returned to riding this year after a spell caging it...went straight onto the xv1100 coz i'm not allergic to country of origin and love cruising rather than racing...but now here's the rub...ever since i was a kid i always wanted a harley...still kinda drool when i hear or see a nice one spinning past...
so given that a newbie is outta the question (budget wise) what is the oldest model i should be looking at and what should i watch out for in terms of known factory fuck ups?
i'm quite keen on the sportees as i think they offer a good entry point without being too wanky...
any tips would be cool...oh i like to spend a good few hours in the saddle at a time and would rather ride than polish...
"Buying what you like and can afford" is the best buying advice in a nutshell.
I bought an '04 Sporty for a 6-month (turning out 15+-month) assignment in OZ as it was actually cheaper than taking one of my bikes from NZ to Sydney and back again. I am used to bigger bikes, but the Sportster is excellent. Nimble around town (OK that's relative to an RV90 or Vespa) and easy on the gas mileage, lots of torque, and still more than good enough to sling panniers over the back, gear up and ride SYD-BNE-SYD on a 4-day 'weekend'. Reliable for me - only replaced the battery as it had been stored too long, and front disc pads as I use the front brakes a lot more than most cruiser riders (it seems). Try it, if you don't like it there are many more bikes all over the place. And many are more expensive!
"Buying what you like and can afford" is the best buying advice in a nutshell.
I bought an '04 Sporty for a 6-month (turning out 15+-month) assignment in OZ as it was actually cheaper than taking one of my bikes from NZ to Sydney and back again. I am used to bigger bikes, but the Sportster is excellent. Nimble around town (OK that's relative to an RV90 or Vespa) and easy on the gas mileage, lots of torque, and still more than good enough to sling panniers over the back, gear up and ride SYD-BNE-SYD on a 4-day 'weekend'. Reliable for me - only replaced the battery as it had been stored too long, and front disc pads as I use the front brakes a lot more than most cruiser riders (it seems). Try it, if you don't like it there are many more bikes all over the place. And many are more expensive!
cool man thanks for that...i've done the run from syd to byron and back in a car...fuck that's a longgggggggggg drive...can imagine it be awesome on a bike...
i think i might have to agree...buy what u can afford...my biggest concern i guess and maybe i should ask the question...running maintenance and mechanical work...is it easy enough to do yourself??? the xv is okay once you get your head around why they make such complicated ways of getting to stuff...after that the basics are a walk in the park...are harleys similar in that respect???
This is my 4th Harley (2 '04 V-rods - one VRSCA in US (turbo'd) and one VRSCB in NZ, and an '02 Dyna 'bagger' FXDXT in NZ. The V-rods I get all the servicing done at shops, the water-cooled engine, the electronics (not just electrics) and the tools and expertise needed are well beyond me. The older-style air-cooled Dyna and Sportster are much more user-friendly to service and do minor stuff on like lights, brakes etc. Wheels, tires, major work would go to the shops still.
That said, none of my Harleys have ever stranded me anywhere (and that includes rides from Wanganui to Cape Reinga and back, Phoenix to Sturgis and then all over the Black Hills and via Colorado to L.A. to leave the bike stored there, other fast day runs (L.A. to Phoenix, Phoenix to Route 66 etc)) so I am very happy with their reliability.
You'll see a lot of posters commenting on Harley's alleged inherent unreliability and oil leaks etc. None of mine suffer from either - and I bought them all used (although the Dyna was advertised as 'used' with only 130 km and 1 year's previous ownership by 1 owner in Singapore where I bought it in '03, go figure).
The H-D OEM service and parts manuals are well worth the investment too. Harley mech stuff on the older bikes sounds similar to what you say about the XV, IMO. Good luck with whatever you buy.
This is my 4th Harley (2 '04 V-rods - one VRSCA in US (turbo'd) and one VRSCB in NZ, and an
The H-D OEM service and parts manuals are well worth the investment too. Harley mech stuff on the older bikes sounds similar to what you say about the XV, IMO. Good luck with whatever you buy.
thanks for that man...good to get some bullshit free feedback...it'll be a wee way down the track b4 i head down the new bike road...i need to kill the one i got first before the wife will even consider INVESTING in another set of 2 wheels...
sounz like you've had some good miles under yer belt and in no hurry to slow down...good on ya and stay upright...thanks again
I'd presume a modern HD is little different from a modern Jap bike in regards to servicing. They have been fuel injected for ages the lifters will be auto adjusting like a car (correct me if wrong), electronic ignition (hell no wire throttle on some). So servicing is what - oils (tranny and engine are separate) plugs will be every 24000 or so like other bikes, air filter once a blue moon. Tyres and brakes are consumables regardless of the bike and the cruiser tyres way outlast sporty rubber.
Anything pre evo motor (mid 80's) will live to the old reputation but it is not justified on the engines after this. Like the Triumphs of old (or any maker for that matter) things have come a long way.
I did spy a brand new HONDA 750 cruiser in the CHCH dealers for $9999 last week ........ not a Harley, but cheap as chips!
cool...loving hondas for sure...had an old school late 80's cruiser vt500...awesome bike...loved every k on it...but i think the next one will b for the romance of fuck it i deserve it...
I'd presume a modern HD is little different from a modern Jap bike in regards to servicing. They have been fuel injected for ages the lifters will be auto adjusting like a car (correct me if wrong), electronic ignition (hell no wire throttle on some). So servicing is what - oils (tranny and engine are separate) plugs will be every 24000 or so like other bikes, air filter once a blue moon. Tyres and brakes are consumables regardless of the bike and the cruiser tyres way outlast sporty rubber.
Anything pre evo motor (mid 80's) will live to the old reputation but it is not justified on the engines after this. Like the Triumphs of old (or any maker for that matter) things have come a long way.
I did spy a brand new HONDA 750 cruiser in the CHCH dealers for $9999 last week ........ not a Harley, but cheap as chips!
yeah...but me thinks the newer ones are a little more than i can justify...given that vehicles are really only toys and don't usually appreciate in value i'm thinking i'll be looking at as late a model as i can afford...so that may be a little more old school than electric everything...and for 10k i'd definitely be spoilt for choice regardless of make...
thanks again for the honest opinions people...
Well I bought one of these (with some trepidation I will admit) and I love it. With a few improvements (suspension mods, pipe, Power Commander) it has been a surprisingly capable bike both on the straight and bendy bits. No it won't outrun or outhandle an R1 or similar but that's not what it's about. Instead it's abnoxiously loud, pig iron heavy and the horsepower is er, gentle but I have a ball every time I ride it. Horses for courses I guess..
"Twilight's like soccer. They run around for two hours, nobody scores, and a billion fans insist you just don't understand"
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Akzle
Bookmarks