Ducati Monster Forum

I have been seriously thinking about picking up a Harley Nightster.

I love the retro look and it would be really nice to have a more casual riding motorcycle in the garage.

Anyone here have any experience with Harley's / Cruisers  ???

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2818801279_34a23c646c_o.jpg)

PM duck-stew.

post on any hd agusta forum ... they will know all about cruisers and hogs  [thumbsup]

If i recall correctly Duck-Stew liked the look of the Nightster.  [thumbsup]

(Anyone who flames you over this question is an idiot.  There, I pre-emptively flamed the potential flamers.   ;D)

I like cruisers though I have limited experience with HDs specifically.  I like 'em though, 'specially that sporty.  They're particularly good if you do a lot of slab.
Cruisers are a ton more comfy, and are well suited to the open road.  However, they can--depending on the ergos--looks more comfy than they are.  If you ride on with the pegs too far forward and the bars too high, your back takes a pounding because you can't use your legs as suspension.  

Personally, I think it would be an easier transition from sportbike to cruiser than the reverse.  The way you learn to ride a sportbike will lead to to quickly push the edge of ground clearance and traction with a cruiser.   You also have to learn to use the engine differently.  Cruisers want you to get into the high gear as fast as possible and then potato-potato-potato down the road.  It's the exact opposite of your Duc, which you likely rev up a bit before shifting.  It takes some getting used to, but the way you rise a cruiser is actually quite relaxing.  

It's harder to split with a cruiser, despite their low speed stability and low center of gravity.  They tend to be wider and not as quick steering.  Also cruiser suspensions suck.  As do their brakes.  Plan corners and stops well ahead of time.  Oh, and they're fat pigs.  Even that sportster.

Seriously, PM duck-stew.  I think he bought that exact bike.  Bigiain took it for a ride.  He may be able to share his impressions as well.

He has one, or something that was damned similar (different paint) when it was in my garage. 

Thanks

I will send him a PM for sure  [thumbsup]

To add some fuel to the flames... check this out:

http://www.storzperf.com/

Lots of evil ideas. [evil] Heck, I spent almost as much as my 883R was worth building it into beast of a cafe racer! Luckily, it was all on the dealer's dime...it was our demo bike after all. [thumbsup]

Don't say I didn't warn you! [laugh]

You should get the one with the mid-mounted rear-sets.  It will feel a "little" more at home.

(http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/07_XL1200N_Nightster_web.jpg)

Make sure the dealer throws in a chrome brain bucket with flames  :P



Also, does this mean you'll be selling all your S4R mods cheap?

Dam you =(

I already know which aftermarket pipes I want if I do pull the trigger.


Well I would really like to keep the S4R but we shall see. I am having some ergo issues like you as well.
Good thing is the HarleY Dearler's allow test rides... actually they sometimes wont let you leave unless you go for a test ride I have heard.

I thought they all came that way. Must be the more common config but note taken  [thumbsup]

Thats actually the color scheme I am interested in.

^ nice, at least you don't have to wear gear when riding your HD ;D

I can just picture Rob in a skull bucket ;D

Bought it June 14th and have over 4500 miles on it since then and here are my impressions:

1)  The same three things people pregnant dog about on Monsters.....are the same three things to pregnant dog about on the Nightster
     a) suspension sucks
     b) seat sucks
     c) exhaust sucks
That being said, all I've upgraded so far is the suspension.  I bought Works Performance 2-stage fork springs and some custom built 12" rear shocks (stock is 11") with dual rate springs and it made a HUGE difference for about $600.

2)  Do NOT ride it like a Duc.  Do NOT ride it like a Duc.  (keep repeating this.....it may work for you...didn't for me)  It's low.  Ridiculously low as a matter of fact.  I've scraped the shit out of LOTS of hard parts but still enjoy it immensely.

3)  It's quick enough from 0 to about 30mph.  After that...it fades and if you really push it....it'll do 110mph w/stock exhaust and stock air-cleaner but it doesn't like it.

4)  Does GREAT burn-outs!   [evil]

5)  It's a good addition to the stable, but is no replacement for a Duc.  (seems obvious...but I'm currently Duc-less so doesn't apply for me).

Lots of character, lots of fun...42-47mpg...could use a 6th gear and better spacing but honestly...the 5-speed ain't bad.

Remove the foot-peg feelers for more clearance, do *something* with the side-stand (and let me know what you did...that mutha drags WAY easy), and get some smaller diameter pipes and it would be much more enjoyable.

Great bike all-in-all as an addition to your stable.
--Stu

Nice.... The HD and the S4 would be a great combination!  So now the line will start to see if you're gone sell it bit-by-bit or truly keep the S4.

