Joined last week and as far as I can tell this is the only place for the question.

Have always ridden Japanese sport bikes, mostly Suzuki Katana but buy American otherwise. I would like to get a Harley but have always held off because when I began riding they leaked oil, broke down, etc. That was long ago of course. But there still is one area I'm not enthused about and that is all the vibration if it's still there. I know you ladies undoubtedly just love that felling '(*_^)' but I like to see any red lights that might be coming up on me in my mirrors.

So what should I look for? Definitely do not want a model that has no rear suspension. I'm a canyon carver, like to go fast and take long trips. I can go 8 - 10 hours straight if the gas will hold up. That's one more question. Those peanut tanks of old just didn't get you very far. My Katana had a 6+ gallon tank.

Answers from male or female appreciated. And what about used ones? Thanks.

Depends how much luxury you want... a simple fat boy would be compfortable and sufficent, but then again a road king would have everything you would need... Fat boys have inverted forks, for a better suspension ride... and the road king is like a couch with handle bars... I ride a 2003 soft-tail custom, and also have a 2003 KLXR 400

Every harley is gonna vibrate... thats part of the charm... you dont buy one to ride like a cadillac.... you buy into part of the american dream and the harley image... Minor user maintence will go along way... these bikes havent been around for 100 plus years because they leak oil for no reason....

contact your local dealer for a test ride...

Enjoy...

i ride harley i had 3 harley and i love to ride

i agree with derek_03 to a point they all vibrate but they do have some that are rubber mounted and don't vibrate as much. I would definitely go with the road king has a good ride and handles great and comfy. soft tails are good to, again depends on what you want.

I'm a Harley guy (gee ya think), but I love my Rice Rockets too. I've had a few, right know I ride a classic a 1979 KZ1000. I sold my 2000 ZX7rr a few years ago. I miss that bike. It was fast, Kawi Green, all chrome frame & motor, sweet. The only thing, you think your back would hurt, but actually my forearms would.
The thing that I don't like is Jap bikes that wanna be HARLEYS. I understand people say they ride better last longer. Whatever! For me if I want to Ride a Bike that looks like a Harley, Then I will Ride a HARLEY!!!
I have had 2 Big Harleys and 3 sportsters in my days. Let me tell you something nothing is Cooler Then pulling up on a HOG!

we have a 04 roadking trike 07 nightster and 08 roadking (i think that what it is)

Newer HD are pretty reliable, you can get
some good deals, because a lot of them have very
low mileage.

I've ridden Kawasaki's mainly. I started out with a KZ250LTD, then moved up to a KZ305CSR, a KZ550LTD and my last bike was a ZL1000 Eliminator. My Dad had a 700 Intruder. It was a fun bike to ride as well for a V-Twin, but it didn't feel as smooth as my in-line 4.

I wish they would still sell a good variety of new in-line 4 engine bikes (cruiser-type). Those type of engines are very durable and easy to maintain.

Also I'm not sure that I could get used to the idea of riding a fuel-injected system, which I'm seeing a lot of these days. I would imagine that if a sensor would break, it would probably cost an arm and a leg to repaired. But I guess the same could be said of carbuerators as well.

I mainly rode street cruisers and touring bikes. I wish I had the opportunity to ride a sport bike, but they seem awefully scary to ride. But alot a fun, I'll bet.

ok first off Ive never ever had a woman in a bar ask me..."so do you ride a honda" second the vibe thing is what makes the harley for long trips...check out the 08 street glides. bigger fuel cells factory lowered great ride.... keep the rubber on the bottom side

I ride a Heritage Soft tail and also have a 1962 FL Panhead. The Panhead leaks oil because it was designed to oil the primary chain automatically. You can adjust the oiler. Some people turn it off completely and replace the primary chain with a belt drive system.

The newer models are very low maintenance, low vibration and a real joy to ride.

Test ride one and see for yourself.

I would rather walk than ride a Ducati or a Harley, because, although they look sexy, invariably thats what normally happens - I end up walking!
Jap may be crap, but if you want an 8-10 hour run, then they are unbeatable. Cheap maintenance, easy to find parts and cheap running costs ... and no vibrating your teeth out of your body through your arse!!!

I have had a Hayabusa, Bandits, Fireblades and a Blackbird. They were all reliable, hard working and I even had a 15 year old 600 Fazer thing that took me 1500 miles in a weekend with no complaints, all at 90 mph.

