3rd and present bike. 09 FLHT

The Day I Brought It Home

Well, I dropped a hint or two, that I was going to by a new bike.  So after figuring out what I could spend, I got up on a Saturday morning and went to the Harley dealer.  I came home with three different bikes.  One was a Ultra Classic, the other was a Electra Glide Standard and the other was a Road Glide.  The Road Glide was a 2008.  At first I didn't think I would like the stationary windshield but I sure got used to it quick and actually thought the ride was tremendous.  My wife hated it.  I then brought home the Ultra Classic which as brand new (2009) and had the standard tour pack, radio and such.  I got that home and my wife called it "an old mans bike".  She didn't like it.  So I brought home a 2009 FLHT or Electra Glide Standard.  This bike had no radio, no tour pack and less chrome than the other bikes, but was my favorite color.... Black.  She didn't like that either, because she liked the fatboy, but she didn't drive it so I made a decision and got the 2009 Electra Glide Standard (FLHT).  Proved to be a good move.  For one, it was the first year for the new frame, bigger tank, bigger back tire which means a bigger back fender and lots more.  Secondly, it would be the last year for the model, and thus the last year for the silver engine and aluminum engine parts.    Third, I could change this bike how I wanted to and... it fit my budget.  This is by far the best Harley I have owned yet.  Power, comfort and I really do think it looks cool.

2nd Harley. 2006 Fatboy.

My wife and I went looking for a replacement for the Sportster.  In the fall of 2007 we went to the dealer and I was looking at a cruiser and she didn't want that.  She pointed out a FatBoy that had a very cool paint job.  I immediately said "no", because that bike was not black and too flashy.  I am not a flashy guy.  A few days later we went back, and the salesman asked me if I would like to see it out in the sun.  The color of the bike is called "Dragonfly Green" and it was exclusive to the 2006 model years.  It looked o.k. to me in the showroom, but when he took it outside did it come alive.  It was truly very cool.

The bike itself was stronger, not as quick as the Sporty but had a much better feel to the road.  I sat lower and felt better driving down the road.  Bike had a different sound, a lower sounding rumble, but still cool.  The Sporty put out 79 ft. lbs. @ 3500 rpm (107 NM @ 3500 rpm) while the FatBoy puts out 85 ft. lbs. @ 3000 rpm (115 NM @ 3000 rpm). But the Fatboy weighed 714 lbs and the Sporty weighed 575 lbs. which is a difference of 139 pounds.  Again, the paint was terrific.  It had gold-leaf pinstripe around the words Harley Davidson on the tank and my wife loved it.

Then I took it on a 350 mile one way trip.  50 miles away from my destination I thought my ass was going to fall off.  I immediately went to a dealer and had them next-day-air an air pillow.  By the time I left and got home I was certain I was not going to keep this bike.  It just took too much out of me.  Longer rides were a big strain on me.  Maybe I was getting old, or just getting soft... but I just could'nt hack it.  So that is why I had this bike for only a short time.

First Bike - 2006 Sportster 1200C

Well, I went to the HD store one day and wdidnt even know if I wanted to ride.  I ended up getting a sportster delivered to my house, and I didn't even know how to ride it.  A good friend of mine came over and showed me how to ride a motorcycle.  At first, I couldn't turn it around between the curbs of the street.  It took me a few days to get that down.  Soon I got my temps and was off to Riders Edge to get my license.

I didnt wear my helmet and drove at night, I drove at night because I soon found out that I loved to ride; granted it was only 10 to 15 mile trips but loved it.

Next came the upgrades.  I got some older Screaming Eagle slip-on and rejetted the carb.  Changed the handlebars to drag bars, moved the turn signals off the handlebars to the forks, changed the seat and also changed the shocks.  Loved to fly around on this bike.  Being 6-3, I looked big for it, but I didnt care.  I had fun hammering this thing in the corners and just flying around.

It sounded cool and was quick.  I do miss the sound of a carb engine on my Harley, they just sound different than fuel-injected engines do.

Then came the day I took my wife for a ride to Holy Hill.  We were hurting for sure.  Bike was not good for two people.  I was cramped when she was on the back.  On Bluemound Road I made a great save after being cut off, it seemed to hard and should've been easier.  Some of that was my inexperience but I was sure that some of that was the size and the riding position I was in.

So, I knew that the next year I was going to trade it in.  I learned a very important lesson with this bike.  Take off what you put on and sell it yourself.... if you can.  The reason for that is the dealer doesn't give you jack for it.  I sold the seat and the luggage rack.