So now that I have a commuter car it opens up the bike search a bit is there a semi unbiased review site that covers the major makes that you guys trust.
So now that I have a commuter car it opens up the bike search a bit is there a semi unbiased review site that covers the major makes that you guys trust.
I have read a lot of good reviews on http://www.webbikeworld.com
Not sure about bias. They don't seem to be slathered with ads. I've bought some of the stuff (not a bike, just gear) based on their reviews and they have been pretty spot on.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I have read a lot of good reviews on http://www.webbikeworld.com Not sure about bias. They don't seem to be slathered with ads. I've bought some of the stuff (not a bike, just gear) based on their reviews and they have been pretty spot on.
I second this.
It probably just falls down to what kind of bike you're looking at. I have yet to find any particular one that lacks a bias between HD and everything else though.
yamaha wrote: I have yet to find any particular one that lacks a bias between HD and everything else though.
This is where I am at. Its one side of the fence or the other. A hour long test ride is not enough to make a decision and I do not want to drop 12-15K on a used street glide or road king if the interstate or the something else does everything better at 1/2 the price used.
Deep down I know I can turn any Harley into what I want it to be in terms of longer ride ergo but its going to cost me another 1K to really get it sorted out. Dealers are pushing the new bikes hard with discounts and free service and like 0-1% interest rates. But I can get into a 14 ultra classic for ~5K off sticker right now an ~7K off sticker on the 13's that they have on the lot. Do the removable tour pack kit and it makes for one hell of a usable bike, not the greatest looking thing but that's subjective.
What I want I think is a 12-13 street glide with the new bags and I can get demo bikes with warranties for ~16.5K ish with say 10K miles with the ABS but without navigation. But looking on the used market it seems that I can get the same like for 12-13K if I really hunt and am willing to settle for black.
The great thing about Harley's is that you can rent pretty much the whole model line, either from the dealer or a place like Eagle Rider. And if you find yourself in Vegas at any point, I rented from a little independent place run by a cool Swiss dude that seemed like he would have no problem with you trying out anything in his fleet.
Motorcycles are way more 'personal,' for lack of a better term, then cars. I definitely wouldn't buy in that price range without spending some seat time on the model in question.
And if you don't actually have your heart set on a Harley, I am a big fan of metric cruisers. They depreciate like a rock off a cliff, which is good for those of us who buy used.
HD parts prices are simply insane.
I had to replace a pair of mirrors on a customers FLHT------ last year and the cost was over $300 for the set.
We're putting a new speedo on another fellow's Street Rod that is being imported into the country because the law says it must read in kilometers. $650 + for that one.
Also, that VSRCR (Street Rod) has leaking fork seals and a weeping rocker box seal. Apparently that's "normal" for a 13,000 mile motorcycle. 
Go buy a V-star or a Shadow instead.
If you can look outside the HD brand there is one really sexy option that is unique and also comes from a storied brand that doesn't farm their sub-systems out to china (read: won't have to hear "When are you getting a real bike" from guys dressed as pirates). Although "cheaper" isn't a word I'd use; comparable is more like it.
The Guzzi California 1400 Vintage or Touring is (IMO) the only big iron cruiser that looks sexy and has all the tech you want (shaft drive, ABS, Brembos, traction control, switchable fuel maps for different types of riding... etc). They come in at a HD comparable 15-18k new with the primary difference in price related to panniers, headed seat/grips and other tour options. Used, they are probably pretty close too.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/motorcycles/a10998/moto-guzzi-california-the-cruiser-that-just-might-convert-you-17044879/
I hate big heavy cruiser bikes but I would rock that Touring with panniers all day long.
^This
A guy in our club has a Griso and a California, he is crazy about them.
I'm buying a Stelvio at the end of the year.
Don Canet and Mark Cernicky from Cycle World can ride fast enough to tell the differences between bikes and aren't on anyone else's payroll.
I like Motorcycle Consumer News but I think that it is only available by subscription, never seen it on a newsstand.
Trans_Maro wrote: HD parts prices are simply insane. I had to replace a pair of mirrors on a customers FLHT------ last year and the cost was over $300 for the set.
Daberk kinda mirrors are you using? Granted, this is US pricing, for one, stock OE mirror, but it's unfair to make a statement like that without qualifying whether or not you used custom parts.
clutchsmoke wrote:Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I have read a lot of good reviews on http://www.webbikeworld.com Not sure about bias. They don't seem to be slathered with ads. I've bought some of the stuff (not a bike, just gear) based on their reviews and they have been pretty spot on.I second this.
I third this, although, I've not read any bike reviews, their gear reviews are spot-on.
RealMiniDriver wrote:Trans_Maro wrote: HD parts prices are simply insane. I had to replace a pair of mirrors on a customers FLHT------ last year and the cost was over $300 for the set.Daberk kinda mirrors are you using? Granted, this is US pricing, for one, stock OE mirror, but it's unfair to make a statement like that without qualifying whether or not you used custom parts.
But, but, but it's an HD... It has to be stupid to buy parts for one. Because it's a stupid bike, built by a stupid company for stupid people that all look like pirates 
In reply to RealMiniDriver:
Not those mirrors.
Similar shape but with light in them.
Not saying they're stupid bikes for stupid people.
Just saying that made-in-china parts with a bar and shield on them cost about three times what made-in-China parts with anyone elses logo cost.
Trans_Maro wrote: Just saying that made-in-china parts with a bar and shield on them cost about three times what made-in-China parts with anyone elses logo cost.
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