Howdy guys 'n gals!
I need your opinions. But first, you must know a little about moi:
I'm a 30 year old woman who's been riding for a little more than 4 years, and gone through three bikes: a 250cc Suzuki GZ250, a 2009 Triumph Bonneville, and a 2008 HD Street Bob. The next bike I buy will be the last one I buy for a long time. This is an expensive hobby dangit!
My wife and I (Yes, you read correctly: my WIFE) learned on our little two-fitty for about a year. I had the unfortunate experience of watching my mother pass away from cancer in 2009. She was good to me, however, and left me some money. It was such a wonder: we paid off a bunch of debt (including our car at the time), and I went shopping. I bought a brand new 2009 Bonneville Black.
I loved that bike. I really did. But I had always wanted a Harley, since I was a kid. After almost a year, I went to an HD Demo Day and was promptly injected with HD Kool-Aid. I was hooked. Less than two months later, I sold my trusty Bonnie and bought myself a 2008 Dyna Glide Street Bob. It was a mean machine, and I loved the low-end torque. I really, really loved that bike.
Until it started behaving like a problem child.
In the two years I owned it, it gave me two serious problems: a crack in the engine casing, and a brake calliper that was barely hanging on by a thread of metal. Earlier this season, I realized I didn't love my Bob anymore. It was 650lbs, and I was only riding it to/from work. I wasn't even taking it out for joy rides anymore. The fun had been sucked out of me: I was so over my HD.
I sold it. I did not regret it one bit.
My wife has a 2008 Sportster Low. It's a great, fast, fun little bike. I started convincing myself that I just may buy myself a Sporty too! While I love the look of the Iron, it's out of my price range, and I'm only looking at used bikes.
Now my wife's Sporty is acting like a problem child: the gaskets have failed AGAIN this season, and it's puking oil EVERYWHERE.
She's pissed.
I'm pissed.
We're all PISSED.
She's seriously considering getting it fixed and selling it. I don't know how it is even possible that we both bought total LEMONS, but we did. It's soured us on Harleys.
Although in the back of my head, I think a 2006 Roadster would be cool. They are easy to work on, and I really, REALLY want to learn how to wrench. Another reason we have been soured on Harleys are the stealerships and high prices of maintenance. I thought if I were to go through this Harley ****e again, I'd learn to wrench it myself. I even bought an inexpensive bike lift in preparation.
Then I got the CRAZY idea to buy a vintage BEEMAH. I love how they look. Kinda ugly, but kinda cool
I know some of you guys own Airheads. I've been perusing these forums for long enough
What I've read about these bikes is that a) they're easy to work on, b) I can still get parts online (though not here in Canada; apparently BMW Canada have recently stopped working on ALL Airheads) and c) they are really reliable. I was thinking I could get a nicely restored Airhead for somewhere around $4k tops. But the more I read about them…the more I've found they are not 'fun' bikes. They are torquey, but no one…NO ONE describes them as 'fun'. I hate to say this, but the low-end torque of HDs have me hooked. I still want a fun bike that can do a little bit of everything. I'm now having doubts about buying a Beemah. I also think the maintenance part will be more than I'm prepared for.
I also researched the snot out of the 'vintage' Triumph Thunderbirds (Adventurer/Legend/Sport). I found a guy selling a 1998 T-Bird Sport in red. I was so psyched. I went to have a look at it…and…
I was thoroughly disappointed.
It felt heavy as #$%!. Felt heavier than my former Harley! And it felt TOP HEAVY, which is even worse. I think the only thing HD has going for them is their low centre of gravity. You can't drop one. If you do, you're an idiot.
I really wanted to like the T-Bird Sport. I really, really did. Everything I'd read about 'em sounded great. I knew what to expect from a triple engine, as I had tested rode a S3 earlier this year (it's out of my price range too...*sob*). But man, sitting on that thing…it just didn't feel right. My gut said NO.
Now I'm thinking…
…I thought my Bonnie was good at everything. Not awesome, but good. But I also remember it being boring. Don't blast me for this, please. I don't want a sport bike, but I want a fun, light bike that I can mod and wrench myself, and turn it into a slight speed freak. A hooligan bike.
I also remembered the foot pegs being in an awkward position. I thought the front brakes were a little twitchy/sensitive. I also dropped my poor Bonnie a few days after owning it. Wet road, slick…bam. It wasn't fun. But there was nary a scratch! I was more beat up than the Bonnie! I felt it was a little top heavy. But it was also my second bike, and I was still a newb. Anyway…there *were* some things I didn't like about it, but earlier this year, when I was pushing my Bob into the garage, I had the thought:
"Man. My Bonnie was lighter than this $#@*-ing thing".
