New bike in my future....

[caddmannq]

It's been a few years since I sold my last motorcycle & I've decided that I'm going to get another one.

It's going to be a big cruiser, for two-up riding, and short touring. Couple hundred miles or so...no coast-to-coast stuff.

A friend has been trying to sell me his '99 Heritage Softail (1400cc), which is in A-1 shape & unbelievably low (1150) mileage. It has some nice "extras" too, but he wants top dollar for it.

I might consider it, but for a couple things.

The last time I rode a Harley (it was years ago), I thought it was rather crude. I haven't ridden this one, as I don't want to "lead him on" if I decide against it, but I don't expect much in the way of horsepower, gas mileage, or smoothness. Looks nice though, & I'm sure that power is adequate for ordinary cruising. Seems very comfortable, sitting still.

The price is a bit daunting too...$17,000, but I've shopped about & it's not out of line either. It does not have fuel injection.

For about $5000 less I can get a new brand 1800cc Honda V-twin, with fuel injection, about twice the power, & probably half the maintainence. It's also water cooled. I've owned a couple Hondas & they were always ultra relaible.

I'd also consider the 1500cc Kawasaki V-Twin: also fuel injected/water cooled. Performancewise, the Kawasaki I owned was all-around superior to the Hondas & reliability just as good. Price is even more attractive than the Honda, though performance is a bit less. Perhaps much less...I haven't ridden either one.

OTOH, I've never had a water cooled M/C & it seems perhaps an unnecessary complication. I could live with the looks, but what about leaks, etc. ?

I haven't even considered any other makes, but I'm open to suggestions from any who have them.

I'll be a month or two before I can actually plunk down the cash. So whadaya think?

[Mike]

I think it's the perfect time of the year to buy a bike!! Starting to become real cruising weather. (Not like Cali weather is close to cold anyway. )
When are you going to come visit me outside of Sacramento?

[draboo]

IMO, hd`s are overrated and overpriced. tho "the company" has had great strides in workmanship in the past 10 years.

"harley makes a watercooled engine??'" LOL whoda thought that would ve ever come about?? not me! but they did!

but i ve been doing some scouting around myself and have come across this:
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/products...id=61&iid=3103

lots of great options and a great price tag(compared to the hd)

now to convince wifey i need a FOURTH .....i know,"how do you ride four motorcycles??????????"

oh,yea,check out the "build your own bike" link on the yama site

good luck choosing,cadd. there are so many great motorcycles out there

brad

[thekingofpain]

The Harley might be cool for awhile---ride it and sell it at the end of the summer, it wont have many more miles and will be worth what you paid for it still---then decide if you really want a bike...

At least it wont cost much for the "experience"---

[Richard Cranium]

2003 Suzuki Intruder Volusia, $6500 well equipped

I have the Intruder, a 92 and love it..

http://www.suzukicycles.com/sr_03/cruiser/fs_vl800.htm

[caddmannq]

Draboo: I owned a Yamaha...2 actually. They were my least favorite bikes, and also the least reliable. Well, except for one Italian 2-stroke, but we won't even go there

TKOP: Yeah, my thoughts kinda too. I has hoping that the "experience" had improved since the Electraglide days. I take it you think that it ain't.

Dr. Vette: I thought you didn't ride road bikes anymore??? Something about "crazy Grorgia drivers"...
Anyhow 800cc isn't enough to attract me, though the Intruders have been attractive bikes. I keep thinking about that 1800cc Honda Whatta setta jugs, eh? Yeah, I know it's twice the price of the Volusia...

[Knothead]

Hi, Cadd, there's a magazine called V-Twin you oughtta check out...seems the hard-core Harley crowd has figured out that those Japanese builders aren't fooling around.

The Honda VTX--man, this is one mean machine, without the wearying vibration of a Harley. Bigger, too---1795 cc liquid-cooled v-twin=106 horses: comes in two styles, too.

Now THAT'S a mean motor scooter...I think it's a bit less than $17 grand, too!

[Bizkitkid2001]

You can go cheap, and get a rebel. A nice bike I here But no bells and whistels http://www.hondamotorcycle.com/motor...delId=CMX250C3

[Knothead]

Heh...I don't think that's what he's looking for, Bizkit....

[Bizkitkid2001]

I herd these were nice for sunday drives