This has to be one of the most interesting bikes Harley has come out with in a long time.
Not that I'm going to buy one. Way too much money for me. But 10 years from now, I might get a well used one.
This has to be one of the most interesting bikes Harley has come out with in a long time.
Not that I'm going to buy one. Way too much money for me. But 10 years from now, I might get a well used one.
I just googled it and read the marketing blurb from HD - what is different or interesting about it? (not being a wise-ass... it looks like every other bike they make).
To the naked eye it is a Dyna Glide with a new name.
V-Twin, check
Looks vintage, check
Costs a lot, check
Its a Dyna (read smaller) frame with many of the features of a Touring Bike like a Road King. Still has the 103" engine too. It will be a nice bike for shorter riders who want a bike that can go longer distances comfortabally.
This one? They're sure putting those Buell patents to use. Check out the single front disc. The wheels look very Buell. The rear sprocket does as well. The rear sprocket almost looks Blast like. Is it lighter than the standard touring bikes HD offers? I like it's compactness.
Its about 75 pounds lighter than a FLHR Road King; the FLHR gets twin Brembo Discs vs. the single on the FLD above. The FLHR also gets an air-ride rear suspension. 15999 vs 17499 base to base; ABS/Security are optional on both, as is cruise control of the Road King.
Not really seeing anything interesting at all. Now if Harley offered a bike that didn't sound like crap that would be interesting.
V-Rod with a nice exhaust sounds very far from crap.
ST_ZX2 wrote: V-Rod with a nice exhaust sounds very far from crap.
Of course...the engine was designed by ze Germans "Porsche"
93EXCivic wrote: Not really seeing anything interesting at all. Now if Harley offered a bike that didn't sound like crap that would be interesting.
They did just that. Good luck finding/affording one though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3wZmaqneBk
Before this one, the Dyna was the most interesting evolution Harley had made, imo.
Visually, this bike looks like many others of the glide series. Which I do like visually, always have, but they have never had much apeal to be.
This one though has reduced rake, is lighter, and a few other things that make it far more nimble than other Harleys. With the probable exception of the Sportster, which is a horse of a different color.
It's no great standout or single significant difference. It's the whole package that is appreciably different than other glides.
Xceler8x wrote: The wheels look very Torq Thrust.
FTFY
MG_Bryan wrote:93EXCivic wrote: Not really seeing anything interesting at all. Now if Harley offered a bike that didn't sound like crap that would be interesting.They did just that. Good luck finding/affording one though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3wZmaqneBk
I like that. I'm also not opposed to the XR1200, either.
losing weight is commendable, but the thing is still 718 lbs according to Harley. Seriously, if a bike weighs 718 lbs or 800 lbs, do you really notice it?
I have ridden a bunch of Harleys, and once you get them off the kickstand they don't really feel that heavy (as long as you are riding them like a Harley and not just a motorcycle).
Even my 5'3" 130 lb wife had no problem riding a rented fat boy all day long.
Rusnak_322 wrote: losing weight is commendable, but the thing is still 718 lbs according to Harley. Seriously, if a bike weighs 718 lbs or 800 lbs, do you really notice it? I have ridden a bunch of Harleys, and once you get them off the kickstand they don't really feel that heavy (as long as you are riding them like a Harley and not just a motorcycle). Even my 5'3" 130 lb wife had no problem riding a rented fat boy all day long.
I still take issue with the weight. I have a lot of family members who ride Harleys, and I'll agree they aren't hard to ride. They are hard to pick up though, and I buy into the old philosophy that one should ride a bike one can't pick up.
MG_Bryan wrote:Rusnak_322 wrote: losing weight is commendable, but the thing is still 718 lbs according to Harley. Seriously, if a bike weighs 718 lbs or 800 lbs, do you really notice it? I have ridden a bunch of Harleys, and once you get them off the kickstand they don't really feel that heavy (as long as you are riding them like a Harley and not just a motorcycle). Even my 5'3" 130 lb wife had no problem riding a rented fat boy all day long.I still take issue with the weight. I have a lot of family members who ride Harleys, and I'll agree they aren't hard to ride. They are hard to pick up though, and I buy into the old philosophy that one should ride a bike one can't pick up.
Sounds like you're doing it wrong. 
Granted, the bike in this video is ~100lbs lighter than a Switchback, but a skinny girl picks it up. I know that my 5'6"/140lb buddy can pick up his ~880lb Ultra Classic using this method. 
In reply to RealMiniDriver:
Never dropped one. Only watched others struggle. edit: Since most of the bikes I have dropped were some variation of dirtbike, I honestly wouldn't have tried it that way had I dropped a Harley.
berkeleying canoes. 
In reply to MG_Bryan:
Awesome berkelying canoe photo! 
Totally appropriate for this forum!
MG_Bryan wrote: In reply to RealMiniDriver: Never dropped one. Only watched others struggle. edit: Since most of the bikes I have dropped were some variation of dirtbike, I honestly wouldn't have tried it that way had I dropped a Harley.
I did not know of this method when I dropped my Super Glide in the first week of ownership. I just grabbed the bars and hoisted it up. Adrenaline'll do that. What adrenaline won't do, though, is not make your shoulder and back hurt like a sumbitch for the next week. :(
The switchback was interesting, until I read the price. My V-Star has a windshield and bags, similar power, is more comfortable to ride, looks better IMHO, and cost exactly half of what the HD does. That means that the Switchback is actually worth $7500, but it wears $7500 HD badges. No thanks.
pinchvalve wrote: The switchback was interesting, until I read the price. My V-Star has a windshield and bags, similar power, is more comfortable to ride, looks better IMHO, and cost exactly half of what the HD does. That means that the Switchback is actually worth $7500, but it wears $7500 HD badges. No thanks.
...and in 3 years the V-Star will lose about 60% of its value and the Harley will lose about 20. Cost of ownership is meaningless until you factor what it's worth when you want to sell it. In that regard Harley's hold their value better than just about any other vehicle made. Everything else you mention is purely subjective.
The $8000 V-Stars are 650s...the 1300s are all over $10000...even the 1100s are $9-10K. There may be rebates--but that just supports my argument above. A 650 will not have similar power to a H-D 103"...and by power I mean torque.
The quality of Harley's paint, chrome and switchgear is far superior to your bike's. That is why 10+ year old Harley's still fetch the values that they do...they simply hold up much better. I see it every day.
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