I get the urge every now and then to get rid of the /6 and buy another old 900 XLCH....... Maybe it's because the BMW doesn't leak enough oil......maybe because it's too easy to start.......but probably because it's so utterly reliable and comfortable to ride..... So far I have resisted the temptation......
That's a questions only you can answer. By asking like this my guess is you are torn. If so, then take your time and ask yourself what you are looking for in a bike. I'm not a harley guy so they don't impress me in the slightest, I simply don't understand why anyone wants a slow, heavy, expensive bike just like everyone else has. I can tell you one advantage to a airhead, easy to find in a sea of harleys.
This just makes me think of what I told my brother when he bought his 78 BMW R100RS Motorsport, but the comparisons change. I told him not to expect great acceleration when compared to even the Japanese standards, but it would cruise at high speeds just fine. That they handle good, but not on par with any Japanese sportbike. But it really didn't matter for his riding. So he was perfect for the R100. You can't expect a Harley to cruise at the speeds your BMW can as easily and comfortably, nor can you expect it to handle like your BMW. What you will find is that the Harley has more sex appeal to some women and that appeals to many men. I know a few guys that are single and only own a Harley so they can use them to pick up women... and it works! There is a bit of a similar effect for teen/early twenties girls for sportbikes too. The BMWs for the most part don't have this effect. Personally, I'd keep the BMW and buy the Harley if you can. It only makes sense, they are at opposite ends of the spectrum to an extent. I met up with a number of riders when working at the dealership, who had both Harleys and GoldWings. The Harleys weren't the tourers, more the customs. The riders' comments were that the Harleys were what they screwed around and cruised on, the GoldWings were when they were doing some serious riding, especially when going any distance with the wives on the back. I think you'd find similar experiences but in different directions. If you want to ride all day long on winding roads or simply put on a whole lot of miles on a trip the BMW is the ticket, otherwise the Harley could be fun. But all in all, it's whatever you want to do. After all, there are riders scraping pegs on cruisers and touring riders on 500cc bikes as well as riders trying to off road streetbikes and riders trying to long distance tour on more off road oriented dual sports. It can be done, just how much will you put up with.
First I don't like harleys.... No wait let me take that back. What I really don't like are the mindless herd that follows the image and costuming that surrounds the brand. That said the late model bikes are good for what they are. Yes they don't handle as well as sportbike. That has as much to do with them not being a sportbike as it does with them being a Harley. They hold their oil in for the most part. They stop They start and now with the economy the price of these bikes is getting closer to the worth of these bikes. Oh and to the OP Look for a FI bike they run a lot better then the carbed bikes
bought an 06 ultra and sold an '83 r80rt. now i'm looking to trade back to a big guzzi (missed an sp1000 ) or something. taking a hit on davidson value but went 7,000 miles in two week and 34k to date without a lick of trouble. couldn't ask for more for what it is, did 100 mph for 1 hr in idaho/montana. change is change whether for the good or not? lol enjoy whatever you do.
I bought a Harley, then sold my BMW a year later (not an easy task, unless you give them away). The Harley is more fun to ride, I can still do 600+ mile days on it or run to the store. I don't miss my 06 1200GS at all. I think some of the negative advice you are getting about Harleys here is from non Harley owners, so take it with a grain of salt.
what's wrong with you lot! trade a boxer for hd rust (and i'm being kind here to amercian iron)? :huh NEVER! Go and do a proper resto on the bm, and you'll feel much better. and if you must get a v twin, think confederate (at least that's class/ier). guzzi is also good (... but only as a 4th or 5th bikes, you understand).
Take ALL the advice here with a grain of salt, as only YOU will be able to determine if it WAS a good idea or not AFTER you buy the HD. The best advice that I have seen on this thread is to keep the BMW and get the Harley. However most of us can not afford to do that. Dreams cost nothing tho.....
They are much more refined, those 100ci engines are tourquey beasts. No more pushrods, OHC!!!! They are as American made as a harley! I VERY MUCH urge you to test ride a Victory before you make a purchase. Most Victory salesmen I have met that deal in only Vics and maybe one other brand tend to be the most enthusiastic guys Ive seen. I test rode a Kingpin 8 ball, and was impressed by the fit and finish. They also handle farkin good (very firm backbone-frame), until you hit the floorboards!
I own and wrench on both...I'll guess that the vast, vast majority of either Harley owners and BMW owners can't say that... There is NO comparing the two bikes...at all...I've owned seven Harleys in 36 years, and I've owned one Beemer in that time...I'll never get rid of the Harley...the Beemer is expendable, however, mostly in terms of getting another Beemer, although if push came to shove, the German Engineering Nightmare would be the first to go!!! OP, your question in the long run is simply impossible for us to answer! Shows a bit of indecision, perhaps fear...if you don't know the answer by now, I say keep the Beemer...Harley dudes/dudettes don't give a shit what anybody else thinks!
It depends entirely on what you like. I have both, an old AirHead BMW and an old Ironhead Sportster. Logically the BM is the better bike. But the Harley gets ridden more, lots more, including some long haul touring. The BM is an efficient appliance. The Harley is just a hoot. The Harley is easier to fix than the BM - and the Harley requires lots less special tools and knowledge, specially in the BM transmission/bevel areas. The Harley has been more reliable than the BM - probably because I did a full rebuild on the Harley before riding it whereas I just fix things as they wear out/break on the BM (ie contantly). Also Harley parts are waaay cheaper than BM parts. Ideally, keep your BM and buy the Harley too. Then you have the best of both worlds.
Get an FXR...they are great machines. Best handling bike the moco ever built. good luck either way... Great spot for a picture...gotta love the 5 mile "ride"
Must show you were using the GS like a touring bike, not an adventure bike. The Harley could never substitute for that use, at least by a sane owner. Again, like I said, personally I'd have two bikes that serve different purposes... hey, I already do... and working on a road legal flat tracker to have a hot rod too! It's nice to have a change of pace. At least you didn't unload one or the other before knowing for sure it was what you wanted.
You can if you don't buy the latest and greatest... and I think an R90/6 isn't exactly the highest dollar of the BMW lot. It won't pull a ton of money on resale, so why not hang on if parking isn't an issue. We all know bikes work better in pairs... like us... ... when one goes down the other keeps going!
dude, I am right there with you. Despite folks saying how wonderful boxers are, I have owned my R90/6 for almost 8 years. it is fun and cool yeah, but has also been a big quirky pain at times. Don't care what folks say about BMW reliability vs harley, it is not so true in my experience. I have been looking at Dyna Wide glides and I feel no shame. If you trade the beemer in you will get nothing for it though. get what you like.