HD 500

[Nekkid Tim]

.

[rufus1138]

bah, don't take my tags too seriously, its a personal preference more than a pathological sjw situation, I don't hold brand ownership against anyone that doesn't hold my personal preference against me. Ill never own another Honda, and ill likely never own a Harley, but I don't fault anyone for owning them as long as they can respect the reasons I don't like them and still hold an intelligent conversation with me. there are a lot of anecdotal things about life and motorcycle ownership tho, if your willing to pay the price for an entry level Harley over something like a used savage 650 or any of the small cruisers from the jap side of the market then go for it, especially if you have a good service relationship with the dealer in your area, part of why I went ducati is because they have the best ppl here in Pensacola, ive been taking all my bikes to them since 09 and they get it done in a more cost effective manner with less headache than I could do it myself. I still think Harleys are only worth it on the used market tho, 40k for a bike on anyones menu is insane outside race replicas and such.

[Kev M]

most ppl that I run into that "used to ride" are Harley ppl

Well, not for nothing, but for something like 2 decades now Harley has represented 50% or more of US street bike sales in the dominant category of 600cc and larger bikes.

So MOST people you run into who ride or have ridden SHOULD HAVE (or have ridden) Harleys.

And honestly, remember George Carlin, think about how stupid the average guy you meet is... now remember HALF of everyone out there is DUMBER. The same can be said for riding skills. The VAST majority of people (Harley or Import) don't really have skills... If you're better than average then MOST who you meet are gonna be worse right?

[Kev M]

if your willing to pay the price for an entry level Harley over something like a used savage 650 or any of the small cruisers from the jap side of the market then go for it, especially if you have a good service relationship with the dealer in your area, part of why I went ducati is because they have the best ppl here in Pensacola, ive been taking all my bikes to them since 09 and they get it done in a more cost effective manner with less headache than I could do it myself. I still think Harleys are only worth it on the used market tho, 40k for a bike on anyones menu is insane outside race replicas and such.

Looks like you're holding onto another myth.

I'm too tired to do it again, but over the years of posting on many multi-bike/brand forums I've run into the guy who thinks Harleys cost more, maybe it's because of the occasional jackwad-custom or a remnant of the chopper-craze. But anytime I've run price comparisons MSRP vs MSRP to the Asian or Euro competitors in the same category the vast majority of Harleys are priced right where they should be, right around the average +/- $1-2k at the MOST on the high end.

It doesn't matter if you're talking Bonnie, Bolt, Sporty, or the other end of the spectrum Touring bike vs. RT, LT, Goldwing etc.

Off the top of my head my FIRST 1200 Sportster I bought new in 1993 was almost $7k, my Road King I bought new in 96 was $14k, my wife's first new 883 Sportster in 2005 was $7k, her 1200 Sportster we bought new in 07 was $8k (got $2k off MSRP) etc.

Her 696 was MORE than those late-model Sportsters.

My last Guzzi was about the same.

I honestly don't think I've ever even SEEN a $30k Harley, nevermind a $40k, though I\'m sure they exist.

[Jonathan]

Hey, it's the bike they should have built instead of the Buell Blast.

[ducpainter]

Hey, it's the bike they should have built instead of the Buell Blast.

Exactly...

[The Don]

That's a pretty good analogy Kev

[rufus1138]

Well, not for nothing, but for something like 2 decades now Harley has represented 50% or more of US street bike sales in the dominant category of 600cc and larger bikes.

So MOST people you run into who ride or have ridden SHOULD HAVE (or have ridden) Harleys.

And honestly, remember George Carlin, think about how stupid the average guy you meet is... now remember HALF of everyone out there is DUMBER. The same can be said for riding skills. The VAST majority of people (Harley or Import) don't really have skills... If you're better than average then MOST who you meet are gonna be worse right?

ive never really thought of that part of the equation, ur right tho, its weird in my area you see so many sport bikes (young military) I guess it just makes the "used to ride" ppl into a squeaky wheel situation.

[The Don]

Well, not for nothing, but for something like 2 decades now Harley has represented 50% or more of US street bike sales in the dominant category of 600cc and larger bikes.

So MOST people you run into who ride or have ridden SHOULD HAVE (or have ridden) Harleys.

