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Original poster

Does anyone here ride a Harley Davidson motorbike?

17 replies

PollyGray · 12/10/2021 20:12

DD has just passed her motorbike test and she has her heart set on a Harley. Her first bike is a retro style bike and she's been talking about owning a (second-hand) Harley for ages.

I'm both delighted for her achievement and.....anxious because I'm her Mum. She says they're a safer bike.
A colleague of hers has a bike he's customised and it's very lovely indeed. She really wants to buy it from him. Most of her colleagues and friends are Harley owners and take her out on rides with them, they are a fab bunch of people.

If you own or ride a Harley what are there plus points and the not so good things? I want to support her and I'd be looking at buying the best leathers and helmet I can afford as she's very precious to me!

TY

OP posts:
Original poster
PollyGray · 12/10/2021 20:13

their not there!! FGS.

OP posts:
pinkyredrose · 12/10/2021 20:17

They cost a bomb to buy and maintain!

gmailconfusion2 · 12/10/2021 20:18

My biggest thing is they can be heavy. If she goes over she'll need help, but that's the same as a lot of bikes. Safety wise, if she's wearing a full face helmet not a brain bucket, uses all the gear all the time, including gloves and back protector and proper boots. Make sure it all fits. Harleys, especially if a straight through pipe, are easy to spot which makes them possibly safer? That's what I claimed with my loud cans.

Biggest issue. Without knowing what model, is the washing off the chrome and polishing it to keep it pretty. Is there a garage to keep it in? Most of the harley riders enjoy the ride, not the speed, which if she is sensible is a good thing.

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Original poster
PollyGray · 12/10/2021 20:43

Thank you.
Yes it's the cost of running one and the weight; she's only 5ft tall as well although very strong indeed (she's a weighlifter, but still I guess it's about more than strength maybe). She needed a smaller bike to do the test because of her size. The one thing that she's said about Harley's which I feel is a positive is that she says the same thing, it's about the ride. She doesn't have a garage where she lives, although I do.
Lots to think about.

OP posts:
Original poster
PollyGray · 12/10/2021 20:45

oh she has just told me she would 'settle' for a Honda Rebel as she's done research and can't afford the Harley. I'm off to Google that bike.

OP posts:
BellaTheDarkOverlord · 12/10/2021 20:47

It's not for everyone as a lot of maintenance. Dh had a lovely fatbob but wouldn't take it out during bad weather so insisted on a bad weather bike too Hmm. Big heavy bikes but bet it'd be great being part of a group or club of them. Dh couldn't get through gaps on his, too big.

gmailconfusion2 · 12/10/2021 21:07

One of mine I can pick up if it goes down, by my main commuter, I need assistance, it's a weird angle and a technique to it, so I does depend on her. I have found (5ft2) a lot of riding bikes is confidence or a lowering kit. Obviously harleys are lower, but there are other options for bikes like removing seat padding, lowering suspension, lowering dog bones, platform boots (no lie!)

coldwarenigma · 12/10/2021 21:11

DS2 has a Harley, it spends more time in the garage than on the road. Looks beautiful but is a money pit...

DotBall · 12/10/2021 21:16

Honda Rebel is great for a shortie.

FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack · 12/10/2021 21:23

Just to throw another into the mix, I'm 5'2" on a good day and I used to have a RV125 / Van Van. I absolutely loved that bike, it was such a comfortable ride and light enough for me to pick up myself.

It's more monkey bike style than Harley but it was so fun.

Isseywith4witchycats · 12/10/2021 21:34

we are bikers and everyone says that Harleys while pretty are high maintenance as theres a lot to go wrong with them someone at a bike show said to me the frames may be harley but you can bet most of the working parts are someone elses out of the two choices the honda will be more reliable we have a big honda cruiser that is an american import and it took us to austria and back with no problems and no im not a harley hater i love the look of them but my OH who has been riding for 50 years wouldnt buy one

DogDaysNeverEnd · 12/10/2021 21:37

Not sure where you are and if they are available still but I rode a Yamaha Virago (I'm 5'4") and loved it. Good looking bike and confidently put my feet flat when stationary. I'd recommend bright colours for safety gear. Sadly I have too many friends who have been knocked off their bikes by car drivers who just didn't see them. It's not about looking good, it's about staying alive.

Original poster
PollyGray · 12/10/2021 22:00

Great replies thank you!
So - she tells me she has a plan to put on some kind of bars each side (forget what she called them) in case she ever does go over on said possible Honda Rebel/whatever bike. And to get a new full face helmet and replace all her current gear - all leather with the guards in etc, I couldn't believe the weight of her bike jacket when I picked it up. I'd rather she invested whatever it takes on protective gear and I'm relieved to hear her say that's her priority too.

@DogDaysNeverEnd the reason for my anxiety is exactly the safety issue, the day she took (and failed) the test the first time I saw a motorbike accident which had just happened and although he was clearly alive the biker was injured and being attended to by police whilst the ambulance was on the way. On a roundabout, having had some kind of collision with a van.
just as when she went out on her current bike for the first time, my heart will be in my mouth when (and knowing my daughter as I do it is when, not if) she buys a bigger one.

OP posts:
Original poster
PollyGray · 12/10/2021 22:04

@DogDaysNeverEnd yes nice looking , very much her preferred style of bike stopped production in 2007 apparently.

OP posts:
PinkFootstool · 12/10/2021 22:05

She needs a garage for it. Harleys rust very quickly and will not cope with being outside under a sheet / bike cover. She'll spend a lot of money to buy one second hand, and the body work, the chrome, the engine patina will start to deteriorate within a matter of weeks.

gmailconfusion2 · 13/10/2021 01:38

Re accidents, I've been riding 13 years at peak riding I've been doing over 20k a year commuting on bigs roads, and three crashes, first mis judged braking distance and bumped a car, second new bike has the rear wheel on wonky and it skidded and I came off, third I'd done 800 miles in two days, was over tired and failed to take a corner. Two were my own fault, third was a learning experience, I always check the rear wheel after bike has been away from me now. Ride as if everyone is an idiot and out to get you and you can preempt most issues and avoid them. Also all the gear all the time. If she is riding for leisure she will be doing far less miles, on nicer days, and probably find very few issues if she just assumes no one else knows the rules of the world and sticks to her own limits, which it sounds like she will

Cascascascas · 13/10/2021 04:55

@PollyGray

They are noisy and anti social.
Just an opinion.

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