Trying to break the harley addiction

[scott16119]

I've been a Harley guy since 1998. My last one is a 2005 Ultra, that I still own. I bought a new 2012 RTS-SE5. The first year of riding was maybe 90% Spyder and 10% Harley. Last year was 99% Spyder and 1% Harley just because I figured I should run it around the block now and then. I'll sell the Harley this spring. I'm 58, it's not that I can't handle a big bike, it's more that I don't want to anymore. The Spyder is every bit as comfortable and cushy as the Ultra. I do the oil changes and stuff myself and find it about an equal pain in the ass changing all the filters and fluids on the Spyder as it was on a Harley. I have 10,000 miles on my Spyder and it's not been in the shop. Never owned a Harley that went 10,000 without some little issue.

 

[Magnum Force]

Just returned back from Daytona Bike Week a week ago. As usual saw a ton of HD's. This time though I also saw quite a few Spyders, mostly all RT's. Went a couple of years ago and saw very few spyders. It is obvious that their popularity is growing!

 

[ARtraveler]

Just returned back from Daytona Bike Week a week ago. As usual saw a ton of HD's. This time though I also saw quite a few Spyders, mostly all RT's. Went a couple of years ago and saw very few spyders. It is obvious that their popularity is growing!

Beautiful RS with the Corbin bags. :yes::yes:

 

[R FUN]

Have rode motorcycles for 60 years. Last two were Harley Ultras. Loved the harleys and had very few issues. Got so as I did not feel safe anymore on a heavy two wheeler as always ride two up and my strangth and balance is not what it once was. Sold the harley and bought a spyder RTL. It is a great ride and hopefully can get another 20 years riding.

 

[SteveMac]

Sorry, I just don't get the Harley thing. As a group I don't like Harley riders. As for Harley's they are just now with the current models bringing them out of the 1960's technology wise. They are big, heavy, slow, loud, hard to maneuver, expensive and ugly (except for the V-Rod). No, I have never owned a Harley, but then again I have never had malaria, but I know enough about both to know I want neither.

I read your your post and I laugh at you. Seriously. You want to waggle your finger at HD riders and then paint with your own wide brush??? It is people like you who eventually give owners of any brand a bad name.

On the bright side. If there were a prize for "stupidest comment on Spyderlovers" you have a great shot. So you at least have that going for you.

 

[Bob Denman]

Oh... Let's just try to add some "tolerance", to the proceedings...:thumbup:

 

[dndfindley]

Oh... Let's just try to add some "tolerance", to the proceedings...:thumbup:

Thank you Bob. Some here think the only comments posted should be the ones they approve of. I don't post to have people like me - I post what I think and I personally don't care if it is approved of or not. No one has to agree with me. I don't like Harley's, never have. Deal with it.

 

[bradysplace]

Whole different mind set

Been lookin at a 2014 with the tree cylinders. Has anyone here had to break that harley addiction. Are you glad you did. Are they comfy to ride all day?. Any input will help


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Shangles, the two are not ment to be compared unless you are already bias one way or the other. I assume your talking about a two wheeled Harley. For starters look at the general demographics. Look at the comments on this thread. Notice how many times you see the phrases "more comfortable", "easier to handle", etc..... I ride both and most of my Harley friends are not that concerned about having the most comfortable, easiest to handle etc. ride. Harley is a well marketed lifestyle that thousand subscribe to and love every minute of it. Harley now makes a first class motorcycle. I purchased my new 2014 rtl simply because I was T-Boned on my bike and at 68 recovery is a bit slower than when I was 35! I still ride my two wheeler however the three wheeler takes away some of the slow but steady recovery issues. By the way the outcome of my accident would have been the same whether I was on two or three wheels. That same mind set permeates many three wheel riders. Its not always a accident recovery but usually the ease of the three wheeler becomes more attractive for one reason or another. You will not get the juices flowing like you do on a two wheeler and only a rider with years of experience on two wheels can understand that. What you will get is a very comfortable, very sophisticated, very safe vehicle that allows you to be outside of a cage. You will spend more money buying the spyder than most of the Harley models. The amount of dealers is very limited and most of them sell several brands other than can am as opposed to Harley dealers/maint. staff - that work on Harleys only. You simply cannot compare the two or the organization behind them. Now a fairer comparison is the trike vs. spyder. No contest. Two wheels up front - you can't argue with physics. Much safer. Looks are in the eye of the beholder. Lots of opinions as to which is easier to steer, rides better etc. Ride them both. In terms of holding value - I think the Harley has the edge. And if your thinking of the rtl - well folks are trading in previous model spyders to take advantage of the improvements in the 2014 model (that's a nice way of saying the 2014 rtl has lowered the resale value of previous model rtl's - that's not my opinion its my can am dealers). You can't go wrong with either of these bikes. Just keep riding and keep the blue side up!

