2011 Superlow

[custodian]

Looking for some input from you guys... Saturday is my 50th birthday... today my divorce was signed by the judge.

My MSA was... lets say, very favorable to me financially... I lost very little.

Last Saturday... while shopping with my daughter... we stopped by the local H-D dealership. I have been considering taking the plunge & trading in my Buell. I had purchased it as an entry level bike... and intended to keep it for a couple of seasons. I paid cash for it in 2008... have title in hand... but it is in cherry condition with only 5300 miles.

Back to the dealership... I was blown away by a 2011 883 Superlow in white over orange... very striking bike. I am approved thru Eaglemark... but as of right now... the sales mgr is only offering low retail for my Buell... plus I always have told myself that I do not want a bike payment.

Do I deserve a special 50th birthday present... that will cost me for 60 months... or do I keep a cherry condition bike that I am very comfortable with... that gives great fuel economy... with gas prices going up every few months?

[Mr.Black]

Keep what have and know and invest in a GREAT M/C vacation.

[mjrfd99]

Glad ya didn't get hosed- most men do in divorce.   Live large my friend. Buy what is gonna make you happy- you deserve it after the nightmare called divorce. Remember that used Sportsters can be had fairly cheap compaired to new and it leaves $ for a 2nd used something different.
I got hosed but then she drank herself to death   lucky me

[custodian]

Actually... the divorce went very quickly and quietly... the last 8 months of marriage was the bad part.

The new bike is beautiful... but the dealership has an 07 883 Low with only 150 miles... no warranty... I need to decide if i want the 60 months of payment... a long time... & as Black said... I have a cherry bike that I know & can maintain easily (she has not been into the shop in the 3 years I have owned her... downloaded the manual for free... do all fluids & primary adjustment myself... tires from motorcycle-superstore.com & take wheels to the local shop for "off the bike" mounting).

I am trying to decide if a 50th birthday gift to myself is worth the 60 payments.

I also have a bad feeling about what gas prices will do in the next 60 months... my 500cc single is GREAT on fuel economy... even if you ride hard.

[Frankienuckles]

No warranty on a bike with only 150 miles? And a 60 month payment plan? Myself, I'd pass on that one. Sounds like a new bike price and new bike payment plan without a new bike warranty. You can get low mileage used sportsters pretty inexpensively. It's not like the "brand new" ones bring a whole lot extra to the table. Even if you found a good deal on a non-low model, shocks are very easy to change.

[atadaskew]

Do you fit on the Superlow?  It has a pretty cramped riding position for anyone over 5'10" IMO.
Also the reason that it is Superlow is that it has very little travel in the suspension.  Which makes the ride miserable on less than smooth roads as well as severely limiting cornering clearance.

If I were you, I would rent the Harley of your choice for a day or two, and just go nuts with that.

60 months is a long time for something that you may regret.

[custodian]

The dealership I am using is heavily stocked... and has the main showroom tightly packed... so I did not ask to pull the bike out for closer inspection. One of the things that drew me in was the low seat height... it reminded me of a hardtail Sportster that a buddy of mine had just out of HS. And most of the streets that I ride are smooth. I will definitely test ride well before I sign anything. You final comment about 60 months being a long time is what is making me hesitant... a long time even if the bike fits me well.

[stromgal]

It's gonna ride something like a hardtail too. Not much suspension travel on any of the 'low' series.

[atadaskew]

 One of the things that drew me in was the low seat height...

Thing is, there is low - which is every bike that Harley makes, seriously - and so low you feel like you are sitting at the kiddie table at Thanksgiving.  We are talking Bluepoof low.
I raised my Street Bob by adding much longer 13.5" shocks.  I still could straddle it w/o my butt touching the seat (I'm 5'10").  It now rode and handled much better - before it felt unbalanced front/rear, now it handled neutrally.

I would hold onto your $$ and start saving it up and buy in a year or so a really sweet post 2004 Sportster.  Lots available for much less $ than new.  No payments.

[custodian]

I REALLY appreciate the input of all of you... I believe that the spectre of 60 payments is bothering me. Maybe I will stick with my original plan & put a windshield/sport bags on the Buell & enjoy having that additional cash every month to blow with my daughter.

Still... I have to stop in at the HD shop tomorrow when we go shopping to drool on that Superlow again.

[FiremanBob]

Merely speaking for myself, I like the fresh, clean feeling of knowing that I own my stuff with no payments to make. Makes the satisfaction of saving up for them that much greater.  But that's just me, and your mileage is likely to vary.