[sscamarotoy]

So I stopped by the HD stealer the other day and was kind of curious about the Road King Custom. I was really starting to wonder about getting on one. Well first off they told me they would give me $5800 for my bike even though it has pipes, bags, sissybar, and a hypercharger. No thanks I would sell it on my own. Then we start talking about how much for a new one. Base price $18K. So he said with a windshield, sissybar, tax, title, dealer and set up fee, they could get me out the door for only about $21,000. WOW!!!! I also was talking to another guy I work with that has a Harley and he just took his in for a tune up. New fluids, valve adjustment, etc and they did all that for the low low price of $600. How does Harley stay in business!?!?! You would think people would get tired of paying that amount of money when you can buy a bike thats more dependable, cheaper to maintenance, and has less expensive to buy after market add ons for for a 1/3 of the price of a Harley. Anyone understand it? I don't think I will be buying a Harley any time soon.

 

[Alcalder1]

Before I bought my VTX, I likewise checked on the Road King and like yhou found that I could just about buy 3 VTX1300's for the price of one Road King.
:choppersm

 

[Nitro Goose]

I was talking with a Harley owner about our bikes just a few weeks ago. He admitted really liking the looks of the X, but wondered about the plastic chrome. I said it was likely done to save weight and production costs. He replied with "That's why a Harley costs more money".

I wanted so badly to ask him if he thought the little chrome-plated metal pieces were really worth the extra $7,000 his bike cost over mine....but I was nice and held my tongue.

It's more believable that the extra 7 grand is to cover the cost of all those warranty repairs.

 

[ibified]

That, and they can sell them for that much money. H-D has done a FANTASTIC job of selling the whole experience. They make you feel like you belong to this wonderful club, etc...

I say "screw it" and that I'd rather have an X than have some supposed membership in a group of folks. I'm capable of making my own friends, as we all have here. This community is much more fun than the HD crowd anyway.

 

[laserman70]

My girlfriends nephew just bought a 1200 sportster custom.. He spent out the door 12,000, my girlfriend asked me, why would you spend that much money on something like that with nothing on it. She said my bike looked so much nicer and came with alot more chrome. I told her, its the name baby thats it. He rode it for the first time and we went with him, he was complaining about how hot it gets. I told him, even the 50cc motorcyles are liquid cooled today and harley needs to make a change. The X is 10 times the bike as the 1200 sportser and is much more comfortable.

 

[Nitro Goose]

+1 Ibified & Laserman

 

[razorbak57]

I agree with everyone. I could have bought a HD if I really wanted one. I'm not rich, just a workin stiff like everyone in here. I liked the looks of the 1300C better than anything HD had to offer, and the extra 7 or so thousand dollars was just to much to let go of. I also have thought about going to my local HD dealer to see what kind of trade he can make for me. Then laugh as I'm leaving on my 1300C.

 

[Shutterbug]

You guys are right on the money with your comments. It amazes me that people will blindly spend $15,000-20,000 on an air cooled spoked motorcycle with slop factors through the roof.

 

[ibified]

Shutterbug,

you forgot "unreliable" "expensive to fix" "more expensive to customize" and worst of all "underpowered".

Hope that helps! =)

 

[Shutterbug]

Thanks Ibi for filling in the blanks!

 

[ibified]

I'm here for YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously though, a guy I know has a screamin eagle fatboy. Paid 32 grand for it, and has another 3 grand in go fast parts in it, and it's pretty slow. I just don't get it. Oh, and he's had it for less than a year, and it's been in the shop 5x already for breakdowns.

 

[toasted_3111979]

Got a friend who has a 1200 Sportster Custom too. He did get it for 8700 out the door, but he also put a chunk of change down...don't know if that helped or not. It was brand new too.

His stuff isn't much more than ours, but our bikes are a ton more comfy and don't really need anymods to perform well. We ended up rejetting his, new intake and new exhaust and it's still not the puller that mine is. He does out handle me in the twisties, but he's got a ton more clearance too.

Now the service and customer support theres is a step above and all the clothing. I still say Harley is a clothing store that sells bikes. :bleh:

I was looking at a Fat Boy like I originally wanted and will get someday just because, but to get the seat/windshield/bags/pipe/intake I want it would be over 23k out the door...no way.

