Rode a HD today......

[Jim Ross]

Well Folks, today I did it.  My better half had never been on Harley, so today I took her for a ride on,
...not just 1, but 2  of them!
The first was a Road King and the seat killed my tail bone and her's as well, after about an hour.  I took it back to the dealer and traded for an Electraglide Classic....much better, even though I was cramped for room....if it had had pull-back handlebars and highway pegs, it might have been way better for me.
I had not ridden an HD since the '95th anniversary edition Road King...and these bikes today were hugely improved!  MUCH better transmission and REAL brakes(!), plus the fuel injected engine.  I enjoyed the cruise control, but I still don't understand why they have separate buttons for L&R turn signals....what's up with that?
OK, now to the meat; the power was very respectable, very "doable", IMHO.  I can't say their bone stock models will outrun our Valks, but these bikes were WAY better than I thought they would be.
Handling-wise, they have a much lighter feel, especially in slow turns and in parking lots. On the highway, they are not as smooth as the Valk, but they are not bad.....I was truly surprised.
OK, now for the BEST PART...I rented these from Snake HD in Twin Falls, ID and I left their lot at 9am and returned at 4PM....the sales mgr met me at the door on my return and told me "NO CHARGE...you weren't gone all that long, so I'm not charging you for the rental"  WAY COOL!!!!
The day started out sort of cool, but ended up being a tad bit over 100 degrees by mid-afternoon.  All in all, a very good day.

[alph]

wow, nice dealer wish there were more like that!! 

we've got a harley dealer here in eau claire, and even the die hard harley guys can't stand him!!  they'll go to the harley shop in black river falls, over 60 miles away, just to not give him any of their bussiness.  i've had to deal with him when i put the security system in his building, what a dink.

as for the harley, you can't go on making crap and wonder why people don't want it anymore......

al.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

as for the harley, you can't go on making crap and wonder why people don't want it anymore......

al.

Do you ever get out and ride ? Harley's out number everything on two wheels .

[alph]

as for the harley, you can't go on making crap and wonder why people don't want it anymore......

al.

Do you ever get out and ride ? Harley's out number everything on two wheels .

Would you buy one?  if not, why?  I myself would never own a harley, don’t care how popular they are, everyone I know that owns one (and around here that’s nearly everyone) has problems with ‘em, hence why I call them crap.

[Tundra]

Owned three Harley's, just not for me. I can say though, none of them ever left me stranded, ever.
 I had no maintenance except for tires and oil.  1. Softail Classic
                                                                2. Classic
                                                                3. Ultra-Classic
 Would I buy another? No. I enjoyed them at that point in my life.
  Jim Ross...Glad you had a positive experience  That's a smart dealer that knows how to take care of customer's and potential buyers. What happened to the term "customer service"?

[fudgie]

At Sturgis this year 4 bikes had to be worked on at camp. A sporty thru a belt, stator went out, another chics compensator sprocket was loose on her RK, another guys RK comp sprocket and stator & volt regulator. He dumped $2000 in 2 days for his.  Glad I didnt own one. The 2 RK's had 50k-60k on the odometer. When the Valk wears out, I'll get a Road Glide.

[Hoser]

Read a road test in Rider mag today about a 103 inch Road Glide Ultra, sounded like a really nice machine, very pricey, though.  The thing I had to look twice at was the dyno run.  68 hp and 85 ft lbs of tork from 103 cubic inches?  What's up with that?  My old tourer dynos upper 90's hp and tork from 93 cubic inches.   ??? hoser

[Doc Moose]

I rode my brothers Street Glide at IZ8.  I liked it, but as I told him, it was no Valk.  Valk's can spoil you.
The stock exhaust had an appealing sound as I potatoed around and down the highway.  Definitely vibrated more (duh), and I had to downshift more to keep from lugging the engine (duh).  Also it was easier handling due to weight difference.  I didn't ride it long enough to really assess the seating position, but didn't seem to notice any real dislike with it on my short ride.  The seat height/inseam difference (for me) made it easier to flat foot it than a Valk.
GREAT radio and I liked the dash layout.  

