Want to get a bike...

[MikeBjerum]

Why do you where full gear?

This was the other bike in the trailer when we went to Florida in February (note top two photos).  Two weeks ago we took ours to Kansas, and he took that to Wisconsin.  He walked away from that ... OK, he walked out of the ER.

[fightingquaker13]

M58, I learned the value of proper riding gear after walking away from 3 different motorcycle accidents. I'm paying for them now with all the aches and pains in my body, But I'm still able to walk and shoot. I don't care how hot it is I would NEVER get on a bike without wearing leather.

I wore a full face helmet riding a Moped as a courier in DC. I looked silly, but gravity happens, and if you're riding rain or shine 12 houirs a day with cobblestones, steel plates to cover phone work, oil slicks and trolley car rails? I laid that bike down three times (once with an assist by Newton) and walked away with nothing more than road rash. Without that helmet.....I would not be here to annoy you. Don't skimp on the saftey gear and no one looks cool in a nursing home. Its never too hot to keep breathing. No BS man, I almost died twice at that job. The second time I decided $300 a day wasn't enough money and quit. But even if I hadn't, I'd still have worn the brain bucket.
FQ13

[Texas_Bryan]

Lots of good info in here guys, thanks.  Been talking to the guys at the office and decided that I'm mainly looking at cruisers, sorry Buell.  The Honda looks like a solid rig for a new price.  Keep those ideas flowing.  Quaker, you never had a bike license when you lived here in Texas?

Oh and I've visited a couple folks in the hospital after bike accidents, you don't have to sell the safety factor to me.

[tombogan03884]

Honda and Kawi are built in the USA as well, Wisconsin and Tenn, although I forget which is where.
I would go with Honda as Kawi used to have an issue with the starter location.

[Timothy]

Lots of good info in here guys, thanks.  Been talking to the guys at the office and decided that I'm mainly looking at cruisers, sorry Buell.  The Honda looks like a solid rig for a new price.  Keep those ideas flowing.  Quaker, you never had a bike license when you lived here in Texas?

Oh and I've visited a couple folks in the hospital after bike accidents, you don't have to sell the safety factor to me.

TB,

Most of the bikes sold today, including Harley, have a bunch of parts made in Asia.  More and more, Harley has sent work overseas to save dollars while their prices seem to stay the same.

Personally, though I prefer to buy American myself, I bought a Triumph a few years ago after I'd gone a few years without a bike.  It was the America which is a low slung cruiser similar in chassis and wheelbase to the Harley Dyna Glides.  Sure, it wasn't a V-twin but it had plenty of HP, torque and power to blast fat men on Harleys all day long for half the price.

It fit me fine and I'm 6'1" and 250 lbs.

As others have said, find something that fits you, you're comfy riding and don't worry if other riders snub you for not riding a "Hog"....you'll have more money for ammo and guns.  I've owned them all over the years and if I had to pick a favorite, it'd have to be last one!

My bike used to draw a larger crowd at cruise nights because it WASN'T a Harley...

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Yes about the Asian parts, Lift the seat on a Harley and the wiring harness is covered in Japanese writing 

[Timothy]

Yes about the Asian parts, Lift the seat on a Harley and the wiring harness is covered in Japanese writing 

Wiring from Japan, cast wheels from China, misc. suspension parts from China, motor mounts, chrome thingy's....the list is getting bigger and bigger.  Anyone that thinks Harley is more than 80% American parts is dreaming.

Check out their clothing line, accessories, etc.....50 bucks for a t-shirt made in China is about 49 bucks too much...

[tt11758]

The newer GoldWings (2001 and newer....1800 cc version.....the kind m58 rides) give you the best of the touring and crotch rocket worlds.  That big honker (the GoldWing, not m58) handles like a sport bike, but is like driving a la-z-boy.  Most nimble handling scooter I've ever thrown a leg over.

[PegLeg45]

The 1100 to 1300 size bikes are a good size/weight for folks that are new to bikes. I had enough equity in mine because of a big down payment that I was getting ready to trade up (without taking a big hit) to the next size myself when things went awry. I was looking at the Honda 1300/1800 VTX.