A bit of a dilemma on motorcycle purchase

[Mrwurm]

I've been afraid to mention this, but I got a new bike for the family on saturday. I'm afraid it's pale in comparison to a GoldWing or Harley, but it only cost $2,500 brand spank'n new. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I find it hard to believe this is the same guy I've been trying to convince to buy even an old, used tractor for over a year now. )</font>

Hey, I'm ALWAYS very generous with someone else's money! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

And besides, I don't have the incentive of the possibility of having some top executive in John Deere (or New Holland, or Kubota, etc., etc., etc.) becoming part of my family! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

By the way, congrats on the big 50! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif As they say, I've been there and done that, and it's not so bad. For me, the worst part was getting the AARP application 6 months before I turned 50 /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

We can get into my tractor search in another post or private message if you want. I have made some progress. I'm at one of those points where if everything goes Just right, I could have one some time this year, but if just a few things don't work the way I'd like, then I'll be back to my old schedule of sometime in late '04 or early '05.

We'll see! Take care, and don't burn any rubber with that walker! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

NO tatoos for me, Snowridge. I have enough permanent marks on this old body without paying to have one put on. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

RobertN, there are at least two things on which we agree. I've picked up a Goldwing on more than one occasion over the years. They were heavy back when I was young and picking one up hasn't gotten any easier. I also believe the HD's are far, far better than they used to be. I still think I'll prefer the Goldwing, though. In an effort to be fair, though, I'm going to take a new 1832cc Wing out for a ride and then take a new Classic Ultra Glide FLHTCUI out for a spin. Hopefully I won't get the chance to compare how difficult they are to pick up. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif All kidding aside, I'll bet they're pretty close in weight.

While they're not my favorite dealer, there is a place here who has a Honda franchise right next door to a Harley Davidson store he has. I can't imagine a better comparison than that. I'd seriously encourage you to do the same. I think you'll be impressed with the quiet comfort you'll experience on the Goldwing.

And GolfGar! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I am NOT fifty! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I'm forty-nine and, like everyone else on their forty-ninth birthday I entered my fiftieth year, having already completed forty-nine years. GEEZ!

Also, you may recall, I bought my John Deere with no relatives or potential relatives working for Deere. I never had any connections with Honda for all those Goldwings over the years, either. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[TresCrows]

I think Goldwings do hold their value to a fair degree and BMWs have awesome resale also. The great and unappreciated thing about Jap bikes is that they cost less than the tax(slight exaggeration for effect) on a Harely and when they are worn out you go get another. No one really expects high resale on sub 10,000 dollar bikes that for the most part get run hard and put away wet. Further, rather than building the same bike forever, the Japs give us new and always intersting new toys constantly. I am not anti Harley, I like the bigger Sportsters and may buy one someday. Hey, I got to get some Posing in /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif also now that I am to old to slap biker chicks on the rear and get away with it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. Well, I dunno, I still wheelie and stoppie pretty good according to some black Streefighters I rode with last Sunday evening for a few hours, the oldest was probably not 24 years, heck, they just thought I was a old white guy. Those blue strobes they had under their fenders really made the cars get out of our way. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I should be more careful, I don't much bounce when I fall anymore /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. I like to do burnouts in the garage. My last bike I lost it in the middle of a burnout and richochet out of the garage and high sided in the lawn. No real damage but my pride. Posing might be safer. Your mirror in the garage might not be a bad idea /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. Maybe I should get a Harley and some chaps--yeah, some chaps and maybe a cool bandanna and some fake tatoos. J

 

[MikePA]

Jerry, based on the picture, it looks like you got someone out of bed just to stand next to the motorcycle! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Egon]

Motorcycles have a tendendency to leave permanent tatoos. All you have to do is part company with said machine on a gravel road at 60 something MPH. It will also change one's outlook at powered two wheel riding enjoyment.

It takes the doctor forever to pick out all the little rocks.

