I have been riding some metric cruisers and sport tourers and recently a European sport tourer. Never had a Harley .

I want a touring bike and have a Harley in mind but the problem being I'm not big on chrome. Plastic sport tourers need an occasional rinsing with a hose. I like that.

I would have a powder coated bike if it came that way stock or whatever would eliminate most of the chrome

I also like quiet exhaust systems
Is this heresy?

It actually sounds like you need a Victory product. I do not know the exact model, but I have a seen a blacked out touring bike with a lot of Arlen Ness plastic on it.

You might google that brand and check for the exact model. Good luck.

The new style of bikes from harley are the blacked out ones with less chrome to none and are just what you are looking for. Check them out.

Very true. However, sometimes in suggesting items for a client or even a friend you have to listen to what he isn't saying. He started off his inquiry by saying he rode metrics (and most of us did, as well) and then stated he'd prefer "quiet and blacked out."

Fair enough. Lot's of people want stuff that MoCo won't sell. Heck, they didn't build a smaller bike for me until 2010. And I'm not sure they're ever going to build a bike for him. He might have to settle for compromises, like taking a Blackline and putting saddlebags and a windshield on it.

MoCo has a huge custom catalog. If you flip through it they sell mostly "loud chrome." This member wants "quiet black."

Look at this ridiculous new Sportster, the "72." Another abomination from the parts pin. "Take a 48, chrome everything, and then bolt on ape-hangers."

For just short of two years I rode GoldWings. I was doing a lot of riding--a lot. I decided that sometimes Harleys aren't for everyone. Granted, blowing up the 1979 'Wing might have been a fluke, but the '78 was good for what I bought it for. And I did see a completely blacked out Electra Glide in "Bagger" magazine. I'm just not hearing "complete custom" in his post.

This is a good discussion. You must remember that all new harleys come with quiet mufflers. Its the new owners that make em loud! If you don't mess with them they run great. The problem is when people start to modify and I don't mean adding bags and chrome. What I'm hearing the new 103's have the power to get you where you want to go and that is up a hill loaded down.

I think that he should go down to his local dealer and test ride all the models that he would like and then make an informed decision. Then you can go to the victory dealer and test them out, everybody I know that owns one loves them. I personally don't like the styling but they run great.

I'm not nuts about the styling on the Victory line either. But they do sell head to head. They have a 106-inch motor, Moco has a stock 103-inch and a CVO 110-inch.

When the op said 'metric,' it confirmed to me that brand name loyalty isn't/wasn't a concern if he find a bike he likes. I believe that Victory sells more black cruisers than MoCo.

I agree with you on the Db level of new Harleys. Lots of guys go to Screaming Beagle parts and new downloads. I'm one of them. They are not straight pipes, nor do I wind out the motor until the valves float in suburbia at 2:00AM.

As for the Victory, I just googled their website and found the Cross Roads Classic LE and a bagger Eight-Ball, both in black.

He did a search and came to a Harley forum to ask questions. The person obviously knew what he was doing, He did not go to a victory forum to ask his question,why would you suggest a god damned victory bike instead ?Take your victory opinions elsewhere.

Because brand name loyalty is a worthless crutch of jingo hubris. My Guzzi and my 1979 Honda GoldWing were excellent bikes, could easily take on any example Harley had made.

After seeing the article on Gunny R. Lee Ermey's custom Victory it is clear that Polaris is in it to win it. And frankly, MoCo should look to their example in relating their products to their customer base.

I love my Harleys, but none of them--not one--functioned to my satisfaction in stock condition. At this point in my life I am admittedly a hobbyist and a tourist, using the old school meaning of the word. If Polaris built a version of a "Sportster Glide," I'd take one for a test ride.

Keep us posted on what you have decided to do. Which bikes have you tested?

Where do I start ? I started on a metric like the majority of those here probably did as well.Gunny R Lee is a fake Gunny, he was appointed the rank of Gunny after his service time from roles of acting.Full metal jacket comes to mind.Polaris has targeted Harley-Davidson in their marketing scheme.Harley-Davidson is the standard in which Polaris compares their victory models to.Victory sales isn't winning it, their 4 wheelers and snomobiles are making the lions share of profit for Polaris.Are you saying that Harley-Davidson should make 4 wheelers and snomobiles to be competitive with Polaris ?Take a look at a victory's fit and finish and compare them to Harley-Davidson's.I doubt you will say that victory are better.

I know it sucks that most people feel the need to modify the Harleys due to being so EPA restricted.If I was looking for real performance,I would skip an V-twin altogether and buy an metric inline 4.Harley's will run just fine left at stock.They aren't so underpowered where you'll worry about acheiving the speed limits in your area unless you modify them.Lmao.