getting new bike, GOT NEW BIKE

[dannylightning]

harley sportster 883 probably a 05 or 06 model used price 5k-6k
PROS.... just about the perfect size, love the way it feels when i get on one, more power than i really need, looks cool,
CONS.... price and im not quite sure how reliable Harley are, people have mixed things to say about them.

honda shadow 750 2000 or newer used price 3k-4k
Pros.... comfortable, great balance, more than enough power, looks nice, plenty of accessories available, its a honda probably run for ever
Cons....a little bigger than i would like it to be, does not feel as good to me as the Harley when i ride it.

honda shadow vlx 2000 or newer used price 3k-4k
pros.... about the right size, looks cool, SEEMS TO have enough power, really like the way it looks, its a honda
cons... . cost about as much as the 750, could be balanced a bit better but its not bad..


honestly i like just about everything about the Harley except its a little more money and i do have questions about the reliability with the harley. the seat is a bit uncomfortable but besides that there is just something about he way the bike rides and feels that i fell in love with give me your opinions on this. i really like the way the new sportsters look but i like the feel of the last generation of sportsters a lot more.

if you think i should pick up one of the Honda's instead please let me hear your point of view.

[Easy Rider]

the seat is a bit uncomfortable but besides that there is just something about he way the bike rides and feels that i fell in love with

if you think i should pick up one of the Honda's instead please let me hear your point of view.

You have actually ridden the 883 and didn't notice the vibration ???

I have an '07 VLX; HIGHLY recommended. Plenty of power.....up to about 75 and then not much after that. Vibrates a little. '07 was the last year.

In the end, you should get what makes you happy.......and that you can reasonably afford. A lot of used criusers come with ungodly loud pipes and sometimes other mods that are not desirable in the long run.......like modified air boxes and half-assed carb re-jetting. Be sure to ask about that kind of stuff.

AND......most importantly......don't buy anything that doesn't run PERFECTLY. When a seller says "It only needs xxxx." that really means that he doesn't really know WHAT the problem is and that's why he is selling it.

Don't overlook other things that are mid-range in size. We will probably hear a good report on the Kaw Vulcan 500 too.

[burkbuilds]

Since Easy Rider brought it up, I think it would be worth your time to check out the Vulcan 500. You can pick up a brand new 09 for less than the Harley and it's the last year that they are going to make it. I've found mine to be very nice so far, about 3400 miles this Summer. 60 mpg average and if you want to go, I've read that it's as fast 0-60 as any cruiser out there under 900 cc's. Top speed is over 100 (personal experience) and she was handling well even at that speed. I've made several trips between Chattanooga and Atlanta (120 miles or so) and she can run 80-85 in traffic without any problems. It's still a light enough bike that it is easy to handle, fairly close to the GZ, a little less close cornering ability in the parking lot though.
Having said all that, if you've actually ridden the Harley and not just sat on it in the parking lot, and you are happy with how it feels to you and how it handles and rides and you like it better than anything else you've ridden then get the Harley (I can't believe I said that?).

[dhgeyer]

Have not ridden a Sportster myself, but the 883's have a terrible reputation for vibration. Several people in my local club have them, and even at idle you can't see anything in the mirrors, they're shaking so violently. I believe they are neither counterbalanced nor rubber mounted. Harley went through some very bad years when they were owned by AMF. The bikes made during that time are sometimes called "bowling ball bikes". You don't want one of those. I don't know what years those were, but someone else here might. After a 200 mile or so ride, the people in our club riding the Sportsters are shot, and people riding other bikes less so.

I've owned 2 Honda 600 VLX's and one Kawasaki Vulcan 500. The VLX engine is smooth and very reliable. The mirrors are mounted fairly wide due to wide handlebars, making them actually useful for seeing behind you. That's about all I can say about them that's good in comparison to the Vulcan. The VLX has only a 4 speed transmission, and first gear is, by necessity rather tall, requiring a lot of clutch slippage to get going. I didn't find the VLX to be very comfortable on longer rides. It could use a better seat. I once did a valve clearance check/adjustment on a VLX, and it was awful. Being a V-twin there are 2 valve covers, and they are both a nightmare to get off as I recall. I didn't particularly care for the way the airbox mounted, as it didn't seal well unless I used some kind of goop. Shouldn't be necessary. The gas tank on the VLX is less than 3 gallons. On the highway you get only a little over a hundred miles before you hit reserve (at least that was my experience). Fuel economy was not good on the highway for me.

The Vulcan 500 is a parallel twin, six speed transmission. Much quicker off the line, much more comfortable (wonderful stock saddle), and far easier to work on if that's a consideration. I think the fuel economy is some better, especially on the highway. Top speed is faster, I think, although I never had the VLX's up near top end, so I'm not sure. The handlebars are narrower on the Vulcan, making the mirrors less useful.

My neighbor had the Honda 750 Shadow for years. I never rode his, but I did take one for a test ride once. Smooth engine, good saddle, good mirrors. I think it has the best features of the various bikes you mentioned if you don't mind it being a little more expensive, and the fuel economy won't be quite as good. It will have a lot of aftermarket accessories available as well, which the Vulcan and the VLX don't as much. You can get a very nice windshield with lowers in a variety of heights for the Shadow 750, for example. You can also get a Mustang saddle for the 750 for about $400.00 or so (last I checked anyway). That Mustang saddle is almost as comfy as the stock saddle on the Vulcan 500.....

Hope this is helpful.

[Water Warrior 2]

Upgrade time is it ? Hmmm, can't help much with any riding experience of the bikes mentioned. But I will tell you what I did prior to getting my Vstrom. Went looking and test sitting at the dealers. I was buying new but the same applies to used wherever you look. Made a short list which you have already done. Here is the good part. Just spent a whole bunch of time lurking on forums of your choosen bikes. Pay attention to maintenance issues and their costs, maintenance intervals, mods that seemingly have to be done to correct a factory wart, overall comfort, vibration of course and the amount of aftermarket stuff for the bike. Also how long the average owner keeps their bike and whether they regret buying it to begin with, and why. Everything you read and hear should be taken with a grain of salt of course. Some forums seem to attract groups of one-upmanship heros that have a better bike than anyone else. Don't believe it for a minute, all bikes are basically good and they are just waiting for the right rider to take them home. Forums are your best source of info, don't count on a salesman to be real truthful with any inquiries. Don't count on a private seller who is real vague on maintenance and any damage to a bike. Now I can sit back and wait for your next bike to appear.

[alanmcorcoran]

I don't know anything about any of the bikes you are looking at (except I have sat on a shadow and almost bought one.) However, here are a few things I wish I'd paid some more attention to before I upgraded:

1) Insurance (may not be a factor. My new bike cost a lot more to insure than the GZ.)
2) Cruising range (dhgeyer mentioned this.) Very important to me. My bike's is on the low side. Esp in town.
3) Octane gas recommended. Mine needs 91 or better.
4) Heat generated (my bike gets pretty hot on the chrome surfaces. This may be the case in general. The Strat is a lot hotter than the GZ.)

