Topic: Buddy wants a Boulevard (Read 7509 times)

ZVO · « **on:** April 25, 2015, 09:54:49 AM »

I am trying to talk him out of it, but I need some more ammo. So far I explained they don't hold their value as well and they have plastic chrome...I don't even know if those statements are true just basing them off experience from seeing plastic chrome on a Goldwing.

Any other points?

Ironhorse · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2015, 10:31:53 AM »

Let him buy it. If he wants a Harley eventually he'll buy one.

jachd17 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2015, 11:05:30 AM »

Well, you can tell him my WIFE has one....because she does. SHE loves it.

VaEagle · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2015, 11:24:30 AM »

Just my .02 but I would ask more questions.
Is this his first bike?
Does he have motorcycle experience?
What is a comfortable budget for him?
How often does he plan to ride and solo or not?
Is he aware that to many a brand like Harley is more than just a bike it's a group "family" experience?
In general bikes are poor investments and should NOT be purchased for financial reasons for resale. They all depreciate unless you keep it in pristine condition with no miles on it. I personally am not Jay Leno so if I buy something I plan to use it and get "my money's worth" out of it by the hours of enjoyment.
Many people start out with imports to learn to ride then as they decide to be a full time rider or give it up due to family issues etc. , they then decide on their own if they want to "invest" in the whole Harley experience both good and bad.
I would offer my opinion but let your friend buy what he can afford and welcome him into the family of motorcycling regardless of brand he chooses.

JCZ · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2015, 11:47:00 AM »

VaEagle brings up some great considerations. If one buys it and doesn't use it then it's just very expensive garage jewelry no matter the brand. I have to ride mine and really put the miles on in order to get my money's worth out of it......I can't afford the garage jewelry.

Terrie started out on Dynas and had two of them before she got her first Street Glide. I've heard her tell several men and women going to buy their first Harley (and maybe their first bike)....."don't waste your money on a Sporster or a Dyna go straight to a Street Glide and they you'll keep it for a few years". Only if she'd have listened to me when I tried telling her that.

ZVO · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2015, 11:52:54 AM »

He uses his wife as an excuse a lot...I told him "you're the one that has to ride it not your wife". He says HD is out of his price range.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2015, 11:56:36 AM »

Unless he's asking for advice, telling a buddy which bike to buy is like telling a newbie it's silly to welcome 100 older members just to boost your post count. People do what they do. All good points above. Your question did not give enough facts to illicit anything but speculative responses. Harleys are not cheap. Let him get what he's comfortable with and start riding. Safely.

grc · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2015, 01:22:57 PM »

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but before you start making comments about chrome plated plastic you might want to look at your Harley a bit closer. Not only do they use chrome plated plastic for some parts, but their chrome plated aluminum parts have a nasty habit of pitting and peeling.

Jerry

mark · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2015, 01:36:27 PM »

Quote from: grc on April 25, 2015, 01:22:57 PM

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but before you start making comments about chrome plated plastic you might want to look at your Harley a bit closer. Not only do they use chrome plated plastic for some parts, but their chrome plated aluminum parts have a nasty habit of pitting and peeling.

Jerry

X2 on Harley's inability to chrome-plate aluminum. I think every aluminum piece I've had on two bikes peeled, pitted, and blistered.

ChopperPilot · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2015, 04:50:05 PM »

Let him buy what he wants, if the financials are there in the future he might buy one then.

skippy · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2015, 05:12:48 PM »

I would rather have a dose of the clap ... it will be easier to get rid of .....

Chains · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2015, 05:38:49 PM »

Tell him the Boulevard is less likely to break down denying him the opportunity to get to know the fine men and women at the local Harley dealership. More riding time means he will have to spend more on fuel, so if he is on a limited budget that could throw a wrench into that.

Seriously if he cannot afford a HD then he should get what he can afford and enjoy. The worse thing would be convincing him to buy a bike he can not afford. I have a lot of friends that ride and a lot of them have Honda's and Kawasaki's. Me I don't care what you ride as long as you ride and do so safely.

donald p · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2015, 05:50:45 PM »

Just sell him yours at a cheap price and buy a new one. TWO people will be happy.

dlaws01 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2015, 06:39:30 PM »

There's nothing wrong with the Boulevard at all. If that is what he would like then I would say get it.
H-D is not the only brand out there and they aren't for everyone. Budget can sometimes be a deciding factor.

ZVO · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2015, 08:21:50 PM »

Wow....tough crowd. Nevermind.. I've been lectured enough for one day. I forget CVO owners are some of the oldest, most responsible riders...emphasis on oldest.

