Hi all,

Looks like a good community here, I hope I can get some advice from all the enthusiasts here, My wife and I are currently looking at getting back into street riding, she will be passenger only, after 15 years off-roading I now live in a much less congested area and feel a bit more comfortable getting back on the street (we lived in Dallas in the past). I guess I just feel a bit overwhelmed on all the models/setups and dont wanna put my hard earned money into a bike I wont enjoy in a year or two...First off, I am on a budget somewhat (under 12k), I will commute back and forth to work 10 miles 1 way during nice weather, and on nice weekends we would like to be comfortable going 3-4 hours one way for a get-away... ANY HELP would be much appreciated!, I know I dont want a v-rod or a small sportster, but there is such a gap on the rest of it, oh we are both smaller people Im 5'9" 180 and she is 5"3, 125, so needing a HUGE bike I dont think is necessary.... are there certain models i should definitely be "wary" of, mileage, so forth....It seems like a lot of the bikes I have checked out seem to be about 1,000 to 1,500 above KBB, is this normal??? or is because of accessories, such as leather bags/windshields and such?....

Thanks in advance

Joe- searchin for the right ride in Ohio....

Welcome to the forum.

The Road King and Street glide are 2 HD's that have touring capacity yet sporty enough for around town, day trips and back and forth to work. I reccomend those over Dyna's and most softails because of the passenger ammenities and storage potential. Plus used Road Kings can be gotten at real good prices. Used Street Glides because of their popularity still seem to be commanding steep prices used.

I would use KBB and NADA as a good guide of where to start for used bike prices and do not be scared away by used bikes. 15-20,000 miles is barely broke in for a Harley. As far as new...go with HD MOCO MSRP found on the Harley-Davidson Company web site. Beware HD Dealership salesmen will try to shit you 2500$ + over MOCO MSRP. Stand you ground and don't trust them. Get the MOCO MSRP and do not budge or go somewhere else. There are HD dealerships every where. Also don't be afraid of a road trip to save a buck.

Miliage...big twins get 45-50 MPG.

Good luck and enjoy the hunt. DTA. Do your home work, have the facts and if a salesmen is acting lke an ahole move on to the next dealership. Eventually you will stumble on a fair hearted salesmen but you have to do your homework and know your stuff.

Badinfluence,

Thanks for all the advice, I got 2 I'm going to look at today, neither are King or SG, one is a 2010 H-D FXD Dyna Super Glide, the other is a 2003 H-D FLSTC/FLSTCI Heritage Softail Classic, so I guess from your recommendations I will see what else they have too, thanks again, will update later

Joe

Welcome to the forum!!
I'm out here in So. CA - I see all kinds of riders and bikes.
One of the guys I know just bought a brand new dyna custom. It is really low - he's all of 5'4" and fits him pretty good.
My advise is always try them all - go to your local dealership and sit on every one of them - stand them up and sit there for a few minutes. If you can't get it up straight then it's too tall for you and move onto the next. Once you find the model you like/fit get the brochure and read the spec's - then find that bike in your price range. Try the local newspapers classified sections for used bikes, try Craig's list and every where you can find used bikes. Once you find one you like and in your price range look it over very closely or have a pro look it over for you if you don't know what to look for. Mileage really is only one aspect - low miles but hard miles will age a bike too. You can always ask us here - we'll do what we can to give you a straight answer.
RK

Great Advice, thanks for the info!....let ya know in a few hours how my first visit to a HD Dealer went....

Thanks Again

Joe

Happy to help.

Real example #1


trade in value is $10,975,retail is $14,800...I'd offer 12,250.


#2


#3:



#4

Well, report from my trip to Hale HD....

Met with a AWESOME SALES GUY, answered ALL my questions, we stayed till the doors were locked he showed me a lot of different bikes, different prices, showed me the differences between motors (counter balanced) and so forth. I was super impressed by the friendliness of the dealership on a whole, I will more than likely buy from here as I like to support local businesses, I will spend a little more local rather than travel to save a few bucks(dont mean I'll turn down a great deal if I have to travel a little). So far of all the bikes (in my price range) I really liked a 2009 FLSTC Heritage that i looked at, "felt good in my hands" only has 6k miles, has some nice add-ons already, I kinda left him holding a offer in his hands, they are asking 12,250 and I told him I'd be willing to do 11,000. KBB has it at 13,970... sounds like a pretty good deal to begin with as the bike is immaculate, service records included as it was bought and serviced at that dealer. I like the 6th gear on the newer bikes too. We were literally the last 2 people to leave the dealership so we left it at he would talk to the mgr and see if we could swing a deal maybe. They had a few road kings but to be honest, I felt like I was sitting on top of the tank on. Only 1 SG that was even close to my price range and it was naked and had 25k miles on it (I know , dont be scared of the mileage), got another dealer to visit tomorrow....

Thanks Again for all the help!!!!!!

Joe- the search continues unless they take my offer.....or I find something better

Sounds like you are enjoying yourself and doing awsome! Maybe you can give me some tips!!

And that sounds like one great deal, I mean they are under KBB and low miliage.

Heritage softtail is a pretty nice looking bike. Not quite the suspension of a swingarm but better then rigid. Thats one softail I'd consider owning for sure.

UPDATE:

They countered at 11,500.... which I kinda expected a counter or a "its already below blue book response", I was honest with my sales guy, told him I had another dealer to shop tonight and would let him know tomorrow morning....The other dealer has some lofty expectations from me to live up to though, we will see......


Joe