Here are other things I did pay attention to that were also important:

1) storage/hard luggage
2) smoothness of engine/lack of vibration (mine purrs like a little kitty... ok, maybe a BIG kitty)
3) Drive (I like belt drive.)
4) Fuel Injection
5) seat height (I can put both feet flat on the ground.)
6) engine rpm sweet spot - My bike really feels good at 65-70 @ 3000 RPM's. It's a nice solid purr. Some bikes are working extra hard at this speed and shake and whine.
7) Quiet. (I don't need to impress the neighbors with how much noise I can make.)

Good luck and enjoy your new bike!

[dannylightning]

all some good points you guys listed,

well the sportster i rode did not seem to have that much vibration. could it just be the older models vibrated a lot.

vlx questnion, when your doing 65 or 70 how high is the bike reved up.

i think i will check out a vulcan before i decide on any of these bikes..

[johnjh2o]

Go with the Shadow 750. Much better balance then the Harley & as the vlx is a good starter bike it is a four speed.
Besides the GZ I also have a 1330 VTX by Honda. I ride the GZ around town and use the VTX for extended trips. I have 39000 mi on that bike with break downs (other then flat tires) not to many Harley riders can say that. Good luck on your new bike, what ever one you decide on.

John

[dannylightning]

my conclusion now is im probably gonna skip the harley, i think i would prefer it but a honda would be much more practicle. harley parts and service is expensive, i would imagine insurance on one would be sky high also.

my concern with the vlx is what kind of comfortable cruzing speed can you get on one. if it will comfortably cruz at 65-70mph i would be quite happy with it. i don't need a big old power plant or any thing thats gonna shoot down the road like a rocket, i just want something that will have good highway speeds. i dont do much freeway driving and when i do its usually short trips only on the gz, i feel i should not run it over 60mph for any extended period of time. and would like to be able to cruz at a constant speed of 65 when the speed limit allows.

i found a nice 06 vlx for a little under 4 grand with 3k some miles on it. it has some pipes on it that sound great. just about the right volume too. not gonna shake any one windows or be heard for mile. just loud enough to let your presence be known. every thing else is stock on the bike. well there was a sissy bar and saddle bags but those would come right off. only thing about it is the front tire has a bit of dry rot.

cant seem to find any used vulcans in the area to go and look at. closest one i have found so far is about a hour away.

[Easy Rider]

my concern with the vlx is what kind of comfortable cruzing speed can you get on one. if it will comfortably cruz at 65-70mph i would be quite happy with it.

i found a nice 06 vlx for a little under 4 grand with 3k some miles on it. it has some pipes on it that sound great.

Here's the thing, the 600 VLX will do 65 in third. The vibration gets pretty bad above 60 though.
In that respect it is somewhat like the GZ.......with the scale moved up about 20 mph. It cruises comfortably at 70 but runs out of horsepower about 80 or so......and starts vibrating too.

You might be surprised to find that the pipes on it are STOCK; mine are and they have a nice growl when pushed but quiet otherwise.

And I can't for the life of me figure out how people think more gears is better. You end up with almost exactly the same final drive ratio and just have to shift more to get there. These bikes aren't supposed to be lightning quick and they aren't meant for racing......the only 2 reasons I can see for having extra gears. The clutch operation does take a little getting used to; kind of like starting a stock GZ in second.

[dannylightning]

You might be surprised to find that the pipes on it are STOCK; mine are and they have a nice growl when pushed but quiet otherwise.


do your pipes say cobra on them :poke2:they did get close to the too loud mark but only when you really gave it some throttle but they purred like a kitten driving normally. unlike some of those pipes that scream the second you start the bike up. the last vlx i looked at had some really damn loud pipes on it and the sounded like ass.


you know even at 70+ mph on my gz it runs quite smooth, no real noticeable shaking or vibrating just the annoying rehhhhhhhhhhh sound from the motor when the rpm's are up that high. i rarley ever get the gz up to that kind of speed but i have a few times just to do it and it ran quite smooth. i had it up to about 75mph and im sure it still had some more left in it but i did not want to push it any further so i backed off the throttle when i got around 75mph.

[dannylightning]

It cruises comfortably at 70 but runs out of horsepower about 80 or so......and starts vibrating too.

sounds just about right to me. going between 55-65 comfortably is just about perfect in my opinion and if you still got some power left over to get up to 80 quickly for any reason that sounds ideal, i cant ever see my self going much over 65 or 70 mph ever unless i had to.

[alanmcorcoran]

Out here you gotta be able to cruise at 70-75 or risk being run off the road. The limit is 65 in the greater LA area, but very,very few people obey the limit. I suspect average speed is closer to 72 or higher. On the other hand, I rarely find the need to go 80 or above. In So Cal, freeways are where you are going to be riding if the bike is more than a weekend toy and it's best that you get one that is comfortable on them (with all due respect, the GZ is not a great bike for freeways.) If I stll lived in rural New York State, I think the GZ would be very happy on the state roads. I kind of agree with Easy - if you don't need the gears, there's not much benefit. I don't shift like an expert, but generally, I click up to the top, down to the bottom, up to the top down to the bottom. Rarely stay very long in any of the one's in between.

I'd double check on the "service" price differences between Japanese/HD. I pay pretty big bucks for dealer service on the Yamaha. Find it hard to believe that the HD guys would be that much more. HD guys out here are hurting - but I've not checked service prices. I bought my wife a real nice pair of HD boots for about 40% off - they were cheaper than the off-brand ones and better quality.

[Easy Rider]

do your pipes say cobra on them :poke2:

Nope. Honda!! :roll:

[dannylightning]

Out here you gotta be able to cruise at 70-75 or risk being run off the road. The limit is 65 in the greater LA area, but very,very few people obey the limit. I suspect average speed is closer to 72 or higher. On the other hand, I rarely find the need to go 80 or above. In So Cal, freeways are where you are going to be riding if the bike is more than a weekend toy and it's best that you get one that is comfortable on them (with all due respect, the GZ is not a great bike for freeways.) If I stll lived in rural New York State, I think the GZ would be very happy on the state roads. I kind of agree with Easy - if you don't need the gears, there's not much benefit. I don't shift like an expert, but generally, I click up to the top, down to the bottom, up to the top down to the bottom. Rarely stay very long in any of the one's in between.

I'd double check on the "service" price differences between Japanese/HD. I pay pretty big bucks for dealer service on the Yamaha. Find it hard to believe that the HD guys would be that much more. HD guys out here are hurting - but I've not checked service prices. I bought my wife a real nice pair of HD boots for about 40% off - they were cheaper than the off-brand ones and better quality.

well i dont know for sure but i have always heard a harley is a expensive bike to own due to parts and service cost. when it breaks get ready to empty your wallet and than some according to some folks..

[Dupo]

Danny, you seem like a biker-ish enough guy..... Do yourself a favor and dont be afraid of the 'bigness' of buying a new bike. You'll lose that feeling after a week of riding. A 750 is peanuts really when it comes down to whats available out there. ANYTHING will go highway speed .... its how quick you wanna GET to that speed and how much you want to have left over when you hit that speed.

I say this because the VLX 600 and the Vulcan 500 really are low end CC bikes on todays market. If you want a putt putt bike, then there ya go. Those two are great examples of 'just enough bike' to hit the highway. Easy kinda killed his own ride there ... low top speed and nothing left if needed and, it vibrates.

I really suggest you look for at least a 750 ... on up to an 1100 or 1300. Don't put yourself into the same predicament you are in now a year from now when you are used to the next notch bike and wanna go bigger again. (it will happen). You WILL get used to a bigger bike very quickly. May not seem it now, but you'll thank me later.