Thanks for the info.

I was looking for something to replace my S4R as a Daily rider... Like Spidey mentioned I do a lot of slab riding. I make a 140 mile Highway trip once to twice a week and have lots of short range rides during the week.

After 2 years on the duc rain or shine I guess I am looking for something different  ;D

I will try to stop by the Harley Dealer and take a closer look at one of them this week.

I would think a BMW R1200 GS would be a perfect commuter for you rob  ;D

I do like those Beamers

Its a bit tough on a veritically challenged person though.

I got to very briefly try out Duck-Stew's bike, I think you will really like the ride height on it Rob. [thumbsup]

ROBsS4R,  In my former life, I used to own a Springer Softail and my brother still has a tricked out Sportster.  Understanding that the Monster and the HD are two different beasts .... I'd say go for it!

I road my Springer from NYC to Miami and then across to AZ.  I loved the ride, rumble and visceral feeling of being on such a beast but agree that the brakes, suspension, seating and acceleration on a stock bike leave you wanting ... of course I went with a 6 piston, 13 inch front brake, high comp cams and bored pistons, and a corbin seat ... after that ... it flew and stopped at a nice pace.  Handling was greatly improved when I put on drag bars ... I was soon scraping pegs but felt really comfortable with it and was much easier to spilt with on NYC streets  [evil]

I've ridden my brother's 883 ported to 1200cc sportster (his looks very similar to the Storz bike with flat-tracker pipes) and can say it was raw power and could shake your fillings out of your mouth ... however, I much prefer the big twin for smoothness and low end torque.

If you have any specific questions, just let me know.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2819716849_a58763fb6e.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2819716859_03c9340528.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2819732605_ca5bb329a4.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2819732619_a7f4f22337.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2819736163_d13c163ae9.jpg)

We are all being entirely too supportive of this cruiser idea, folks.  We're supposed to say something along the lines of "Get a$$ cancer and die if you buy one of the them Harley-ma-bobs..." 

(I keed!  I keed!)

However, I'm preemptively gathering an arsenal of cruiser jokes as we speak and I shall unleash them upon you with the purchase of that abomination.   [cheeky]





...dude, buy whatever you like.   [thumbsup] There are a lot of cruisers that I like.  I haven't ridden one, but I've done some time on the back.  They're generally a lot better for passengers than sportbikes.    [moto]

i think i just puked a little...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tun69lWQMZw

but the flat track version looks do-able

It's all good ... don't expect everyone to have the same tastes ... but then again, we choose the bikes we ride because they speak to us and not to impress others  ;)

Speak for yourself...I choose the bikes I ride because they impress Spidey. Oh, and they make old ladies and little children cry as I ride past [evil]

Crossbones

(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5571/08flstsb500sj2.jpg)

Hahaha, ok .... even though I don't know Spidey personally, I'm sure he is worth trying to impress  [cheeky] ... and yes, some of us have that little [evil] that enjoys startling bystanders  [thumbsup]

We are the Ducati Elitists. Lower your face-shields, and surrender your cruiser. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service ours. Resistance is futile.

(I've seen a LOT of Star Trek...sorry.)  ;D

 

Not true!! My Mean Streak has killer brakes (twin disc w/ 6pot calipers up front!), decent suspension to start with, 46mm? inverted forks (now awesomely upgraded with Progressive springs and 440's out back) and I rail on it faster than most non-cruiser folks. Just ask the group of sportbikes, monsters, 1098's etc we railed thru on sunday, goin up the coast.  [moto] There are very capable cruisers out there. I would have to agree on the fat pig part tho. 600lbs !!

(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff38/hypurone/Mean%20Streak/P1010036.jpg)

Just because you passed other "fast" bikes does not mean that your bike is fast, or that you are.

It does when some try to keep up and fail...

Fast, schmast. I'll take on all of you...on my bicycle! [cheeky] Twin 4-piston disk brakes, 4" of Stable Platform Valved suspension front & rear, and 30 speeds! You wanna get somewhere in SF quick, then a bicycle is probably the best way to go. Seriously! You can take as close to a straight line route as possible. Alleys, stairs, Muni passages, etc. You can slip through traffic, bypass red lights & impress hipster girls too! [laugh]

And Ducks don't like going down stairs. Trust me on this. ;D

Seriously, you took your Duc down some stairs?!  :o

Which couldn't possibly mean they're retardedly slow riders?

Nope not at all. Just seems to happen an aweful lot...

When did we move from cruiser purchases to your laptimes on 9?  I'm a bit slow on the uptake sometimes. 

