we went inside to have lunch. I saw the bikers sitting at the bar as we went into the restaurant. When we were done eating, I noticed they weren't at the bar anymore when we walked back outside and all their bikes were gone. I was more than a little pissed when I saw they'd taken turns spitting all over my bike..real class acts I tell ya. I don't lump 8 idiots though into the mass group of the rest though..just chalk it up to ignorant bastards who'll get theirs someday.

I'm not putting anybody down for what they ride, it is a person's prerogative, but... having said that I think it does make a difference what you ride.
The Harley Davidson is an American legend which has survived the test of time even after being kicked in the teeth by the Japanese. It is a unique American machine, a "fine machine" to quote Ronald Reagan. Another thing, the brotherhood thing, the Harley Brotherhood, is nothing like what it used to be in the 70's and 80's. There were times when I stopped to help a complete stranger and ended up fetching my trailer and taking him and his scoot to my home, gave him access to my tools and fed him. Coming back from Sturgis I had a wheel beraing go out. I limped to the nearest dealer (there weren't that many them) and the bearing was welded to the race. The shop owner told me and the OL to go down the street for a cool one and he would call me. When he did it was late evening and he was ready for supper so he took us home for dinner and he and his wife let us crash there, first thing next morning we were on our way. What are the chances of a Stealership doing that today? AL

Biggest ? is "CASH" if you buy the Harley even a sporty it will get into your blood and every minute of the day you will come up with ways to spend! It was my birthday today and before 6 am i had installed over $500 in chrome(gotta love free chrome) That was 1 set of heat sheilds some pegs,brake pad,keyless gas cap etc. Even the bike you think has everything you want when you find it, she will find a way to make you spend!

new question - comparing hd softail deluxe and heritage

Im new to this forum and not sure how to ask questions.
I am looking at a 2005 hd softail deluxe and a 2007 heritage
any thoughts on the two?

Basicly It's Who You Are And What You Like, I Started With A Hand Me Down Honda From My Pop's, All My Family Rides Harley's, So I Had To Ride With Them And Hear There Sh$t, My First Sportster Was Helped Bought By The Family, Then I Still Got Another Due To Funds, And Believe It Or Not I Have About 22 Grand In A 883 Sporty, And Still Get It's A Sportster, I Will Never Get A Big Twin Unless Opertunity Arises, With More Money Into The Pit I Will Just Make My Sporty Into A 80 Or 88, And That's Only If I Decide I'm Board One Winter. The Bike Mod's Are Never Ending. So When You Buy A Bike At Such A Investment, It's All About What You Want And F$$$ Every One Else.

I kind of like the Deluxe because it has the ol skool look. Would depend on price miliage and condition. If I was out to buy one I would probably look for a carberated EVO motor softail, dependable, no cam tensioners to wear out and you can work on them with out computers, race tuners etc. AL

I heard that - I can't believe the 100's of $$$ people are spending on EFI bikes to get them to run as well as a carbureted bike with $15 worth of parts & a screwdriver !! I reckon H-D will eventually get it right, including enough flexibility for aftermarket pipes & air-cleaner. I remember when the 1st fuel-injected Buells came out & a whole bunch of people took the EFI off to replace with a CV or Mikuni carb. The new system works great, but it took a few years to get it right & Buell is always ahead of H-D, even though the engines are basically Sportster.

I hear ya on the EFI Marc. When I ride up in high elevation, especially Colorado where there are passes above 12,000', I lose very little power and it still flies. My ole carbed Royal Star would get blackened plugs which I'd pop out and clean at lower elevation afterwards with a small wire brush.

Ultra Al: I kind of like the Deluxe because it has the ol skool look.

Amen to that. My lady friend in Colorado has a black & white Deluxe, and I think it's the prettiest of all the Harleys.

I just went from a 1998 evo to 06 EFI I find warm up time much quicker and runs like a top right from the start. But I bought my FLHT from a HD mechanic who had down the 1st stage and the cams,commander3 before I bought it so I never rode a stock EFI.

I'm 205 lb., 6'5" and ride a 2003 Sportster with forward controls, so I think you'll probably be fine with a Sporty. Yes, it's just a little small for me, but guess what, so are almost ALL the HD bikes I've sat on, including the big boys. For some reason, some just feel better than others, and the Sporty feels good. Don't know exactly why, but so far, only the Rocker and the Crossbones feel right when I've tried them on for size. When you consider the 20k sticker prices and then the approximately 4-6G Sporty price range, used, it's a no brainer for a beginner on a budget. I really only need about 1- 1 1/2" more forward on the forward controls to be perfect and might eventually do some customizing. All that said, the Sporty is a great choice. The 883 has plenty of balls and is really a truly fun ride. And yes, I'm sorry to say Al's right and it has seen some asphalt. Thankfully only some scratches and and bruises, to both my pride and my butt!

Now you've got me thinking about that upgrade to 1200 Al....

There are 2" extended forwards on the market, Hellboy. I'm thinking Kuryakyn makes a set but I'm sure there are others.