My story, started on the GZ ... 250cc ... a tricycle basically. Great learner ... no frigging power and small as hell. I needed more. I too, was intimidated by a 750. But i remembered how i overcame obstacles with learning on the GZ and bit the bullet and got the 750. 1 week of riding and i was as comfortable as could be. NOW .... i fling that thing around like the GZ, like an extension of my body. Ya know what, i shoulda went bigger.................

Food for thought Danny.

Good Luck.

[alanmcorcoran]

Not sure if it's of any use to you, but to reiterate Dupo's point: I got my first motorcycle (the GZ) last June and went directly from that to a 1900cc (1854 technically) in January and I am loving it. I've taken some teasing because it's been down twice (and the GZ never went down) but both times were low speed miscalculations that resulted in me basically setting it down and collecting some minor scratches (to the bike.) I just got back from a night out and the ride home on the superslab with no traffic and at 75-80 was just as thrilling as the first day I got the GZ over 40. There's probably no such thing as a perfect bike, and I've mentioned a few flaws with the Strat, but I have never regretted the size or the power and it handles a lot better on the highway than the GZ. In addition to the afore mentioned set-downs, I've had two near misses - both times I reacted on instinct, locked, un locked and relocked up the front wheel, skidded a bit, but recovered and did not hit the cage in front of me. The Strat has dual gigantic disc brakes on the front and pretty awesome stopping power. Bottom line, even though it's heavy, it's well designed so that even a newb like me can avoid some accidents.

Re HD stuff: I think you have to actually check out all HD horror stories. Some are definitely true: I've talked to some guys that had the super hot air cooled engine problems for example, and I've personally witnessed some very rough idling HD's, but I've also seen lots and lots of very happy codgers tooling around on their pristine Electra Glides etc. When I was shopping, I got hosed pricewise on my first bike but got a great deal on my second - both were Japanese. So some of the fault on paying through the nose lies with me and my timing or negotiation skills.

[Easy Rider]

I say this because the VLX 600 and the Vulcan 500 really are low end CC bikes on todays market. If you want a putt putt bike, then there ya go. Those two are great examples of 'just enough bike' to hit the highway. Easy kinda killed his own ride there ... low top speed and nothing left if needed and, it vibrates.


"Just enough bike to hit the highway" is exactly what I wanted AND it is what Danny expressed too.......so it would seem that you are trying to push him into something that he neither wants or needs. My VLX runs very smoothly, for a V-twin, at any speed I will ever run it.

With a top speed somewhere around 100, the Vulcan 500 is MORE than adequate for any highway situation. With a top speed somewhere around 80, the VLX is MORE than adequate for my situation where it will NEVER see a "big city" interstate where it is necessary to go over 70.

The last bike I had was a 600 cc 4 cylinder Kaw Eliminator. IT would do 100 with 2 gears left and would top out about 140 (claimed, I never tried that). The size of the engine doesn't necessarily equate to performance......although you persist making a blanket claim that it does as thought it was a fact........which it isn't. The Ninja 250 keeps up with highway traffic quite nicely, as a matter of fact.

You also seem to repeatedly give the impression that anybody who doesn't share your view of the biking world is somehow shortsighted and stupid for not heeding your advice. I find that distasteful.......but that's just my opinion. YOUR opinion is just that, an opinion and it certainly doesn't apply to everybody.

[dannylightning]

Danny, you seem like a biker-ish enough guy..... Do yourself a favor and dont be afraid of the 'bigness' of buying a new bike. You'll lose that feeling after a week of riding. A 750 is peanuts really when it comes down to whats available out there. ANYTHING will go highway speed .... its how quick you wanna GET to that speed and how much you want to have left over when you hit that speed.



I really suggest you look for at least a 750 Don't put yourself into the same predicament you are in now a year from now when you are used to the next notch bike and wanna go bigger again. (it will happen).
.

well dupo the intimidation factor has died, big bike, no big deal but for some reason i am drawn to the mid size bikes like the vlx and sportster, i just like the way they look. i really do like the way the 750 shadows feel, they are super comfortable but when i look at the vlx or a sportster i like it a lot more. unless the 750 has been modified, for example your ride. but when i buy something i want to get a nice set of pipes on it that sound good and make just enough noise, maybe some drag bars and pretty much leave it at that. possibly a custom rear fender,

in all honesty if the gz had just a little more power and was a bit more highway friendly i would almost be happy with it except its not the coolest bike out there by any means. every time i park it next to another bike especially my buddys harley night train im just like my bike sucks or even a Yamaha virago. :cry: i don't feel cool riding around a gz no offence to any of you gz riders but to me this is kind of like the geo metro of bikes. i would be happy with something that is more like the honda civic of bikes if that makes any sence :lol: don't get me wrong these gz's are great little bikes and im glad i started out on one.

i think what im looking for here is just a bit more power and something that has a bit more of a cool factor, at my weight 140-150 lbs the gz speeds up plenty fast, it just lacks a little on top end. my main reason for having a bike is enjoyment, i love to ride, when i got nothing to do i can hop on that thing and go cruz around town and i would like to feel half way cool while doing it.

most of my highway trips are gong to be short. around here the speed limits are 55 on most highways and 65 on a few. most people drive really close the the speed limit here so i think the vlx would be ideal plus i don't like to go fast, i like to crus and enjoy my self. i just want to make sure what ever i get is going to be capable of constantly crusing at 65 and is capalble of getting up to 80mph some what easily just encase i ever need it, i don't care how fast it speeds up as longs as its some what quick, and i can get up to a descent speed by the time i go down the highway ramp and get on the highway.

bottom line all i want, a cooler bike that will cruz at highway speeds. i see absolutely no reason to get something that will tear down the road lightning fast. if i wanted that i would buy a crotch rocket. the gz almost does the trick for me but not quite so i really think something like a vlx would be perfect.

i think this posting pretty much explains what im looking for and need out of a bike.riding season here is probably gonna be over in a month or so. i think what im going to do here is take my time. really decide what bike i want. 4k-6k is about all i want to spend preferably on the lower end of the price range if possible.

please feel free to keep giving your advice and suggestions. i am listening and keeping in mind what you guys halve to say. it may sound like im dead set on the vlx but im not. im just saying i think it would do the trick hands down if i did pick one up and trying to make clear what i would be happy with in a bike.

[dhgeyer]

Well, Danny, it sounds like you're as much concerned with appearance and image as anything else. I don't mean that as a criticism. If that's what throws your switch..... And you're on a budget, you are quite clear about that also.

I'm beginning to think Easy might be right - the VLX might be just what you want. It was originally styled after a particular model of Harley, I don't know which one. But it has a bigger looking engine than it really is, and it is a V twin, has the relatively skinny front tire and fat rear tire, generally styled to look like a cool cruiser, which it does. It will go as fast as you need to go, given your description of your riding. Also, I've found, if you get a good deal on a used one and outgrow it in a year or so, it's not the end of the world. Keep it up and keep it clean, and you'll get a good percentage of your money back. Add some more money and you can get something bigger. No, that's not the most economically efficient way to do it, but it might be the most fun way, and it might be the right way for you.

