HD Street Rod v Vulcan S v MT07
Discussion
Hi all,
So about 9/10 weeks ago now I came off my Suzuki B12. Pretty banged up but healing steadily now.
Managed to convince SWMBO that getting another bike would be sensible… I’ll be paying for that though I have no doubt. She has some demands though which are ABS and newer than 2013 so is more modern.
Decided I don’t need a bigger capacity bike for the riding I’ll be doing (Nice weather short commute and occasional run out with friends and maybe over to the coast).
A none chrome cruiser really appeals to me… A while back I had a ride on a friends Triumph Speedmaster and just loved the lazy riding style and how the whole thing felt fun even just crawling along between lights, didn’t feel the need to thrash it, it just plodded along happily making a nice noise! I know that just after an accident my sense of what I want will be alittle off but I just want something relaxing and enjoyable.
So, after my physio told me that physically I should be able to ride again in about 4 weeks, I’m bike shopping and have narrowed it down to the title bikes. Due to injuries, anything over 240kg is going to be a problem short term.
MT07 is the no brainer, doesn’t quite tick the boxes but is a good bike that will do everything I need and cost peanuts to run. Had a sit on one and is comfortable and light enough.
HD Street Rod is a heart decision. I know it’s flawed, I know it’s not a proper HD, I know it will probably go wrong and I’ll need parts from America, I know that at 6’1 I may not even be able to fit on it… but the looks just draw me in.
Vulcan S is abit of both. I’m struggling to think of a reason I shouldn’t get one really. I like the looks, meant to be great for my height and weight…
So what the opinions? I’ve ridden an MT07 before and it was good, it just missed some of the slower speed fun factor I fancy.
Any other options I may have overlooked? I did have a sit on a XSR700 but something about the position really put weight on my mid back that at the moment I can’t do too well.
Budget is between 4K and 5k.
I know whatever bike I get out of the options will feel slow after the B12, the speed thing though is very low on my list of priorities. Long as if I filter at the lights I’m off the mark first, that’s all I need.
Thanks.
So about 9/10 weeks ago now I came off my Suzuki B12. Pretty banged up but healing steadily now.
Managed to convince SWMBO that getting another bike would be sensible… I’ll be paying for that though I have no doubt. She has some demands though which are ABS and newer than 2013 so is more modern.
Decided I don’t need a bigger capacity bike for the riding I’ll be doing (Nice weather short commute and occasional run out with friends and maybe over to the coast).
A none chrome cruiser really appeals to me… A while back I had a ride on a friends Triumph Speedmaster and just loved the lazy riding style and how the whole thing felt fun even just crawling along between lights, didn’t feel the need to thrash it, it just plodded along happily making a nice noise! I know that just after an accident my sense of what I want will be alittle off but I just want something relaxing and enjoyable.
So, after my physio told me that physically I should be able to ride again in about 4 weeks, I’m bike shopping and have narrowed it down to the title bikes. Due to injuries, anything over 240kg is going to be a problem short term.
MT07 is the no brainer, doesn’t quite tick the boxes but is a good bike that will do everything I need and cost peanuts to run. Had a sit on one and is comfortable and light enough.
HD Street Rod is a heart decision. I know it’s flawed, I know it’s not a proper HD, I know it will probably go wrong and I’ll need parts from America, I know that at 6’1 I may not even be able to fit on it… but the looks just draw me in.
Vulcan S is abit of both. I’m struggling to think of a reason I shouldn’t get one really. I like the looks, meant to be great for my height and weight…
So what the opinions? I’ve ridden an MT07 before and it was good, it just missed some of the slower speed fun factor I fancy.
Any other options I may have overlooked? I did have a sit on a XSR700 but something about the position really put weight on my mid back that at the moment I can’t do too well.
Budget is between 4K and 5k.
I know whatever bike I get out of the options will feel slow after the B12, the speed thing though is very low on my list of priorities. Long as if I filter at the lights I’m off the mark first, that’s all I need.
Thanks.
Great to hear you're on the mend. 
If I was looking for something in that vein personally I'd be going 1200 Sportster, but that's my taste. Older Bonnies or RE 650 Interceptor spring to mind too.
Whatever you get, I'd encourage you to invest in some training. You're possibly too late in the season for your local IAM/ROSPA group to get you out this year, but worth reaching out to even if it's just to set up plans for next year. i2i and Rapid both have some great looking courses which are well reviewed. Any of them would help get your confidence back at a time when it's been shaken.
If I was looking for something in that vein personally I'd be going 1200 Sportster, but that's my taste. Older Bonnies or RE 650 Interceptor spring to mind too.
Whatever you get, I'd encourage you to invest in some training. You're possibly too late in the season for your local IAM/ROSPA group to get you out this year, but worth reaching out to even if it's just to set up plans for next year. i2i and Rapid both have some great looking courses which are well reviewed. Any of them would help get your confidence back at a time when it's been shaken.
hiccy18 said:
Great to hear you're on the mend.
If I was looking for something in that vein personally I'd be going 1200 Sportster, but that's my taste. Older Bonnies or RE 650 Interceptor spring to mind too.
Whatever you get, I'd encourage you to invest in some training. You're possibly too late in the season for your local IAM/ROSPA group to get you out this year, but worth reaching out to even if it's just to set up plans for next year. i2i and Rapid both have some great looking courses which are well reviewed. Any of them would help get your confidence back at a time when it's been shaken.
Thank you If I was looking for something in that vein personally I'd be going 1200 Sportster, but that's my taste. Older Bonnies or RE 650 Interceptor spring to mind too.
Whatever you get, I'd encourage you to invest in some training. You're possibly too late in the season for your local IAM/ROSPA group to get you out this year, but worth reaching out to even if it's just to set up plans for next year. i2i and Rapid both have some great looking courses which are well reviewed. Any of them would help get your confidence back at a time when it's been shaken.
I’m writing this now from hospital waiting room and hope will be my last appointment at this hospital!
I’ve looked into a Bike Safe course in Lincoln which will be getting booked soon as new bike is picked up and replacement gear is got. Luckily got a few friends with different degrees of bikes and all have offered to come out with me first few times until settled back in.
Glad you're on the mend and are already thinking of your next bike!
Take your time and try some when you;re fit to ride though, there is a fair bit of difference in what you're looking at there so it will be worth having a 'sit/play' no some of them.
If you are certain you want to for with HD I'd also say a 1200 Sportster would be way better than a Street Rod primarily due to parts availability, performance, and customisation to fit you. If you're looking just at similiar cruisers the Kawasaki Vulcan and some of the latest Indian's are pretty nice looking but my experiences of those are limited so can't really comment.
The MT07 is a decent bike, I had one briefly and for what it was, it was good - it just didn't do it for me and was a means to an end more than anything else. A lot of training schools use the MT07 for the DAS as they are very forgiving to new riders and are pretty neutral in all aspects of the ride.
Take your time and try some when you;re fit to ride though, there is a fair bit of difference in what you're looking at there so it will be worth having a 'sit/play' no some of them.
If you are certain you want to for with HD I'd also say a 1200 Sportster would be way better than a Street Rod primarily due to parts availability, performance, and customisation to fit you. If you're looking just at similiar cruisers the Kawasaki Vulcan and some of the latest Indian's are pretty nice looking but my experiences of those are limited so can't really comment.
The MT07 is a decent bike, I had one briefly and for what it was, it was good - it just didn't do it for me and was a means to an end more than anything else. A lot of training schools use the MT07 for the DAS as they are very forgiving to new riders and are pretty neutral in all aspects of the ride.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff