Been flirting with the dark side a little today...

[Dave Ritsema]

My main riding crew are almost all HD owners now, several of them sold their Valkyries for Harley's and love them. Today we went riding and ended up at the local HD shop. I made the mistake of saying this one looked kind of nice and pressure was applied very quickly for me to take a test ride.


Its a VERY loaded Screaming Eagle CVO 2007 Ultra Classic with 14K miles. It has the 110 cubic inch motor and I have to say, it pulls pretty hard and has no shortage of torque.

Heated seats and grips, navigation , CB and Intercom. Has more chrome than my Interstate, which is really saying soimething.  Even some fancy HD gadget that will open my garage door from an aux button on the fairing.

Their description is " Our Customs Vehicle Operations team creates a premium batch of limited-production cycles with authentic H-D® parts. Get ready for the ultimate take on touring. A rolling testament to ore with a list of custom touches longer than Capone's rap sheet. Its Screamin' Eagle® Twin Cam 110™, six-speed powertrain is a rhino on a sugar high. Its dual-control heated seat and adjustable passenger floorboards define comfort. Chrome, 9-spoke wheels. Power locks on the bags and Tour-Pak®. Ironside foot and hand controls and an advanced audio navigating system and custom colors top it all off. The world has rarely seen more motorcycle packaged so perfectly between two wheels. "

Not sure about all that but I did enjoy riding it more than I expected. The offered to dyno it for me and assured me it would be 120+ HP with it's modifcations.  I must admit it kinda has me thinking, especially since my Interstate just rolled over 22K miles, so it must be about worn out. 

The dealer did say that my bike had the sweetest sounding pipes he had ever heard on a Valkyrie. (Viking's)


Just thinking a bit......

[sandy]

Please tell us you're joking. A Harley service manager here in Mesa, AZ told me a 110 SE has 82 HP at the rear wheel. Go back and see the printout. A new Gold Wing has all those goodies and more power too. The air cooled motor is doomed to extinction soon. They run so hot that owners have filed a class action lawsuit about burned legs. Meeting emissions is almost impossible. If I had to choose between my '98 tourer and my '05 Wing, the Valk would go. Fortunately I can afford both.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Got a friend who not only rides a Harley he works for Smoky Mountain Harley the fastest growing Harley dealership in America so I'm told as well. He took his wife out west last year and her right leg was cooked from the heat so bad she has never rode with him again and claims she never will unless he get's another bike......Peer pressure is a bitch I've seen it do strange things to one of my friends 

[Tundra]

Hardley Davidson and the current resident of the White House have much in common, they both deceive many and have a large loyal following. The following can't give a logical reason why.

Hey Dave, that is a nice looking bike. I owned three and enjoyed every one of them

[JimmyG]

Previous bike was the Ultra Classic, it was a good ride and pretty, not nearly the git up and go as my Valkyrie though. It sure burned up our legs though. Nothing like being in traffic at Gatlinburg and having to pull off and let it cool down before it blisters your legs off.  I use to tell my wife, "next bike will be water cooled"...........It is

[Whooray]

How many $$.$$$ were they asking for that HD with 14000 miles on?

[Disco]

How many $$.$$$ were they asking for that HD with 14000 miles on?

+1

[Dave Ritsema]

Previous bike was the Ultra Classic, it was a good ride and pretty, not nearly the git up and go as my Valkyrie though. It sure burned up our legs though. Nothing like being in traffic at Gatlinburg and having to pull off and let it cool down before it blisters your legs off.  I use to tell my wife, "next bike will be water cooled"...........It is

It's interesting that you say that. One of my questions to the salesman was what the differences were between this bike and the new ones. He said the exhaust is routed differently thru the frame because of the heat issue for the passengers legs. I willl for certain take my wife out on it first because like we all know, "If Momma ain't happy, NO one is happy". 

[Dave Ritsema]

How many $$.$$$ were they asking for that HD with 14000 miles on?