My biggest dislikes about the VLX were the tall first gear, and the fact that routine maintenance is harder than on some other bikes. If you're not going to do your own wrenching, then you don't care about the second point. If you don't have a driving need to come off the line real fast, and don't mind slipping the clutch, then the tall first gear won't bother you. If all you've ridden is a GZ250, it won't seem bad at all.

I actually rode a 2004 VLX from here in New Hampshire to Virginia and back in 2005. I did about a 1500 mile circuit around NY State on the same bike. It's not the most comfortable ride, but if you take your time you can do it. I never had an issue with it not having enough power or speed. The short range was annoying at times, but I got used to it.

If you have any inclination to mount hard bags, look into LeatherLyke. They make, or at least made, a set of removable, lockable hardbags for the VLX. Mounting is a beast of a job. You have to relocate the turn signals, including rewiring them. They give you the whole kit, everything your need, but it's still not a simple job. There's a lot to be said for some secure storage on a motorcycle. Another good thing about the LeatherLyke system is that the bags mount to a pair of nice shiny studs. When you dismount the bags (easy), there isn't anything left that looks bad or out of place on the bike.

In closing, I'd like to offer a different point of view with respect to some of your comments. I have two much larger bikes than the GZ, but when I pull into my motorcycle club meeting, or up to the gas pump next to a bigger bike, or whatever, I'm proud to be on the GZ250. It's a practical, useful, fun, environmentally responsible vehicle. I believe that if more people rode smaller bikes and drove smaller cars, America would be a more secure nation. At this point in my life, I'd rather have that to prove than my ability to conspicuously consume.

[VTXorcist]

I don't know if this helps, but I see lots of Honda 600's and 750's for around 3-4k here in the Raleigh area. I especially think the 750's are a nice mix of power and maneuvering. Big enough to do some serious touring yet light enough to feel like you can muscle it around some. I love my VTX1300 and I don't think I could find a more comfortable bike (after I replaced the butt-numbing stock seat, of course), but I sometimes wish I had gone a little smaller. It definitely lacks some of the nimbleness I feel when I ride my buddy's Shadow 750. Of course, I haven't ridden a 600, so I can't comment on whether it would fit the bill as well.

[Easy Rider]

I'm proud to be on the GZ250. It's a practical, useful, fun, environmentally responsible vehicle.

That's how I felt about the GZ.....AND it's how I feel about the VLX too. It still gets ~ 60 MPG; often a little more. Like Danny said.......what I really wanted was a GZ with a 400 inline twin in it. Alas, nobody makes anything like that anymore.

There are still times that I feel the VLX is too heavy (I'm a relatively small person......and getting older) but seem to be slowly getting over that as time goes along. I don't even notice that the clutch is different anymore. The taller first gear makes you pay more attention to what you are doing and I think you end up with a better technique overall.

[dannylightning]

I don't know if this helps, but I see lots of Honda 600's and 750's for around 3-4k here in the Raleigh area. I especially think the 750's are a nice mix of power and maneuvering. Big enough to do some serious touring yet light enough to feel like you can muscle it around some. I love my VTX1300 and I don't think I could find a more comfortable bike (after I replaced the butt-numbing stock seat, of course), but I sometimes wish I had gone a little smaller. It definitely lacks some of the nimbleness I feel when I ride my buddy's Shadow 750. Of course, I haven't ridden a 600, so I can't comment on whether it would fit the bill as well.

i would think that some of the larger bikes might lack a bit in the handling department. a 750 shadow would the the most practical i think minus the gas milage. in the field of comfort and good balance it beat just about every bike i looked at so far. right now im thinking about how good that bike did feel when i was on it. and maybee i should not sacrofice that for something i like the looks of a little more. the 750 was more comfortable tan the vlx by far. i think the 750 has a lower center of gravity witch is probably part of why it feels better balanced and lighter than the vlx did, i think the vlx was a little top heavy..

you probably have a good point nice about the mix of power and maneuvering with the 750 and dupo does have a valid point in his post as well, what if, just what if i do get that vlx and get tired of it fast. 600 compared to a 750 dosent seem like it would be that much difference but i know there is a pretty good jump in power with the 750, i guess that could come in handy and im sure it would be a little more fun. a little more than enough power might be a better idea than just enough, especially when its in the same price range. you guys really got me thinking. glad i decided to think about it instead of take that vlx i liked home yesterday.

i was looking on craigs list and you can get a nice 750 shadow in the price range you mentioned. only thing is i think i would prefer the model with the shaft drive over the chain drive and those aren't quite as cheep. any one think the shaft drive would really be worth paying a bit more for.

[dannylightning]

I'm proud to be on the GZ250. It's a practical, useful, fun, environmentally responsible vehicle.

That's how I felt about the GZ.....AND it's how I feel about the VLX too. It still gets ~ 60 MPG; often a little more.

so the vlx gets about 60+ mpg ??


what kind of milage do you actually get out of a 750 shadow.


the wheels in my head are spinning like crazy, im so confused. most things i know exactly what i want when i go to pick one up. but when it comes to choosing a bike there is so much to think about.

[bonehead]

Two wheels + 45mpg+=good conservation in my book.

[VTXorcist]

Shaft drive is nice. Depends on how much $$ you can save and how much of a pain you consider chain maintenance to be, I guess. You do lose a tiny bit of power with the shaft drive, I've heard.

[dhgeyer]

Take a deep breath......

So many bikes - SO LITTLE TIME!!!!

[Easy Rider]

any one think the shaft drive would really be worth paying a bit more for.

Yes.

[Easy Rider]

so the vlx gets about 60+ mpg ??

what kind of milage do you actually get out of a 750 shadow.



Yes. I haven't quite gotten over enjoying the extra TORQUE yet but even at that, I've gotten 63 on a couple of tanks. Probably could do better with a little less right wrist .....and maybe a smaller shield too.

As for the 750's (and there are several different ones), I don't know.

You might want to browse around here for a bit:
http://www.hondashadow.net/forum/

And I haven't said it in this thread yet but I strongly encourage you to NOT buy anything used without a test ride of some kind or a 4 hour return. You can do all the research in the world but until you get YOUR ass in the seat, you never really know how you will like it. And until you see and hear it run through the gears, you don't REALLY know if it is running right or not.

Some days I'm sorry I didn't test the Vulcan 500 first because it DOES have somewhat better performance.......but then there are SO many people that say:" Oooooo....nice bike".....with the bright red and lots of chrome. Even a couple of Harley riders; honest truth.

I think I'll keep it for a while. :cool:

[dannylightning]

Two wheels + 45mpg+=good conservation in my book.

heck i some times get up to 42mpg out of my car 200+ miles on 5 gal of gas. you would really think that any motorcycle would be able to get around 100 mpg or so due the the weight and size, i mean if a car witch is much bigger and weights so much more can get over 40mpg. why is it a motorcycle that only weights a few hundred lbs does not get crazy good gas milage.

any ways, i have done a lot of thinking and im leaning twards the 750 shadow, comfort, good amount of power, reliable, still in production and you can get one used some what cheep.

after talking to some people about the 883 sportsters i will definately pass on that. the vlx well i really like the way it looks and gets descent gas milage but in all honesty i did not find it to be the most comfortable bike and something about it seemed kind of akward.

selling my bike on friday, im gonna sell a few things on ebay or craigs list that i dont need or ever use any more, so im thinking i will have around 4k to spend on a bike in the next week or two. i shouldn't have any problem finding a nice shadow for 4k or less.

any one think the shaft drive would really be worth paying a bit more for.

