I've been looking at the Yamaha Roadstar Silverado for a couple of years, now.

Since my neck and back injuries, I'm just leary of jumping on one, again. (I've ridden since I was a kid.)



Here is a link of the bike. . . . MSRP: $12,700.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/star/pro...1/1/image.aspx

The only downside is, it's got a carb instead of FI.

 

I've had two Suzuki (125, 650) and several Hondas. From a 350 to a couple 1200 Gold Wings and a ST1100. Currently I ride a HD Ultra dresser. As much as like the Hog, as far as reliability and cost of maintenance, you can't beat the Japanese models.

 

The Roadstar Warrior is nice, but it still gets smoked by the VMax.
I say go with a Sportster 1200 or a Dyna Wide Glide.
Octane

 

I had a Buell Cyclone and my dad had a 883 Sporty that we converted to 1200 with Buell parts. I got the front wheel off the ground once. My Buell liked to do wheelies after a few mods. If I got another bike, it would be a new Lightning


or a Triumph Daytona


I also like the Confederate Hellcat bikes. They are $$$, though.

 

Parks911

Have you considered a used harley? What the others said is true. The market and hype is finally catching up with them. I have seen quite a few dyna wideglides, and dyna lowriders in the $10,000 to $12,000 range around here (Sherveport/Bossier) Most with low miles, and a factory warranty. I presume some of this is due to the Air Force Base here. Quick sales usually mean lower profit. Cant take it overseas, ect, ect. Also try checking out police bikes. Good friend of mine got a 2002 roadking p for $14,000 with less than 20,000 miles with a extended warranty.

Ryan

 

I might buy a new Harley if I can get them to sell it at MSRP or less. I'm not going to pay extra because everyone else does.

I was at the Harley Dealer here in Chattanooga today browsing around. Even filed a credit app. so I guess we'll see what they say.

I like the looks of the Triumph cruiser I posted earlier. I might go and check that thing out next weekend.


I even asked about the Indian bikes in a earlier post. Unfortunatly that isn't gonna happen. They went out of business AGAIN last year.

 

Yeah, I think the days of people paying more for a Harley are mostly over. The Japanese bikes nowdays are just as fast (if not faster) and really look and sound just like a Harley.
My neibor has a Yamaha Road Star and for the longest time I thought it was a Harley. I never really looked at it up close and he has aftermarket exhaust, so its got that Harley rumble to it. Last summer I was looking at it and on the speed/tach I saw the little Yamaha "tuning fork" emblem. Other than that, it shows no signs of being a Yamaha.
Another neibor of mine just got a brand new Dyna Wide Glide and I was talking to him today saying that I was thinking about getting a bike, and he told me that he paid $12,500 for his '06 Dyna. Its a nice bike and plenty fast enough for me.
I think though, that if Im going to pay $12,000 for a Harley, Id spend the extra $2000 and get a Victory Vegas. Ive owned Polaris snowmobiles and ATVs all my life (my parents have owned Polaris snowmobiles since the late '70s), and Ive always been happy with them, so Id probably pay a little more to stay with the Polaris brand. What can I say, Im brand loyal...
Octane

 

I'm sorry.............when exactly did this revelation occur???

I'm trying to think of any HD cruiser (V-rod excepted) off the showroom that could hang with any Japanese cruiser over 700cc.


Useless trivia time;

One of the many reasons for my disdain of HD is they actually sued trying to copyright their annoying lawnmower sound when the Japanese were offsetting crank pins to duplicate it.

 

Well its not actually a revolution. The V-Rod most likely won't. The X1 lightning buell however will stay with them.

As for the copyright of the sound, I am glad they did it. The Japanese make enough money copying American desings, no doubt improving them to some degree. So if you want to buy a copy, and 4 years later want to sell it, and you get 1/3 of what you paid for it, remember the "money you saved" going in.

Here is some usefull info about metric cruisers......price a seat, a set of pipes, and a air breather, for a harley and a say Honda VTX you will be $1000s more in the hole on the honda than you ever would with the harley.

Ryan

 

Ryan, if you get into the Buells now you have to bring in the Japanese sport bikes. Again, no contest,

You DON'T sound like the type of guy who I'm talking about...."Yup, dem harleys might not be quick but boy howdy they're faster than anything on the top end."

I always disliked the knock about buying 'furrin when HD used MANY Japanese parts on the hogs.

When HD cried for protection in the 70's it hit me in the pocket book because they asked for the tariff on EVERYTHING over 700cc, not just the cruisers. I always bought sport bikes and had to pay more.

The last straw was when they sued the AMERICAN maker of the BOSS HOSS (the V8 powered motorcycle) because they called it BOSS "HOG" which stood for Harley Owners Group.

I actually tried to buy a HD dealership in the early 90's, I learned the actual riders are some of the most hypocritical bunch I'd ever run across.........the RUBe's (rich urban bikers) hated the old timers because of the bad rep........the old timers hated the RUBe's (even though they saved the company) because they were wannabes.

Can't argue your resale points.........the things hold their value. But if we were really worried about resale, would we buy Fords? LOL!!!

 

DOHC, nothing takin, nothing given. As far as the buell it kinda goes both ways. It is still a 1200 sportster motor, which if it was available in the same X1 trim in a say 1200 custom, it would stay with many of the 750 and 800cc cruiser class bikes. The buell turns no more rpms than a sportster so it is kinda hard to put it up against a motor that turns 12,000 rpms. Coolest thing, and usually fastest thing around when I was a kid was the 750 four Honda. Especially in a chopped frame raked out. They always started first kick, and you could not wear one out.


Ryan

 

I saw Tom Cruise on the tv recently with his gf, and they were on a nice looking Honda. I'm not sure which model but it was a nice bike. It had an engine like a Goldwing I think. I have owned a Harley for about 13 years. I really like it. I have rebuilt it over and over as my mood changes. But if I was going to buy a new bike I think it would be something other than a Harley. I am thinking Goldwing, but I want to go and see what ol Tom was riding. I am in the market for another buike, but I cannot afford a new one. But a used Goldwing would be fine.

Go to some of the dealers and check things out. BMW has a real nice bike too.

 

You're right.

And I respect your knowledge............the fact that you are comparing a 1200 to a 700-800 is lost on many.

 

I'm not a fan of cruisers but if I had to pick one it would be the Honda Rune.

I wonder if that is what you saw.

 

Thanks DOHC, I'll take that as a compliment. Although I spend many hours trying to make Harleys go fast, mostley its a hobby, and a lost art, mostly something to talk about with other Harley riders, at the track, bar or light to light, ect. (making a 90 year old poor design go faster by taking metal and strength away, is an art....of balance) If I really wanted to go fast, just get a Kawasaki ZX12, or Gsxr 750.


Ryan