What's wrong with Harleys?

[Dave Nadeau]

test.............

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by Dave Nadeau

Well I will be another one with .2 cents to throw in... I have just bought a Harley. Before I did I did a lot of research on the Harley and a New Gold Wing. I choose the HD. I chose it for reasons of style and comfort for the wife. I for one could not get comfortable on the GW. Now if we talk about the increase cost of HD over metrics I did some off the cuff comparisons. I looked at a Road King and a C90T. Yes the HD is more money. A new Road King (FLHR) is $17,595. A new C90T is $11,499.00. Both before shippng and set up. So you pay 6K more for the HD. It wieghts 45# more, has a 2.3 gallon larger tank and a 2.3" increase of seat height. Almost no plastic or plastic covered chrome.
Now for the $$$ numbers. A 2005 C90T retail is $7,985. Trade in is $5,535.
A HD RK retail is $15,085.00. Trade in is $11,145.
These numbers are from Kelly Blue Book. So if my calculator ain't lying ...on a trade the C90 looses 48% and the HD 14%. I just don't think that the HD are that over priced when you see what you get. IMHO!! You get what you pay for!!

Dave, you know darn good & well that purchasing a motorcycle is an emotional decision, why in the world would you try and confuse people with logic?

[Dave Nadeau]

Rick...Oh sorrry its the engineer in me!!!

[Kodatech]

This is one of the longest threads ever that actually has a topic.

[4dtvman]

OK Dave I was also good in math but not in spelling. So let me make sense of this all. So both bikes I would be loosing, let say $4000, which we know that not too many people are dumd enough to trade in there bikes and give the dealer all that extra money. But you had to give 100% more money for the HD. If it was a loan that means twice the monthly payment or if paying cash twice the amount out of your account.

4 to 5 years ago if you could find a new HD (didn't have to wait for ever for one) on a resale people were getting 90 too 100% of what they paid for them.

Well HD is been busy bulding motorcycle where they flooded the market. Last weekend stopped in NH at the HD dealer next to locinia and he had any model and any color you wanted on the show room, well over a 100 to choose from. Have you looked a craig list and ebay or bike trader 80% of the bikes are HD. Which is driving down the price. For example craiglist next to your house, bridgewater 2004 Electric glide Classic withe all the bags , tour pak and radio with just 2500 miles going for $14500.

It's all about money out of pocket. Good bless the people that can afford the big payment or big cash out of pocket.

So what HD owners say " People that bad mouth HD are the people that can't afford them." I say that's not true but some people with common sense.

You already had your mind made up when you rode the Gold wing.

WE got room for 2 more guys next year for bike week, cheap place on the lake. You can bring your HD, the other 2 guys have HD and they don't drink much, and I don't drink at all.

[TechJD]

Poor mans HD = Honda with Harley Mulffers

[Dave Nadeau]

Originally Posted by 4dtvman

OK Dave I was also good in math but not in spelling. So let me make sense of this all. So both bikes I would be loosing, let say $4000, which we know that not too many people are dumd enough to trade in there bikes and give the dealer all that extra money. But you had to give 100% more money for the HD. If it was a loan that means twice the monthly payment or if paying cash twice the amount out of your account.

4 to 5 years ago if you could find a new HD (didn't have to wait for ever for one) on a resale people were getting 90 too 100% of what they paid for them.

Well HD is been busy bulding motorcycle where they flooded the market. Last weekend stopped in NH at the HD dealer next to locinia and he had any model and any color you wanted on the show room, well over a 100 to choose from. Have you looked a craig list and ebay or bike trader 80% of the bikes are HD. Which is driving down the price. For example craiglist next to your house, bridgewater 2004 Electric glide Classic withe all the bags , tour pak and radio with just 2500 miles going for $14500.

It's all about money out of pocket. Good bless the people that can afford the big payment or big cash out of pocket.

So what HD owners say " People that bad mouth HD are the people that can't afford them." I say that's not true but some people with common sense.

You already had your mind made up when you rode the Gold wing.

WE got room for 2 more guys next year for bike week, cheap place on the lake. You can bring your HD, the other 2 guys have HD and they don't drink much, and I don't drink at all.

