TF - you checked out Indian? They make a better Harley than Harley does! I'm currently at seven bikes - my Indian "Vintage" (leather fringy bags and removable windshield) is my long distance cruiser and it's awesome. Worth a glance at the competition. Kevin
Easy to drop? How so? Does the law of gravity effect them differently? In the last 20 years I have dropped mine exactly twice.
The ones that I have ridden, you sit very low and thus have minimal leverage if it starts to tip. As opposed to a bike where you sit high and have lots of room to work with.
BTW, you make a great point. A few years back a buddy brought a full dresser Harley, in white, in Houston. We called it the wedding cake. He was a newbie so I told him I'd ride the bike home for him. Scared the ever loving piss outta me. There was one point where four lanes merged into four lanes. I was in the far left lane. On my right, there was a muther chucker who was jack balling outta town. He was running behind and making up time. Because I figured, correctly, he would love to make me into a grease mark on the highway, I decided to open the throttle and get out in front of his ass. I was doing about 70 when I laid the hammer down. Nothing. The bike made more noise, but I wasn't going any faster. Okay, Plan B. I'm gonna get on the brakes and let him roll on by. Slamming on the brakes scared me to death. First off, nothing happened, except the front end bottomed out. Apparently, the damn bike had no damping. SOB! I have never ridden on such an evil motorcycle in my life. When I finally got to my buddy's house, I took the keys and said I was going to throw them away. I was not going to let him ride such a horrible motorcycle. My current interest is in a put-put bike. I live on the far north edge of Houston, where the roads get good. I figure on put-putting around. I'm not going fast. I'm just gonna put put.
Here is an idea for you, Dale. Why don't you stop analyzing, and go down to your local Triumph dealer and buy a Bonneville (or Scrambler-- sit on them both), ride it home, and see what you think. If you hate it, you take it back to them and either trade it in on something else, or just have them sell it. You probably need to buy a helmet, jacket, boots, gloves... the full kit... as well. They'll even give you a discount! If it's the wrong bike, well, take it to the Harley dealer or the BMW dealer and try one of theirs. Or start there! But either way, just do something.
Agreed - The open road is waiting and time is wasting ... Get busy living or get busy dying ( Shawshank Redemption ). MDS
I would get Keanu to build my bike if I had your money. It is comfortable, custom and tailored. https://archmotorcycle.com/arch-krgt-1/
I don't remember money ever coming up? Anyway, you want one local to you. I would think tax season is when you want it the most! Nothing like a nice ride to clear the head.
"Tax" season NEVER ends. Never. It just gets longer and longer and longer. Motorcycling season HAS an end. Be it weather or health, it has an end.... Rode to the local track (FOX Raceway) yesterday to watch the kids ride. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yesterday, I had the chance to spend a couple of hours riding a PanAmerica. What a great bike! It shows that Harley can indeed build a great bike when they want to. The motor, especially, was nice-- lots of power. It handled and stopped pretty well too. That said, I was happy to get back on the 1200GS afterwards, but give Harley a few years and they might be able to give BMW some competition. Dale, a PanAmerica would be great for you. Although, I still think a Triumph 1200 Scrambler would be better-- more analog, and I know you have a soft spot for Triumph.
I know you think I over think things. Truthfully, this is the new me. For all my car/motorcycle life, I have been an opportunistic buyer. A "good deal" would fall into my lap, and I'd buy it, only to realize later it wasn't the best idea. Between 2003 and 2008, I don't want to think about the number of cars I bought and flipped. My current problem with a motorcycle is there are no good roads near me in Texas. There used to be. The best driving roads in Houston are right out my garage door (I'm 60 miles north of town). I've been riding them for about 40 years, but today it is a mess. Too many frigging people driving too frigging slow. The nearest good roads are a day's drive away in Arkansas. Why buy a motorcycle to sit in my garage?
Don't buy a Harley! There are so many better options out there. It's a mid-life cliche (even if your 72). Do however take the MSF Safety Foundation Rider Course. https://msf-usa.org/ I used to teach this. Great for "re-entry riders."
I'm in trouble. I'm in deep, deep trouble. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2010-harley-davidson-xr1200-2/
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login TF- where were you when I was selling my FXDWG2, a CVO known as the Switchblade. Had less than 800 miles. I am sure I posted it here. Best looking Harley ever! https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/2001-harley-davidson-fxdwg2-cvo-switchblade-710-miles.575649/
