Harley dilemma

[sheddy]

I'm thinking of shelling out to get a Harley. My prefference is a second hand night train softail. At 6' I tried a 05 deuce the other day and it felt a real comfortable fit.Apart from taking big deep breaths at the price. My XV is a bit short and I kinda sit on the pillion seat sometimes.
My questions are.
Full Insurance is it seriously worth it and can it even be found at a reasonable rate.
Is the theft risk still higher for hogs than other bikes and if so what are the best ways of keeping your bike safe.
Anyone out there riding EVO softails have an opinion on them and has anyone who has owned a Harley gone back to another bike brand after.
Why are they so closely priced as km and age dont seem to count for much. All other vehicles depreciate like hell.
Does anyone have an idea of margins the dealers generally work on.

The Jap cruisers are still excellent bikes but this Harley thing has been chewing my arm off for years. Like they say there is never as good a time like the present.
Lots of questions. Thanks for any feedback.

[Scouse]

Now that's Harley a dilema now is it?

[The Lone Rider]

I think full insurance is worth it. Hell, its freakin cheap. Who are you with? Full insurance for my bike costs less then what my car was quoted for for full cover.

How is it too short? My cruiser is smaller then an XV1100 and I'm 6'1" and its alright. Maybe its forward controls you really should be looking at?

[peasea]

I'm thinking of shelling out to get a Harley. My prefference is a second hand night train softail. At 6' I tried a 05 deuce the other day and it felt a real comfortable fit.Apart from taking big deep breaths at the price. My XV is a bit short and I kinda sit on the pillion seat sometimes.
My questions are.
Full Insurance is it seriously worth it and can it even be found at a reasonable rate.
Is the theft risk still higher for hogs than other bikes and if so what are the best ways of keeping your bike safe.
Anyone out there riding EVO softails have an opinion on them and has anyone who has owned a Harley gone back to another bike brand after.
Why are they so closely priced as km and age dont seem to count for much. All other vehicles depreciate like hell.
Does anyone have an idea of margins the dealers generally work on.

The Jap cruisers are still excellent bikes but this Harley thing has been chewing my arm off for years. Like they say there is never as good a time like the present.
Lots of questions. Thanks for any feedback.

Buy my 1990 FXR and save heaps!

[scumdog]

Go for it, get a Superglide.

IF you regret it? - well at least you'll not go through life wondering about what it's like having a Harley to ride..


Of course if you get a H-D you then have to start buying bling, tassles and a really thick skin...

[jafar]

tassles ...

tassles

[peasea]

Go for it, get a Superglide.

IF you regret it? - well at least you'll not go through life wondering about what it's like having a Harley to ride..


Of course if you get a H-D you then have to start buying bling, tassles and a really thick skin...

.....and the 'right' sunnies.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I'm thinking of shelling out to get a Harley. My prefference is a second hand night train softail. At 6' I tried a 05 deuce the other day and it felt a real comfortable fit.Apart from taking big deep breaths at the price. My XV is a bit short and I kinda sit on the pillion seat sometimes.
My questions are.
Full Insurance is it seriously worth it and can it even be found at a reasonable rate.
Is the theft risk still higher for hogs than other bikes and if so what are the best ways of keeping your bike safe.
Anyone out there riding EVO softails have an opinion on them and has anyone who has owned a Harley gone back to another bike brand after.
Why are they so closely priced as km and age dont seem to count for much. All other vehicles depreciate like hell.
Does anyone have an idea of margins the dealers generally work on.

The Jap cruisers are still excellent bikes but this Harley thing has been chewing my arm off for years. Like they say there is never as good a time like the present.
Lots of questions. Thanks for any feedback.

A couple of things I hope help you mate...at six foot, I think you'd fit a Dyna (Wideglide perhaps) better. The Dyna frame is slightly larger than the Softail, so has a bit more leg room.

Ins is no big deal...HD's are no more expensive to insure than a Japanese bike.

Next...if you can afford it, do yourself a favour and buy a Twin Cam (99 on for the Dynas, and 2000 on for the Softails). Evo's will be worth next to nothing VERY shortly. New Harleys have come back in price 10% again this year, and the used market has (obviously) had to come back accordingly. Because we've now had Twin Cams for basically nine years, they're becoming far more affordable...and the poor old Evo is not that wanted anymore.

Feel free to PM me to see what I may have in the price range you want.

Pete (Wellington Motorcycles)

[The Lone Rider]

and a really thick skin...

Especially if you are a harley cruiser rider and use kb eh!?

