Harley Daviddson - Any bike owners here on AP ?

[Caveoftreasures]

HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES - Any bike owners here on AP ?
I have been looking at the latest 2012 models of Harley Davidsons. After alot of investigating, I have found that Harley's pro rata have dropped in price over the last 2 years by aprox 15 to 20 percent. That means a bike that was $35,000 is now down to around $28,000. And it gets better for bikes that are 1 or 2 years old. There have been alot of people default on their new bike finance which has brought a glut of near new Harley's on the market.
The general manager of a local shop was telling me that they have never had prices so low for new HD bikes, a large amount of blokes losing jobs in the blue collar and white collar industries, and the amount of 2nd hand stock, that is only 12 to 18 months old, with only a few thousand kilometres on the clock coming in from repossessions. I have been looking at the FATBOY and ROADKING models and the savings are huge.

One bike was 12 months old, and was avail at $22,000, with 2,000 klms on the clock, and the bike was close to $38,000 new 12 months ago. Wow.
Too many loans are falling over and the finance companies are saying SELL SELL SELL.

Anyway, some of the larger bikes are stunning to look at and great bikes to ride/cruise on etc. Get to join a local club of like minded people from all different walks of life, incl white n blue collar with everyone and anyone from 18 to 80 yrs of age.

ALSO, some trivia , HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES has a annual turnover of over 5 billion dollars worldwide. Wow ! Alot of sales.
The only issue of late for the USA company, is that sales are flat worldwide with Eurozone tanking, USA markets very slow, with only some smaller countries like Australia still doing well (more from recent price dropping that the USA company began to get stalled sales lifting worldwide) and the Asian markets, and some Arab markets doing well. But sales are down and have been in decline since the GFC. That means better prices now for new n 2nd bikes for anyone looking at a new addition.

Just wondering if anyone on AP already owns a Harley Davidson Motorcycle, OR if u had one, maybe throw some photos on the forum etc.
Cavey.

[Homepin]

I have a Ducati Monster (perfect to travel up/down the range road from my place to Cairns) and a Suzuki RE5 (rotary engined).

You ride a Harley when you give up riding!!! hahaha, a bit like Toyotas..........seriously, for cruising possibly OK, for the range FORGET IT - scrape the pegs on every corner.

You really have got the mid-life bug Brett, haven't you   

[Caveoftreasures]

I have a Ducati Monster (perfect to travel up/down the range road from my place to Cairns) and a Suzuki RE5 (rotary engined).

You ride a Harley when you give up riding!!! hahaha, a bit like Toyotas..........seriously, for cruising possibly OK, for the range FORGET IT - scrape the pegs on every corner.

You really have got the mid-life bug Brett, haven't you  

YES. Definately a mid-life crisis. Something just happened in my brain apx 4 months ago after a operation and I just woke up needing new scenery/new everything.lol   (I will keep the current wife cause she is 34, and I am 42 yrs)  
Started doing lots of new things, just got to get unbored.lol

P.S - nice bikes Mike.

[pinballheaven]

Hi Brett,

Yes I am into Bikes and have had a few Harleys and Jap bikes, I have a Heritage Softail Harley that sits next to my Harley pinball which I have had for about 16 years and also a mint Kwaka GT 750 that I love also. My advice would be stay away from the new fuel injected crap and go for a mid nineties model which imho are the best to ride(vibration etc) and sound.

Either way all bikes are great and I am sure you find a machine that you will love.

Jeff

[Caveoftreasures]

Hi Brett,

Yes I am into Bikes and have had a few Harleys and Jap bikes, I have a Heritage Softail Harley that sits next to my Harley pinball which I have had for about 16 years and also a mint Kwaka GT 750 that I love also. My advice would be stay away from the new fuel injected crap and go for a mid nineties model which imho are the best to ride(vibration etc) and sound.

Either way all bikes are great and I am sure you find a machine that you will love.

Jeff

thanks Jeff.  glad to get a good response about the Harley .

u r welcome to post a photo of the harley or the harley pinball.  would be cool to see either.

the only reason i wanted to look at a new bike 2012 model etc, was to get something that hasnt been chopped/modified too much or dropped etc. Since I know heaps about jap bikes but not much about harleys, it was to stay safe with the purchase with a 2012 model etc.

I would have thought fuel injected ran better performance wise and get more klms per tank etc ?  wasnt looking for loud pipes cause police up here are brutal on bikies etc.

Might get onto reading up stuff and find some harley forum etc.   Thanks for your imput.

[pinballheaven]

I understand you wanting to look at the 2012 model and yes the fuel injection does give you greater performance but my point is if you are looking at at Harley(and yes I like them all) do try and ride both and you will understand completely what i am talking about. I have had a 2008 softail fuel injected at one time all counter balanced etc it was a completely different ride altogether but you really need to experience it for yourself and I would be interested in your opinion(or others on the forum). i understand about loud pipes but i was more refering to the actual sound again you can tell when they are side by side together and I realyy dislike the higher idle of the EFI. In terms of fuel and kms etc that is the last thing you will be worried about when you are riding and that could be said about most bikes in my opinion.

Go for a test ride on a few makes and models and you might be surprised with what you will come across as with Mikes duke, there are some awsome machines out there!

Good like in the hunt and I will try and put some pics up soon.

Jeff

[Caveoftreasures]

Everyone tells me the jap copies of the Harleys are a better bike etc, but Harley has the name for resale and the wank factor of owning a Harley.

One thing I am finding is that the 2012 range of Harleys have really bland paint colours n combinations compared to last year. Maybe a cost cutting exercise unless you want std boring plain black plus chrome. The 2010 and 2011 paint schemes were much better with a really nice electric blue on offer then, but not for the 2012 range. I would probably have to buy a superceeded showroom model of 2011 or 2010 to get the colour i really want, or custom paint a 2012 model, but that could become expensive.

The neighbour next door has a 2007/2008 Fatboy with injection and yes it isnt a lumpy idle but a quieter smooth idle. But once he warms it up and opens the throttle hard heading down the street, its rocket loud n quick. I think its a 1600 cc or 1690 cc or whatever a fatboy comes with the biggest engine.Nice bike. He never rides his much, and it only has 4,000 klms on it for a 5 year period. If i bought a bike we would go for a cruise together etc.

Everyone says Harleys leak oil n all this stuff, but when i went to the HD dealership, none of the 60 plus 2nd hand bikes had any sign of any oil leak and bikes ranged from new to 1990 models etc. Maybe the std harley oil leak is a urban myth or it was fixed etc, not quite sure there.

Anyway, hope some other members have a Harley bike, and even anyone in the USA who is a member can jump in as well and share if they want etc !