Now the Buells, I like and since all are less than 12k I might get one of the Lightenings or whatever they're called. lol.

 

[marang]

I had a chance at getting the 1200 sportster w/ fatbob tank and wider tire in the rear for alittle more than the x. Rode it said "nope" just wasn't comfortable to me plus I've always had Hondas and I've always loved the look of the x's.

D atriot:

 

[ddugan]

I ride with Harley Guys and Gals...and one Honda Interceptor on long rides...I always enjoy the looks I get...I have to say, I am a Harley fan, and like others looked at the Fatboy, Heritage Classic, and the Road king..but honestly, when they are all parked in my garage after a long trip, the X stands head and shoulders above the rest...and to a few other points made loud and clear on this site...we have the extra cash in our pocket and not the dealer-

2 bikes for the price of one, and a few extras thrown in...I'm lovin' life...just this week have had 3 contractors at my house doing some work, each of them thought the bike was a FatBoy...they continued to praise the bike until I let it out that it was a Honda...the jaws dropped...then I kicked em in the _ ss when I told them how much it was...one guy offered to buy it...I told him to get his own...

 

[Kingpin]

Harley Davidson makes more money every year selling their NAME, on t shirts jackets clothing etc than they do selling motorcycles. And they have done a great job of marketing their name, I don't know how they do it really. But when you think about it thats really what they do with their motorcycles too. Most people are really buying, and paying highly for, the name. I like Harley's, I think they are good looking, great sounding machines but overpriced, really, for what you get. But there are many, many motorcycles out their that are just as good, probably better, for less money. And when you limit yourself to one, just because of the NAME, you are really only cheating yourself. We all have different ideas and preferences and there are probably some who just like the Harley's best, but I think there are lots that just have to buy that name. That tide may be turning a little though as it seems to me I see more and more metric cruisers out there all the time.

 

[ErieVTXRdr]

H-D has done a FANTASTIC job of selling the whole experience. They make you feel like you belong to this wonderful club, etc...
quote]

My VTX is commonly mistaken for a HD by novices due to its overall look. I explain to them that I refused to pay more just for an IMAGE or an IDEA, let alone all the issues of quality.

Love my VTX Every mile is a thrill

 

[coopi]

I have a friend from where I used to work who has a Dyna(?) wide glide,
I sat on it , it's loaded with plastic......small feeling, I'm a big guy and it honestly felt like I was on a dirt bike.....poor sap paid 15,000 for it, when he drove it home the speedometer fogged up so bad he could not tell how fast he was going, took it back and they told him that they would split the cost for replacement....can you all believe that. I thought my local Honda dealer was a jackass (schroeders honda, Hendersonville,NC) and by the way they SUCK....
Coopi

 

[Steve H.]

HD also sells the idea its an all American bike and if the truth be known there is probably more Chinees stuff on the HD then what VTX has.

It also gives a lot of doctors and Lawyers something to spend there money on. My brother is a doctor and he owns a 03 Fatboy. Every time I see him is changing parts and puts into the shop a lot. But he is still convinced it is the best. My VTX can out run his 88 ci v-twin and I still have throttle left. His top speed is 95 mph and mine "I dont know it keeps going and going".

 

[sscamarotoy]

I was just in Washington DC for Memorial Day. I went with the group Rolling Thunder. It was there 20th anniversary of the group forming. It is a biker group that is dedicated to POWs and MIAs. Anyway I bet there were a few hundred thousand (thats right, like six figures) of bikes there and 95% of them were Harley. So if there were 100,000 Harley bikes at an average of $18k that is $180 MILLION in bikes alone, not to mention all the t-shirts and accessories. It is staggering to think about how much money that company makes a year. And think about the money they make in over charging for repairs.

 

[JonnyRingo]

Poor Man's Harley

I proudly refer to my 1300C as a poor man's Harley. When I bought it from a dealer, the decision was between an 05 Road King (fairing, bags and a back seat) with 25K miles at $15k, or the 05 VTX (straight handle bars & sissy bar) with 7k miles at $7k. After test riding the VTX, I didn't even bother with the HD.