Motorcycles
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Georgia
Motorcycles
Yep, once again I'm starting a thread about Motorcycles. This one I promise will be productive (to me).
I have decided to buy a new bike come Spring time. But I don't really know exactly what I want yet.
The only thing that I know I want is that it has to be a cruiser & has to have at least 1000 cc's.
What do you suggest I look at & why? (exclude all Harley's, don't have that kind of money)
I have decided to buy a new bike come Spring time. But I don't really know exactly what I want yet.
The only thing that I know I want is that it has to be a cruiser & has to have at least 1000 cc's.
What do you suggest I look at & why? (exclude all Harley's, don't have that kind of money)
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
I know nothing about new bikes.
That having been said - I remember a GS-1100 a buddy of mine had in about 92. It was older, and was fat for HP, but it was notorious for having to be push-started because the electricals were shot.
That was the second bike I had ever troubleshot down to a fried stator winding in the generator, number one was a Honda 500 twin.
I'd say keep an eye on gripes on new bikes, and think in terms of a bike at least two years old so that its either proven, or everything that goes bad on it has been replaced.
I trust new products like I trust a polecat - sooner or later you gonna smell something!
That having been said - I remember a GS-1100 a buddy of mine had in about 92. It was older, and was fat for HP, but it was notorious for having to be push-started because the electricals were shot.
That was the second bike I had ever troubleshot down to a fried stator winding in the generator, number one was a Honda 500 twin.
I'd say keep an eye on gripes on new bikes, and think in terms of a bike at least two years old so that its either proven, or everything that goes bad on it has been replaced.
I trust new products like I trust a polecat - sooner or later you gonna smell something!
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Edgerton, WI
A lot of the magazines seem to think that the Yamaha V-Star 1200 is the best cruiser on the market under $10,000.
Id prefer a H-D/Buell or a Victory, but the Japanese bikes are nice too.
Id love to have a Victory but I just cant afford one. Their cheapest bike is $12,000 and thats too rich for my blood. Thats a lot of money to spend for a bike if you ask me, especially when you could buy a Honda or Yamaha full-dress touring bike for the same amount of money! Heck, for $12,000 you could buy a Road King!
Octane
Id prefer a H-D/Buell or a Victory, but the Japanese bikes are nice too.
Id love to have a Victory but I just cant afford one. Their cheapest bike is $12,000 and thats too rich for my blood. Thats a lot of money to spend for a bike if you ask me, especially when you could buy a Honda or Yamaha full-dress touring bike for the same amount of money! Heck, for $12,000 you could buy a Road King!
Octane
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Georgia
Originally Posted by Octane
Heck, for $12,000 you could buy a Road King!
You can't touch a Roadking for that price. You can barely get a Sportster for that price. And I'm to big for a Sportster.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Langhorne, PA
Haven't been shopping for Harleys, but I have heard the market is a bit saturated and prices for the high end bikes are reasonable, I'm told that the price of sportsters has leveled off or dropped also.
I like the Yamaha Roadstar, a friend of mine bought one this winter, and it sounds and looks good, although, it still looks like a Japanese-built bike. I would say you could get a good bike at a fair price from Yammyha.
I really like the Honda Goldwings, 2004, 2005 bikes look awesome! I think they are offering a 30 year anniversary model this year. If you're going to go out and risk your skin, might as well do it in comfort with a radio.
A quiet-running Goldwing slipping past me on the interstate seems cool to me. I am no outlaw, and have been feeling bad lately about waking up the neighbors the last few years, with my HD screaming eagle exhaust. I will be driving in stealth mode for my next bike.
I like the Yamaha Roadstar, a friend of mine bought one this winter, and it sounds and looks good, although, it still looks like a Japanese-built bike. I would say you could get a good bike at a fair price from Yammyha.
I really like the Honda Goldwings, 2004, 2005 bikes look awesome! I think they are offering a 30 year anniversary model this year. If you're going to go out and risk your skin, might as well do it in comfort with a radio.
A quiet-running Goldwing slipping past me on the interstate seems cool to me. I am no outlaw, and have been feeling bad lately about waking up the neighbors the last few years, with my HD screaming eagle exhaust. I will be driving in stealth mode for my next bike.
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Cargo Master
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From: Georgia
According to Harley's web site.
A Roadking still has a MSRP of right around 18K. Depending on your options.
A Sporster 1200 has a MSRP of right around 9K.
I feel to big for the Sporster, but the last one I rode was the 883. The 1200 may be suitable for me, I don't know.
A Roadking still has a MSRP of right around 18K. Depending on your options.
A Sporster 1200 has a MSRP of right around 9K.
I feel to big for the Sporster, but the last one I rode was the 883. The 1200 may be suitable for me, I don't know.
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Look for used BMW or Honda Pacific Coast cop bikes. Gotta be some of those coming on the market, maybe.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Edgerton, WI
Originally Posted by parks911
According to Harley's web site.
A Roadking still has a MSRP of right around 18K. Depending on your options.
