Advice on a new purchace...Harley experience a plus...

[ducpenguin]

Hi there...first off, I am not and would never (other than unforeseen circumstances) get rid of my S4R...Having said that, here is my dilemma...

My wife will not ride on the back of the Duc...and that is quite fine with me due to the...ummm...pressure of the tank.  However, she and I would like to ride 2 up...so I am in the market for a new ride.  I know this is going to sound funny, but, I think it has to be an HD...based much on the same inner feelings I had when I knew it had to be a Duc.  Sooooo, I am looking for anyone who knows a little or a lot about what I have found...Need to be sure that it is a wise choice.  Here is what I am looking at:

2004 HD Softail, deuce - 7800 miles, all service records, new Vance and Hines exhaust, and about $1,500 in upgraded/added chrome.  I will have to replace the seat, the back is still to narrow.  Price: $12,500...

Is this a solid choice or will I be disappointed...
One other concern...my wife is very athletic and tall...will we look to big on this bike?  I am 5'11 210...she is 5'10 150...

If you have any other bikes that fit in that price range...let me know what those are too...please!

Thank you in advance!

[silentbob]

The softail is not the bike for you.  They ride and handle like crap compared o the rest of the Harley lineup.  They are only about looks.  Any of the FL or FX series bikes would be better.  They have better chassis, suspension, rubber mounted engines, etc.  The price is also way too high for this market.  That bike would likely sell for $8000.  Having owned a turbo charged Harley FLHR, a Yamaha Road Star Warrior, a Ducati ST4, and spent a few weeks on a Multistrada, I would recommend the ST followed by the Multi, followed by the Harley or the Warrior depending on you comfort/performance preference. 

[lauramonster]

wouldn't recommend the Warrior for 2 up. 

the seat is too small, foot pegs are high, so your knees are touching your elbows.

warrior has plenty of power, nimble, great looking, but would require mods for 2 people comfortably.

[silentbob]

wouldn't recommend the Warrior for 2 up. 

the seat is too small, foot pegs are high, so your knees are touching your elbows.

warrior has plenty of power, nimble, great looking, but would require mods for 2 people comfortably.

Yeah I should have added that mine had the Corbin dual touring seat which not only added a much larger passenger seat, it also raised them up another half a foot.

[Keld]

The best bike is, the bike your wife like ,and get her to drive it. 

[flynbulldog]

Hey, if you have the need to dress up like pirates and go-a-pose'n by all means buy a Harley

I see no other reason to buy a cruiser bike... There are plenty of better performing, more comfortable, more reliable, and less expensive bikes on the market.
(but you don't get to play dress-up with them now do you?)  [moto]

[DucHead]

Why not a used Bandit/standard or a metric cruiser?  Equal or better quality at a fraction of the price.

[SaltLick]

I went through the same thing, trying to figure out which bike to get for 2 up riding. Check out the Buell,

http://www.pashnit.com/bikes/BuellUlysses.htm

This model has a backrest for the laides that folds down when not in use, and all that luggage you can take it off as well. Its very comfortable for the laides, yet at the same time when your not riding 2 up just fold rear seat down, take off the luggage and you got yourself basically another sport bike!

[Mulletbiker]

Ducpenguin, speaking from experience, the softail is NOT a bad riding bike for riding/touring 2 up.

I  would recommend one of the FL model softails, a Heritage or Fatboy as I feel they handle better due to the same size tire front/rear instead of the fat rear/skinny front.They are very comfortable to ride 2 up, although I would recommend either the Corbin "touring" or "gunfighter & lady" seats as the have better seating for the passenger area. You should both be comfortable as my wife & I are about the same size as You & your Mrs.

I have over 100 k miles on my '90 Heritage & have never been left stranded, so there goes the "unreliable" issue.
And it is not meant to handle or perform like our Ducs, but for 2 up all day riding there is nothing better.Also the newer softails with the counterbalanced motor run with almost no vibration- very smooth.Keep in mind the FX/FL designation only refers to the front end on the bike as the model you mentioned is a fxstd. FX=skinny forks/tire FL=fat front end tire.

