HD Trunk and GPS

Daryl, you make a good point about the contrast in bikes, but at the time I had both. I considered myself to have the "best of both worlds" as I put it on several occasions when I had posted.

However I did buy them for different types of riding although I managed to adapt the Rocket pretty much for my "touring" needs (after trading in the Gold Wing) for now. Since I am selling it I will want to get a new bike when I am finished over here. For now the R3T will probably fit my needs after some adaptation UNLESS the Gold Wing comes out with a totally redesigned motorcycle. In that case (along with cost) I will eventually get the motorcycle that I believe I will enjoy for years to come.

The Rocket has a great warranty and has been pretty much validated by a lot of riders on this forum even when the bike went out of warranty. The Gold Wing does come with a 3 year/unlimited mileage warranty and I've owned (financed?) two of them and enjoyed them as well. But all this is in the future, if the GW is the same...then I'll be staying in Rocket land for sure (unless as previously stated HD makes the move to that water cooled engine...then we'll take a look see). Also Gold Wing can be had with ABS, the Rocket...there are rumors that it may be coming but is not here yet (next year? could be another story).

Anyway it's fun to dream and set goals over here but I still have some financial goals in themselves that have to be met first before I get another bike.

Dennis

34 dtg Dubai
35 dtg Home

Baggage1,

Now days HD bikes are a lot more advanced than the casual eye thinks and that's just how they want it. Actually, them and Triumph are a lot alike in that regard. There's no cutting edge technology in Triumph bikes. In fact, Harley beat them to the punch to going all fuel injection. Also, I think both are in a perpuating situation. Their loyal riders demand the bikes they build. Harley wouldn't continue to build the same 1950s "styled" bike if they didn't sell. Triumph wouldn't continue to build retro looking Bonnies if they didn't sell.

Here's a couple of interesting tidbits that amuse me. Harley's new bikes have a new design that shuts down the rear cylinder during extended idle periods (sitting in Daytona traffic, for example). Triumph finally went EFI on the Bonnies, America and Speedmaster, yet they kept fake carbs in place for the look. Why? Because the consumer demands it. Harley knows that a water cooled Harley would go over like a lead ballon with the pirates. I know, the VRod is water cooled. Believe me, however, the hardcore pirates don't consider it a "real Harley".

Dennis,

Why would you not buy another GW without a re-design. I've never owned one, but looked at them hard before buying the R3T. You already have a Rocket so I'm sure you'll dig the R3T if you get one. Interestingly, all this talk about HDs; my R3T reminds me a lot of my old Heritage in terms of feel at interstate speeds. It has exactly the same sweet spot (around 75 mph) and the suspension is similar in feel as well.

I looked at harleys quite seriously before buying the R3T. This dates back a couple of years as I was not in a position to buy. But once I spotted the Rocket (they hadnt come out with the touring yet) I didnt even give harley a second look. Just me but I like being different..its just enough to make people think!!!

mutt

Daryl, as for why I wouldn't buy a new GW without the re-design... if you have ever checked out the GW forums (I mainly hang out at the www.gl1800riders.com as Molinoman of course) you will find guys that are happy with the present version and others who will nitpick it to death...that's just the way it is as with any bike.

Since I've had two already of the current design it's kinda of ho-hum, but an enjoyable ho-hum. As I have mentioned already, I think, in a previous post it will give the Rocket a run for it's money up to a point, it is fast (with a claimed 118 HP and 125 ft/lbs torque). It is comfortable though different sized riders have to make changes to the seat/pegs etc... As far as the features go it is top notch. Again, if my wife rode with me more I would probably have kept it and traded/sold the Rocket (earlier) to get the new Mustang. But since she doesn't the Rocket made more sense for me.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Rocket and it's painful to have to sell it, but I'm just not riding it, hardly at all in my present circumstances so it makes sense to me to go ahead and sell it to someone who can ride it and enjoy it now.

When the time comes and a new Gold Wing shows up, if it is totally new...I will be looking at it, but I suspect with all the alledged new features that may be incorporated into it the cost will rise as well. And being a new model you will probably not get very much in the way of a discounted price like you can with the current ones in the present design.