A Roadking still has a MSRP of right around 18K. Depending on your options.
Originally Posted by parks911
A Sporster 1200 has a MSRP of right around 9K.
I feel to big for the Sporster, but the last one I rode was the 883. The 1200 may be suitable for me, I don't know.
I feel to big for the Sporster, but the last one I rode was the 883. The 1200 may be suitable for me, I don't know.
Id really try for a Dyna.
The price is really going to boil down to how bad the dealer decides to screw you. The MSRP is one thing, but the dealer will usually ask more. Its known as the "harley tariff" and it could be as much as $3000 over MSRP.
Another bike to consider would be the Victory Vegas 8-Ball. They are very nice bikes. Its always been said that Victory isnt more American than Harley, just less Japanese. LOL
http://victorymotorcycles.polarisind...2-11C311FE075D
All I can say is that Victory is just about the only non-Harley than even the most die hard Harley riders dont have a problem with.
Octane
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Georgia
OK, Now I'm thinking about the Sporster 1200 Custom.
I'm fine on my little 650 Yamaha so I should be OK on a Sporster. I just feel I look funny on one.
I figure I can probally pick a 05 or 06 model up with all my options for around 11 or 12K.
I wish others would join in & tell me about the VTX or the Roadstar. Does Suzuki & Kawasaki still build cruisers?
I'm fine on my little 650 Yamaha so I should be OK on a Sporster. I just feel I look funny on one.
I figure I can probally pick a 05 or 06 model up with all my options for around 11 or 12K.
I wish others would join in & tell me about the VTX or the Roadstar. Does Suzuki & Kawasaki still build cruisers?
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Georgia
Originally Posted by Octane
All I can say is that Victory is just about the only non-Harley than even the most die hard Harley riders dont have a problem with.
Now that Victory is a pretty bike. Gives me another angle to look at. I'm not to concerned about brand specification but I do want the best that I can get out of my dollar.
Didn't Indian start building bikes again? I'm looking at Triumph also.
Doesn't this bike just scream "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY"
Last edited by parks911; Jul 16, 2005 at 11:28 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,290
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From: Edgerton, WI
For what a VTX costs you could get a Victory Hammer. 1500cc OHC V-twin and it AMERICAN-MADE!!!
http://victorymotorcycles.polarisindustries.com/victory/landing.aspx?ModelID=26E84042-C133-41D1-B7A8-630BB2C5DA48
Check out the HUGE rear tire that thing has, flippin' sweet! If I had the money, that would be the bike Id buy.
However, that bike costs as much as my '99 F-150 cost me and I just cant justify spending that kind of money on a bike. Before I did that, Id go out and buy a new snowmobile: '06 Polaris FST Switchback.
http://snowmobiles.polarisindustries...8-9108C93D539A
The VTX 1800 is nice too. You get a lot of bike for $12,000.
Octane
http://victorymotorcycles.polarisindustries.com/victory/landing.aspx?ModelID=26E84042-C133-41D1-B7A8-630BB2C5DA48
Check out the HUGE rear tire that thing has, flippin' sweet! If I had the money, that would be the bike Id buy.
However, that bike costs as much as my '99 F-150 cost me and I just cant justify spending that kind of money on a bike. Before I did that, Id go out and buy a new snowmobile: '06 Polaris FST Switchback.
http://snowmobiles.polarisindustries...8-9108C93D539A
The VTX 1800 is nice too. You get a lot of bike for $12,000.
Octane
Last edited by Octane; Jul 17, 2005 at 11:38 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 274
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From: Maine
Parks,
I have a 2005 Yamaha Roadstar Warrior 1700 ( midnight edition). All black. I love it. I got rid of the stock exhaust(which looks like a giant water heater) , now have Bub Jug huggers and put on a corbin stinger seat and it is perfect. The only thing wrong with these types of bikes is there more a street fighter looking bike. They don't look all that great with a windshield and bags.IMO.
My last bike was a Honda Shadow Sabre 1100. I put 12,000 miles on that one and didn't have to do anything but change a set of tires. The warrior is belt drive and fuel injected. Which I do like better than the shaft drive and carb of the Sabre. BTW price was around 12 grand for the Warrior and around 9 grand for the Sabre in Maine.
Good luck and have fun looking
James
I have a 2005 Yamaha Roadstar Warrior 1700 ( midnight edition). All black. I love it. I got rid of the stock exhaust(which looks like a giant water heater) , now have Bub Jug huggers and put on a corbin stinger seat and it is perfect. The only thing wrong with these types of bikes is there more a street fighter looking bike. They don't look all that great with a windshield and bags.IMO.
My last bike was a Honda Shadow Sabre 1100. I put 12,000 miles on that one and didn't have to do anything but change a set of tires. The warrior is belt drive and fuel injected. Which I do like better than the shaft drive and carb of the Sabre. BTW price was around 12 grand for the Warrior and around 9 grand for the Sabre in Maine.
Good luck and have fun looking
James