I dont know about stairs on the monster, But I jumped mine off the curb at Park Presidio & Fulton. Its kind of a High curb. I had to ride up on the sidewalk and wait for some schmoes that were a little slow splitting traffic on 19th ave.

I got the idea from watching an Enterprise episode...they must of had the NX 01 up on the sidewalk or something [cheeky]

Besides all that stuff. I got to spend a fair deal of time on a Suzuki C50

(http://www.suzukicycles.com/images/ProductImages/logo/500/C50K8.jpg)

it scraped hard parts but I was able to get it to move down the road at a reasonable pace with some practice. It has an 800cc motor that puts out an decent amount of power and it stopped pretty good too.

We didn't really. I was commenting on how cruisers are not all slow and lazy etc with some FHE and got sidetracked by Someguy's comment. Sorry, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

You know.................Some clip ons..............................  rear sets................................and better exhaust..     and one of these things may be ridable. 



Have to do something about all that chrome though. 

I think you have 29 gears too many to impress the hipster goils  ;)

To keep it on topic, how about the only cruiser I have ever ridden:
(http://www.rxdi.com/images/webpic-12c%20custom%20cruso%2002.jpg)

If it good enough for James Bond...

What is that?

My eyes are bleeding.

So thats what the BMW  crusiers look like.....   [puke]

If you're going to ride any HD, ride an FXD, or FXDX if you can find one.  It's the only one that turns worth a shit.  Soft tails s u c k for comfort.  The only way to make a stock-framed HD lower is to cut the suspention travel.  I think some of the lower seat heights have as little as 3 inches of travel and they're undersprung.  Ouch.  HD seats that aren't tuck-n-roll pillows AND actually look good make KTM seats feel like sofas.

The first time you ride one you'll try and put your feet on the rear pegs.

I went to the Harley Dealership today and the one that was the most comfortable for me was the Fat Bob.
And I am Fat and my name is Bob so it must be a perfect fit right  ???

But man thats a beast of a bike. It almost seems wrong riding a bike that is so plush and comfortable  ;D

Can someone shake some sense into me... Why the hell am I looking at Harley's  ???

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2835524518_2cca6cd676.jpg)

If someone gave me an HD I'll ride it.  If it was very cheep, I'll buy it.

But, I'd get a beemer over an HD as a commuter.

Shoot, I kinda want a 250 as a commuter.  [moto]

I have no idea, but if you're going to look at Harleys, you really should check out some of the metric cruisers as well. Less $ and better bikes.  Then again, there's that whole "soul" thing that Ducati and Harley riders talk about all the time.

A mid-life crisis gone horribly wrong??  [laugh]

Might I suggest dating a stripper, or buying a Porsche as an alternative?


Seriously though, if you like it, get it. You can always change your mind and sell it later.  And besides, with the tanking of the housing market I think a lot of construction workers are unloading their toys cheap.

...sounds like almost as much maintenance as the Harley [moto]

It's a trap!
(http://sarasotadetail.com/gallery2/d/9529-1/Drop_the_Soap-Its_a_trap.jpg)

seriously tho, i had a honda shadow 750. good bike, handled well enough. good resale at the time... if you want a cruiser, do it. u've got options

+1, but I suspect a lot of the BMW's are too tall for Rob....

Well, I think Willie G. Davidson summed it up best... "Now you can have a 'custom' Harley just like your neighbor's."

If that isn't reason enough to not buy one, I don't know what it. [cheeky]

So I can't sleep as usual  :-\

I found this Harley Nightster Mod Link  [thumbsup]

http://www.hdforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196783

After surfing it most of the night I already have my parts list lined up I want.

Mods for Harley's are so much cheaper. I am only at like 1k in parts right now  ;D

Chrome and bailing wire are usually cheaper than billet aluminum and bailing wire ;D

I hear loctite comes standard on all Harley's  ;D

Hey, I think it looks sweet....

My brother in law went from a GSXR-1000 to a street-bob about 18 months ago. He likes it so much he rod it 50,000 miles.

Wow thats commitment. I thought I was doing good with 25k in about 18 months  :-\

yea he's kinda nuts. he lives in stockton and a weekend ride for him is to canada and back  [roll]. crazy  [laugh]

My Dad just added a Street Bob to his bikes.

Did you buy the bike yet? An old friend is selling his Street Bob at Mitchel HD in Modesto. If you head out that way ask for George tell him Donovan sent you.

Not yet and at this point I am just doing research.

With the market taking another huge dump today and all my stocks underwater deeper than the Titanic I will be waiting till early
next year.

I will give you good, cold, cash-say $50 or so, for all of your google stock.

deal :)

But I don't have any google stock.

I think someone owes you dinner now. [laugh]

i think when i sell my 749 this is my next ride