Harley V-Rods etc advice please

Born_2_Kill_83 · 14 Jul 2008 at 15:21

I'm 25 and thinking of taking my bike test as Ive always fancied a harley or something simular.

I quite like the looks of the V-Rods Street-Rods etc, can any-one name any other makes or models that has simular styling (low riders etc), oh and its got to be loud (possibly as standard)

I'll have around £8k to play with but I may have to pay for my test out of that which I believe is around £500?

I'm just starting out where bikes are concerned, Ive grabbed a quick quote off Carol Nash for a 2006 V-Rod and it was £700 fully comp, that doesnt sound to bad.

atpbx · 14 Jul 2008 at 15:29

Loowi_ashley said:
I'm 25 and thinking of taking my bike test as Ive always fancied a harley or something simular.

I quite like the looks of the V-Rods Street-Rods etc, can any-one name any other makes or models that has simular styling (low riders etc), oh and its got to be loud (possibly as standard)

I'll have around £8k to play with but I may have to pay for my test out of that which I believe is around £500?

I'm just starting out where bikes are concerned, Ive grabbed a quick quote off Carol Nash for a 2006 V-Rod and it was £700 fully comp, that doesnt sound to bad.

The V-Rods are the only Harleys worth looking at.
They still suck though compared to everything else, in that they are horribly expensive for what you get and not particularly great to ride.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 14 Jul 2008 at 15:33

atpbx said:
The V-Rods are the only Harleys worth looking at.
They still suck though compared to everything else, in that they are horribly expensive for what you get and not particularly great to ride.

What else would you recommend?

Tomsk · 14 Jul 2008 at 15:37

Suzuki Intruder M1800R(2)
Honda Valkyrie Rune - now discontinued and maybe out of your price range
Honda F6C (Valkyrie) - also discontinued. Probably the best for handling and performance.
http://www.flyinpig.net/valkyrie.htm - my ex-Valkyrie.

atpbx · 14 Jul 2008 at 15:38

If you want a Harley nothing else will do, but dynamically they do nothing for me.
Having a harley is more of (i cant think of the right expresion so dont jump on me) a "lifestyle thing" than just a motorbike.

Rilot · 14 Jul 2008 at 15:52

atpbx said:
If you want a Harley nothing else will do, but dynamically they do nothing for me.
Having a harley is more of (i cant think of the right expresion so dont jump on me) a "lifestyle thing" than just a motorbike.

Spot on.

The V-Rod is the only Harley I would ever ride.
I see the V-Rod as a biker's Harley. All other Harleys are Harley rider's Harleys.
It is the above which causes the V-Rod to not be accepted by the majority of the Harley crowd. It's seen as too modern.

With a V-Rod you kinda sit in limbo land of neither being accepted by Harley riders nor normal bikers.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 14 Jul 2008 at 16:31

Wow them Intruder 1800's are very nice

But are they better than the V-Rods?

Crowze · 14 Jul 2008 at 16:37

Guzzis are well worth a look at, seeing as though they're the only bikes with the engine the right way round

. Something like a Cali or Nevada should fit the bill, or the new Bellagio perhaps.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 14 Jul 2008 at 16:43

Just got a quote on the 1800 for £2k fully comp, how come its so much more expensive than the V-Rod?

Tomsk · 14 Jul 2008 at 16:48

Loowi_ashley said:
Just got a quote on the 1800 for £2k fully comp, how come its so much more expensive than the V-Rod?

Probably because the Harley rider is less likely to be a hooligan than a Suzuki rider.

2Thumbs · 14 Jul 2008 at 16:48

That aint a Harley, this is a Harley:

I love old ones, the sound is very addictive. I'd take one over any '0-60 in 3sec' stuff.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 14 Jul 2008 at 16:50

2Thumbs said:
I love old ones, the sound is very addictive. I'd take one over any '0-60 in 3sec' stuff.

How quick are the V-rods and 1800, what sorta specs are we looking at?

Tomsk · 14 Jul 2008 at 17:11

Loowi_ashley said:
How quick are the V-rods and 1800, what sorta specs are we looking at?

http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/technical/200801perfindex.pdf

(Suzuki M109R = Intruder M1800)
It's more interesting looking at the braking distances.

Alos this thread - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17888938

panthro · 14 Jul 2008 at 17:21

What about a Yamaha VMax?

Sagalout · 14 Jul 2008 at 20:57

take a look at the Victory Hammers. They look and sound amazing, and I don't even really like cruisers. Or look at something in between like the Moto guzzi brera or griso

Cyanide · 14 Jul 2008 at 21:09

2.3l engine and more torque than power

Northwind · 14 Jul 2008 at 23:52

Victory do some very nice cruisers... I'm not against Harleys, I'd quite like one of the new blacked-out sportsters, but they're ridiculously expensive for what they are.

If I was going to buy another cruiser... Well, can't afford a Victory. I'd probably look at the Intruder 800, or Triumph America perhaps.