thinking of selling?

[motohorseman]

I was lucky enough to have both a GL1800 and a Ultra Classic for one summer.

The Harley was considered to be a old biplane, full of character, but I found it under powered (being kind) and it handled like crap. On the highway at 55-75 is was OK, as long as you did not have to pass anything in a hurry.

The Gold Wing was the wife's choice every time, and it hauled ass and handled better than it had any right too, it was a Boeing jet compared to the biplane.

Neither fit me real well, the Wing was the better of the two, for me.

Honest to God I did have parts fall off the Harley, I laughed so hard, but hey, whatever, to each their own.

Regarding the FJ, sell it yourself if you have too, I'd suggest keeping it, better than money in the bank.

[crzyjarmans]

I was lucky enough to have both a GL1800 and a Ultra Classic for one summer.

The Harley was considered to be a old biplane, full of character, but I found it under powered (being kind) and it handled like crap. On the highway at 55-75 is was OK, as long as you did not have to pass anything in a hurry.

The Gold Wing was the wife's choice every time, and it hauled ass and handled better than it had any right too, it was a Boeing jet compared to the biplane.

Neither fit me real well, the Wing was the better of the two, for me.

Honest to God I did have parts fall off the Harley, I laughed so hard, but hey, whatever, to each their own.

Regarding the FJ, sell it yourself if you have too, I'd suggest keeping it, better than money in the bank.

when i had my 98' HD, a buddy had a 00' Goldwing, and have to admit his was faster, but he had a 1800 cc motor against my 1340 cc motor, nearly 500 cc more, but I'm not into speed any more, on the other side of this?, My HD was worth more than his Honda, And I never had anything fall off mine, well until I t-boned a donkey and totaled my HD

[Dan Filetti]

And I never had anything fall off mine [HD]

I'm guessing this means you are in the minority.  I'm not a big HD basher, especially since I have rented several of them, being the only option in some places...  but to the bike, riding more than a couple of days, every one of them have 'had things fall off' or at least come loose enough to, had I not caught it.  I have seriously found myself wondering whether the Motor Company was aware of Locktite...

This has simply not been my experience with Japan inc. -even on older bikes like the FJ.  YRMV.

Dan 

[Country Joe]

I was lucky enough to have both a GL1800 and a Ultra Classic for one summer.

The Harley was considered to be a old biplane, full of character, but I found it under powered (being kind) and it handled like crap. On the highway at 55-75 is was OK, as long as you did not have to pass anything in a hurry.

The Gold Wing was the wife's choice every time, and it hauled ass and handled better than it had any right too, it was a Boeing jet compared to the biplane.

Neither fit me real well, the Wing was the better of the two, for me.

Honest to God I did have parts fall off the Harley, I laughed so hard, but hey, whatever, to each their own.

Regarding the FJ, sell it yourself if you have too, I'd suggest keeping it, better than money in the bank.

when i had my 98' HD, a buddy had a 00' Goldwing, and have to admit his was faster, but he had a 1800 cc motor against my 1340 cc motor, nearly 500 cc more, but I'm not into speed any more, on the other side of this?, My HD was worth more than his Honda, And I never had anything fall off mine, well until I t-boned a donkey and totaled my HD

Shawn,
I know its nitpicking, but if your buddy had a 2000 model Goldwing, he was smoking you with a 1500cc bike. Just sayin'...;-)

[gumby302ho]

 A harley is just a vibrator on wings, Why give up a real vibrator that has balls and is more versatile and Cheap compared to the look at me more expensive over rated HD. If you sell your J get ready to down shift when you want to move or pass. And if i have offended any harley folks. they must have a million sites on the web. 

[crzyjarmans]

I was lucky enough to have both a GL1800 and a Ultra Classic for one summer.

The Harley was considered to be a old biplane, full of character, but I found it under powered (being kind) and it handled like crap. On the highway at 55-75 is was OK, as long as you did not have to pass anything in a hurry.

The Gold Wing was the wife's choice every time, and it hauled ass and handled better than it had any right too, it was a Boeing jet compared to the biplane.

Neither fit me real well, the Wing was the better of the two, for me.

Honest to God I did have parts fall off the Harley, I laughed so hard, but hey, whatever, to each their own.

Regarding the FJ, sell it yourself if you have too, I'd suggest keeping it, better than money in the bank.

when i had my 98' HD, a buddy had a 00' Goldwing, and have to admit his was faster, but he had a 1800 cc motor against my 1340 cc motor, nearly 500 cc more, but I'm not into speed any more, on the other side of this?, My HD was worth more than his Honda, And I never had anything fall off mine, well until I t-boned a donkey and totaled my HD

Shawn,
I know its nitpicking, but if your buddy had a 2000 model Goldwing, he was smoking you with a 1500cc bike. Just sayin'...;-)

my memory could be off on the year, But i know it said 1800, he is in NY at the moment, when he gets back, I'll ask him what year he had

[crzyjarmans]

A harley is just a vibrator on wings, Why give up a real vibrator that has balls and is more versatile and Cheap compared to the look at me more expensive over rated HD. If you sell your J get ready to down shift when you want to move or pass. And if i have offended any harley folks. they must have a million sites on the web. 