 

[Bob Denman]

Thank you Bob. Some here think the only comments posted should be the ones they approve of. I don't post to have people like me - I post what I think and I personally don't care if it is approved of or not. No one has to agree with me. I don't like Harley's, never have. Deal with it.

We should all be able to "agree to disagree" ;every once in a while...:thumbup:
I had a good friend once tell me:
"I don't expect everyone to agree with me all of the time; they're allowed to be idiots, if they so choose!" :roflblack:

 

[SteveMac]

Thank you Bob. Some here think the only comments posted should be the ones they approve of. I don't post to have people like me - I post what I think and I personally don't care if it is approved of or not. No one has to agree with me. I don't like Harley's, never have. Deal with it.

We should all be able to "agree to disagree" ;every once in a while...:thumbup:
I had a good friend once tell me:
"I don't expect everyone to agree with me all of the time; they're allowed to be idiots, if they so choose!" :roflblack:

I was willing to let this dog lie, but we can get into it further if you want to. If you want to make posts like the one that dndfindley made, lumping a group of riders into one bucket just because you don't like their brand then go ahead. He doesn't like HD riders as a group??? What an asinine statement and yes I will challenge that at every offering. Attitudes like that, disparaging an entire group of people based on something as mundane as what type of motorcycle the choose to ride is idiotic. So stay in that camp if you choose too

I prefer to judge people by their character. I have friends who ride Harleys, Hondas and Spyders among other brands. They are living, breathing, caring INDIVIDUALS. I have friends who stopped riding a Spyder and started riding a Harley, so they are bad people now? Or how about the Harley rider who is now a Spyder rider. Those folks are a-ok in your books now? What a pathetically shallow position to take. But as you say if you want to be idiots, then by all means wallow around in it.

 

[Bob Denman]

Hi Steve,
You KNOW that I respect, and value your judgement! :2thumbs:
I just sort of figured that bringing attention to it (even negative attention), just lends credence to it's validity as an argument...
"If nobody salutes what gets run up the flagpole; the subject gets dropped quickly..."

 

[flaggerphil]

Having never owned (though I have ridden them) a Harley, I didn't have break a Harley addiction. However, I've been riding since 1978 and I did have to break a two wheel addiction...primarily Yamahas. Sometimes I miss two wheels, but then I get on my RT and the feeling goes away.

 

[Bob Denman]

Which Yammies were you riding?
I had a pair of V-Star Classics (2000, and 2002), that I really liked! :2thumbs:

 

[flaggerphil]

I traded in my '07 V-Star 1300T for my RT. In the past I've also owned an RD-400, XS-500 and XS-1100.

 

[Bob Denman]

RD 400... :2thumbs:
GREAT little mosquito-foggers!
A buddy of mine let me take his beloved RZ 350 for a spin once; there's just something really neat happening, when they get up on their pipes! :yes:

 

[flaggerphil]

Great bikes! They could be scary quick...and no electric start, either...

:thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

The only kicker; the fuel mileage was a bit less than stellar...