Think I want a Road King

[Shep]

but don't sell the GS

That way you have the best of both worlds IMHO. I ride the Superglide far more than I ride the GS, it's just that I ride the GS much further.

Oh and all that about the handling is bollocks, they handle fine if you set them up for the corners properly

Got to agree with Mutters, keep the GS (an icon) bin the 'Busa (you can buy one of them anywhere) and buy the Harley and enjoy. They are different but I never had any problems with the handling on mine, they just have little ground clearance, and the brakes need a little forethought.

The finish is iffy on them though and that what's stopping me having another HD built HD, i'd rather save my money up to make my own, all brushed ally stainless steel and silver powder coat, an s&s road bike lump, a ride all year around 'bagger'

Shep

 

[Stumpy]

but don't sell the GS

That way you have the best of both worlds IMHO. I ride the Superglide far more than I ride the GS, it's just that I ride the GS much further.

Oh and all that about the handling is bollocks, they handle fine if you set them up for the corners properly

Spot on

I love my Harley,an 08 Street Glide(Road King with a fairing), it goes,stops and handles well "for a Harley". I couldn't have one as an only bike but as an antidote to modern biking or a partner for your GS or Busa they work very well.

The only way to find out is to own one. Lots of people like the idea but you have to live with one to know whether its for you.

If you buy right you can ride it round for a year and sell it with minimal loses

Stumpy

 

[Big Den]

I am heading in the same direction (not harley but cruiser) but couldn't have as an only bike. I know where there is a V Rod with 54 miles on the clock and the chrome is pitting already
I have ridden the Rocket, still to try the Thunderbird and may try a Bonnie aswell. Having said that there are a few cheap Victorys about

 

[GS TRV]

food for thought Sitzer - thanks for your comments

In fact thanks guys - off this w/end for more thinking and deliberating

 

[Setzer]

Hi Trev,

Just food for thought mate thats all as I lived with one.

As for the handling not being bollocks thats just plain stupid as a bike that heavy and old school can never ever handle reasonably.I had mine looked at by an ex GP racer(who you may possibly know Trev)who is widely regarded as one of the best test riders in GP land ever and I mentioned that I was under no illusions that he could make it handle well but just set it up the best it could manage, I think his set up on my bike might have been better than anyone else could do and it was still shite.

A rule of thumb that (Provincewide)applies here so you know what Im talking about Trev is that a Harley that can do 80mph on the left hand sweeper on the M2 past Greenisland(just past the turnoff for Rathcoole etc) without starting to wobble is rare as hens teeth and is a sure sign of a great handling Harley.Draw your own conclusions from that as Im sure you know that bit of motorway.

Harley owners forgive the bikes for all their terrible flaws because they just love to have the image.

Horses for courses mate but I would absolutely not chop in the GS for one,keep the GS and get the Harley that would be the best move oh and a real good long test ride and a test clean!

 

[Gipsy]

I agree that the handling of a Harley is awful. It doesn't matter what you do to the suspension the ground clearance is so small that any reasonable lean angle will cause the frame rails to touch down. It doesn't matter how quickly you counter steer to get the bike turned the lean angle is still severely limited.
Having said that I still love mine, but I don't attempt to get it to do things it isn't designed for. That's why I couldn't have it as my only bike.

 

[Baron von Munchausen]

I have an old '89 FXS (some say the best Harley ever made)

Its the 'Streetfighter' Harley

I put some spacers in the front forks (Opal Commodore wheel nuts actually) fitted Some old Spondon front calipers and S/S hoses and use Kawasaki Motocross DeCarbon gas rear shocks.

The carb was replaced with a locally made manifold and 2 Delortos off an R90s

I have lapped the Nurburgring in under 10 mins which suprises many other bikes (I have an all year pass so know it well)

I also did a 1.06 lap of Brands at a track day a couple of years back.

I use an Austrian bees wax polish that keeps finish looking well but I do believe Harleys are not as well finished as they were (like most bikes, they dont need to be with summer only riders)

Still love my old '45 though, my uncle 'captured' it from the Russians in Kiev and managed to keep hold of it all through the withdrawl.

Left it in a friends barn just before he surrendered and we got it back in '56

oily rag condition, still with Red markings (he also hid the ppsh41 he used but thats another story)

 

[frank1200]

I agree that the handling of a Harley is awful. It doesn't matter what you do to the suspension the ground clearance is so small that any reasonable lean angle will cause the frame rails to touch down. It doesn't matter how quickly you counter steer to get the bike turned the lean angle is still severely limited.
Having said that I still love mine, but I don't attempt to get it to do things it isn't designed for. That's why I couldn't have it as my only bike.

a Harley is not meant to handle but is great for cruising,a sports bike is no good down small lanes or on bad road surfaces but handles fantastic on good roads,a gs has low power and speed but can be rode all day on any surface
horses for courses do what i did a year ago instead of buying a new bike keep your gs and buy a second hand Harley they are great for what they do and i love mine but would not have it as an only bike

 

[GS TRV]

rule of thumb that (Provincewide)applies here so you know what Im talking about Trev is that a Harley that can do 80mph on the left hand sweeper on the M2 past Greenisland(just past the turnoff for Rathcoole etc) without starting to wobble is rare as hens teeth and is a sure sign of a great handling Harley.

Thats the sweeper that i can take on the Busa at a bit more than that never mind the GS

If you mean Jezza than thats a bit crap all round

Think another test ride is on the cards. A £5K Harley might not be a lot diff from a £15K one then

 

[SJPB1982]

I totally understand wanting to buy one, just think lazy summer afternoon just chugging along. Don't know whether I'd sell me GS though

 

[BegesRus]

Please just buy the thing so we can move on

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Please just say "forget it" so we can move on....

 

[GS TRV]

Please just say "forget it" so we can move on....

move along

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Result!

 

[GS TRV]

away this w/end for more deliberating - anyone have a 2nd hand R.King for sale?

 

[BegesRus]

MCN 4slae

 

[simondippenhall]

Trev

Seize the day....if you have the money, buy the bike.

If you don't like it, there is a good secondhand market.

Only tip...wait til winter. I bought my electraglide ultra classic in December and got it for over £3k less than it had been bought for in July.

And I have had a lot of laughs, commuted into London on it, ridden it to France 3 times.

Swore I'd never buy a Hardly, now I ride it more than I do the GS!


Of course, I am very old.

 

[929bladerunner]

Like some others out there, I'm fortunate enough to have both a GS and Harley (Superglide). Love both bikes, both very different but both very rewarding in their own ways.
My advice, if you can afford to, is to go for a Harley BUT keep the BM.
I treat the GS as the allrounder and the Harley as more of a fine weather machine.

 

[Tonibe63]

I fancied a cruiser type bike but couldn't bring myself to get a Harley (I ain't ready for a zimmer frame yet) so bought myself a Vmax. It's a crazy bike which gives a real buzz to ride but it does 300 mile a year while my GS does 10,000. Meanwhile a mate of mine who is a lifetime Harley man with 4 in his collection bought an 1150GS, he hasn't ridden a Harley this summer, enough said.
If you have fields to plough then buy a Massey Ferguson.

 

[Ming]

I fancied a cruiser type bike but couldn't bring myself to get a Harley (I ain't ready for a zimmer frame yet) so bought myself a Vmax. It's a crazy bike which gives a real buzz to ride but it does 300 mile a year while my GS does 10,000. Meanwhile a mate of mine who is a lifetime Harley man with 4 in his collection bought an 1150GS, he hasn't ridden a Harley this summer, enough said.
If you have fields to plough then buy a Massey Ferguson.

Obviously you dont get it !!