2 H.D's does not = 1 R3

[dougl]

In a moment of madness, I test drove a 1200 Sportster with mid controls. It was an absolute toy. It was cramped and I had spasms in my hips after a few minutes. No power, rinky dink acceleration. The idle wasn't set right an it practically stalled at lights. I had an '83 ironhead sportster. I think it was over 600 lbs - a more substantial bike.

Before I bought the Rocket in 2004, I test drove a Dyna and it was a reasonable bike - no power though. Also a V-Rod, which is a good, fast bike. I would have bought this but the stock V-Rods are not fitted out very well - crappy rubber pegs, black metal kick stand. Just didn't seem worth the price. The Rocket looks much better stock but I wound up paying a fortune for other accessories. Both the V-Rod and Dyna are reasonable weight bikes - about 650 lbs.

 

[RocketDaryl]

You can't compare a Skirtster to a Rocket. You need compare apples to apples. The Skirtster is more in line with a Bonneville. A comparable bike to the Rocket would be a V-Rod (both are power cruisers). A comparable bike to the Rocket Touring would be a Road King.

FTR, however, I owned a Street Bob briefly and was glad to be rid of it. That **** thing would rattle your teeth out of your head. I'll never buy another HD in the Dyna or Sportster line. You have to get up into their Softails and Touring bikes to get one that's worth a ****, IMO.

 

[KingOfFleece]

Cannot agree. Owned 4 of them-they ran great. But if you gave me on I'd sell it with zero miles. Old, slow, and marginal sporting ability don't hold any appeal anymore.
Now a final year Duo-Glide or first year Electra-Glide-well now you're talkin'! And they's go on parade one time a year-just what they are made for! YMMV.

 

[georgia]

hmm.... American Iron or British Steel... I'll go with the steel, less rust.


cheers
geo

 

[HellFire]

WTF ... How long do I have to wait for my 09 Rocket to come in , ordered it on the 11th.

The dealer couldn't tell me last Sat.

Being an 09, it must be a dealer trade. Did they tell you where it was coming from?

 

[xhdskip]

Rode harleys since I got out of bootcamp.
My first one was bought with a down payment of boot camp money in 1974.
An old iron head sportster.
1000cc's of problem after problem.
Wireing burnt up twice.
Motor blew up twice.
Had pans, lowriders, superglides, etc.
Favorite was a 1954 pan.
Police special.
That was a ride.
But would I want something newer than the pan?
Been there, done that, had LOTS of T-shirts.
You got to be kidding.
NO WAY.

 

[High Gear]

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[KingOfFleece]

Been on plenty of "stage one", bored and stroked, factory 110 blah blah blah.
They are not Rockets. Nice bikes but it's not even in the same ballpark for performance and cornering.

Been on a few "tweaked" V-Rods, too. THEY were quick but cannot corner. You'll see soon enough and are qualified to write a review of both bikes when the R3 arrives. Most of us here already know, though.

 

[HellFire]

I too thought it funny comparing a "stage 1?" tweeked HD to an R3.
I have a feeling his comparison opinion will change once he spends a little time on his new bike, especially after recovering that missing 7%.

 

[High Gear]

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