+1

$25K

[Dave Ritsema]

Got a friend who not only rides a Harley he works for Smoky Mountain Harley the fastest growing Harley dealership in America so I'm told as well. He took his wife out west last year and her right leg was cooked from the heat so bad she has never rode with him again and claims she never will unless he get's another bike......Peer pressure is a bitch I've seen it do strange things to one of my friends 

Hey Joe, not a peer pressure thing. (Not that they were not doing their best). That kind of stuff just has never worked on me.

More like I have had this bike for 10 years, I still love it but what else is out there I can check out. And one thing I would not miss is 6 carbs. I like the Wings but for some reason they are just not my style, I like all the chrome and a bike you can actually see the motor on, not hidden behind a bunch of plastic.

I never make large purchases on a whim, more so LOTS of research and fact finding. I am guessing that I will talk myself out of the HD in a few days. 

[Dave Ritsema]

Please tell us you're joking. A Harley service manager here in Mesa, AZ told me a 110 SE has 82 HP at the rear wheel. Go back and see the printout. A new Gold Wing has all those goodies and more power too. The air cooled motor is doomed to extinction soon. They run so hot that owners have filed a class action lawsuit about burned legs. Meeting emissions is almost impossible. If I had to choose between my '98 tourer and my '05 Wing, the Valk would go. Fortunately I can afford both.

He did offer to dyno it for me, so I think that at least he thought it had those kind of numbers. The fact if it did or not, I have no idea. I do know it had some high zooter stage 3 kit that was nearly 5 grand alone, whatever that entails.

[Disco]

If you want it, get it.  Ride what you want.  Or, take mama for a test ride and see what she says you want.      

I understand the problem many folks have with tupperware but you can buy a whole lot of 'wing for lots less than $25K.

[Sodbuster]

Try out the Triumph Thunderbird .... it has some serious getty up and go too !!

[Slick]

If you've just got to get an HD, at least make it one that was built after 08. I'm told that the new frame in 09 makes a world of difference in the way the bike handles--

[Momz]

Remember:"If you're not riding a Harley, you might as well just ride a moped".
(Overheard at a HD dealership)

[R J]

You do have to remember Dave, 60% of the Harleys sold, are still on the road.   The other 40% made it home, one way or another.

[Dave Ritsema]

If you've just got to get an HD, at least make it one that was built after 08. I'm told that the new frame in 09 makes a world of difference in the way the bike handles--

I have since read that very thing in doing some research today. That helped make up my mind.

Thanks to all for your input without being judgmental.  

[MNBill]

Before you buy ride the new Victory Cross Country Tour. 106, no over heat issue (does not have to turn off the rear cylinder in town and shake you to death), oil cooled, smoother and handles very nice. Air ride in the rear to keep Momma happy and comes with all the fancy stuff way cheaper. My son got a Victory, when riding he confused my signal to pass as to move closer. I dropped two gears on the Valk and passed, he twisted the Vic in 6th and kept up with me. Sold me that they had enough power. Besides,,, it is not the bike everyone else has, yet.

[fudgie]

Are you sure that tourque is good enough? Ask them 2 HD's that followed me thru western NE for 30 miles. They were 1 up each with no gear. I was 1 up loaded with camp gear. We were cruising at 75 passiing everything. But when I decided to pass 2 trucks with horse trailers and 2 cars up hill, they didnt have enough ass. I made it around just fine at 105 mph. They swung out tried tried and tried and coulnt do it. They pulled back in where they started! 

Dont get any with the rear cylinder cut off option. Talked to alot of guys this yr out west that had it. It fux there bikes up. They had to have it shut off in order for the bike to work properly.

I've been tempted to by the Road Glide. Many times. I get back on the Valk and glad I didnt do it. Even the HD salesman tells me not to trade mine off. 

[Robert]

If you want to save roughly 10k and get a bike with more add ons go to this site hes sells Harleys at a bit over cost and some are really nice looking.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2010-Harley-Road-King-Classic-FLHRC-Touring-VIDEO-289-Month-LOW-MILES-ABS-/190702345195?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item2c66bedbeb

[art]

You couldn't pry my cold dead hands off my valk.If I wanted a second bike it would probably be a triumph thunderbird.I did ride one and it was a good bike .Plenty of power,handled nice and comfortable.Besides that it is not the same -o-thing [v twinky]