Yes.


Me, too, now that I have a shaft drive (V Star 650 Custom). I've heard, as was mentioned by someone else, that you might lose some power as compared to chain drive (especially when cornering), but I think you'd have to be a very experienced/aggressive rider for this to matter much. I still feel like I should be doing more to maintain my bike, but I think I may have been a little anal with how often I cleaned the chain on the GZ. I think about that sometimes when I"m out riding (not cleaning a chain) :neener:.

Keith

[dhgeyer]

Back before O-Ring chains, the superiority of shaft drive over a chain was almost a no-brainer. With the advent of chains that can last up to 30 thousand miles, it's a little less clear. True, you don't have to mess with a shaft drive every few hundred miles, or after riding in the rain. But, when they do require maintenance it is a bigger job, and one that not everyone will tackle on their own. The final drive must be removed, and drive shaft splines greased. The rear ones aren't too bad, but every so often you have to take the swingarm off and grease the ones up front. Also, the oil seals can fail, and replacing them is a job only a shop should tackle.

Add it all up, and the shaft still requires less effort overall, but the difference is not as dramatic as it used to be.

Belt drive might just be the best answer to date. I'm surprised more bikes haven't gone that route.

[Easy Rider]

the vlx well i really like the way it looks and gets descent gas milage but in all honesty i did not find it to be the most comfortable bike and something about it seemed kind of akward.


There you go! Whatever works best for you is the right solution.
Looks are good but the RIDE is the important thing.
I forgot, have you actually looked at/ridden the Vulcan 500 or the Vstar 650 ??

Now, to complicate your life even further...... :roll: ....... a really popular mid-sized cruiser lately has been the Suzuki M50 or it's sportier cousin, the S50. 800 cc but not really TOO big.

Don't rush into anything !!! :shocked: :crackup

[dannylightning]

the vlx well i really like the way it looks and gets descent gas milage but in all honesty i did not find it to be the most comfortable bike and something about it seemed kind of akward.


There you go! Whatever works best for you is the right solution.
Looks are good but the RIDE is the important thing.
I forgot, have you actually looked at/ridden the Vulcan 500 or the Vstar 650 ??

Now, to complicate your life even further...... :roll: ....... a really popular mid-sized cruiser lately has been the Suzuki M50 or it's sportier cousin, the S50. 800 cc but not really TOO big.

Don't rush into anything !!! :shocked: :crackup


i am fimilliar with the m50, too big and hard to find used for cheep. probably have a hard time fitting the bike and the car in the garage with that. it is a nice bike tho. the vstar 650 well its so damn wide or the pipe sticks out so wide wide that when ever when i put my right leg down it sets directly agaist the exhaust pipe. and my left leg sets drirectly on the engine when i put it down. i don't want a bike where i have to be that carefull not to burn my legs off., cant find any used vulcans to go and check out. closest one is about a hour away..

tons of shadows availabe and i like them best out of every thing i tired out.

[Easy Rider]

cant find any used vulcans to go and check out. closest one is about a hour away..


My local dealer has had 2 NEW Vulcan 500's on the lot most of the summer; marked down almost $1k......to about $4700, I think. This is a good time of the year to negotiate good deals on NEW bikes (and used ones) at the dealers. They REALLY don't want to be sitting on them all winter if they can help it.

[dhgeyer]

Couple more thoughts about the VLX, if you decide to go that route. I'd forgotten to mention this before. They made changes to the bike somewhere around 1999 or '98, I forget exactly. We had two of them at the same time. I rode an '04 and my wife rode a '95. It was kind of a fluke that we wound up in that configuration - I won't go into it. Didn't last very long. I traded mine for a Ninja 500. I digress again, sorry.
They looked almost identical except for color, but underneath there were some significant changes. Short version: the older one had a much better saddle and more power. The newer model had only one carburator. The older one had what looked like a single carb, but it was really two carbs in a single unit. They needed to be synced like any other multi-carb bike. The loss was, oh, I think about 5 hp on the newer ones. Not a biggie, but noticeable. The older one ran a little smoother, too. The newer one was a little easier to work on, as the air filter came off a little easier, and the front valve cover wasn't such a nightmare to get out. Also, I don't think the Leatherlyke bags were compatible with the older model, if that's a consideration.

[Dupo]

Well danny if you are looking at a shadow 750 on C-list ... chain vs shaft on these bikes depend on what you want to do with it. If you are wanting to change a sprocket to lower the RPMs on the highway (which most do) then you'll want chain drive. Also, if you ever want to lower it a little bit with a lowering kit you'll also need to go with chain drive. Shaft drive on the 750 shadows are just that, shaft drive and you cant do much with the rear end.

And yes easy, it IS my opinion. I offer it ..... take it or leave it, but dont give me shit every time i offer it. It may not apply to everyone, but to some it will. So whats the problem?? I don't see anywhere that i PUSHED him into anything. I offered my advise and if it helped, great. If not ... thats fine too. Again, whats the problem??

If you want coolness factor and a highly customizable and aftermarket part available (and cheap to do it) bike ... the shadow 750 is the way to go. You won't find another bike with SO many parts available to make it to your liking. (ok, NOW im pushing him, scold me all ya want).

In the end, you'll get what YOU want. I say it again, good luck.

[Water Warrior 2]

I have to agree with Dupo on the aftermarket stuff for a Shadow. Probably the easiest bike to change or modify. Only the name will remain the same in some cases. The 750 class has been around for decades and the market reflects this.

[Easy Rider]

And yes easy, it IS my opinion. I offer it ..... take it or leave it, but dont give me shit every time i offer it. It may not apply to everyone, but to some it will. So whats the problem??

It is not what you say but HOW you say it. We've been over this before and, it seems, that you just don't get the difference between expressing an opinion and, instead stating your "opinion" as though it was a fact.

In addition, you come across as dismissive of others thoughts and feelings; condescending mostly. As long as you continue to do it THAT way, I'll be right behind you calling you on it.

"If you want a putt putt bike, then there ya go. "

So, what the hell is a "putt-putt" bike? Sounds like the words were chosen to be insulting.

".......when you are used to the next notch bike and wanna go bigger again. (it will happen)."

You aren't a mind reader. Just because it happened to you doesn't mean it will to everybody.
The market is not glutted with used 500-600 bikes that nobody wants; seems to me quite the opposite is happening and they are somewhat hard to find. That would tend to indicate that it has not happened to a LOT of people. I've been riding for 40+ years and never wanted a bike bigger than 600 cc's. Just because YOU say it will happen doesn't mean it will.

Further, I would suggest that there is a significant number of riders who end up with a bike that is just TOO BIG for them and they have to sell it and back off a bit; some are so stubborn about it though that they have to wreck it or have it fall on them before they stop listening to their "friends" who keep telling them "stick with it. You'll be OK."

That's what the problem IS.

[alanmcorcoran]

Belt drive might just be the best answer to date. I'm surprised more bikes haven't gone that route.

I have belt drive on the Strat. To be honest, I couldn't tell you how it differs in performance or feel from the chain drive on the GZ, but the Strat is wicked quick and very smooth. When I think of a belt I think of alternators, radiator fans and A/C compressors, slippage, wear and ill-timed snappage, but they sure seem to work good on the Yamaha.