I would consider one (prolly a Roadglide or UltraClassic)  when the Valk needs to be changed out (but when? Hah)

[Robert]

My son sells Harleys and both my son in law and my son have or had Harleys. Pretty bikes sound most times to loud not smooth plus to pricey for what you get. I couldn't see one as my daily rider although they can be pretty to look at. My son in law rented a Harley in Colorado and drove in around for a few days and when he came back home I gave him the keys to my bike. The look on his face when he came back was priceless. After a few minute he said that thing is scary fast and when I was at a light some kids in a car pulled up beside me and said thats a cool bike and admired it. Enough said 

[BamaDrifter64]

I had my share of Harleys before I got right and became a Valkaholic....

Not saying I won't ever own another HD, but 2 things drive me away from them...

First, they are overpriced....I will not buy another unless I have some money to play around with...and with this economy...and 2 sons in college and another going in a couple of years...I won't have any money to play with for a LONG time....

Second, I just can't get the HD mentality....or maybe it's called the HD "lifestyle"....I want to be different....not just another "sheep" riding a bike that looks and sounds just like everyone else's...

But that's just me...and my $.02...

Dave

[Lyn-Del]

I went with a friend to pick up her '07 Delux from some warranty work a while back.  The service manager, trying to make a point, asked me "Don't you check and tighten all the bolts before you ride?"  My reply?  "No, sir.  I ride a Honda and they don't fall apart!"

Guess he should take a lesson from the lawyers, and don't go asking questions he doesn't already know the answer to!

[PharmBoy]

I won't live long enough to wear out my I/S, but if I should be so fortunate and still be in reasonable health, I have only 3 complaints with the 110 Ultra Classic.  Vibration at idle and low RPM, too loud, and cost too much money.  It fits my body to a tee, it is very attractive, it handles well, and the first two complaints are nonexistent at highway speeds.  However, I'm going to wear out the Valk first...JTL  

[Tropic traveler]

Every now & again I take a ride on a Harley, sometimes at demos & other times a friends bike.
My observations... the newer ones {last 4-5 years} are a VAST improvement over the older ones. Duly note that the "older ones" I speak of are the contemporaries of the Valk & the "newer ones" are really not contemporaries of the Valk. Despite all of Harley's blather about their tradition, heritage, & other assorted adspeak they are truly moving forward with tech improvements that do enhance the ride of their bikes. I like the fact that HDs are all made in the USA but it certainly isn't a deal breaker for me {Duh} as I have owned many "foreign made" bikes.
Bottom line for me is I am well aware that Harleys are getting better as Jim noted in the thread post, BUT.... they aint got there yet! Try to imagine {and we have to imagine } if Mother Honda paid as much attention to their cruiser clientele as Harley does & made similar refinements & improvements to a flat 6 powered cruiser platform. What an awesome bike we would have to buy by now!
Alas, all we have is our late 80's early 90's tech Valkyries to ride, and thank God for them!!

[Jim Ross]

Very interesting comments from all of you.....and I agree with all of you: 
1. too pricey for what you get
2  if Honda cared about its cruiser family we would have a new Valk with 1800cc fuel injection,
   cruise control, and self-canceling turn signals.

BTW....what IS up with HD having separate turn signal buttons?????!!!!  That has to be one of the
          goofiest things ever.

I bought my '98 Valk new in April of '98 with the idea of running it for 100K, but now I am thinking that I might be 80 before I get it to that mileage mark and at 80, I probably won't like trying to handle the weight of the Valk, especially at low speeds....so I "might" consider getting a lighter bike before I get the Valk to 100K.  (I know, I know,---I need to ride more often!!!!).
As for the priceyness  of the HD, I would look long and hard and try to find a nice one-owner bike and let someone else suffer the depreciation, not me.
Today will be fun, I'm taking the Valk out for a ride to a local car show.  I will get an instant reminder of how smooth and powerful these Valks are!
Have a great weekend, y'all!