Thanks for offer a the lake next year but I will not be able to get away for a while due to the wifes new job....So we will just be taking some week ends etc....Till Aprial 09!!
Now on to the bike stuff. No I did not really have my mind made up on the GW. I did have a strong leaning towrd HD but only after I rode both. Before that I had the leaning more to the GW. Just could not get comfortable on the Wing. Your price look up is true no doubt for the EGC near me. But that machine only went about 17K 3 or 4 years ago. Depending what he origanal price was thats only about 15 or 18 percent. Please remeber all bikes are different and not liked by everyone. IF that was not true then we might all be riding vespas or something!! Harleys have a different ride. I say its soul. Some folks don't like the vibration at idle (btw none at speed). For those people get a model with the B motor, balanced. Try, say a Electra glide. Dealer near me gave it to me for an hour. Wife and I tour up and down every kind of road around to see if there was really much of a differance. The differance was in spades!! Kind of like madic carpet. We tested and 07. If you were to ride say an street glide with the lower seat and go for an hour you would really see the difference, good or bad. I can probably tell you that it might feel alot heavier then your LC and after you get back on the LC to go home it will feel very light. Those were my perspectives from going from a SG to C50.

[4dtvman]

I stopped at the HD dealer for that reason to check out the weigt. Because of the guy in Bridgewater. I sat on a bike like his. Too tall and hard to pick up. And with my wife on the back I had a hard time getting her up straight, ever mind if my wife filled he up for the weekend. You got to remember I'm only 5'6" and 160 pounds. The GW I sat on in Warwick was lighter to pick up but didn't ride either one so I can't say about the ride. The same bike at HD dealer was around $20000 (2007)

We only go for friday saturday and sunday.

[Dave Nadeau]

The dealer I went to was Monty's in West Bridgewater.. about 3 miles from home. I had checked all dealers in the area from Sheldons out in Aubern to Paramount HD up north. A lot of dealers had add ons like they are over MSRP oh, and the Documentation fee!! Now thats a money maker... Don't forget setup and shipping. I feel Monty treated me fair. MSRP + no S/h= no documentation fee+ 2 hours free labor on any accesories added. So the 2008 Electra Glide Classic will cost me $20,080.00. And that is with the security system, ABS, cruise control. I will have added, I think, Street Glide mirrors, and an option to make all the rear turn signals also work as brake lights. Its a lot of money but I can afford it if I want to... I look at it this way, Life ain't no dress rehearsal so If I want it I get it. And at my age who knows....

[omegajim]

I guess it boils down to; not crazy about air cooled bikes for a new purchase when there are plenty of liquid cooled ones out there (with those damn ugly boxes on them).

Also not too crazy about the fact any resale you gain over a metric is mitigated by higher insurance. Remember, theft is rather high on a Harley and the insurance companies know it.

But, if you want it, can afford a Harley, and understand what you are getting, great.

Me, before I buy a Harley, I'd get a nicer set of golf clubs, a nicer boat, a good trap shooting gun, well, you get the idea.

[Rickster]

Jim, I pay the same for insurance on both my 05 Suzuki V Strom, and my 06 HD Road King.

[Dave Nadeau]

Originally Posted by Rickster

Jim, I pay the same for insurance on both my 05 Suzuki V Strom, and my 06 HD Road King.

Well I pay 400.00 per year in the controled insurance environment of the "Peoples Republic of Mass" for the C50. ( Who says price fixing ain't legal never lived here!!) The new HD is going to run me 1000. to 1200 per year.

[omegajim]

Well I pay 400.00 per year in the controled insurance environment of the "Peoples Republic of Mass" for the C50. ( Who says price fixing ain't legal never lived here!!) The new HD is going to run me 1000. to 1200 per year

Ouch, 4 bills ain't too bad, but 1 large?

My old scooter is like 160, but that's all liability as the old scooter isn't worth anything. Well, to me it's worth every penny of the 9 bills I paid for it and 40,000 miles later.

Rickster, either you have cheap Harley insurance, or the V-strom is very expensive.