CVO2FIXUP · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2015, 08:40:53 PM »

Hey ZVO I am with you man. Keep trying to talk him in to a HD. My group of friends have the same issue. One of our budds bought a Yamaha ( some 750 v twin crap box. I don't even know what it is ) It brakes down so much we wont take him on any long runs with us. Tell your bud that with the repairs, the depreciation, and the fact that he prob wont keep if for long as he will feel like a outsider riding rice with a bunch of HD's He will be flipping it in no time and loosing all kinds. So when you add up all the losses he will be in HD territory money wise. I see it over and over again with friends. And they all say should of bought the HD touring to begin with. Tell him there is a reason people ride what they ride. Street Glide is the best and most sold HD for a reason. Look and see what bikes people are selling and loosing $$ on to buy a SG. Mostly rice twins and soft tails/ Dinas etc. Don't give up, Its like warning your bud to stay clear of certain chicks. That's what friends are for. Right?

jachd17 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 25, 2015, 08:41:39 PM »

Quote from: ZVO on April 25, 2015, 08:21:50 PM

Wow....tough crowd. Nevermind.. I've been lectured enough for one day. I forget CVO owners are some of the oldest, most responsible riders...emphasis on oldest.

Ouch!

TNCarters · « **Reply #17 on:** April 25, 2015, 09:09:14 PM »

Can't say anything as several of my friends ride Suzuki's, Honda's and Kawasaki Vulcan. I even had a Vulcan before my Limited. I liked the bike but it depreciated quickly. Traded to HD so I could fit the bike to me better. Really do not care what my friends ride so long as they ride. That said, 75% of our riding groups are on HD's.

Jswerve · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2015, 09:50:59 PM »

Damn 40 is old now, well shizz....

phato1 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2015, 10:18:34 PM »

Quote from: Jswerve on April 25, 2015, 09:50:59 PM

Damn 40 is old now, well shizz....

I'm not old....I'm just closer to retirement

Phantom309 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 26, 2015, 05:32:23 AM »

Quote from: Mark on April 25, 2015, 01:36:27 PM

X2 on Harley's inability to chrome-plate aluminum. I think every aluminum piece I've had on two bikes peeled, pitted, and blistered.

Make that X3 ... my old '05 SEEG had cheap peeling grips and both wheels were losing their shiny skin too. Not bad for a $30k+ bike, huh? Tell your buddy to get whatever makes him happy ... a bike is a bike as long as you're enjoying the ride. The cheap plastic clutch release cover is holding up ok on this bike so far ... for now.

Jswerve · « **Reply #21 on:** April 26, 2015, 06:27:44 AM »

Quote from: Phantom309 on April 26, 2015, 05:32:23 AM

Tell your buddy to get whatever makes him happy ... a bike is a bike as long as you're enjoying the ride.

willyB · « **Reply #22 on:** April 26, 2015, 07:39:53 AM »

As a young man I rode Yamaha dirt bikes. I always felt that Suzuki was inferior to Honda or Yamaha. My first street bike was a Yamama 550 Maxim. Fun little bike.

Today I still feel that Suzuki is not up to par compared to Yamaha (aka Star). If he can't swing for a Harely tell him to look at Yamaha. With pipes I think they have the closest sound to Harely. Plus I think their engine has a good look.

Harely vs. Harley "lookalike" Rice Burner. I'm okay with anyone willing to put 2 wheels on the street. Pavement hurts just as bad on either.

As far as convincing him and his wife. Just ask them if he would prefer a real wife or one that just "looks" like one.

By the way. I'm 52 but my brain still tells me I'm 12.

martys · « **Reply #23 on:** April 26, 2015, 09:02:02 AM »

Quote from: ZVO on April 25, 2015, 08:21:50 PM

Wow....tough crowd. Nevermind.. I've been lectured enough for one day. I forget CVO owners are some of the oldest, most responsible riders...emphasis on oldest.

I'm sure that if you asked the same question on the Boulevard site, the answers you would get would be similar in nature ... only siding with the Boulevard

But the bottom line is #1 He has to be happy ( financially and ride ability ) with his purchase #2 As most on this site know ... No Bike will be "Your last bike purchased"

#3 Happy Wife ... Happy Life

Marty

JCZ · « **Reply #24 on:** April 26, 2015, 09:09:37 AM »

Quote from: ZVO on April 25, 2015, 08:21:50 PM

Wow....tough crowd. Nevermind.. I've been lectured enough for one day. I forget CVO owners are some of the oldest, most responsible riders...emphasis on oldest.

Nope, not a tough crowd at all. You're just a sensative kind of guy......it's OK.

jachd17 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 26, 2015, 09:31:25 AM »

Quote from: Jswerve on April 25, 2015, 09:50:59 PM

Damn 40 is old now, well shizz....

I wish I was 40 again........

Chains · « **Reply #26 on:** April 26, 2015, 10:18:43 AM »

Quote from: ZVO on April 25, 2015, 08:21:50 PM

Wow....tough crowd. Nevermind.. I've been lectured enough for one day. I forget CVO owners are some of the oldest, most responsible riders...emphasis on oldest.