Egon

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am NOT fifty! I'm forty-nine and, like everyone else on their forty-ninth birthday I entered my fiftieth year, having already completed forty-nine years. )</font>

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Oops! Sorry Gary. I guess I misread your statement. Just save my well wishes for one more year and then you can re-read them when they will apply! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Also, you may recall, I bought my John Deere with no relatives or potential relatives working for Deere. I never had any connections with Honda for all those Goldwings over the years, either. )</font>

Again Gary, I apologize if my comment came across wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I was simply trying to give you an excuse - any excuse - for buying a new cycle. As we all know, a guy has to grab ANY excuse he can get his hands on when he wants to "upgrade". /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The bottom line..If your a rider it doesn't matter what you ride, as long as you ride. I've had one Harley FLHRI(fuel injected RoadKing 96',couple of bimmers, and while I still can i'm getting the crotch rocket thing out of my system. One of my cronies just bought his 100th anv. full dresser,and one of my other friends bought a new wing after him and his wife went to one of the Hoots last year and rented one during the event(went down on their old one and rented the new one parked theirs during the event.... go figure) Two weeks ago we went for a ride and traded bikes for a bit awsome bike... smoooth. We kinda have an eclectic group. My 748 Duc, wife 600 secaII, 4 HD's,1Buel, 1 new Wing, 1 last years style, anda couple sport tourers and 2 bimmers. One thing in common..2wheels /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If you could get a deal on a new HD that fine if not get the toy that you like..Just like this site people have favorites,orange /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif,green,blue,yellow red. But we all like each others toys.. err..tools. If you like riding a Wing(beautiful bike) and they don't.. their loss /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

If you ride it doesn't matter what your on...if your a poser.. well /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Cheers
Tony

 

[Jeff396]

<font color="blue"> As far as paying OVER retail for either bike, that's just not going to happen. As many of you who've read my posts here over time, I tend to be 'frugal' on things such as this. I'm looking more at something along the lines of, "How much over invoice?" and "Does that include the holdback?"
</font>

I used to be very good friends with the person who ran the Harley dealership where I bought my bike in Michigan. He is now in charge of running a Harley dealership in Fort Wayne, IN. He had a strong belief that charging over invoice was wrong and would sell the bikes on a first come first serve basis. When I looked him up again in Fort Wayne a few years later he had gotten rather disgusted with the whole thing. It turns out that many who got bikes from him would immediately turn around and sell it for a profit. At that time he had gotten to the point where he was giving his friends and regular customers first shot on all bikes. If you ever do get that Harley urge be sure and talk to Jim Bailey at Fort Wayne Harley Davidson. I saw him about four years ago and am assuming he's still there. I have attached a picture of a picture of him on his FLHTC with turn down after market mufflers riding a wheelie on it dragging the mufflers with sparks shooting off of the them the whole way. It's quite a sight!!!

Jeff

 

[TresCrows]

"Motorcycles have a tendendency to leave permanent tatoos. All you have to do is part company with said machine on a gravel road at 60 something MPH. It will also change one's outlook at powered two wheel riding enjoyment.
It takes the doctor forever to pick out all the little rocks."

Been there, done that unfortunately more than once and I have the scars to proove it. I learned early to wear protective clothing--EVERY TIME--I ride. They have clothing nowadays that can provide real protection. New helmets are lighter and stronger and lot's of jackets and pants have kevlar and foam inserts and ventalation vents. The only problem with the newer bike cloths is finding something that does not look--well--fruity /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif.
Yeah the group I ride with consists of one Harley, 7 Honda Shadows, one V-Max, one Honda 954RR, one Honda 600 and my little Suzuki SV (see SVRIDER.com to see what they are, a modern cult classic) so it too is an eclectic mix. I really enjoyed riding with my new streefighter friends the other nite, none of them, trust me was on a cruiser much less a Harley.
My fav bike was a Honda CX500 Deluxe I bought in 1980ish, it was just a fun little bike and rode two-up real nice. J