I agree getting Jap that looks like a Harley is stupid, so dont get a road mule, get a stallion and enjoy the sports bikes.

Get a dual sport, I have a KTM. The 640's have the vibration for the ladies, and will out perform most Harlies. The 950's have much less vibration, and will out perform most crotch rockets.

Just bought this one in Dec.. Test rode harley, suzuki, and kawasaki before I bought the Honda Shadow. For me the fit was perfect, honda has always held up very well, this is the 3rd one for me, -out of 5 bikes- and the looks speak for themself..

you have a stronger ass than i do- my 1st bike was an 02 883r sporty loved it and only problem i had was the drive belt broke on me once- had for 9000 miles all was good. i know the new sportsters have rubber motor mounts to cut down on vibration so i figure that if ther cheapest bike is commin around that much- a more expensive model shoul ride like a cadilac. ridin a 03 Kawasaki Z1000 naked bike now love it I was allway pushin 2 hard on my sporty (dragin peg ect.). rented a v rod 1 had plenty of power- my number 1 harley pick woul have to be the Street Rod 10% more power over the v mid mount pegs and differnt fame w/ higher center of gravity for carvin the corners, good luck...

i got a 900rr honda that i stunt, i would get a chopper before harley, same price for a little custom chopper then a harley. just my .02

i have a roadking and my nephew just bought a brand new jap cruiser a honda vtx 1300 it now has 1500 miles and is on the way back to the dealer for the second time while my roadking just keeps on going this is my forth harley and have never had to do more then just routine stuff and have never been left on the side of the road

well i see it like this

my brother bought a harley 80s era this spring

i bought a venture 1200 this spring

he is always working on his

and well i can go get on my 86 yamaha and head for a long ride
without being overly concerned about breaking down

and be able to walk when i get there i had to give up my sport bike due to the vibration and ride due to health issues

so you can keep yer harley yes they are nice if you have money to burn

but rice takes less money and is more dependable in my opinon

I have been a licensed motorcylist for 32 years. I've heard all of the arguments for this bike or that and it all comes down to one thing- personal preference. I've ridden most of the jap bikes because we get so many of them traded in on Harleys, which I sell for a living. If you are used to sport bikes but want a HD I'd suggest a Dyna FXD or FXDF. These bikes handle really well and have a better ride quality than a Softail.the FXDF in particular is very stable on long trips with its' 16 inch rims and wider tires.You can set these bikes up to tour pretty easily without too much in the way of negative effects on the bikes' handling. If you need more in the way of carrying capacity than you can achieve with one of these models, I'd get a Road Glide with the fixed fairing- unbeatable in windy conditions and very comfortable.
I refuse to get involved in the brand bashing but have one comment to make- All of us who ride are in the minority and should respect one another. Don't come in to my dealership on your Road Star and start dissing HD, and I won't point out that never one time, in the history of the world has a HD owner asked their dealer to make their bike more like a Yamaha/Suzuki/Honda/Kawasaki/Whatever.

I ride/ build shovels ,and pans. yes I work on my bike, but I enjoy it.
the newer HD's are more reliable than the past.
the bottom line is this get what you want......but a 30 year old harley will hold value....... a rice burner........isnt worth parting out. jmho

I stick with my Jap stuff.
I rode my brother's four year old HD for three hours before the trailer came to return it to the shop and I have to say it was the most uncomfortable ride I have ever had.

I was very disappointed. I did have high hopes for it - I was even looking at buying it from him.

I also worked in a bike shop and the majority of stuff we had was hi-spec Jap, Italian & German race bikes.

I cannot ride these for too long as the extra padding I have at the front, above my belt, makes it uncomfortable after about 2 or three hours.

But I did have a Hayabusa that I took to Spain on regular trips. Apart from a new back tyre every 2000 miles (if you rode it like you were insistant on meeting your maker) I loved its stability, its cruising abilities and the feeling of doing 110mph in second gear ... after that, my sphincter would contract and I would sort of change gears and bring the revs down to below the red line ... lol

It is a matter of personal choice as has been said before. My favourite bike was a 1200 Suzuki Bandit.

Not fast, but very stable and reliable. Which is what you want if you are going for a trip.

Loaded up with all your belongings and prepped, it took me 5000 miles around Europe before I had to even look at the back tyre.

But bikes, what ever flavour - ROCK