Sportster or Shadow?

Yes, for the purpose of this discussion, assume it's an '07.

Thanks
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

Yes, I may be over-analyzing a little, but I'll have to live with my
decision for quite a while (spousal influence, you know) so I need to
get it right the first time. As I said, I've ridden a Sportster, but
not a Shadow, and like I said the Sportster is a perfect fit for me.
At this point my head says Honda, other parts say Sportster. And this
is more about transportation than any sort of emotional thing. I would
be delighted with either after the Rebel, but if one costs
sigifigantly more in the long run, then it makes a difference. I'm a
frugal guy.
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

> > "Uh, honey, you know my new motorcycle, the one \we\ just spent $12,000 of
> \our\ money on?"
>
> "Yes, what about it?"
>
> "Well, funny thing, dear... ha ha... turns out I, ah, don't really like it.
> I was thinking that \we\ could sell it for a few thousand dollar loss, then
> I could buy that other bike I was looking at, remember the one with the
> shiny doo-hickeys on it? If \we\ cancelled your gym membership and you rode
> the bus for awhile we could swing it no problem... see? I did the math."
>
> Or not.


Sounds like you've been to my house.

I was hoping to ride a Honda at the Long Beach bike show last winter,
but Honda wasn't doing demos. I asked the local dealer about demos and
he muttered something about liability. I suppose Honda isn't quite big
enough a company to tolerate a little risk.
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

The Shadows are water-cooled! Great for stop and go traffic...

I ride a Shadow 750 and my friend rides a Sportster 883. Maintenance is
cheaper on mine through my dealer than his is through his dealer. He no
longer will take it there... They say HD really stands for "Hundred
Dollars"! Anyway, I wouldn't mind having a Harley myself, but I think my
bike is more suitable to me and my style of riding.

My gas mileage is right at 55MPG.


<retouchdoug.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1182540943.738388.45290@g37g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>I want to upgrade from my current bike. I've researched this til I'm
> blue in the face, but there are still some gaps in the information. I
> can't seem to find hard numbers on the total cost of ownership of
> either an 883 or a Shadow 750 - either Spirit or Aero. Meaning annual
> mainenance, fuel, insurance, everything. The dealers are pretty vague
> on this. Assume I'll keep the bike for, say, at least 5 years (the
> full term of the loan), and that the only maintenance I can do myself
> is oil changes and tire pressure.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

> I dunno' how old you are, I guess if you're 20 and your riding jacket and
> helmet are all scraped up with road tar and you asked questions like "DUDE.
> does the Shadow have enough torque to, you know, wheelie in 2nd?" maybe you
> made the sales guy nervous...

Well, I'm 50 and I can't even make my kid nervous when I'd like to.

There's a mega dealer not to far away, maybe I'll check with them.
There are a number of others as well. The place I go for service is
pretty small, so it's probably more trouble for them. Still, you'd
think they'd get that they're probably losing sales by not offering
some kind of opportunity for test rides. Harley seems to understand
this. In spite of the fact that many of the people taking their demo
rides probably aren't even in the market for a bike.
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

> Then don't forget that the enjoyment to dollar ratio is just
> as important as the absolute dollar amount saved.
>
> My take:
>
> - you're 50
> - you really like the Harley
> - life is short
>
> get the Sportster. Maybe it'll cost a couple
> dollars more to maintain, but then again,
> maybe not. ( Shadows require valve
> inspection and adjustment, right? The
> Sporty doesn't. That's a major maintenance
> item right there. )
>
> -- Michael


Well said.
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

<retouchdoug.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1182540943.738388.45290@g37g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>I want to upgrade from my current bike.

I've gotta say, it's rare to hear somebody talk about buying a bike in these
terms. The dealers probably don't go out of their way to keep track of TCO
because most riders are influenced much much more by how the bike feels, how
it looks, how it makes THEM feel, than wheter it's going to cost an
additional $55.37 per year in insurance. I'm sure from a commuting
standpoint it makes perfect sense, but how many Harley folks out there will
swap their hog for a rice burner because it's a bit better on gas or because
an oil change at the dealership is $18 less.

That having been said if you've done your homework you already know about
any common reliability issues and their associated costs. If it were me I'd
figure out which bike I liked more, and which I figured would cost the least
to own. If they're the same bike, great. Buy it. If it's not, it's a
personal decision how much of a premium you will pay to ride the bike you
really like.

Harleys definitely hold their value better than Hondas if sold privately if
the classifieds around here are any indication... not many used Hondas of
any vintage on sale for $10-$15K, but there are plenty of hogs in that
range.

Dave S
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

<retouchdoug DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1182547566.134875.137370@a26g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
> Yes, I may be over-analyzing a little, but I'll have to live with my
> decision for quite a while (spousal influence, you know) so I need to
> get it right the first time.

Oh I know ALL ABOUT spousal influence, no need to explain there...

Why don't you go take a Shadow for a test ride?

You KNOW what insurance is going to cost.

You KNOW the manufacturer's mileage ratings.

Find out what the labor rates are at the HD vs. Honda shop.

People yell at me when I insinuate that HD's are less reliable than jap
bikes. Dunno about HD, I've ridden a whack of Japanese bikes and have found
that overall, they are very cheap to maintain, if you can avoid laying them
down at speed. Newer Harleys are supposed to be very reliable. Don will
likely chime in here, he has experience in that arena.

Problem with new bikes are no track record for a given year. But, if no
major engine mods or "innovations" have been incorporated in either bike
since last year, you've got a pretty good chance at using last year's model
as a reasonable yardstick.

I personally would never buy a bike I've never ridden (or at least ridden
another of the same type). It's akin to an arranged marriage... you might
find love, but then again you might not. The bike might have some
idiosynchrosy that drives you batshit and will for FIVE LONG YEARS.

