The alternatives to Harley Davidson

The alternatives to Harley Davidson

Author
Discussion

Renn Sport

Original Poster:

2,761 posts

208 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
So in true BB for I have been thinking about yet another bike..

Speaking to a good friend. He has decided to retire his R1 Big Bang from the road and transform it into a track bike only. His reasoning is that it makes more sense on the track.

Also for the road its going to get him nicked as he's bit of wheelie demon and his through the gear wheelies are already stuff of legend. Quite wise for a 25 year old. lol.. that or stop doing wheelies but I think the urge is too strong.


Anyway so he has been rambling on about getting a cruiser like a Harley! Which kinda fills me with horror. He already is quite trendy and has even grown a beard! He's serious I can tell.


So as serial bike a holic I am 'thinking' about getting a cruiser. (probably won't but still)

What alternatives are their to a harley?

I am thinking...


Ducati Diavel?
Moto Guzzi California?
Triumph Rocket?
Yamaha V-Max?

Something that has decent amount of power and torque. A tiny bit of handling finesse...

BuzzBravado

2,944 posts

170 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Buell or Yamaha MT-01?

SWTH

3,816 posts

223 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Got to be the Rocket III. Proper monster of a bike cool

neelyp

1,690 posts

210 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Indian?

Fleegle

16,688 posts

175 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Alternatives to a Harley?

There's always walking wink

dingocooke

670 posts

219 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
John Deere, Massey Ferguson, Fendt?

OK just kidding.

Why not plough a slightly more unusual furrow, buy an original Triumph TR6C, no more expensive that an HD, and go up in value, not down! Plus quicker, lighter, better handling, worse brakes, and way cooler (think Steve McQueen rather than beardy hipster fashion victim)


spareparts

6,777 posts

226 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Guzzi Cali is a beautiful bike.

Janluke

2,552 posts

157 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Victory?

I've had a Victory Hammer S since 2010 and love it. Handles and stops well, bags of torque and not a tassel in sight.

My Pal has a Rocket but it is big really big.

VRod? Like the Victory its a wee more refined than the traditional Harley but with even more go

Having said that if he's got an Harley itch nothing else will do. I went through three Harleys before coming to the conclusion they where not for me and bought the Victory. NB I'm not slagging Harley it just didnt quite work for me

Edited by Janluke on Thursday 25th June 09:52

Yarders91

215 posts

134 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
How about a triumph speedmaster? Had a shot on a friends one and its surpisingly pokey. Sounds lovely too.
I think a diavel would still release the inner urge to wheelie it and hoon everywhere

ZesPak

24,421 posts

195 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
neelyp said:
Indian?
yes

Victory and Indian both have amazing bikes. Imo they're years ahead in terms of quality, and the standard brakes and suspension are more than up to the task (none of that "they need a stage 1 to run properly").

Of course, some people get a kick out of buying an unfinished product and then spend thousands trying to fix it.




Oh and the "Diavel" is Ducati's interpretation of a "Cruiser", but it's a different class altogether. Have a go on one and you'll see what I mean.

Renn Sport

Original Poster:

2,761 posts

208 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Fleegle said:
Alternatives to a Harley?

There's always walking wink
Lol... thats the spirit!


The Ducati Diavel is a bloody marvel of engineering. I have ridden one and was astonished at its pace, coolness and ultimatley how much lean angle you can dial in to it. I found the one I rode the first gen has a bit of weird seat in the way it forced your arse in weird shape. Maybe I have big arse but I think its a common complaint. Diavel is an awesome bike.


Guzzi Audace is on 0% at the moment and OMG I am so wanting to go put a deposit down. However I am sure my wife will smother me in the night while I sleep if I buy another bike.
Guzzi California is just phenominal to look at and sit on. I tried one at the MCN show. 100bhp, lots of torque and the nicest design.

Indian.. well I have to say I like them more then Harley's and has a sit on the Indian Scout and was impressed. The only concern is that it wouldnt handle.


Come on more of you must have given it some thought!

Reardy Mister

13,757 posts

221 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Why do you need an alternative to a Harley?

I'd have either a Night Rod Special or a Street Glide in heart beat. Both very pleasant to ride, too.



Edited by Reardy Mister on Thursday 25th June 10:53

Renn Sport

Original Poster:

2,761 posts

208 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Reardy Mister said:
Why do you need an alternative to a Harley?

I'd have either a Night Rod Special or a Street Glide in heart beat. Both very pleasant to ride, too.
Because I think Harley's are st. Just my uneducated opinion.

I have a mate with VROD. Engineerd by Porsche. I like it but I could never bring myself to own a Harley. Thats just me.

Reardy Mister

13,757 posts

221 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Renn Sport said:
Reardy Mister said:
Why do you need an alternative to a Harley?

I'd have either a Night Rod Special or a Street Glide in heart beat. Both very pleasant to ride, too.
Because I think Harley's are st. Just my uneducated opinion.

