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What kind of Motorcycle should I get next??

Discussion in 'Pull up a chair and sit for a spell' started by RegnisnuM, Nov 30, 2011.

  1. alex the dog

    alex the dog Active Member

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    I can't believe you're still looking for a Honda Shadow if you're concerned about: comfort, handling, power, and durability for a big guy like yourself. You'll never want to ride very far on one of those, and you won't know what you're missing. They're OK for intown only.

    By the way, I still think my Dyna LowRider rides better than my StreetGlide. Riding solo, those big 49mm forks really soak-up the big bumps better.
  2. HarleysLR

    HarleysLR Active Member

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    I agree, my Fatboy rides way smoother than my Street Glide, much more travel in the rear, front is about the same.

    If you're going Japanese at least get a big Japanese bike, if your going with a shadow might as well get a sporty, I know a guy who has one for sale.
  3. RegnisnuM

    RegnisnuM New Member

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    What are some bigger Hondas that I could look at?
  4. HarleysLR

    HarleysLR Active Member

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    VTX 1800 and there are several others but I don't know the model names. google it, check out craiglist.com or ebay.com
  5. cowboy

    cowboy Moderator Staff Member

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    The yamaha road star silvardo are good all round bikes , the Honda VTX 1800 is a good bike , To get all service records on any bike in not going to be easy, unless the seller just kept there own or it just came off warranty & there selling the bike
  6. charlie46

    charlie46 Well-Known Member

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    Harley now or Harley later..Only thing i ever owned that the payments don't hurt.
  7. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    You want a good Honda go buy a Vlakyrie, excellent ride. :D
  8. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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  9. alex the dog

    alex the dog Active Member

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    The Honda VTX 1800 is just a bigger Shadow. You'll have all the same issues with that one. Now, the Valkyrie is a nice looking bike, but it's still a Goldwing--very heavy. You can pick-up one easily for $5,000. You get what you pay for here...........

    If you're looking at something that big, why do you think a Road King is too big? It's at least 100 lbs lighter than a Valk. Or a Dyna---maybe 200 lbs lighter, and it will eat any Honda cruiser on the road.
  10. Sleepy

    Sleepy Well-Known Member

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    Dyna..had one and if I wasn't touring and pulling a trailer, that's what I'd be riding, the new ones are pretty good..nice ride not too heavy
  11. alex the dog

    alex the dog Active Member

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    Forgot to mention Yamaha Star and Kawa. Vulcan. These mfrs. tried to copy H-D by "retro engineering". They gave them traditional ohv motors, and even altered their crankshafts to sound like a Harley, but it doesn't work unless you are completely deaf and dumb. Performance wise--they're dogs.

    They also styled them to look like big American machines, but only achieved overweight and ugly in my humble opinion. The drivetrain was not very well thought out, and will definitely have longevity problems (plastic engine components, thin castings, poor metalurgy, and very, very cheap bearings). Totally uninspired. But, what do you want for cheap?
  12. joshbob

    joshbob Well-Known Member

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    I agree with every word Alex wrote. He's an engineer and would know. Save up a few more shekels and get a Harley. Buy American! If you love to ride, you will eventually get one anyway.
  13. charlie46

    charlie46 Well-Known Member

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    Try looking for a nice used police RoadKng or E-Glide. I've seen many out therewith low miles and very resonable $. Harley now or Harley later, you aint getting younger.:rocket_bike:
  14. Fatboy128

    Fatboy128 Well-Known Member

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    I myself would not own a copycat Japanese Harley. I agree that they maybe better engineered. But a copy is a copy no matter how you justify it. If I were going metric I would Havering go for a nonharley bike. Just voicing my opinion.

    Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
  15. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    I wouldn't buy a metric bike no more than I would buy a import vehicle. :D
  16. dmassey

    dmassey Active Member

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    Ditto. I rode metrics for several years but was never truely satisfied until I got a Harley. Anothe Harley you might consider and try on for size is the Dyna Wide Glide. The forward controls will accomodate your tall frame pretty well. Plus you don't have the weight and size of a bagger and they also have a fairly big front tire. I sat on one at one of the local dealerships and was pleasantly surprised at the comfort for a tall person. Just a thought.
  17. Fatboy128

    Fatboy128 Well-Known Member

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    I guess "Metric" is politically correct description for Japanese bikes???!! When did that happen??? I rode Japanese bikes for years.

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  18. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Metric also includes all none Harley's and most of us rode a Japanese bike at one time or another, but what do we ride now....a Harley. Had I rode a Harley first I probably would never have rode a Japanese bike.
    Ask yourself, why is it that the japs try and copy a Harley...well I guess its like the old saying goes...if you have to ask I just can't explain it. :D

    The Japs have always been good at coping someone else's product then they try and improve upon it. But they still can't beat a Harley.
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2012
  19. Sleepy

    Sleepy Well-Known Member

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    Ducatis are metric. Once I get this millwright training in I wouldn'y mind learning how to properly set the valve lash on them and get another one. A monster would be a good bike for getting around LA but a bike for the OP a Dyna would be a better choice.
  20. alex the dog

    alex the dog Active Member

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    Depends on what you call "better engineered". If you mean a design that costs less to mfr.--then yes, they are much better. If you mean they are a more refined design and will last longer-- you are very wrong.

    They are purposely designed to last less than 50,000 miles, KNOWING that 96% will never reach that mileage and be discarded. By "discarding", I mean they are not rebuildable motors, trannies, or electrical pkg. except for common stator failures. Even the electronic components they like to show off are designed to have a life expectancy of less than 2,000 hrs.

    So, better at what you ask? Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and even some European mfrs. know how to get young buyers in the door with electronic gadgets and lower prices. THEY AREN'T IMMUNE TO THE LAWS OF PHYSICS. Lower prices come from less content, cheaper materials, and less or no developement (engineering) costs. Meaning they copy others' work.

    Young people typically have very little money and only want to spend the least amount for anything. They don't care that it won't last long...they'll just buy another one when it breaks.

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