Manav, Sure ride the Sportster and do share your feedback! Just for you to check out while you test ride whether my advise made any sense, here are some of the points that bothered me a lot:

- Sitting: I had to sit on the pillion seat to be have any comfort at all while riding. The rider seat was way uncomfortable ! This bike was taken all the way to Shimla and the same feedback again.
- Stand: Try putting the stand on the bike while sitting on it as you would do on anyother bike. Your shin will hit the foot peg hard each time. I had to be extra cautious each time I did it.
- At normal speeds, try some manouvers like leaning, bending and flicks.. the fishtailing is enormous and you will keep feeling that you will loose control and fall.
- Thre is a metallic oil cap on the right hand side which gets pressed and pops out from the inner/bottom thigh when you sit on the bike and ride, it keeps getting in the way. This somehow keeps drawing ones attention.

Well, to my mind, I also find the vibration and noise too much but what is noise to one person could well be music to the other so this is ofcourse your call.

As far as not getting yourself killed being your reason to go in for a harley, I beg to differ, one can get killed on any powered two wheeler and specially on one which is difficult to control.

BTW: I dont think I ever mentioned anywhere that "everybody is a smart-ass online". It is not my business to fix that label on anyone. As far as I am concerned, I write what I believe in and to me that is all that matters.

@Argee - A three blade fan would be a better substitute for the wind in the face. For sound, I actually suggested a tape recorder/CD Player.

For me in particular, I voiced my opinion based on my experience with these vehicles (HD and non-HD and also an Ambassador). I hope you are doing the same?

Though it does not matter to that extent since the same as me, everyone has a right to voice their opinion on a forum which is ment to do just that. If I would be writing anything other than what I feel, than there is no point is it?

One thing is for sure, I would never be jealous of a Harley owner. I did mentioned that I have no quarrel with them and they have a right to have and enjoy what they paid for.

I would definitely keep what you mentioned in mind when I am there, I am actually looking forward to the XR1200. When I was talking about internet troll's I was not in any way trying to refer to you . Actually most forums abroad are littered with trolls who add absolutely nothing to the discussion. You know the type. I am actually happy to say most of the Indian forums are far more civilized because of absence of how do I say this, "Average American Joe"

@Anurag - Is that all the problems you see or are there anymore?

PS - I'm no way sarcastic on the question, I'm serious; if you can share us some more issues that you've experienced or common ones you've heard, it will be of great justice you do to some of the potential buyers.

I rode the Sportster. I did not face any of these issues. I was however riding an older model:



Maybe it is different for different years. I have no idea.

If that were the case everybody would be buying a CD and not motorcycles!

@Ken - Actually, I wanted to say this, but then, felt not worth; as I told before, this thread started off for something, but going in way too off topic.

Is that 883C or 1200C? If it were 883C, that was something that should've been launched here too.

Oh that kind of decision is not going to be easy. However, the Dyna and the FatBoy are two different kinds. You are the one who has to decide which kind you want! Like I know that I am not the FatBoy kind. I prefer the RoadKing anyday.

"Vulgarised"
With Road King, Fat Boy and Electra, i think you are more getting connected to the HD core style biking. For me its the bike and not the legend, style and the cult o HD, It doesnt matter to me that its comming from HD or for that matter if TVS/Bajaj/HH would have created.

This is what i liked the orignal 2001 Model VRSCA



There was good documentary on how VROD was planned and built on Discovery channel, and it was a good detailed episode.

Congrats!

Just a way of saying things! I enjoy the Rods. But my personal favourite for the past two years has been the Road King!

Hi Bankim, I also TD a couple of Harleys and liked them, but that is my personal opinion. How did the HD guys manage to upset you so much?
Please explain so that anyone thinking of going for a harley can benefit from your experience.
Also can we have some pictures of the intruder with your experience with it.

Hi AARGEE, revisited this thread after a long long time and hence could not answer. My apologies.

I am not against HD or any other brand selling their bikes and would expect that people who want to buy it will buy it regardless of what I think of it. I saw the thread and wanted to share what I felt, nothing more to it. If it helps people in making their informed decisions, great, otherwise, its their money and pleasure.

For me, HD are too much branding and very little substance especially in comparison to so many other options available and as we progress, even more will come our way. As a whole, if one considers what one gets in return for what one pays, no model of HD makes any sense to me. I had mentioned that if a discerning buyer sits and compares VFM, he will not go in for HD - This happened with Bankim who who owned a MT01, his brother owned an R1 and now a Busa, he wanted to go and buy a HD based on the marketing and then ended up buying another brand all together when he sat down with the facts. And this happened with a few others who did not choose to write about it on a public forum.

Slightly unrelated to this discussion but relevant nevertheless in today's context, typically, branding is for building a market and getting people to identify with the brand and eventually buy it. Every company does it (doesn't have to be making bikes). Problem comes when a company and its employees start believing in the branding messages aimed for the prospective customer. The result is arrogance and over the top behavior as is happening at harley's showrooms today. I never visited them so am not the one spurned, but quite a few I know who have been.

In short, buying a big bike is a very personal and emotive issue, there is no single answer to what clicks. However when you have a bike backed with a cult branding but primitive on other counts (handling, design etc) and then you price it over the top and further on have an attitude of take it or leave it - it does not make the right mix.

A lot of people buy the RE, they are a kind of a cult here! How many people would buy it if it costed them 4 times it current price?

If that is the case, then HD India will have a serious problem in their hands.

Of course, worldwide, nothing will change. They will remain the largest seller of big motorcycles. But if they do not learn how to entertain a prospective buyer in a showroom, they are going to have a tough time. I am being India specific. Because, abroad, in a HD showroom, I have had really superb treatment. Incomparable. I have been Yamaha showrooms, Honda showrooms, Kawa etc... But HD stood out. They have to do something similar here!

@Thanks Anurag; I was under the impression that the post went unnoticed. Glad to find answers from you.

To keep it short & in one simple sentence - are you saying HD's are no VFM or they're under powered?

I think that he is just saying that reputation and attitude aren't enough to keep a company going! You need more than that.

Both I would say, but to KISS - Buy A Harley only if you want to brag about it, if you really want to enjoy riding in Indian conditions without worrying about having a bike with a price tag lesser than your co riders, there are ample more options (thankfully) all around.

Not being arrogant or over the top, but I really would have done a trip on Harleys if I wanted to, I still want to, but better options just keep presenting themselves to me.

Please note that I am not even accounting for the attitude of HD salesforce etc (as stated previously and in some other thread).

I am not against Harley, in fact if HD succeeds in India then it would be good for the the entire motosphere in India, this will mean manufactuers like BMW etc will have more faith and getting their expensive machines here.

Ok!!!
Of course, there's more; there's no substitute for the experience, pleasure, feeling of riding an Harley.