I have a mate with VROD. Engineerd by Porsche. I like it but I could never bring myself to own a Harley. Thats just me.
Grab your favourite CD, find a >2009 Street Glide and take it out for a day. At least then you can say you've tried one. Its an awfully big name, history and culture to dismiss out of hand. I toured one around Iowa for a day. One of the best motorcycling experiences of my life and the bike was a revelation. Nothing like my R1 and all the better for it. Granted, the location may have helped but there was 'owt wrong with the bike.

Edited by Reardy Mister on Thursday 25th June 11:01

Davel

8,982 posts

257 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
I'd try a Victory!

I tend to buy R1200GSs with the odd Nightrod Special, Fatbob and Fatboy in between.

I loved the Fatboy and whilst they are great in good weather, they throw water up at the front in wet conditions.

They don't like corners much and it's harder to keep up with mates on sports bikes but, if you're not in a hurry, they are good fun.

Oh and don't even mention the cleaning!

bass gt3

10,186 posts

232 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Renn Sport said:
What alternatives are their to a Harley?
Walking......

ZesPak

24,421 posts

195 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
Renn Sport said:
Indian.. well I have to say I like them more then Harley's and has a sit on the Indian Scout and was impressed. The only concern is that it wouldnt handle.
hehe That's why it's a HD alternative.

But, despite the looks and riding position it actually does handle pretty well, comparatively.

bogie

16,342 posts

271 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
A few years back I had a big car accident and off the road for 2 years. I promised myself a comfy cruiser with a bit of go in it when I was fit to ride again. Size wise I didn't want something with an armchair on the back and 400kg, so decided 100bhp+ <300kg was the criteria.

Ducati Diavel? - as already stated, this is more of an upright naked bike in the style of a cruiser, its a quick bike and wont slow you down much on the road anyway thats for sure. Lightest bike in this list at 240kg ish. Would be awesome as an only road bike to do most things on. The original seat was the downfall for me, but since improved with many option seats available. Original not a good bike for pillion use either. Looking like a good used by now. One of my favourite bikes ridden in recent years

Indian and Victory are great if you want a genuine American air cooled twin cruiser experience like Harley that's not a Harley they both have multiple options. New Indian scout looks good, like their take on a V-Rod just 10 years later with less poke, but not ridden one

Moto Guzzi California? Lovely bit of kit, nearly bought one, handles well for its size, quality feel and finish. Ultimately could do with another 20-30bhp to be classed as a "power cruiser" though. Not many accessories/tuning options when launched

Triumph Rocket? - distinctive, quick, powerful, surprisingly agile once moving (bit like a goldwing) but very heavy, quite primitive engineering and detailing - not really a pretty bike, good VFM used buy. Too unwieldy for me

Yamaha V-Max? - v fast like Diavel, pretty agile for its size/weight, nicely detailed. Originally way too expensive at £20k+ although recently knocked £5k off them, obviously not selling enough. Defo a contender and real power cruiser. Styling and price tag put me off at the time

Harley V-Rod - "not a real Harley" as many US ac v-twin fans will tell you...thankfully. Not a big seller in US market but big following in Europe and Aus. Quick enough to be interesting, with the usual mods around 125-30bhp and sub 300kg. Enough ground clearance for road (with usual tweaks) lots of versions/accessories available, good residuals, similar price as Guzzi £14k new. Feet forward or mid control options available. Loads of tuning options. More agile than an 8ft long bike should be. Good options for pillion. Thats what I ended up with a few years ago, done 16k miles so far and very pleased with it. The Harley badge comes off easy from the plastic interchangeable bodywork wink

Dont kid yourself these bikes will slow you down though....well maybe the Indian/Victory air cooled traditional cruisers with 80bhp might do....the others will all do 140mph easy enough and some are as quick as other styles of bike up to 60mph anyway

If you want to ride slowly, get a piss pot helmet and sunglasses, then you wont go above 50mph very often on anything wink

bogie

16,342 posts

271 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
ZesPak said:
Renn Sport said:
Indian.. well I have to say I like them more then Harley's and has a sit on the Indian Scout and was impressed. The only concern is that it wouldnt handle.
hehe That's why it's a HD alternative.

But, despite the looks and riding position it actually does handle pretty well, comparatively.
Yeah, I reckon looking at the list now, it would be a tough choice between Indian Scout or Harley nightrod. Latter has more stuff available, 25% more power. Indian is about 40kg lighter though

Janluke

2,552 posts

157 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
The whole slowing down thing is interesting. I've had several pals who have swapped Sports bikes for nakeds, cruisers or supermotos because they "felt" the "should" be slowing down due to kids on the way, getting older, partner pressure or losing a fellow rider. In most cases they swapped back within a year often blaming the bike when in fact they just where not ready to reduce the pace