"Uh, honey, you know my new motorcycle, the one \we\ just spent $12,000 of
\our\ money on?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"Well, funny thing, dear... ha ha... turns out I, ah, don't really like it.
I was thinking that \we\ could sell it for a few thousand dollar loss, then
I could buy that other bike I was looking at, remember the one with the
shiny doo-hickeys on it? If \we\ cancelled your gym membership and you rode
the bus for awhile we could swing it no problem... see? I did the math."

Or not.
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

<retouchdoug.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1182549836.541584.207880@a26g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
>
>> > "Uh, honey, you know my new motorcycle, the one \we\ just spent $12,000
>> > of
>> \our\ money on?"
>>
>> "Yes, what about it?"
>>
>> "Well, funny thing, dear... ha ha... turns out I, ah, don't really like
>> it.
>> I was thinking that \we\ could sell it for a few thousand dollar loss,
>> then
>> I could buy that other bike I was looking at, remember the one with the
>> shiny doo-hickeys on it? If \we\ cancelled your gym membership and you
>> rode
>> the bus for awhile we could swing it no problem... see? I did the math."
>>
>> Or not.
>
>
> Sounds like you've been to my house.
>
> I was hoping to ride a Honda at the Long Beach bike show last winter,
> but Honda wasn't doing demos. I asked the local dealer about demos and
> he muttered something about liability. I suppose Honda isn't quite big
> enough a company to tolerate a little risk.
>
Go find another dealer. LA probably has a dozen. They have insurance for
it just like car dealers do. If a car dealer can insure a $60,000 car for
test drives, a motorcycle dealer can insure a $10,000 motorcycle. I
understand that you might want to purchase the bike at that dealer as it's
likely the closes one to you for maintenance, but nothing says you have to
buy the bike at the same place you test-drive.

I've found huge variation between dealers of the same brand: I regularly
dealt with a downtown Honda dealership, and hated it... they were rude,
arrogant pricks but what could I do. Until I lost an engine mount bolt and
pulled into a Honda dealer near my office. They replaced the bolt, for
free, complimented me on the bike and even volunteered some info on a local
riders group that I might like to check out. Needless to say I've never
been back to the downtown shop.

I dunno' how old you are, I guess if you're 20 and your riding jacket and
helmet are all scraped up with road tar and you asked questions like "DUDE.
does the Shadow have enough torque to, you know, wheelie in 2nd?" maybe you
made the sales guy nervous...
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

"Albrecht via MotorcycleKB.com" <u33665@uwe> wrote:

> Don't forget the difference in initial MSRP and depreciation.

Absolutely.


--
BMW K1100LT 750SS CB400F CD250 SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

<retouchdoug DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1182552067.024599.308580@q19g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>
The place I go for service is
> pretty small, so

You're an EXISTING CUSTOMER who they KNOW can ride and is over 40 and they
won't give you a test ride? Screw 'em.

I tend to get uppity about things like that and write letters. To national
headquarters. Last time my wife got poor service on her car, I had a nice
chat with the regional service manager. Now they drive a loaner car to us
when we need service and deliver our car to our house when it's done.
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous.RemoveThis@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:TnYei.208307$p47.65721@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> retouchdoug.RemoveThis@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> Hmnph. You're a frugal guy, but you are going to take out a five year
> loan for a toy. Doesn't frugal include interest charges? Probably
> somewhere around $2,500 at 8%...
>
> Look for a five year old lawn bike instead of a five year loan.
>
Thing is, it's not a toy for him. He's buying the bike to commute, not to
cruise on the weekend although he'll probably do some of that. At least
that's how he's sold it to his significant other...

I once said I'd never own a new car, but at some point I decided to try it
and, hey, it's not so bad. I'd buy a one-year-old bike though... lots of
people buy 'em and it doesn't work out for whatever reason and they sell it
for a few thousand less than they paid with 500-5000 miles on it. Or buy a
last year's model from the dealer for a deep discount. I'm frugal too.
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow? 

On Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:35:43 -0700, retouchdoug.RemoveThis@yahoo.com wrote:

>I want to upgrade from my current bike. I've researched this til I'm
>blue in the face, but there are still some gaps in the information. I
>can't seem to find hard numbers on the total cost of ownership of
>either an 883 or a Shadow 750 - either Spirit or Aero. Meaning annual
>mainenance, fuel, insurance, everything. The dealers are pretty vague
>on this. Assume I'll keep the bike for, say, at least 5 years (the
>full term of the loan), and that the only maintenance I can do myself
>is oil changes and tire pressure.
>
>Regarding the Sportster, does anyone keep the exhaust stock? I'm more
>interested in low emissions and fuel economy than a few extra hp. And
>if the exhaust is left stock, does it run so lean that the motor can
>be damaged by excessive heat over the long run? I commute daily,
>mostly in stop and go traffic in L.A.
>
>And In case anyone asks, the reason I've narrowed it down to these
>bikes, is that The Sportster is a perfect fit for me and I've had a
>chance to ride a couple. On the other hand, the Rebel has been great,
>other than being way too small, and I'm happy with the dealer I've
>been going to for service.
>
>Thanks.

Personally I would choose neither. Both are a touch too slow for
extended riding on Interstate highways.
If the Sportster fits, try to get into the 1200. A friend has a 750
ACE and had no end of problems trying to keep up with my other friend
and I on our big twin Harleys on a recent trip. We were only doing
around 85-90 or so.
It seems that 75 is the "comfortable" limit for the ACE and also I
believe the 883.

And yes, many people never change a thing on the Sportster.
--
Bob Mann

Sex is like air; it's not important unless you
aren't getting any
 >> Stay informed about: Sportster or Shadow?