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Second Thoughts:

A response I wrote to someone, too much info to just throw away. NOTE: I am NOT bashing the Vulcan series of motorcycles, they're great bikes.

[I'm writing this part (in the brackets) after I wrote what's below... DANGER DANGER I ended up long winded and you might want to just take the answer "I like it" and ignore the rest <G> (I read what I wrote and I'd ignore me too)]

>>Hows the harley?

I hope this isn't more than you asked for... <G>

I've kept from responding in the newsgroup because I'd end up dealing with some (out of everyone there, there *will* be some) people that would get overly defensive if I wrote how much better I feel the Softail is over the Vulcan (And since it's VROC, there's no reason for me to go in there stirring stuff up about my Harley (just a politeness thing, I've outright ignored those that tried to get me going). The truth is that the only thing the Vulcan had going for it is that it cost less (8k MSRP vs. 13.3). Even that price comparison isn't entirely fair, the 8k represents a 1997 1500A carbureted bike and the 13.3 is a 2001 Fuel injected one. It would be more fair to compare it to 10.8k MSRP of a 2001 Classic FI, now the price difference isn't so great. But when it comes to comparisons of the bike itself and its ride, I can only compare it to the Vulcans I know, the 750 and 1500A though I'll stick to the 1500A since it's more like it size wise.

In stock form they are very similar visually.

http://harley.wolfcrews.com/pictures/bike_parts/stock_compare.htm

Other than the cheap tank chap on the Softail you'd be hard pressed to find any plastic anywhere (Tank chap isn't required and the Vulcan doesn't have one). The ride is incredibly smooth, destroys any myths about the vibration that a Harley has (I know it wasn't a myth, but two years ago they redesigned and rebuilt the Softail from the ground up making it a whole new bike that just looks like the previous ones). The fuel injection blows away my 1500 for ease of starting, but the same thing could probably be said with the VN FI's. I added V&H longshots and no adjustments needed to be made anywhere. The routing of wires and hoses are much more deliberate, even noticing that routing guides (grooves) are built into the frame under the seat to give everything a clean flow. The parts (stock) all seem to fit together tighter (no gaps anywhere due to sloppy tolerances) than on my VN, most notably from the seat on back. It's even more noticeable when in both bikes I've added higher back rests and luggage racks, things just seem to fit together better.

Even after I've started the customizing.

http://harley.wolfcrews.com/pictures/bike_parts/compare.htm

Accessories are so much easier to find and install. The best example I can think of were the saddlebags. They're synthetic leather that looks just like the leather version but cost much less, they are molded hard-shell on the inside with pockets and all mounting and brackets are built in so there no extras to buy. Just bolted them on. Considering the extra brackets and the PITA install procedures for the 1500A I would put the cost of the Harley ones easily comparable. When I changed out the exhaust, I found it equally easy compared to the 1500A (even simple things like the exhaust gaskets, big crushable ones from Harley $7 for two, thin crushable (that barely work) for VN for $7 or 9 each (I shouldn't have to search around for a deal on something as simple as a gasket)). I'm still up in the air whether I'll need to change out the seat or not, I replaced the VN's about three weeks after getting the bike it was so bad (the 750's was replaced as well).

That pic doesn't include the exhaust I installed last week or the wheel being made up.

Bottom of http://harley.wolfcrews.com/pictures/bike_parts/default.htm

At the time I got my exhaust for my 1500A the DG's were the closest thing I could find in regards to the style I wanted, they were "OK" (I didn't have any of the problems that many others reported), I didn't buy them for sound and especially now I don't understand what people mean by the DG's making a Vulcan sound like a Harley <G>. I got the V&H Longshots now (they ARE the style I wanted) and NOW my Harley sounds like a Harley. Point being, I didn't really care what it sounds like, my bike is my bike not everyone else's. This paragraph was a mental blip. I better wrap it up... what was that saying? Better not to say anything than to prove it.... oooops.... too late.

And yes, if the Harley had a tank badge, I'd take it off it as well <G>. I won't use resale value as any kind of justification because I've always said that I buy a bike to ride it, not resell it and I won't be changing my tune now. I'll have this bike for as long as I feel like with no consideration of what it's worth.

If everything I've written above seems to indicate that I believe the Harley is actually worth more and built better, I actually do. Yes I know that dealerships charge more than they should (mine is straight MSRP however) but that's not the bikes fault and I'm writing about the bike itself, not it's marketing or peoples perception of the name. Is it worth 2,500 more than a Vulcan Classic FI? Maybe, maybe not... but I'm certainly having no regrets getting one.

I wrote this in bits and pieces, I hope it doesn't come across wrong.

Where did you want to be today?