I guess you missed the part where is said, " not into speed any more, I ride pretty slow, most pass me, Don't care about the ability to do high speed turns, just like to cruise, i do like the ride on the FJ, but if it going to just sit in the garage and waste away, i'd much rather someone else have it to enjoy

[fintip]

Get whatever makes you happy! In the end, life is too short to care about the opinions of others. Different bikes suit different philosophies and preferences. You won't find much HD sympathy here, because the majority here appreciate a lot of things Harley doesn't offer, and don't appreciate much the things Harley does offer.

But that's just a matter of lifestyle. Live your own. Imagine yourself on both. What are you happiest with?

From the sounds of it, you might be happier on a Harley, especially with the ability to ride with your wife again.

My uncle rides a Harley, and he loves it. My grandfather has a V-Star, and he enjoys that. I would probably take one ride on either and immediately sell it and start buying upgrades for my FJ with the proceeds. But they'd likely do the same if they got mine!

Follow your heart!

[motohorseman]

I stopped in a shop in Kansas that makes these for the Harley's -





Just in case someone on one feels the need for speed.....

www.aerocharger.com

[motohorseman]

I stopped in a shop in Kansas that makes these for the Harley's -





Just in case someone on one feels the need for speed.....

125 hp and 137 ft·lbf torque on the dyno

www.aerocharger.com

[Country Joe]

I was lucky enough to have both a GL1800 and a Ultra Classic for one summer.

The Harley was considered to be a old biplane, full of character, but I found it under powered (being kind) and it handled like crap. On the highway at 55-75 is was OK, as long as you did not have to pass anything in a hurry.

The Gold Wing was the wife's choice every time, and it hauled ass and handled better than it had any right too, it was a Boeing jet compared to the biplane.

Neither fit me real well, the Wing was the better of the two, for me.

Honest to God I did have parts fall off the Harley, I laughed so hard, but hey, whatever, to each their own.

Regarding the FJ, sell it yourself if you have too, I'd suggest keeping it, better than money in the bank.

when i had my 98' HD, a buddy had a 00' Goldwing, and have to admit his was faster, but he had a 1800 cc motor against my 1340 cc motor, nearly 500 cc more, but I'm not into speed any more, on the other side of this?, My HD was worth more than his Honda, And I never had anything fall off mine, well until I t-boned a donkey and totaled my HD

Shawn,
I know its nitpicking, but if your buddy had a 2000 model Goldwing, he was smoking you with a 1500cc bike. Just sayin'...;-)

my memory could be off on the year, But i know it said 1800, he is in NY at the moment, when he gets back, I'll ask him what year he had

No problem, Shawn, just stirring the pot a little. To be honest, after riding several of my buddies Harleys, i can understand the attraction. Not that I'm ready to own one right now but maybe in the future.

[iMav]

I currently own a 1989 Yamaha FJ1200 and a 2010 BMW R1200RT.  The beemer is super comfortable for the wife and has been my ride of choice for long distances and 2-up.  The bike is actually quite nimble and I got mine factory lowered, so it works well for us that are vertically challenged. 

[squidley63]

Just curious of why you bought the fj coming from the hd you and the wife enjoyed

[iMav]

Just curious of why you bought the fj coming from the hd you and the wife enjoyed

OP said he is not into speed any more.  I assume that means, at some point, he WAS into speed.


I am not that far removed from owning a couple of ZRXes.  My last one, a 2003, was a BEAST.  My BMW is nimble enough to handle the "fun", back roads riding that I do.  There is something about a, relatively, light inline four that I missed.  With the FJ I get an upright riding position like my ZRX, but also get to put cheap collector plates on it (one-time cost, never expire), and my insurance goes down CONSIDERABLY!

I owned a FXDL (Dyna Lowrider) a few years back.  My legs are too short for forward controls, so I had mid controls.  Took one time negotiating a roundabout (UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT) to decide the bike had to go.  Left peg dug in and just about ruined my day.  The bike was gone the following week.

[fintip]

iMav, he only just recently got the FJ.

If I remember right, though, he said it was mostly because it was a deal, partly because he had always been curious what non-cruisers felt like, having never been on a 'rocket bike'.

I assume he has satisfied his curiousity and is now wanting to go back to what he's familiar with.