And honestly, remember George Carlin, think about how stupid the average guy you meet is... now remember HALF of everyone out there is DUMBER. The same can be said for riding skills. The VAST majority of people (Harley or Import) don't really have skills... If you're better than average then MOST who you meet are gonna be worse right?

that's a great analogy Kev

[rufus1138]

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/mcd/4856778905.html (your insane)

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/mcd/4840642824.html (meh reasonable I guess)

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/mcd/4855265138.html (I guess if you have to ask you cant afford it)

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/mcd/4855289235.html (same story?)

ok so line one is the only one I have a real problem with, a 2008 model bike of any kind for that price? please ive always wondered why. not being disrespectful....I really appreciate finding some Harley knowledgeable guys that can help me understand, while we're on the subject wtf is up with the stupid acronyms FLHTK for instance

[ducpainter]

We have a craigslist thread.

[Kev M]

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/mcd/4856778905.html (your insane)

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/mcd/4840642824.html (meh reasonable I guess)

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/mcd/4855265138.html (I guess if you have to ask you cant afford it)

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/mcd/4855289235.html (same story?)

ok so line one is the only one I have a real problem with, a 2008 model bike of any kind for that price? please ive always wondered why. not being disrespectful....

Well, FWIW, the 2008 is a CVO, meaning it WAS actually $25-30k new. Limited edition, larger hot-rodded motor and a bunch of other upgraded parts. Not my cup-o-tea BUT, FWIW, there are equivalents from other brands:

BMW K1600 GTL Limited - MSRP $29999

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/us/en/index.html

and even the run of the mill Goldwing STARTS at $24k

http://powersports.honda.com/2015/gold-wing.aspx

while we're on the subject wtf is up with the stupid acronyms FLHTK for instance

TOTAL BASICS - off the top of my head.

On the 8th day God created... well, it is a religion to some.

So for the longest time Harley produced basically one motor - a BIG TWIN.

Bikes with that motor were designed starting with F  and the for the most part the only chassis designation was an L - FL Harleys.

Then the KH (side-valve sporting models) evolved into an OHV in 1957 and the XL was born. XL = Sportster.

When I was still in diapers Willie-G Davidson got the idea to combine the LARGE MOTOR "F" with the smaller front end/chassis of a Sportster "X" and the FX was born.

That later became the FXR and variations.

And by the late-90s that became the Dyna - FXD.

Sometime in the mid 80s with the advent of the EVO motor Harley stumbled upon what would be their gold - the Softail chassis (retro, retro, retro).

The Softail comes in two major varieties

FXST - F big motor, X smaller front end (skinny forks, wheels etc), ST = Softail  - FX models tend to have foot pegs (that goes for Dynas too).

FLST - F big motor, L larger front end (beefier forks, larger tires, larger seatsetc.) ST = Softail - FL models tend to have floor boards and the other trappings of a tour bike - like passing lamps, larger headlight nacelles etc)

The whole time the Electra Glide model family was evolving into the Touring models.

FLH - F = Big motor, L = big chassis, H = touring model

FLHR - the R = Road King

I get lost too on the variations but they stand for things like Street Glide, Road Glide, Ultra Classic, etc. different model tiers and features of the touring line.

But the basics remain

F = Big Twin
FX = Low Rider
FXD = Dyna
FXST = Softail, skinny/cruiser profile
FLST = Softail, large/touring profile
FLH = Touring

XL = Sportster
XR = Sportster variant

Other letters that follow those are model variants, Custom, Street Bob, Fat Bob, Fat Boy, Heritage, Road King, Ultra Classic etc.

That help?

[rufus1138]

it helps but dayum that's all kinds of annoying lol. as far as the prices go I still don't get it, and yes the Goldwing starts at 24k but that's the Goldwing, it stands alone if you ask me, been on a lot of cruisers as a passenger and ive never EVER been on anything from any manufacturer that felt as capable as a highway pounder as the Goldwing. even the mix 80s model goldwings are a superior bike as far as stacking highway miles goes to anything I can think of.

[Kev M]

Well a GW and a FLH aren't the same bikes, but they are direct competitors. And Harley sells something like 70,000+ of the FLHs each year. How many GWs are sold?

I don't begrudge you the preference, but for MY money, I'd take the Harley if I was going full boat... Or maybe the Indian... Or POSSIBLY the Guzzi California 1400, and even THAT'S something like $18-19k.

[Nekkid Tim]

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