[Tropic traveler]

Jim, maybe I'm wrong here {but I don't think so } but I just checked the HD website for the specs on a 2010 StreetGlide & it said the dry weight was 773lbs, ready to ride 810 lbs.
I was under the impression that a Valk Tourer, which is roughly the same style bike {w/s & hardbags, no trunk} was a good 40-50 lbs lighter than that.
Must be all that plastic on those "Jap-Junk" Valkyries  instead of steel!
I can't see that much weight diff in the fairing, even with all the radio & other assorted riding distractions up front on the SG.
I think the perceived "weight" of the Valk compared to other bikes is an optical illusion. Maybe it's the seat height??
What do you think?
 

[sandy]

Jim, maybe I'm wrong here {but I don't think so } but I just checked the HD website for the specs on a 2010 StreetGlide & it said the dry weight was 773lbs, ready to ride 810 lbs.
I was under the impression that a Valk Tourer, which is roughly the same style bike {w/s & hardbags, no trunk} was a good 40-50 lbs lighter than that.]

The Tourer is 717lb dry weight + 1 Gal antifreeze + 1 gal of oil + fuel, brake fluid and rear drive oil. Maybe 750 wet weight. As for me, I won't own an air cooled engine in AZ. I ride year 'round in temps from 30's to 112. Air cooled engines here need top end repairs at 60-90 K miles. At 114K, my tourer runs like a raped ape.

[czuch]

My name is Chuck, and I'm a valkaholic.
I havent had a newer HD.  56 pan,67 sporty. I do have Harley stock.
I'm going now to feed my addiction and hug my Valkyrie.
I have no regrets.

[Jim Ross]

Interesting comment on the weight perceptions....
It's just my own $.02 worth, but it seemed to me the Valk was heavier, maybe it carries its weight up higher than the HD?  Probably.
And, I have always thought the Valk Tourer was around 800 lbs....?  And then there is that big Valk gas tank!
Yes, too, the seat height was lower on the HD.  When I had it at the house, we measured both the length and the seat height of both bikes.  The HD Electraglide Classic and the Valk Tourer were almost identical in length....surprised me!  And the seat height was 2" lower on the HD.
I do know that it took more muscle to get the Valk up from the side stand than it took for me to do the same with the HD.......even my better half agreed on that :-) !

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I have a buddy with a 08  110 screaming eagle and I get to ride it once in a while. It is a very nice bike, but for the price and the fact that I'm very much a Valker I'll keep my fat lady.

[Dougger]

I have an 06 Ultra Classic that up for sale, so I can buy an "old" Valkyrie I/S to match the I/S that I have in Florida.
They can't match the ride or power of the "old" Valkyries.

[fuzzy2bucks]

Plan on renting a HD on my next trip to Hawaii, but have never been on one of those Hogs before.  Wondering how the shifter is compared to Japanese bikes?

[Trynt]

Jim, maybe I'm wrong here {but I don't think so } but I just checked the HD website for the specs on a 2010 StreetGlide & it said the dry weight was 773lbs, ready to ride 810 lbs.
I was under the impression that a Valk Tourer, which is roughly the same style bike {w/s & hardbags, no trunk} was a good 40-50 lbs lighter than that.
Must be all that plastic on those "Jap-Junk" Valkyries  instead of steel!
I can't see that much weight diff in the fairing, even with all the radio & other assorted riding distractions up front on the SG.
I think the perceived "weight" of the Valk compared to other bikes is an optical illusion. Maybe it's the seat height??
What do you think?
 

According to Honda, the Tourer has a dry weight of 714 lbs.

[Jim Ross]

Hey Fuzzy.....you will find the shifter on the HD is a tiny bit more "clunky" than on the Japanese bikes, but so much that you will be unhappy.
BTW, the very nicest shifting bike I ever rode was a Yamaha Virago 1100....it shifted just like clicking a ball point pen....they should all shift that nice!

