Demo a Harley get an iPod

[JML]

Last week my brother got a postcard in the mail saying that if he demoed a Harley they would send him an iPod. This last Saturday the high was around 55 (as I write this it's -2 outside), so we took the opportunity, and headed over to the neighborhood Harley dealership. The place was pretty full of people buying t-shirts and such, but a friendly salesman was happy to help us even when we were honest that we weren't walking out with a bike today. Besides, I'm only getting grayer, so I might be ready for a Harley in a few years.

We road a brand new Dyna 1500 of some type, and a 2005 Sportser 1200 (the model with a tach). I liked the way the Dyna handled more than the Sportster, but that could have just been the higher bars, similar to the Vulcan 750 I used to ride, over the lower Sportster. They both pulled strong, but we were told to be gentle on the Dyna, because it was new. There was so much low end torque that short shifting wasn't a big deal. I did wind the Sportster out to the red line in 2nd and 3rd, just because I could.

I was disappointed in the ride on both. I thought they were both very harsh over the bumps. Maybe the suspensions were adjusted for Harley weight riders. Over 40 MPH the vibration was pretty minimal, but at idle it was teeth rattling. That's probably because I'm used to my boxer which shakes side to side, so it doesn't rattle my teeth. The noise of the Harley's was also pretty unbearable. I don't know what kind of pipes were on the bikes, but even cruising was painful. I like how quiet my BMW is.

They shape of both bikes did fit me much better than the current crop of metric cruisers. The Japanese seem to have embraced low and wide, with far forward controls, which just doesn't fit me. Both bikes, with their mid-controls, fit me quite well. It was a fairly pleasant riding position with my feet under me (like on my 1150R) but my back neutral (like on the Vulcan).

So, will I be trading my oil cooled BMW for the new oil cooled Sportster XR1200 (as the salesman suggested)? Probably not in the next few months, but if I ever do decide to go back to a cruiser, I'll have to seriously look at the Harleys. I'd take the Dyna over the Raider 1900 I rode last summer.

[machew01]

What about the iPods?!

mac

[Boxer]

What about the iPods?!

Really! I'LL go ride one for an iPod!

[JML]

What about the iPods?!

mac

Yeah, 6-8 weeks, while supplies last, offer void if you wear a helmet, etc. My brother bought a touch a few weeks ago, so he gave me his old Sansa e280. Maybe he'll get a second iPod in a month or two. I joke, but they're offering an 8GB nano, which is around $150, so if they do follow through on it, that is pretty generous. We were the first ones at the dealership on the offer, but while we were there somebody else called asking if it was real.

No way I could have heard an iPod over the pipes on the Sportsters.

[machew01]

Were the Sportsters that loud with stock pipes, or had they already gone to the save lives pipes?

mac

[OU812]

And i thought Harley owners got the "Hot" chicks!