I would say that the price for the bike you are looking at seems a bit high.If truly interested keep looking or see if he would take @ $2000 less.

If you have any other ?'s feel free to PM me & I will offer you any advice I have instead of just bashing.

[flynbulldog]

This is the perfect two-up bike.
more comfort, handles better, has more power, cheaper, and more reliable.
but it's piss-poor at pose'n  this is a  motorcycle not a fashion or lifestyle statement.

[causeofkaos]

I highly recomend the suzuki blvd M109r.
Im 6'2" and the forward controls were very comfy, at 5'11" you will not have problems with the reach
I had one, i paid 13,000 out the door on a brand new 06.
1800 motor thats got GSXR heritage all over it. <fuel injection system and the brakes and shit i cant remember> The seats are very comfy and huge passenger seat unbolts with a cowl for solo riding  It will smoke every stock harley out of the box. Seat height is 30 something inches.
If you want a cruiser she will be comfy on (my wife loved the bike) and something that will put a huge grin on your face when alone and able to romp on it, that is the only cruiser / bruiser to get.
Seriously, Seriously, Seriously make an effort to check out this bike.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/M109RK9

I have seen used ones under 10,000

check out this forum of m109r owners wealth of knowledge and a glimpse at the endless mods on these bikes
http://www.m109riders.com/forums/index.php

[vw151]

multistrada....... vstrom....... or maybe Kawasaki concourse..... all sporty 2 up touring type rides.  of course there are many others. 

[Popeye the Sailor]

This is the perfect two-up bike.
more comfort, handles better, has more power, cheaper, and more reliable.
but it's piss-poor at pose'n  this is a  motorcycle not a fashion or lifestyle statement.

Look-it's obvious you hate Harleys, so why are you posting in this thread?


You could say the same thing about any Honda sportbike compared to our ducs, so I don't see what the issue is. We're considered "posers" by most every other rider out there, so let's just get over ourselves.


Ride your ride-if he wants a Harley for the wife (and god knows, bikes that accelerate *real* quick suck when you're the passenger), then by all means, he should get one.

[silentbob]

Ducpenguin, speaking from experience, the softail is NOT a bad riding bike for riding/touring 2 up.

Keep in mind the FX/FL designation only refers to the front end on the bike as the model you mentioned is a fxstd. FX=skinny forks/tire FL=fat front end tire.

Not bad and good are two different things.  The softail chassis is far from ideal for two up cruising or good handling.

The FL and FX I refer to are completely different chassis with real working rear suspensions and rubber mounted engines.  These would be the super glide, wide glide, convertible, low rider, road king, electra glide, road glide, ultra glide, etc.

Yes a softail is a pretty bike and can be fun but it is probably not the best choice for his needs.  I love my 1098 but I wouldn't recommend it for what he wants either.

[Major Slow]

Hey, if you have the need to dress up like pirates and go-a-pose'n by all means buy a Harley

I see no other reason to buy a cruiser bike... There are plenty of better performing, more comfortable, more reliable, and less expensive bikes on the market.
(but you don't get to play dress-up with them now do you?)  [moto]

What a load of crap!!!

If YOU don't want a cruiser YOU don't have to buy one. Calling people names because they don't agree with your idea of what is the right bike to buy is childish.  If the bike that is most popular should be the only bike made we would all be riding a Honda. As for reliability; I would guess HD has as good or better quality than Ducati. I've lost more oil out of my Ducati than out of my HD. As for comfort... to each his own. I just know if I have a hankering for a long ride (200+ miles) it will be on the fatboy.

The original topic was 2 up. My wife rode cupcake once, didn't like it and got herself a licence. The problem was she is a look around person and that creates some problems. Stock seats on most HD doesn't give a lot of extra height to the passenger so they have to look around you.  I would recommend having your wife test ride a couple of different bikes with different seat configurations to see what she likes. I do know a couple of people that love riding on the back of a goldwing.