buying a bike

[bullwinkle]

I am looking to buy a Harley Davidson Ultra Classic Electria Glide. I have looked at several bikes that are similar. I would like to know what some more experienced riders think. Thanks.

[Sev]

Have you ridden before?
What have you ridden?
Why do you want a touring style bike?
Are you willing to consider other models that are not Harleys?
Have you taken the MSF course?

Price range etcetcetcetc

We need to know this sort of stuff first.

I'd not reccomend a touring bike for a first ride as they weigh close to 1/2 a ton and can be difficult to maneouver at low speeds. At highway speeds they are a dream though.

[bullwinkle]

I had a Honda touring bike 30 years ago. Family, life, etc. made it difficult to get back into the riding. I have been looking at the Yamaha Venture and HD.

I had hoped to do some traveling in the near future. I will retire in three weeks. I work at a sea lab for a month following that and then will look for gainful employment in some other field.

Thanks, and any help, suggestions, etc. would be most appreciative.

[Nibblet99]

I have absolutely no experience with harleys of any type, however it's probably worth getting yourself a temporary lighter weight (2nd hand, so you won't lose much money) bike, just to get used to handling them again. Then get your Electraglide, Goldwing, Venture or whatever you prefer

[rwp]

I have to agree with niblet99. It takes only one small mistake to dump a big heavy bike and the cost can be extreme with something like an Electra-Glide. Take the MSF course, get a used bike and ride around for a couple of months, then sell it and buy the bike of your dreams. The extra costs will be small and you'll dramatically reduce the possibility of wrecking the H-D. (It's cheaper and much less embarrassing to dump an old used bike than an expensive new one).

[cb360]

I'd have to agree with the above. You obviously know how to ride as you've done it before, but my experience was this - rode a little til I was 20 and quit... then decided to get my own bike at 39. I took the MSF class earlier this year and I found I really needed it. After a couple of months and several hundred miles on a small bike I'm still not completely comfortable at the speed limit. I don't think you'd have a lot to lose by getting a used bike a bit smaller, put several hundred or even a thousand miles on it to get your chops back and working into that major purchase. It's just an opinion of course, but I believe you'd profit by taking that path. If you do go ahead and get the big boy, at least spend a lot of time in the parking lot first.