CHOPPER VS. HARLEY

[red]

If you could which would you rather have? I have been talking to the "Lunatic Choppers" guys about building a BJD chopper. Why spend $15,000 on a Harley when for a few grand more you could have a custom built.

[tonefight]

I vote custom

[RobTheDrummer]

You definitely want the custom chopper. You can do so much more with it than a harley. Get the cool ass graphics on it and everything. Make sure it's mean lookin.

[MOONDOGGY]

Regardless of whether you get a Harley or a custom chopper, you will most definitely have to get a custom rack made to carry your upright bass! This way you can drive your hog to your shows. That would just be cool man!

[lonewolf]

I have enough cash in my slush fund to buy 5 Harleys or 1-1/2 West Coast Choppers.

I'd rather have a Kawasaki Vulcan, but then, the Honda Valkyrie Rune beckons.......

[songsmith]

I need four wheels... at least. I LOVE riding motorcycles, but I'm the most accident-prone cat you ever met. It'd be like, "Sure Mr. Stevens, we here at Harleyworld could set you up with a really nice ride. Let's look at this motorcycle over here. Sure you can sit on it, it's got dual... Oh my God!! Call 911!!"
Red, I think you should have a bike made OUT OF an upright bass.------------->JMS

[red]

I have enough cash in my slush fund to buy 5 Harleys or 1-1/2 West Coast Choppers.

You could buy me 1 and still have enough left for 4.....

[tonefight]

I have enough cash in my slush fund to buy 5 Harleys or 1-1/2 West Coast Choppers.

You could buy me 1 and still have enough left for 4.....

If you'd just pay off the loan for my Honda Shadow I'd be happy

[lonewolf]

I have enough cash in my slush fund to buy 5 Harleys or 1-1/2 West Coast Choppers.

You could buy me 1 and still have enough left for 4.....

But then you wouldn't appreciate it as much.

Seriously, you should at least take a look at the Vulcan Mean Streak. I've even heard some of my diehard Harley friends talk with a little envy about them. The performance and handling is 2nd to none in the cruiser class. At $11,000 sticker, you have $4000 left to chrome it up. This link defaults to the Vulcan 2000 (which is not a bad choice either), so you have to click on the selector to bring up the Mean Streak.

http://www.kawasaki.com/product_detail. ... motorcycle

If you must buy a Harley, look at the V-Rod--it is probably their best effort at performance and handling and its reasonably priced.

If you get a chopper, you will have something nice to look at, but wait until you try to lug the thing around town or get into the twisties.

The Valkyrie Rune is in a class by itself, but at $27,700, its a bit pricey.

http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycle ... d=NRX18EB5

[lonewolf]

I have enough cash in my slush fund to buy 5 Harleys or 1-1/2 West Coast Choppers.

You could buy me 1 and still have enough left for 4.....

If you'd just pay off the loan for my Honda Shadow I'd be happy

But then you'd miss out on all that bill-paying practice.

Yeah, I shouldn't have posted that, but it helps to illustrate my point. Part of my point is that if you own only one bike, make sure its for riding, not just looking at.

BTW, I might be interested in those sub power amps if you aren't going to use them and if they don't take up much space or weight.

[tonefight]

The Honda 1100 Shadows are made right in Ohio and some people are doing amazing things customizing those. I've seen quite a few that will turn the heads of any Harley owner so check out that option also.

Jeff you can call about those amps and I'll give you the scoop on 'em

[zman1200]

I checked those Lunatic Chops out last night before 38 special fired up
they looked tight the copy of Indian Larrys sho/pan looked like a strong build.and the Blind Johnny Death flyers on the display table never hurts

INSURANCE RATES

Chuck Navasky of One Less Tear has or had a nice Hd for sale

[lonewolf]

The Honda 1100 Shadows are made right in Ohio and some people are doing amazing things customizing those. I've seen quite a few that will turn the heads of any Harley owner so check out that option also.

Jeff you can call about those amps and I'll give you the scoop on 'em

OK, I hope I still have your number.

Honda's are really great handling bikes. The Shadows are sharp bikes and OK for guys our size, but I think Red needs something a little beefier. The Shadow Sabre 1100 only has about 50HP and the Spirit has about 60HP, compared to the Kawasaki Vulcan 750 @ 66 HP and the Vulcan Mean Streak @ 73HP. The V-Rod is an incredible 115HP!

[J Michaels]

6 weeks ago I was lookin for a bike. When I brought home a Harley Wide Glide (my two fave Hogs are the Wide Glide and the Softail Custom, which they don't make anymore ), the woman asked "How much?" Me:"Uhh.... seventeen." "No f#*kin' way! We're saving for a house!" And of course, she was right - I DO want a house more than a bike.

So I looked some more. I had ridden a 2002 Vulcan 800, though somewhat reluctantly, cuz I'm 6'4 and about 250 pounds, so I didn't think it would be big enough or have enough ooomph for me. I was pleasantly surprised by it, but decided to ride a few others as well - Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 (kinda wimpy - as someone noted, only about 50hp), the VTX 1300 (not bad) and 1800 (a little better, but not for nearly $10,000), and the Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 (the best of the big bikes I rode, but, again, nearly $10,000.)