As far as watercooled Harleys....maybe the mainstream Harley rider doesn't want them, you are probably right and as a former Harley owner I'll take your word for it. But since I left that 2003 100th anniversary edition behind and thinking about it, I have come to the conclusion if I'm going to pay that much for a motorcycle (talking Harleys here) I want my money's worth. And my main beef with Harley is the engine, I'm not expecting the performance of a Busa, but I am expecting something close to what a Gold Wing offers (that is my standard of comparison). Harleys have become more dependable in the last 20 years, and in its stock form I like the sound of them, but a nice paint job and sound is not enough for me if I am laying out those kind of bucks. I want an engine that is more than capable of handling any type of traveling I sometimes do. Now if they priced the Ultra Electra Glide Classic about $3,000-$5,000 less (mainly bacause of the engine) I would think I would be getting my money's worth and would "settle" for the Ultra, but HD wants high dollar and, for me, that kind of value is just not there.

With the Rocket, yeah it's expensive and I've put almost as much money into it as my last Gold Wing but I feel I am getting an engine that is up to the bike's capabilities and my type of riding, therefore I am satisfied/happy with it for that reason. That "new" Gold Wing is going to have to be real good to convince me I need to change back to it whether the wife rides with me much or not.

For now I am mainly focusing on the R3T as my most likely new bike next year and see whether Harley puts out a water cooled engine(or not) with the Ultra or the Gold Wing is really serious about putting out a totally new designed motorcycle.

Long winded as usual, but I hope this answers your question.

Dennis

33 dtg Dubai
34 dtg Home

That's cool Dennis. I was just curious. Good luck with whatever you get.

Speaking of a new Gold Wing. I stopped by my local BMW dealer last week. I was talking with one of the salesmen who I've known for a few years and asked him about rumors about a new BMW LT. He told me that he saw the engine (6 cyl) in a test mule without fairing, out here for testing. In talking with the engineers they told him that the bike was basically ready for release and they were just playing a waiting game with Honda. Seems the new Gold Wing is pretty far along and BMW is wanting Honda to make the first move before they announce the new LT.

So, maybe your thoughts of a new GW aren't too far off.....

Yeah, but the new problem with the new Gold Wing was I thought it was originally supposed to come out this year. That would give me almost a whole year to evaluate it, read about it, visit a dealer and eyeball it before deciding go/no-go. It appears they are still churning out new Gold Wings in Maryville, Ohio till June or July then production will stop there and move to Japan. Not sure how they are planning on selling the last year of this lot as I imagine most potential buyers are probably sitting on the fence (as I am) and waiting (now) till next year.

I wouldn't think they would add that many new items to the 2010 model as it would be a last year build. Which is why I can at least still make plans on buying a new Rocket (again, most likely the R3T with my usual long list of accessories and mods). The only thing I haven't really heard too much on is the "discount" on the R3T. I received a pretty "fair" one from D&D when I bought my 07 Classic. Now that they've got a new building to pay for I may not be as fortunate. If they make, what I feel, a fair price for it with some "intangibles" that I already get from them...they should have a sale.

This is going to be a loooooooooong year or so to go....

Dennis

32 dtg Dubai
33 dtg Home

Harley makes it easy to be a hater

A couple years ago I was in our local Honda/Harley/Polaris dealer looking for an oil filter for my '81 GL500 Honda Silverwing. I walked up to the parts counter and asked for the part and was told it would be two weeks because they didn't stock old HONDA parts. I rode my S'wing down to Fort Collins Colorado to a Honda (only) dealer down there and bought the filter out of their stock.
One more thing. I saw a Royal Star on E-bay last year going for $3000 or so that had approximately 230,000 miles on it with no rebuild. I have a mechanic friend who regularly rides a GL1200 with over 250,000 miles (also no rebuild). You show me a HD with over 100,000 miles and I'll show you a bike that's been rebuilt three times.

Just my three cents.
Semper Gumby (always flexible)