[mrlmd1]

My S50 is shaft drive, handles just as nimbly as the GZ, very quick, weighs less than the Vulcan or VLX. 805cc, and did I mention, quick ?
From reading and IMHO, shaft drive is extremely reliable. little maintenance required, is quiet, and doesn't affect performance, mileage, ride, or anything that can be noticed by any of us, and I doubt by anybody else. If you find a bike you like for whatever other reason, and it has shaft drive, that goes into the plus column.

[Water Warrior 2]

My S50 is shaft drive, handles just as nimbly as the GZ, very quick, weighs less than the Vulcan or VLX. 805cc, and did I mention, quick ?
From reading and IMHO, shaft drive is extremely reliable. little maintenance required, is quiet, and doesn't affect performance, mileage, ride, or anything that can be noticed by any of us, and I doubt by anybody else. If you find a bike you like for whatever other reason, and it has shaft drive, that goes into the plus column.


The M-50 forum has a bit of a warning about the drive shaft. I am sure it is the same shaft and probably has the same built in oops at the factory. Seems Suzuki forgot to lube the shaft parts. There has been some failures due to lack of lubrication. The higher the milage the greater the risk of failure. Lynda's "M" will get a going over next spring so she doesn't get an expensive repair that could be avoided with a little grease where it counts. Here's hoping enough riders scream about it and Suzuki does a recall. It isn't a real difficult home job but I don't really have a great place to work on the bike. Maybe my local Yammer dealer needs a change of brands to play with.

[mrlmd1]

I'll look for that but I haven't heard of it anywhere else. On another forum I sometimes visit, one member has had 2 S50's and has over 200,000 miles between the 2 of them ( one got wrecked at 135.000 miles, the other has over 75,000 miles now) and has had no problems with the shaft drive.

[dannylightning]

And yes easy, it IS my opinion. I offer it ..... take it or leave it, but dont give me shit every time i offer it. It may not apply to everyone, but to some it will. So whats the problem??

It is not what you say but HOW you say it. We've been over this before and, it seems, that you just don't get the difference between expressing an opinion and, instead stating your "opinion" as though it was a fact.

i think im gonna halve to stick up for dupo on this one. easy you seeem like a cool and helpful guy when i read dupos post i dont feel like he was being pushy or any thing else, the way i see it the guy is just the guy is just saying it the way he sees it. and he feels a person might out grow the 600cc way faster than a 750cc. it really gave me alot to think about. and if i remember correctly it said food for thought in that first post. thats exactly what it was.

The gz sold today, its still in my garage but i got the money for it. i sold it to my good friend, after he goes out and gets some kind of wheel lock or what ever im gonna ride it over to his house. some one cut the chain off his 125cc scooter and drove away on it or drove away with it. pretty lousy, he did get the insurance money so thats cool. I hope he dosent kill him self learning to use the clutch, he has never even drove a stick shift car. if he survives it will be cool to have a buddy to go cruz around town with. any one know a good site that explains how to shift a motorcycle. something like how to shift for dummies :lol:

i think what is confusing to him is that first gear is one down and the rest of the gears are one up and nuteral is kind of in the middle there.

[Water Warrior 2]

Danny, send your good friend to a riding course. He will be taught properly by professionals. This will get him on the right path to safe riding.

[VTXorcist]

Seconded. He doesn't want to have his first mistake be in the middle of a busy intersection.

EDIT: Congrats on the sale of the GZ, though! Especially to a friend who's close by. Now you can borrow it and pretend you're still part of the "cool" crowd with us. :)

[dannylightning]

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=575277&albumID=1263643&imageID=63877441

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=575277&albumID=1263643&imageID=63877353


well i got a bike.. nothing any where near close to what i wanted. but i fell in love 3 thousand for the bike. 6k miles on it. suzuki intruder volutia.. reminds me of a old indain...

[Water Warrior 2]

Danny, that is a sweet looking ride. Just barely broke in for you. My opinion only but you got a virtually new bike for a used price. There are a fair amount of aftermarket pieces available when the time is right. Just curious but do you have a service record ??

[alanmcorcoran]

You liking the power?

[Water Warrior 2]

You liking the power?

The roll on power of a 805 cc V-twin is sweet. Lynda loves finding long hills to climb and accelerating all the way up. No more planning a way to tackle that hill, just twist and go.

[Easy Rider]

but i fell in love 3 thousand for the bike. 6k miles on it. suzuki intruder volutia.. reminds me of a old indain...

Let's see.....who was it that mentioned an M50 ????

I think that's what they are called these days.

Lots of good folks here:
http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/forum/

[burkbuilds]

Hey Danny, nice looking bike, congratulations! Hope you enjoy it for a long time. It looks like it fits you very well. I think you got a great price on it too!

[dhgeyer]

Well, that's a bit bigger than anything we were discussing. You won't outgrow that bike for a very long time, if ever. With the accessories you can get, you can tour on it, commute, do long day rides, pretty much anything you want. Sounds like you got a great deal. I'm sure you will enjoy it for years to come. Congratulations!

You might want to check the DOT codes on the tires. You didn't mention what model year it is. If they are original, and the bike is more than 5 years old, you might want to consider replacing the tires, as they lose their stickiness (ability to hold the road in emergency maneuvers or marginal road conditions) over time. They can have this happen even though they look fine and have lots of tread left. If they are over 5 years old, and you don't replace them, then just bear in mind that you have a bit less traction than you might expect.

[dannylightning]

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/dannylightning/IMG_2489.jpg?t=1251778976

no service records or any thing like that. i purchased the bike from a shop that is really nit pickey about what they sell and they go over their bikes with a fine tooth comb. thats what i always heard about this place and i witnessed it first hand after looking at a bike in the shop not ready to go out on the floor yet that was all tore apart getting this and that fixed

how do i like the power?? it's too much power, not saying that is a bid thing just saying this thing has more that any one could ever really need. give it a medium amount of throttle and its leaves the car driving behind you in the dust. on the highway there was no use for 5th gear unless you are really hauling ass. the bike really took no getting used to at all (well practically none) probably rode 100 miles today and the first 20 i was being really cautious and getting to see how it handled and all that, next thing you know i was off riding pretty care free like i would have on the gz..

its big, way bigger than any thing i wanted. when i saw it i thought thats a nice looking bike, when i set on it i said way too big and a little bit top heavy but. when i test drove it it ride like a Cadillac (comfort and suspension wise). i got back from my test ride and thought this bike at this price in this kind of shape is going to be hard to pass up. most bikes in the price range are not this nice and have more miles.

the rear tire is brand spanking new, the front is a little older, this bike is great for any type of riding you may want to do, the seat is quite comfy. as of this moment i can say i have been able to handle this bike just as well as my gz250, surprisingly. cant take sharp corners as fast on it tho. i slow down much more for the tight turns. bigger bike slower handling i guess.

i don't think this would be the the older version of the m50 by the looks of it i think i would be more of the c50. not quite sure but when i get on the suzuki page i think it looks the closest to the c50 they make now.

i dont think im going to modify this bike, if so i think i would add a spring seat and lower it. and thats it, im quite happy with the looks of the bike, i think this is is pretty much best left alone. the pipes make a little bit of noise and the sound that comes out of them is beefy. i would like them to be a bit louder but than again this bike is not gonna piss any of the neighbors off. i can let it set and warm up in the driveway at 3am and no one will call the police or throw a shoe at me. .