I even tried going through my house/car insurance company (who shall remain nameless, for the time being) and bike insurance was like $270, vs $160 from the competition.

V-strom and Harley in the same garage, somehow I can really understand that thinking. The V-strom for commuting to work, the Harley for weekend/vacation trips.

[baltimorebayside]

My 1992 750 Nighthawk cost me $80 per year for full coverage!!!

However, I'm 52 years old and been with GEICO for over 33 years!!! All ( 4 ) of my vehicles are insured with GEICO with full coverage fro about $1,400.00 per year and that includes adding my 16 year old son last week!!!!

BTW, I never had an accident....

dan

[Sgt Mike]

Other than being way over priced Harley Davidson motocycles are excellent machines. If you compare a Harley to a Japanese metric that are equal in CCs and equipment you get alot more bang for the buck with a metric.

Originally Posted by James_C50

I'm not trying to start an argument...but...I hear so many people bad mouth Harley's (not here), and I think they are specifically attacking older Harley's. Now aside from human nature that makes some Ford people not like Chevy's and some Dodge people not like Ford's, what is it about Harley's that people shouldn't like or should like aside from cost? Just curious!

[Rickster]

Hey Sargent Mike, I'm thinking that you didn't read all of the 374 posts before you. There were a few pretty good arguments to dispel that theory. Things like resale value, and quality come into play. A lot of people, myself included, feel you get what you pay for.

[palanon]

Phfffft !!! Nothing wrong with Harley's. Good over all bikes that are good at what they do.

I'm just not a cruiser guy. I'm watching the new Buell closely. Looks like we may finally get a competitive high performance American bike. I hope to see a few on the track next year. Eric is do for a winner.

[Dave Nadeau]

Originally Posted by 4dtvman

I stopped at the HD dealer for that reason to check out the weigt. Because of the guy in Bridgewater. I sat on a bike like his. Too tall and hard to pick up. And with my wife on the back I had a hard time getting her up straight, ever mind if my wife filled he up for the weekend. You got to remember I'm only 5'6" and 160 pounds. The GW I sat on in Warwick was lighter to pick up but didn't ride either one so I can't say about the ride. The same bike at HD dealer was around $20000 (2007)

We only go for friday saturday and sunday.

Hey I was bored at work today and looked up a HD Softtail Delux, with a balanced motor. Same wieght as your LC and the seat height is almost two inches lower then the LC. Price is another matter.....But I know you like used.

[4dtvman]

Originally Posted by Dave Nadeau

Well I pay 400.00 per year in the controled insurance environment of the "Peoples Republic of Mass" for the C50. ( Who says price fixing ain't legal never lived here!!) The new HD is going to run me 1000. to 1200 per year.

Dave that was good this makes the thread worth reading (People republic of Mass)

Yes I like used what else would I do with 10k worth of tool and my free time.

[omegajim]

Going back a few posts and over 3 columns......

Mr. Nadeau. Not taking it too far out of context.

A new Road King (FLHR) is $17,595. A new C90T is $11,499.00. Both before shippng and set up. So you pay 6K more for the HD. It wieghts 45# more, has a 2.3 gallon larger tank and a 2.3" increase of seat height. Almost no plastic or plastic covered chrome.

The Harley weighs a tad more, has a bigger gas tank, and almost no plastic coated chrome. These are some very compelling arguments.

Seat height, this is very subjective. I'm 6 1", so seat height isn't too big an issue, but a higher seat can also be a negative...... let me digress.

I used to own a 1980 Honda cb 750. Drove it, it ran well, never thought much about this or that. Then I bought a 1980 Yamaha xs 850 (current ride, believe it or not) and even though the seat was about 2 inches higher (no I never actually measured the difference, but I could feel the difference when I rode) driving the Yamaha the first few times felt like I was on top of a ladder compared to the Honda.

So a higher seat isn't all that great; but a bigger gas tank is a BIG plus. Fewer plastic/fiberglass chrome covered parts aren't bad either.

and I have to agree with Palanon

Phfffft !!! Nothing wrong with Harley's. Good over all bikes that are good at what they do.

Hey, how'd that happen?

Must be having an off day.