Should I go ahead and buy a Beemah? Another HD because it's "what I know"? Or a Bonnie and mod/wrench/customize the crap out of it and make it ride like snot?
What am I getting into?!
I know most of you will say "GET THE BONNIE DURRRRRR", but I also know many of you have read many different bikes. I'd like you all to chime in.
Yes.
ALL OF YOU.
Thank you for reading my extremely long-winded post
I need your opinions. But first, you must know a little about moi:
I'm a 30 year old woman who's been riding for a little more than 4 years, and gone through three bikes: a 250cc Suzuki GZ250, a 2009 Triumph Bonneville, and a 2008 HD Street Bob. The next bike I buy will be the last one I buy for a long time. This is an expensive hobby dangit!
My wife and I (Yes, you read correctly: my WIFE) learned on our little two-fitty for about a year. I had the unfortunate experience of watching my mother pass away from cancer in 2009. She was good to me, however, and left me some money. It was such a wonder: we paid off a bunch of debt (including our car at the time), and I went shopping. I bought a brand new 2009 Bonneville Black.
I loved that bike. I really did. But I had always wanted a Harley, since I was a kid. After almost a year, I went to an HD Demo Day and was promptly injected with HD Kool-Aid. I was hooked. Less than two months later, I sold my trusty Bonnie and bought myself a 2008 Dyna Glide Street Bob. It was a mean machine, and I loved the low-end torque. I really, really loved that bike.
Until it started behaving like a problem child.
In the two years I owned it, it gave me two serious problems: a crack in the engine casing, and a brake calliper that was barely hanging on by a thread of metal. Earlier this season, I realized I didn't love my Bob anymore. It was 650lbs, and I was only riding it to/from work. I wasn't even taking it out for joy rides anymore. The fun had been sucked out of me: I was so over my HD.
I sold it. I did not regret it one bit.
My wife has a 2008 Sportster Low. It's a great, fast, fun little bike. I started convincing myself that I just may buy myself a Sporty too! While I love the look of the Iron, it's out of my price range, and I'm only looking at used bikes.
Now my wife's Sporty is acting like a problem child: the gaskets have failed AGAIN this season, and it's puking oil EVERYWHERE.
She's pissed.
I'm pissed.
We're all PISSED.
She's seriously considering getting it fixed and selling it. I don't know how it is even possible that we both bought total LEMONS, but we did. It's soured us on Harleys.
Although in the back of my head, I think a 2006 Roadster would be cool. They are easy to work on, and I really, REALLY want to learn how to wrench. Another reason we have been soured on Harleys are the stealerships and high prices of maintenance. I thought if I were to go through this Harley ****e again, I'd learn to wrench it myself. I even bought an inexpensive bike lift in preparation.
Then I got the CRAZY idea to buy a vintage BEEMAH. I love how they look. Kinda ugly, but kinda cool
I also researched the snot out of the 'vintage' Triumph Thunderbirds (Adventurer/Legend/Sport). I found a guy selling a 1998 T-Bird Sport in red. I was so psyched. I went to have a look at it…and…
I was thoroughly disappointed.
It felt heavy as #$%!. Felt heavier than my former Harley! And it felt TOP HEAVY, which is even worse. I think the only thing HD has going for them is their low centre of gravity. You can't drop one. If you do, you're an idiot.
I really wanted to like the T-Bird Sport. I really, really did. Everything I'd read about 'em sounded great. I knew what to expect from a triple engine, as I had tested rode a S3 earlier this year (it's out of my price range too...*sob*). But man, sitting on that thing…it just didn't feel right. My gut said NO.
Now I'm thinking…
…I thought my Bonnie was good at everything. Not awesome, but good. But I also remember it being boring. Don't blast me for this, please. I don't want a sport bike, but I want a fun, light bike that I can mod and wrench myself, and turn it into a slight speed freak. A hooligan bike.
I also remembered the foot pegs being in an awkward position. I thought the front brakes were a little twitchy/sensitive. I also dropped my poor Bonnie a few days after owning it. Wet road, slick…bam. It wasn't fun. But there was nary a scratch! I was more beat up than the Bonnie! I felt it was a little top heavy. But it was also my second bike, and I was still a newb. Anyway…there *were* some things I didn't like about it, but earlier this year, when I was pushing my Bob into the garage, I had the thought:
"Man. My Bonnie was lighter than this $#@*-ing thing".
Should I go ahead and buy a Beemah? Another HD because it's "what I know"? Or a Bonnie and mod/wrench/customize the crap out of it and make it ride like snot?
What am I getting into?!
I know most of you will say "GET THE BONNIE DURRRRRR", but I also know many of you have read many different bikes. I'd like you all to chime in.
Yes.
ALL OF YOU.
Thank you for reading my extremely long-winded post