Would you or have you guys consider trading your bike for a Harley?

This is something I was wondering, I would like to hear how the rest of you feel about this.

2005 Road Star 1700 Maroon

I have never considered it. Most of my friends ride HD's, I guess I like being different. I think you have to like what you have, and you have to have what you want in order to be happy. If you truly want a HD, then you should proceed with it. Do I believe they are a better bike, Nope. Do I think they are a good bike, Yes. Again, you need to do what you want. Good luck with your choice.

I ride with a guy that just traded his `99 Roadstar in on a `07 Ultra Classic. He loves it.

From what I've seen, most of the Harley's around here are either trailer queens or very rarely get riden at all. And they are priced too high....!

As for me, I'd rather have a more reliable bike, costs less ( to run and in upkeep ), gives me more enjoyment. I'll keep my `06 Roadstar..!

That's what makes the world go around...... there is something for everybody. Wouldn'r life be boring if we all rode the same kind of bike?

When I went shopping for a bike last June I looked at a Heritage Softail and an Electra Glide Classiic. This was a dream since my younger years to own one of these bikes. (First big bike I ever road was Grandpa's 65 Harley full dress. His parade bike!). But I just could not justify even the sale price of $23,500 for something I could only ride 3/4 year. So then on the way home I stumbled on my R*. (3 miles from my house, go figure! Never thought to check out the local Yami dealer!) Fell for the R* first few miles of the test drive. Wife didn't even mind the $13,000 price. (She was expecting closer to $20,000 with what I was looking at in the beginning.)
So with all this excessive information I've given. To answer your question. Nope! Even if I was given a brand new HD in trade for my R*. I'd most likely just resell the HD and buy a NEW R* and a lot of goodies for it!

Hello, just new around here. And I have to say I´m from Portugal. Here in Portugal we called it the Wild Star instead of the Road Star. But the some quality . Since I was a kid I always dreamt of a HD and when I bought my first Star (VStar 650) I found out that it isn´t the bike that makes the rider, it´s the outher way around. The Road Star is very very good bike and with what you save you can use it to change the way you want it.

I agree with you guys, I think the Harleys are nice Bikes but way over priced, that is why you see so many for sale. I just wanted to hear from some of you guys here on this site and see how you felt. I love my Road Star and like the previous posts says it cost less to own, I cannot see paying that much money for a motorcycle. I am glad I made my choice when I bought my Bike, I think a lot of Harley Rider are jealous of the Road Star Bikes. I was at a Harley dealer recently looking around and the salesman was trying very hard to sell me a Lowrider and asked me if I rode and I told him "Yes" and he asked me what I rode and I told him I had a 05 Roadstar 1700 and it was paid for and he did not say anything, I don't think he liked that, I told him him Thank You but No Thank You and left with a Smile on my face, he was only asking $15,000.00 for it and it was a used Bike. I bought my Bike with 515 miles on it and paid $6700.00 for it,
see if you can get a Harley for that price and see what you get.
2005 Roadstar 1700 Maroon

Heck yeah, RoadStars are crappy--the worst bike I've ever owned
Just kidding!

I fell in love witih this bike from the moment that I saw it. I was at the dealership purchasing a new Vulcan Mean Streak 1600 (the one with the red flames). I saw the Roadstar sitting on the side. Some older guy had purchased it but traded it in because it was to much muscle for him. (Personally, I don't think that the power is that much). The dealership isn't a Yamaha shop and they were willing to make a sweet deal for it. It's been a strong love ever since. The bike sleeps in the bed wiht me and the girlfriend sleeps in the garage.

Point of the story is, HELL NO, I WOULD NEVER TRADE IT IN FOR A HARLEY-EVER!!!

Whenever I'd see one of the big HD rumbling down the road I'd drool. Like deseward I got "infected" with the lust for a Harley early by my Dad. He owned one of the big hunkers when I was a child and even to this day there is a smell that some of the older HD bikes have that can send me back to my childhood like a lightning strike. Something about 'em that I can't put my finger on.

Then I grew up and learned about economics and the concept of return on investment and the value of a dollar. These HD owners on craigslist and ebay might want to think about those two concepts. I constantly read "bought new $10,240, over $6000 invested, selling for $12,500. Not a very good investment if you ask me. Most of you who have read my posts know how dang cheap I am so that line of thinking in my part should be no surprise. The fact that I've got LESS than $7,500 into my '04 R* is a point of pride with me. I like to say that it's not a HD: It's twice the bike at less than 1/2 the money.

My irrational desire for a HD bike came to an end on New Years Eve. I asked buddy of mine who has a full dress Road King about riding when it warms up. He said "Yeah, I'd like that but I'll need to get a recurring oil leak fixed first." Nuff said on that.

So yeah, I'd trade mine for a HD, but again, like deseward I'd turn right around and sell it and buy my R* right back and fill her saddlebags with the money I'd make back on the deal.

M7

nolafishr wrote:
Would you or have you guys consider trading your bike for a Harley?


I would consider only two bikes:
the road king and the moto guzzi california.
I think that hd has filled the gap in reliability in these years. Yes it is overpriced, but if you're planning to keep your bike for a very long time then hd coul be a nice choice, you would find spare parts even in thirty years without problems. They are even introducing nice features as brembo brakes and wider tanks on their touring line.
The Guzzi california because it is made just a hundred kms from where i live, it has been part (one of the good parts) of my country history, and it has been my father's bike for many years. Despite some oddity it is an enduring bike, and it is really nimble and fast for a cruiser.
That said, i love every inch of my roadstar (well, except for the stock turnsignals and rear light ) , i think it is a great bike, in every sense, and it will surely be my bike for years to come.

Built choppers back in the early 70's so that turned me off of Harleys. However, they are a much better ride now thats for sure. truly they are a pretty damn nice bike. The problem is the on-going pricing, its a joke.
I believe that a real motorcycle doesn't have a radiator (yeah, old school, so what) which means I was looking at only a handful of cruisers when I was ready to buy. It came down pretty quickly to one of the Harleys and the Roadstar. Factor in known reliability levels, size of engine and the massive price disparity there was no other choice than the Roadstar.
It got confiremd not long after I bought it too. Spent some time riding with some guys up in the Sierras, both of them on Harleys. Neither could keep up riding two up, not enough torque. One of the two had already had valve cover leaks repaired and for the price of those 2 bikes I could have a fleet of Roadstars.
Probably my only beef with the Roadstar is Yamaha is following HD's lead in pricing accessories. IF they want to put lots of Roadstars on the pavement they need to cut the price of accessories then market it. Show how you can buy a Roadstar for half of a Harley and then acesorize the hell out of it and still be under their base price.
By the way at the Cycle World show I sat on a Harley and the slaes dude talks with me about my Roadstr. he admitted they were damn good and I bought up price. he said yeah, but you get more at resale time with the Harley. I don't think anybody buys a motorcycle for its resale value, we buy it to ride!!