I went back up to the Kaw store, and rode the Vulcan 800 again with the woman on the back. It handled both of us size-wise and power-wise, and with the Vance and Hines pipes it is the best sounding 800 I've ever heard. The pipes, rejetted carbs, and K&N air filter all add a few ponies, so it's got some gitty-up. And it looks awesome, too - the previous owner removed the tank badges, so it's got no identifying markings except on the back of the luggage rack and back of the backrest. I took it down to Thunder in the Valley the weekend after I bought it, and though it's not customized or tricked out, I got a few looks and head turns (probably cuz of the sound.)

I put slightly bigger saddlebags on it, and a taller backrest, and I bought some 2" handlebar risers I have yet to put on. Here's a couple pics:

http://www.rockdog.net/pics/vulcan%20ri ... %20new.jpg

http://www.rockdog.net/pics/vulcan%20le ... %20new.jpg

It had 3775 miles when I bought it, and I paid $4400 for this bike. I could have 4 of these for what I would have paid for the Wide Glide, with change left over, and I LOVE this bike. Don't get me wrong, a Wide Glide or Softail are still in my future, but I am absolutely THRILLED with this bike.

[J Michaels]

BTW - insurance? $200 a year - FULL coverage year-round

gotta love that!

[J Michaels]

I suppose I ought to comment on the thread topic....

Custom choppers are rolling pieces of art, and it's hard to put a price tag on something one-of-a-kind, especially when it's yours. But lonewolf is right - if you want to actually RIDE it a lot, custom bikes - usually hardtail rear ends, awkward riding position, difficult to maneuver in town - may not be the best choice.

[lonewolf]

Yep, the VN800 is a really nice bike and some good pull at 58HP (stock). Yours is probably somewhere in the mid-60s. I tried one while shopping for my last bike and would have bought one had there not been a VN750 sitting in a crate in Lewistown. Btw, that crate came from Lincoln, NE, where they are made. I watched them assemble it and then rode it right off of the pallet and out the door for $6100.

The VN750 has more "ponies" (66) than the stock VN1500 (64) and all stock Harleys (except the Vrod) because of the modified ninja DOHC v-twin. Ugly motor, though. Not much chrome and lots of engineering. Yeah, I need new pics:

http://www.geocities.com/jcr5/twovees.html

[Brian of the Clan Plush]

I put this one together myself from an 800 Intruder (could have done the same with the 1400) for about $9,000. With a shaft drive and about 1/2 the weight, It smokes all my friend's Night Trains, Softails, and Deuces, and it handles like a luge.

http://www.personal.psu.edu/bkb10/chopper

I just sold it on ebay for $5K to a guy in TX, and am planning to build a new one over the winter.

You can save a ton of money by buying a rolling chassis and an S&S engine, and getting a HD-certified wrench who's laid off over the winter to put it together for you. And there are a bunch of really good paint guys around Centre and Blair counties.

[Bag]

The best all around cruiser on the planet is the Honda Valkyrie. I've ridden just about everything and there is no better bike for the money. It gets looks, it's got gobs of power (100 hp), it's virtually maintainence free, and you can get a new one for under 10 grand. I'm on my 4th summer with mine, that I bought new, and I have 59,000 miles on it and I have done nothing but oil & filter changes. Other than tires of course. The 1520 cc (6 CYLINDER! )motor is BULLETPROOF! And you can ride them ALL day. It is the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden on a long haul. (Except for maybe a Goldwing, which is more like a 2 wheeled car, lol). I did get Cobra pipes to make it a bit louder because the stock pipes are too mellow. Now it's quiet when I want it to be, and roars when I want. Take a test ride on one sometime and you'll want one! That's what happened to me.

[lonewolf]

The best all around cruiser on the planet is the Honda Valkyrie. I've ridden just about everything and there is no better bike for the money. It gets looks, it's got gobs of power (100 hp), it's virtually maintainence free, and you can get a new one for under 10 grand.

I'm pretty sure they discontinued the Valkyrie 1500 like yours and only produce the Valkyrie Rune (which I mentioned above is in a class by itself and is also in its own price class at $27,700).

If I am wrong about this, please tell me where I can get a new one for under $10,000. I saw a used one last spring for $9000.

[tonefight]

Went to a family reunion today and it turns out my uncle just got a Kaw. Mean Streak and I will have to agree with LoneWolf.............. Very nice bike, easily customizable. I'll now have to say look it to that mean Mutha !!!!!

[Bag]

The best all around cruiser on the planet is the Honda Valkyrie. I've ridden just about everything and there is no better bike for the money. It gets looks, it's got gobs of power (100 hp), it's virtually maintainence free, and you can get a new one for under 10 grand.

I'm pretty sure they discontinued the Valkyrie 1500 like yours and only produce the Valkyrie Rune (which I mentioned above is in a class by itself and is also in its own price class at $27,700).

If I am wrong about this, please tell me where I can get a new one for under $10,000. I saw a used one last spring for $9000.

Yeah, they have been discontinued for now. The rumor mill says they're gonna come back with a bigger motor. (I hope so!) I paid $9,500.00 for mine back in 2000. It was a leftover brand new '98. Got it at Track n Trail in St. College.

[JeffLeeper]

Do these bikes come with training wheels ?

[RobTheDrummer]

Ok, here we go now...get a sportbike with custom fairings...you'll be beatin any cruiser in terms of handling, horsepower, and power to weight ratio. Also, sportbikes aren't that uncomfortable, they keep your back straight and not slouched. They are very cheap and have many accessories just like any bike. Also, they are sexy as hell, they always catch peoples eyes. But if you get one, make sure you are mature in your riding, these bad ass machines aren't very forgiving!