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First Thoughts:

The new Harley is so much smoother than I ever expected. Tales of older models and the natural suspicion of a company's claim didn't have me convinced that the new Softails have "95%" less vibration then prior models. The fuel injection make starting as easy as starting my car. Turn the key, wait a few seconds for fuel pump to get going and press the button. There's no waiting or watching or worrying about flooding. It just goes. I can leave my helmet sitting on the seat with the engine running, it's that steady. It doesn't have the neutral finder that the Vulcan has but as a result all shifting is smooth and little effort. It's a belt drive instead of a drive shaft but the acceleration is just as smooth, no grabbing such as can be found with a chain (granted one that isn't adjusted correctly).

Things to get use to: the self-canceling turn signals plus having the buttons at each thumb instead of one side and remembering to lock the ignition since the key doesn't stay in while riding.

Two things I found tacky: the fake gas cap that houses the gas gauge, and the cheap looking plastic tank chap. If they're going to cut corners just use a synthetic leather one or none at all.

Two things I'd also change in design to make it look a little better: the mounts for the front pegs, when they're there with the stock pegs, it looks very cheap next to the rest of the bike. And make the brake pedal wider. I know that this is the basic model but it could really use a wider pedal. I know everyone is built different but in my case the air cleaner makes it so I have to twist my foot inwards to reach the brake (I've since put a wider one on to fix this).

Enough of the complaints (which as you can see are extremely minor). I've only put on 700 miles on it so far (in three weeks during the beginning of winter) so I haven't really been able to open 'er up on the highway the way I'm use to doing (I don't race, I just do a lot of highway riding). But already I'm seeing the things I like such as the improved gas mileage and the extra distance I can go because of the larger gas tank (combined with the improved mileage). I was able to get HD Synthetic Leather Saddle Bags (new item) that fit like a glove for $370 (yes there are places to get things below list price). They are hard shell on the inside, box top with snaps on the sides and buckles in the front and built in bags guards so in the end there was no extra hardware to purchase, everything was included. The weight capacity is higher than the Vulcan so I feel better about riding two-up.

I already have a windshield, saddlebags (mentioned), high sissy-bar, luggage rack, trunk, engine guard and other odds-n-ends on it. In other words, I'm making it look like my Vulcan did <G>.

I don't know what to add at the moment, something will come up I'm sure once I've had more time with it. Winter is here so riding is very limited at the moment.

For those that are interested, I did get the bike at MSRP, was a 9 month wait, and my dealer put nothing on the bike that I didn't ask for.

Where did you want to be today?