[Water Warrior 2]

Your bike is an older version of the C-50. Carbs instead of FI. A really nice ride that will take you across America without breaking a sweat. The C-50 and your bike have a better wider seat than the M-50. Of course that would apply to people of normal height and leg length. I did a comparison sit on the C and the M. The C fit me better but the M does fit Lynda much better at 5 ft and a bit.

[dannylightning]

Your bike is an older version of the C-50. Carbs instead of FI. A really nice ride that will take you across America without breaking a sweat. The C-50 and your bike have a better wider seat than the M-50. Of course that would apply to people of normal height and leg length. I did a comparison sit on the C and the M. The C fit me better but the M does fit Lynda much better at 5 ft and a bit.


i could feel confident taking this bike across the country, that is if i wanted to. plenty of power and comfort. when the wind is blowing hard the bike dont sway around like the gz did. it was really windy yesterday the big gust hit me and and no big deal. a few times on the gz i thought i was gonna blow over.

day two with the new bike and loving it. just shined it up, adjusted the idle a little bit. seemed just a little bit to low where it was set so i cranked it up just a bit. it stalled out a few times while warming up the bike, not any more. I took off the back seat, looks way better with out it.

im completely used to the size and weight of this thing already i figured it would take a good week or two to get used to it. i was thinking it did not handle as well as the gz but it actually does. it just feels likeing im going a lot slower on this bike, for some reason 20mph felt faster on the gz. i can still turn on to a side street around 20mph. i looked at my speed when i was doing that a few times. you cant even feel railroad tracks unless there really rough.

right now i am one happy camper. i really think that was the best 3 grand i have ever spent. I think its funny how i really wanted a smaller size bike and ended up with a monster. well at least for a guy that's about 5 foot 6 and around 150 lbs its a monster.

i really don't want to go to work today, i would rather stay home and ride that thing.

[VTXorcist]

That is a sweet-lookin scoot man.

[dannylightning]

That is a sweet-lookin scoot man.

thank you

[bonehead]

You look a little sick to me. I suggest you call in sick and travel a couple hundred miles and get some asprin. BTW great looking bike.

[alantf]

Wish we had the choices (especially second hand), on this small island, that you guys have in that great big US of A! :cry:

[Dupo]

Wow, very nice choice Danny. Thats one hell of a good lookin bike. The color scheme is very retro looking. Love it!!

[dannylightning]

Wish we had the choices (especially second hand), on this small island, that you guys have in that great big US of A! :cry:

what kind of bikes can you get there, i take it the selection is extremely limited. :sad:

[alantf]

what kind of bikes can you get there, i take it the selection is extremely limited. :sad:

As a generalisation, it mostly falls into 2 camps - Lots of 50cc scooters (that you don't need to take a driving test for) & lots of big sports bikes for the wannabee boy racers. (who wear the colour coded leathers & helmets even for washing their bikes :whistle: ) There aren't many cruisers to pick from. The dealer couldn't find a GZ, so he had to get mine shipped from another Island (Gran Canaria). The Japs stopped making the European version of the bike I wanted to upgrade to (Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD) in 2008. The used bikes are very expensive - for example - My new GZ cost €3000. A 10 year old one would have cost me €2500, so it wasn't worth buying it used. Mostly it's a case of the bike shop guy phoning round the dealers to find out what they can let him have, or waiting for around 3 to 6 months to get something shipped over from mainland Spain. Even then the choice is limited. The only brand with a bigger choice of cruisers is Harley. A coupla months ago I went to an open day at a Harley dealer's place, around 30 miles away. Wasn't really impressed by the bikes - too much "Hey, look at me, I'm a Harley", & the prices were out of this world, & totally out of keeping with reality. :cry:

[dannylightning]

what kind of bikes can you get there, i take it the selection is extremely limited. :sad:

As a generalisation, it mostly falls into 2 camps - Lots of 50cc scooters (that you don't need to take a driving test for) & lots of big sports bikes for the wannabee boy racers. (who wear the colour coded leathers & helmets even for washing their bikes :whistle: ) There aren't many cruisers to pick from. The dealer couldn't find a GZ, so he had to get mine shipped from another Island (Gran Canaria). The Japs stopped making the European version of the bike I wanted to upgrade to (Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD) in 2008. The used bikes are very expensive - for example - My new GZ cost €3000. A 10 year old one would have cost me €2500, so it wasn't worth buying it used. Mostly it's a case of the bike shop guy phoning round the dealers to find out what they can let him have, or waiting for around 3 to 6 months to get something shipped over from mainland Spain. Even then the choice is limited. The only brand with a bigger choice of cruisers is Harley. A coupla months ago I went to an open day at a Harley dealer's place, around 30 miles away. Wasn't really impressed by the bikes - too much "Hey, look at me, I'm a Harley", & the prices were out of this world, & totally out of keeping with reality. :cry:

sorry to hear about the small selection of motorbikes there. that would really bumb me out. but harley is making killer bikes these days from what i under stand, they dont have many problems like they used to.. but im with you on the price. they are expensive, and the ones that are not just normal looking say the night train or the cross bones cost a fortune. lots of people say once you ride a harley youll never want to jump on any thing else. so never test drive a harley unless you got the money to buy it.

I cant quite figure out why people say that, i did ride a 883 sportster and it was cool and all but not any thing terribly impressive, but than again it is the bottom of the barrel bike that Harley makes. maybe if i got on a different model harley i would understand but probably not. a bike is a bike to me. each one is a little different but you get a nice one i cant see the harley being that much better.

check the craigslist website if you have not already done so. i see some darn good deals on used stuff on that site all the time.

[dhgeyer]

lots of people say once you ride a harley youll never want to jump on any thing else. so never test drive a harley unless you got the money to buy it.

Back in 2004 we did a big vacation on the West Coast. Did lots of stuff. We were out there for a couple of weeks. One thing I did was to rent a Harley Road King for 3 days from a (dreadful) place in Oakland, and rode down the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur and back. I owned a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic FI (fuel injected) at the time. I didn't see a lot of difference. The Harley was a little better in some respects, and the Vulcan was a little better in others. The two bikes were about the same size, displacement, power, and weight. The Road King came all set up with hard bags and a big windshield. I had to set up the Vulcan with those things myself, but still saved a fortune, and the bags I bought were better. The only big difference I remember clearly is that the clutch on the Harley wasn't too good, but it was a rental bike and may have had some hard use.

People buy Harley's mainly for the name, I think, and then have to justify the money. I agree that the severe QC problems they had during the "Bowling Ball" years are behind them, but I don't think they're any better than other bikes out there. I must say that if you're into motorcycling as a social thing, the Harley offers some real advantages. You've got HOG, and there are just a lot of Harley riders around who prefer to ride with other Harley riders.

[dannylightning]

People buy Harley's mainly for the name, I think, and then have to justify the money.

i agree with that but there are a few harleys out there i would spend the money on if i had it.. nothing to do with the name just bad ass bikes. the 883 sportster iron is killer, the night train is killr and the cross bones is killer. dont really thing i would even consider buying any other model of harley. i cant see paying a lot for the name. paying a lot for a killer bike in the other hand i could inderstand. i see a lot of Harley going down the road and i don think they look any where near as good as the bike i picked up.