[Coldrider]

and a really thick skin...

Will you still wave to us commoners....
I'm not a HD fan but the 'night train' is the coolest model.

[sheddy]

Hi Pete, have replied to Clint about one of your bikes. You guys have some nice stock at the moment but the pricing confuses the hell out of me. Some newer ones are cheaper than older higher km bikes. The blacked out bikes seem dearer than chromier versions.
Dynas vs softails. I guess you buy one style and then your next bike will be the other style.[ there is always the "next bike"]. Night style bikes just sell better I guess. Dyna models must handle better in the twisties due to ground clearance ?.Thanks

[Crasherfromwayback]

Dyna models must handle better in the twisties due to ground clearance ?.Thanks

Some Dynas do have better ground clearance...but because the motor is rubber mounted, the frame isn't held together as tightly as a Softail (rigid mount), so they can feel a tad vague with higher cornering speeds. It wasn't until '06' that the Dynas got much bigger frame tubes and better frame gusseting and much larger fork tube dia that they felt as stiff as a Softail.

[Headbanger]

A couple of things I hope help you mate...at six foot, I think you'd fit a Dyna (Wideglide perhaps) better. The Dyna frame is slightly larger than the Softail, so has a bit more leg room.

Ins is no big deal...HD's are no more expensive to insure than a Japanese bike.

Next...if you can afford it, do yourself a favour and buy a Twin Cam (99 on for the Dynas, and 2000 on for the Softails). Evo's will be worth next to nothing VERY shortly. New Harleys have come back in price 10% again this year, and the used market has (obviously) had to come back accordingly. Because we've now had Twin Cams for basically nine years, they're becoming far more affordable...and the poor old Evo is not that wanted anymore.

Feel free to PM me to see what I may have in the price range you want.

Pete (Wellington Motorcycles)

Interesting, Can you define next to nothing for me? Thanks. And if you could elaborate on "very shortly" I'll make sure to mark it on the calender.

Seems to me that all Harley dealerships have a cut off point/year whatever where they wont touch bikes from.Probably makes perfect sense for a company to ensure their stock is all less then 5 years old, Still doesn't mean squat out in the real world. Bikes your not interested in don't become worthless just because you won't touch them.

Not that I would pay your prices anyway.

Here's my prediction, Plenty of love out there for all era of Harley's. All are worth more then nothing, No skin off my nose if my bike has dropped a few grand when I go to sell it many many years down the road. I gauge worth on how much enjoyment I get from something not from supposed resale value.



Go with the gut.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Interesting, Can you define next to nothing for me? Thanks. And if you could elaborate on "very shortly" I'll make sure to mark it on the calender.

Seems to me that all Harley dealerships have a cut off point/year whatever where they wont touch bikes from.Probably makes perfect sense for a company to ensure their stock is all less then 5 years old, Still doesn't mean squat out in the real world. Bikes your not interested in don't become worthless just because you won't touch them.

Not that I would pay your prices anyway.

Here's my prediction, Plenty of love out there for all era of Harley's. All are worth more then nothing, No skin off my nose if my bike has dropped a few grand when I go to sell it many many years down the road. I gauge worth on how much enjoyment I get from something not from supposed resale value.



Go with the gut.

Settle dowm mate...I was trying to help. You tell me what an old Shovel or Iron Head Sporty is worth now? Not much right (unless it's a really original shovel, and then only certain models). So early Evo's will be worth very little shortly too. And an 80's Sporty is now only worth around 5-6k.

And you wouldn't pay our prices anyway? That's cool mate...but our prices are pretty fair I'd say. Especially as everything we sell comes with a full engine and gearbox warranty.

[peasea]

Settle dowm mate...I was trying to help. You tell me what an old Shovel or Iron Head Sporty is worth now? Not much right (unless it's a really original shovel, and then only certain models). So early Evo's will be worth very little shortly too. And an 80's Sporty is now only worth around 5-6k.

And you wouldn't pay our prices anyway? That's cool mate...but our prices are pretty fair I'd say. Especially as everything we sell comes with a full engine and gearbox warranty.

From the blue.............
We've been keeping an eye on your prices and stock for a few weeks, now that my other half has decided to buy a rubber-mounted 1200 Custom Sporty and I don't think your tags are over the top at all.

There's every chance we'll buy two machines early in the new year and I dare say Mr D will sharpen the pencil further for a double deal. There aren't many shops I'd do business with but you guys are on the short list.

I've had my details on your books for a while and even though I don't buy heaps from you the service is always good. Pass that on to your parts staff and keep up the good work.