[Tropic traveler]

Jim, I would hate to see anybody give up their Valk because of any misconceptions about weight!
I just snagged an Ultimate Lowrider seat {all 4 pieces helluva deal!} on E-bay last month for Kim's Valk. I rode it to work yesterday & it does live up to it's name, it really sits you lower. I do think that a lower seat height makes the Valk "feel" lighter. Kim has long legs, 34" inseam, but does puff a bit picking up the Valk off the stand. Hmmm.
All the Harleys I have ridden have a better seat than anything that comes on a Valk that is for sure! I rode a Dyna??_____?? a couple of years ago that had the most comfy seat I have EVER sat on bar none on ANY bike. Great low end power but ran out of breath real fast compared to the Valk. I think it was the first year of the 96" engine. Felt like a dang mini-bike to me but it did handle easy in the parking lot.
I think I read the SG has a 6 gallon tank so when full a SG has more fuel weight up high than the Valk. The Valk does have a radiator full of water kinda up high but the air filter is made of that dreaded Jap Plastic so no weight there.
I do wonder why a Valk is considered a "heavy" bike when the facts are it really isn't when compared to some other makes in it's catagory.  ??? Wonder about the Kawi Nomads, the Triumph T-Bird or the Yami big cruisers? I already know about the Triumph R3.... It's heavier!!!

 
  

[Buster]

Sorry, but I get so tired of hearing about Harley's being American made.
Do some research to:
1. Find out what percentage of a Harley is made in the USA.
2. Who own's a large percentage of H-D.
3. Go to a H-D shop throw out all 'Genuine H-D' stuff thats made in China or Tiawan
   and see what you have still in the shop.
4. See who has or helped desige some of the H-D's.
Yes, Harley's are fairly nice over-priced motorcycles.
But, if I were looking for a new bike I would take a long look at the Triumph Rocket lll
Tourer, or one of my favorites the Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad Tourer.
The Gold-Wing is priced at or less than a Harley Ultra-Glide, and who can argue which
is the superior motorcycle.
Of course I wish Honda would bring back a new Valkyrie, don't we all.
Just my 2 cent's worth.

[fstsix]

How many times have we seen this happen with a Hardly in a parking lot ? Took the wife down the block to our favorite Sea food place for some Chowda, and as i came across the lot this young guy is getting some good close ups, Even the young Dig the Valkyrie, Besides cant imagine a Air cooled HD motor go any distance with a Blower on it ? like from NY to Ca, like to see that sometime. Sure i have been beat before on this bike....by a 1100 Ninja last weekend, i had him for the first 2 gears and he came by me like a rocket LOL! he hit 177 mph, But this bike is durable and dependable,We have a group here on the Island that goes out every Sun @ 11:30 for the day, HD's Ducati's Crotch rockets 2 Valks and we do rib each other all day about this topic, but we do enjoy looking over each ones rides and once the wind hits our face to each his own... .

[Cruzen]

Nice report and good observations.  I have ridden Magna's for the past 15 years and my Valk for the past four years and after having multi cylinder engines I find the vibrations from the twins to be more than a bit annoying. 

In five or six years when my current IS is around 150K, I'll look for a low mileage IS and add that to my garage and ride it till I can no longer hold it up.  I'm actually keeping in touch with a local owner in my area that has one with about 6k on it right now. 

The Hardley's are OK but out here they have problems with the heat.  I see them on the freeway's at the rest stops "cooling down".

I just don't understand why they have such upper end problems.  Most Hardley guys out here have upper end rebuilds at about 80K then again around 130K.  One of my co-workers does between 35 and 40K on his Street Glide yearly and he gets a new bike about the time he has finished payments on the previous bike.  Around 130 K he starts finding metal shavings in the oil so he knows it's time to buy again.