HD Demo Rides Spring 2012

[elvis]

I was at the HD demos last Sunday and rode 4 models. The Electra Glide Classic is one fine machine.

[2x18wheeler]

In deed it is. I tested out an Ultra Glide Limited last summer but couldn't pull the trigger on the price. Maybe in a couple more years.

[elvis]

Originally Posted by 2x18wheeler

In deed it is. I tested out an Ultra Glide Limited last summer but couldn't pull the trigger on the price. Maybe in a couple more years.

Maybe (?) next year for me! I have a Harley fund, it's growing slowly but surely. Also, I expect 110 ci models in the regular line up in 2013, it'll be the 110th Anniversary for H-D.

I think I've quite narrowed my choices down to Electra Glides...

[glwilson]

Let's just say... you'll enjoy it... I do..

[elvis]

Someone from the dealer made up a photo album:

[Dave]

Originally Posted by elvis

The Electra Glide Classic is one fine machine.

Blasphemy!

[Loafer]

I love AC/DC's music!

[scion0]

Originally Posted by Loafer

I love AC/DC's music!

Me too! Listened to this song blasting when I worked a part time gig at our local AHL hockey team.

Great song!

[scion0]

Don't want to start anything here but I seem to notice lots of folks seem to prefer HD over the Nomad if not for funds. Is that what I am hearing? Are they actually a better bike? Or is it just for the long haul types?

[elvis]

Originally Posted by scion0

Are they actually a better bike? Or is it just for the long haul types?

I'm not fully qualified to say HDs are better bikes because, I haven't owned one, yet. But I have a hunch the touring HDs are as good as any other touring bikes available today... I guess I'll find it out some day.

[Loafer]

I didn't happen to find a Nomad and then buy it. I knew what I wanted 2 years
before I bought my '01 and after 11 years of riding it, I still love it! I have
test ridden many bikes over the years, and I prefer my Nomad to the
rest. If in the future I were to purchase another ride, it will at this point
in time be a Vaquero. That bike makes me feel right at home.
As far as other makes and models I've learned to share the road with them.

In the last 10 years all the manufacturers have stepped up and are producing some fine rides.

[Monkeyman]

Every bike has it's good points and bad points. For a luxury tourer, the Electra Glide and Road Glide are up there with the Victorys and Gold Wings. You can't stretch out all that well with the GWs and they have a very sport tourish look but come with everything but the kitchen sink. The Harleys have a oddly placed shifter and aren't as integrated looking as the rest but have more aftermarket support than anything else. The Victorys (especially the Vision, which is my favorite) are super smooth and you can stretch out but.......well, you have to like the look.

The Nomad wasn't conceived as a long distance tourer. It was conceived as a day tripper/weekender. It does it's job well but if you're going to take some really long trips, most feel the need to either really upgrade their Nomad or step up to a dedicated touring bike. Not that you can't ride any of the rest (RG/EG, GW, big Vic) in town but that's not what they were designed for. You'll definitely pay for the extra bells and whistles. A new Victory Vision is $21k, a new RGU is $24k and an FLHTK is closer to $25k. You can drop $30k on a new Wing without any fancy stuff. I can buy a house for that.

[cactusjack]

Care to elaborate about Harley's "oddly placed shifter"? It's right where it should be.

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Care to elaborate about Harley's "oddly placed shifter"? It's right where it should be.

The shifter levers are too close together and are too high. I have the Nomad rear lever so it's just above the floorboard. It's also behind it so I only have to slightly raise my heel, move it back a hair and upshift. The front lever is also lower and farther forward. It wouldn't be close to a deal breaker but it's poor ergonomics. Perhaps "oddly placed" was a poor choice but it is what it is. Every bike has it's "issues". The Road Glide is a beautiful, great handling bike but the stock handlebars might as well be drag bars. They're way too far away and just plain uncomfortable for most (from just about EVERYONE I've listened to on various forums and IRL). The EG bars are a bit too close, the Vision doesn't come with a heel shifter and the plug for the iPod is an extra cost item as well as the side bags being a bit small. There's no perfect bike.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

The shifter levers are too close together and are too high. I have the Nomad rear lever so it's just above the floorboard. It's also behind it so I only have to slightly raise my heel, move it back a hair and upshift. The front lever is also lower and farther forward. It wouldn't be close to a deal breaker but it's poor ergonomics. Perhaps "oddly placed" was a poor choice but it is what it is. Every bike has it's "issues". The Road Glide is a beautiful, great handling bike but the stock handlebars might as well be drag bars. They're way too far away and just plain uncomfortable for most (from just about EVERYONE I've listened to on various forums and IRL). The EG bars are a bit too close, the Vision doesn't come with a heel shifter and the plug for the iPod is an extra cost item as well as the side bags being a bit small. There's no perfect bike.

I wear a size "baker's dozen" boot. Originally the shift levers were too close and too high, however, the shift levers are adjustable. The morning after I rode my brand new Harley home, I adjusted the levers so they were much lower, which also increased the distance between them. No longer an issue.