You forgot Wisest

grc · « **Reply #27 on:** April 26, 2015, 11:58:59 AM »

Quote from: ZVO on April 25, 2015, 08:21:50 PM

Wow....tough crowd. Nevermind.. I've been lectured enough for one day. I forget CVO owners are some of the oldest, most responsible riders...emphasis on oldest.

Don't also forget that with age often comes wisdom.

I don't believe in going overboard trying to convince a friend to buy the product that I personally prefer, because it can come back and bite you square in the azz. Lay out what you consider to be the main selling points of the Harley, but don't start bashing the other bike or make claims that are no longer true, like the one about resale being so wonderful on a Harley. If you do manage to convince him to spend more than he's comfortable with on an H-D, and it becomes a point of friction in his marriage, do you intend to then jump into marriage counseling? Really bad idea if you want to keep this person as a friend. How about if he takes your advice, buys the overpriced Harley, and he gets one with mechanical problems up the wahzoo? That's not exactly a far-fetched possibility these days.

Jerry

FlaHeatWave · « **Reply #28 on:** April 26, 2015, 12:14:29 PM »

'Never ridden one but I like the Boulevard, it's a nice bike.

ZVO · « **Reply #29 on:** April 26, 2015, 01:35:22 PM »

Thread = TL;DR

I'm here at OCC anyone coming?

2015 Street Glide CVO Mercury HCC

tweeter13 · « **Reply #30 on:** April 26, 2015, 03:12:20 PM »

One of my friends rides one. He likes it. Hasn't had any problems with it yet. Nice blue color.
He just can't afford what he want with the harley yet with kids and sports and college yet. But some day he will I am sure.

Todd

Chains · « **Reply #31 on:** April 26, 2015, 03:18:39 PM »

In case you don't know what they look like here is one. Nice looking ride around $12k new

Major Tom · « **Reply #32 on:** April 26, 2015, 10:04:31 PM »

Bikes are like wives I've had a few of both and liked some better than others. I would never tell a mate which wife to marry unless he asked. If he has to ask he shouldn't marry. If he's not sure he should do some research before buying. My advice when asked is try a few and get the one that works for you. Bottom line he's the one that has to ride it. For the record I now have the best of both as far as bikes & wives go. I eventually worked it out.

D-N-D · « **Reply #33 on:** April 27, 2015, 05:50:53 AM »

Just Tell him to get a bike at least he's riding who cares what it is, he will get a Harley someday.

Dr.D · « **Reply #34 on:** April 27, 2015, 09:34:48 AM »

I am bad for recommending that others buy things like I own. After all I did search out the best of things why would i not want a buddy to have the best. Unfortunately there is a bit of arrogance in that, assuming my values are superior and others should recognize that.

I think the best approach is to make a case for looking at HD and then let it go. A lot of guys enjoy riding bikes that are not Harleys, poor ignorant bastards.

Puma · « **Reply #35 on:** April 27, 2015, 10:43:54 AM »

Quote from: willyB on April 26, 2015, 07:39:53 AM

As a young man I rode Yamaha dirt bikes. I always felt that Suzuki was inferior to Honda or Yamaha. My first street bike was a Yamama 550 Maxim. Fun little bike.

Today I still feel that Suzuki is not up to par compared to Yamaha (aka Star). If he can't swing for a Harely tell him to look at Yamaha. With pipes I think they have the closest sound to Harely. Plus I think their engine has a good look.

Harely vs. Harley "lookalike" Rice Burner. I'm okay with anyone willing to put 2 wheels on the street. Pavement hurts just as bad on either.

As far as convincing him and his wife. Just ask them if he would prefer a real wife or one that just "looks" like one.

By the way. I'm 52 but my brain still tells me I'm 12.

I agree. Even if I wanted an import, it wouldn't be Suzuki/Boulevard. I also had a Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 that was nothing but trouble within the first year. I have other friends that love their Kawis, but all are disappointed in the finish of the paint and chrome. So, it would be Star or Honda for Japanese imports. At this time I prefer the Stars. Ten or fifteen years ago it was Honda.

phato1 · « **Reply #36 on:** April 27, 2015, 08:14:54 PM »

Quote from: D-N-D on April 27, 2015, 05:50:53 AM

Just Tell him to get a bike at least he's riding who cares what it is, he will get a Harley someday.

X2

And if decides he doesn't want a Harley who cares?, as long as he enjoys life on two wheels it's all good

Don't be a motosnob - you know, one of those people who thinks their bike is the best and look down their nose at the rest of us..

akodust · « **Reply #37 on:** April 27, 2015, 08:57:21 PM »

Today I saw a Boulevard at the Harley Dealer...It is a sharp bike. I could see how alot of rider would like it...I'm a Harley Man Though....

Author Topic: Buddy wants a Boulevard (Read 7509 times)

mark