[dhgeyer]

there are a few harleys out there i would spend the money on if i had it.. nothing to do with the name just bad ass bikes. the 883 sportster iron is killer, the night train is killr and the cross bones is killer.

People buy motorcycles for different reasons, and there's nothing wrong with that. I couldn't care less what a bike looks like. I care how comfortable it is over long distances. This obviously involves the saddle, but also the riding position, the vibration level and frequency, and the noise level (wind, engine, tires, and other sources). I care how easy it is to maintain, how reliable it is, how environmentally responsible it is, how safe it is, and how it handles. I care how much storage space it has, and how much of that is lockable and conveniently removable with handles for those motel nights. I wouldn't give the bikes you mention a second thought, but wouldn't think less of you for wanting them or riding them if that's what makes you happy.

[dannylightning]

there are a few harleys out there i would spend the money on if i had it.. nothing to do with the name just bad ass bikes. the 883 sportster iron is killer, the night train is killr and the cross bones is killer.

People buy motorcycles for different reasons, and there's nothing wrong with that. I couldn't care less what a bike looks like. I care how comfortable it is over long distances. This obviously involves the saddle, but also the riding position, the vibration level and frequency, and the noise level (wind, engine, tires, and other sources). I care how easy it is to maintain, how reliable it is, how environmentally responsible it is, how safe it is, and how it handles. I care how much storage space it has, and how much of that is lockable and conveniently removable with handles for those motel nights. I wouldn't give the bikes you mention a second thought, but wouldn't think less of you for wanting them or riding them if that's what makes you happy.

people already think i have a harley for some reason, i never thought it looked like a harley, knock off of a Indian yes but not a harley, a few people have told me it looked like a indian, and about 10 or more people have asked what kind of harley it is..

what is this about wind noise haha. any bike i have ever been on all you can hear is wind noise after you get up to 40 or 45. i think the only thign that will fix that is a helmet that covers your ears or a wind sheild.

i do care what it looks like, that's why i dont want a bike with any storage on it. i hate the way it looks, but it sure would be nice to have some, but i dont want to take away from the looks of my bike, i don't see any long trips on a bike any ways. most of the stuff you mentioned i do care about also, i found the bike with the looks the comfort and reliability.

one major complaint about my bike i did not look up what kind of gas milage the bike got. i did find a review stating it only got 32-35 mpg and damn sure when i filled up my tank 32mpg was all i got. but besides that i have no complaints.

[dhgeyer]

what is this about wind noise haha. any bike i have ever been on all you can hear is wind noise after you get up to 40 or 45. i think the only thign that will fix that is a helmet that covers your ears or a wind shield.

I want to be able to ride long distances, and do so fairly often. I have owned and worn extensively Arai, Shoei, and HJC helmets in 3/4 and full face style. None of them cut noise down to the point where it will not cause permanent hearing damage with prolonged exposure (about 100 decibels) at highway speeds as far as I could tell. If you have temporary hearing loss after riding, but it comes back after a while, you are doing permanent damage which can never be recovered. It's a very slow process. You don't know it's happening until you've lost a significant portion of your hearing, particularly higher pitched tones.

Aside from the danger of permanent damage to hearing, excess noise for long rides is fatiguing, which shortens the time/distance I can safely ride, and lessens my enjoyment of the ride.

A large windshield will cut noise to a safe level. So will decent earplugs, permanent or throw away types. So, I have 2 configurations: big windshield, helmet, no earplugs, and shorter windshield, helmet, earplugs.

[dannylightning]

what is this about wind noise haha. any bike i have ever been on all you can hear is wind noise after you get up to 40 or 45. i think the only thign that will fix that is a helmet that covers your ears or a wind shield.

I want to be able to ride long distances, and do so fairly often. I have owned and worn extensively Arai, Shoei, and HJC helmets in 3/4 and full face style. None of them cut noise down to the point where it will not cause permanent hearing damage with prolonged exposure (about 100 decibels) at highway speeds as far as I could tell. If you have temporary hearing loss after riding, but it comes back after a while, you are doing permanent damage which can never be recovered. It's a very slow process. You don't know it's happening until you've lost a significant portion of your hearing, particularly higher pitched tones.

Aside from the danger of permanent damage to hearing, excess noise for long rides is fatiguing, which shortens the time/distance I can safely ride, and lessens my enjoyment of the ride.

A large windshield will cut noise to a safe level. So will decent earplugs, permanent or throw away types. So, I have 2 configurations: big windshield, helmet, no earplugs, and shorter windshield, helmet, earplugs.


you really thing wind noise is loud enough to cause hearing damage, im usually riding about 55-65 mph on the highway, dosent seem that bad to me just a little annoying. loud noise no longer makes my ears ring, years of playing in bands and being in a small bar room with the p.a. cranked up to 10 when a band is playing amazingly when my work gives me a hearing test. i usually get 0's and 1's on the test and 0 is good, first time they said i got a bunch of 0's and ones i thought that was bad till they explained how the nubers work, they say my hearing is still excellent. i guess im lucky.

i always thought about wearing some plugs to cut back on the wind noise but im too lazy haha, i have some nice ones too. i should really dig them up riding might be a little more enjoyable that way.

[Easy Rider]

you really thing wind noise is loud enough to cause hearing damage,

i always thought about wearing some plugs to cut back on the wind noise but im too lazy haha,

Yes.

I have about 50% hearing loss in one ear and it is not a laughing matter....haha....as it is not "fixable".

Mine was not caused by wind noise, but it makes me a little more careful about what hearing I have left.

[dannylightning]

you really thing wind noise is loud enough to cause hearing damage,

i always thought about wearing some plugs to cut back on the wind noise but im too lazy haha,

it is not a laughing matter....haha....". if its not a laughing matter what are you laughing about than :poke2:


probably shoud find those earplugs.

[Easy Rider]

it is not a laughing matter....haha....". if its not a laughing matter what are you laughing about than :poke2:


Because, apparently, it is hard to properly convey sarchasm in a text message. :skull:

[music man]

Just do like me and wear "ear plugs", the kind that have music coming out of them, that way you don't get the wind noise in your ears, and you get to hear some good tunes in the process :rawk: . I have some that work like ear plugs, you still them in your ears and even when i don't have the music on, they block out almost all the wind noise.

I personally do not see how you guys ride for hours on end listening to nothing but wind and engine noise, that would drive me crazy. Hell that is half the reason I enjoy riding so much, I get to get away and just cruise and listen to some tunes.

And no loosing your hearing is not a laughing matter, after attending 40+ rock/metal concerts without hearing protection, and shooting countless guns without any, I can't sleep in a totally quiet room because all I can hear is ringing in my ears, LOUD RINGING.

[alanmcorcoran]

See new thread re hearing/ ear plugs.

[dhgeyer]

I personally do not see how you guys ride for hours on end listening to nothing but wind and engine noise, that would drive me crazy. Hell that is half the reason I enjoy riding so much, I get to get away and just cruise and listen to some tunes.

If there's any music sweeter to my ears than the hum of a BMW Boxer engine on the 2 lane, with the wind singing backup, I've never heard it.