Need help picking out a starter bike!

[Marinecorps25]

Hello my name is Keith Langskov. I am stationed over in Iraq and will be buying a Harley davidson. I was looking at the 2009 night train but from the dealer in Iraq its soldout. I guess they are making 2010's? (does anyone know if thats true?)


So here is my question I want to get a bike that is loud and fast and so thing that i can put money into and make it look more like a chopper? Is that a Dyna or a softail?
Which one should I get? I've riden the street glide, But need something that sounds more like a harley.

[tradrockrat]

buddy you just opened a can or worms...lol

Ask 10 people and get ten different answers, but over all the chopper look comes from taking things off, not adding them on, so buy a bare bones soft tail (for the rigid look) and strip off everything you don't need to make it run. Then add on what you want one piece at a time.

The sound comes from pipes mainly - and is an intensely personal choice - listen to several styles on other bikes and pick the sound you like.

oh yeah - THANK YOU for your service.

[Marinecorps25]

lol I know its kinda a hard question. I dont want to build a chopper because I would be in over my head. I dont really care for the bells an whistle more the speed, sound, and raw looks.

[Wild1Poet2]

Gotta go with what hits you right. Your bike should make you want to throw a leg over it when you see it. Same with women.

[boulderbean]

As said above by Trad - thank you for your service.
And as Wild1Poet2 said, the choice is a personal one, what works for you could very well be different than what works for me.

I see a Nighttrain was on your list this dealer still shows nighttrains in stock
http://www.brucerossmeyer.com/

Two other larger volume dealers are:
http://www.barnettharley.com/
and
http://www.lasvegasharleydavidson.com/

good luck and again - thank you

[dannytheman]

All I can do is echo the others, but I tend to be chatty!!

Ride them all, rent if you have to. The pipes make the noise and there is one sound you will like, and others won't. The greatest thing about a Harley is how easy they are to work on, all the pieces for the most part are pretty big, and even guys like me that are not motorheads, can do most of the work on my engine/bike.

Road Glide is well known for touring, it has a great rep for the long rides, softails can get hard on your back after 200 miles IMHO, (but you can address that) Dyna and Sportys have external rear shocks that IF adjusted right can be good for a young guy, but are stiff.

Have fun deciding, we have all been there.

AND remember there are tons of your Veterans back here waiting to welcome you home!! Thanks for being there.

Ride them all, rent if you have to..

Road Glide is well known for touring, it has a great rep for the long rides...

Have fun deciding...

+1

[CoolMaker]

Thanks for your service.

Softails are the most customizable bike Harley has. There are more aftermarket parts for it than any other model.

[OldBikerGuy]

And you've already expressed interest in a Softail, the Night Train. The old farts above who are trying to steer you to a touring bike you neither want or need are the type that don't acknowledge the existence of any bike that doesn't come with a full fairing. Ignore them and get what you want. I have a Softail Standard (a non-black Night Train with comfortable handlebars) and use it for cruising around town, daily commuting, weekend rides in the country, and yes, touring to the mountains. Now, I had to go to a Mustang Royal Plush seat (I'm old, OK? ) for all that long-distance riding but I also have a H-D Stripper seat for looking cool. It's good for about an hour. But if you're looking at an NT you probably just want the cruiser look and this is the perfect stock bike for it, and like CoolMaker said there are more parts to customize this bike than you can imagine.

Good luck with your decision and with your service to our country.

BTW: the 2010 models come out the end of July.

[wreckerman]

first off thank you for your service , next no matter what you buy someone will tell you, it was the wrong bike and you should have bought this or that , go to a show room and see which bike yells out your name , then flirt with it a bit, sit on her, stroke the paint then look at the price, and remember the bike is just a raw canvas, waiting for the owner to put his or hers brush strokes to it