Ready to upgrade!

[SuziQ07]

I purchased my used GZ250 on April 1, 2010 and so far I've put over a 100 miles on it already...granted about 80 of those miles were put on exclusively in parking lots not far from my home! I think I'm ready to move on now! :2tup: Ok, I'm just kidding! Last weekend I hit 40 mph on some back roads and I felt like I was going about 80!! I've got 2 months more of practice before I take the motorcycle safety class. I'm just "pretending" on the bike in the picture, hence no helmet or other gear! A girl can dream!

[music man]

That is actually one of the nicest looking Harley's I have ever seen, and that is coming from someone who is not a big fan of Harley's at all.

[SuziQ07]

That is actually one of the nicest looking Harley's I have ever seen, and that is coming from someone who is not a big fan of Harley's at all.

Wow, thanks! It's actually my Dad's bike. Maybe I will inherit it someday?!?! He also has a pretty nice Sportster 1200 in his garage. For now I'll just stick with learning on my GZ250...that's plenty of power for me and then some!!

[music man]

I Love your GZ too, because it is the exact color mine was, unfortunately it is gone but not forgotten.

[alantf]

What's your dad think to the sportster? I don't know ANYTHING about them, but I've never heard anything good said about them - including people on this site - I'm not trying to be argumentative, this is a genuine query, to get another person's views on something I've only read about. :)

[SuziQ07]

I Love your GZ too, because it is the exact color mine was, unfortunately it is gone but not forgotten.

Thanks Music Man! I love the blue too...that's what attracted me to the bike at first! :2tup:

[SuziQ07]

What's your dad think to the sportster? I don't know ANYTHING about them, but I've never heard anything good said about them - including people on this site - I'm not trying to be argumentative, this is a genuine query, to get another person's views on something I've only read about. :)

My dad loves his 1998 Sportster and wouldn't dream of selling it even though he primarily drives his Dyna Glide now. The Sportster is everything he thinks a motorcycle should be and look like. He is not a Harley snob by any means...he thinks my GZ250 is super and a wonderful bike that serves many functions. He admits that Harley has missed out on the market by not making a bike smaller than the 883cc. When I went to the local Harley dealership to look at bikes they showed me a Buell Blast...no thanks...sport bikes are not for me.

[burkbuilds]

Believe it or not, when I was a kid, Harley actually made "trail" bikes and advertised them in "Boys Life" Magazine. I can't remember much about them other than that I thought they were really cool when I was a kid. I think Harley has indeed missed a chance to market their motorcycles to an entire generation by not offering smaller bikes to younger people. Let's face it, by the time most of us are adult age we've already decided what we like and want to ride in general and if you haven't been exposed to a certain brand of motorcycle by the time you are an adult you may feel like it's not something you'd feel comfortable with. I grew up riding Honda trail bikes and so I was pretty accepting of the "metric" bikes in general, maybe if I would have ridden Harley trail bikes I might be a Harley fan as an adult instead. As it is, my general impression of Harley's is that they look really great, but they cost to much and have a reputation for being unreliable mechanically, yet, I've never even sat on one!

[bonehead]

IIRC the reliability issue was when AMF owned the brand.

[alantf]

IIRC the reliability issue was when AMF owned the brand.

I'm sure (?) I've heard of cooling problems with the new bikes. I think sarris can probably fill us in with the details.

[bonehead]

IIRC the reliability issue was when AMF owned the brand.

I'm sure (?) I've heard of cooling problems with the new bikes. I think sarris can probably fill us in with the details.
Ya, my friends said that the area where the 2 jugs meet is a prob. But they came up with a little cooling fan that can be installed to take care of that problem.

[Sarris]

2007 was the first year for Harley's Twin Cam 96 motor with a catalytic converter and they did have some "overheating problems" (they blew up) when idling for an extended time. They also had the new 6 speed trans with a REALLY whiny 5th gear. Problems mostly solved in the 2008 model year, and most 2007's repaired under warranty. Which, btw, is very good.

Thankfully, my 2006 Street Glide is the LAST year of the Twin Cam 88 (first year of fuel injection) with a good ol' 5 speed. I decided that it's better to get the last of an old series rather than the first of a new one. Before I took delivery, I had pipes, air kit, and new Screamin' bEagle ignition module installed. My HD has been bulletproof insofar as needing any repairs or having any breakdowns.

My biggest bitch is the costs associated with the damn thing. Not only is it $20k plus to get into one new, the services are at 5k intervals and vary from $300 (5k) to $550 (20k) just for the service, plus tires, brake pads, consumables, etc. At 850 lbs, it eats tires real regular too (at about $250 each installed). The dealer is not cheap either. I will tell you though, my dealer does wonderful work. My bike comes back to me perfectly clean, and running and feeling like new every time it's there.

I really do try to put 50 or so miles on my GZ every week just running errands. If you want to run cheap, you can't beat a GZ.

:)

PS: Patrick, thanks for returning the bird! :fu:

[burkbuilds]

Hey Sarris, when you mentioned tires, it reminded me, last weekend I was talking with my cousin who rides a Honda Goldwing, and he said he's got over 22,000 miles on his current set of tires and they are still in good shape. That goldwing probably weighs as much as your Harley, would you like for me to find out what tires he's running on the Goldwing?

[Sarris]

Thanks, but don't bother. I'm in the "range" most bagger owners get for mileage. It is what it is.

:2tup:

[Water Warrior 2]

Sarris' comment on warranty work and repairs is a good one. From comments I have read the last few years H-D does have a warranty that will do you some good. Unlike some other manufacturers that always spout off rider error, abuse or lack of maintenance. And it comes out of servicing running like new, not like Lynda's bike that wouldn't even run after a minor service. The dealer lost a lot of points after having both our bikes for minor work and botching both services.