I have just had a friend down from London for the weekend and he came on his new HD Sportster. Everything on it from the grips, exhaust and fuel cap was extra. He paid £300 for a leather seat and its like sitting on concrete. You cannot disconnect the battery yourself it has to be done at a HD dealer because its all integrated with the alarm and they have to enter codes with a bit of kit. He has to park it outside his place on the street in South London and already somebody as tried to nick it (the alarm and mobiliser stopped it). He is 40 years old and has held a licence for 14 years and Bennett are charging him £1500 for the insurance. He loves it but I will stick to my Maxi thanks.

Duh....he's bought a new HD and has to leave it on the street in South London????? Even if it doesn't get nicked, the chrome'll rot!

No chrome all matt black (extra) apart from the expensive non lockable fuel cap with HD logo

The matt finish will just rot faster.
Non-locking fuel cap?
I hope he bought a few of them.....

harleys are not most riders cup of tea , and yes there is a lot of negative things to say about them like the battery/alarm, price of parts/running costs, corrosion, but if thats what he wants good luck to him .

It's a worry about people nicking the fuel because the fuel gauge is extra. Needless the say he got an HD lid(re badged Shark). HD leather jacket £300 and does not include a back protector (extra). One born any minute.

spaceprobe wrote:You cannot disconnect the battery yourself it has to be done at a HD dealer because its all integrated with the alarm and they have to enter codes with a bit of kit.

I believe that's what they call 'progress'

Me, I'll be sticking with the stone age for as long as is humanly possible.

My mate has a 883 'sportster' I thought the seat on my old Bonneville was hard until I sat on that! He's had it a couple of years but I don't think he's ridden more than 200 miles on it, says it all really. The only Harley I like the look of is the Road King.

I have had my fair share of HD`s and enjoyed them all for different reasons . Mechanically the motors are bullet proof as long as you service them , which is very easy to do yourself .Dealer servicing is OTT unless you use a non franchised dealer .Quality of parts used and finish is rubbish compared to any jap custom cruiser .However they do give an involved riding experience and have very good residuals that other brands can only dream of . If i was in the market again for a custom i would buy a victory they are far superior .

spaceprobe, I think the main worry is not that someone will nick the fuel tank cap, but that some git will put something nasty in the tank that will crap the motor. Sugar is a favourite, it buggers up everything. You don't know it's in there for several miles either then something nasty happens!