Let's get up to speed.

Let's get up to speed.
So far it's been an interesting experience looking for and finally finding my motorcycle.

I new I wanted used, and I new I wanted HD. That's about all...
So I researched like crazy and asked around, all the usual things that someone does before a big purchase. What I realized is there is more to learn and more to consider when it comes to buying a bike. It's not quite as easy as what model looks good and what do I think I'll like.

I visited every HD dealer within an hour and sat on at least 50 bikes. They sure must have been annoyed at me. But it helped me realize what I was looking for. I knew it would be either a Dyna or a Sportster. I thought I'd end up on a Street Bob or Low Rider just based on the way the 2010 models felt. With that in mind I began scouring the internet and quickly realized that my budget wasn't going to allow me to get much more than a serious basket case...and even then, not much of a basket case. I started looking more and more into Sportsters and thought it would be a good idea to go sit on a few. So I did. And the more I sat on, the more they started feeling good. The problem was in the position of the controls and the reach of the handlebars. Ah-ha. Here is what I first loved about my bike. Mid-controls converted to forward controls, mini ape-hangers, a Mustang seat and a bigger sportier tank. That made for a slick looking ride that felt great when I sat on it for the first time.

So back and forth I went all week. To buy or not to buy, is this the right choice, and printing off at least 5 other bikes to go look at. Finally after the weather broke and we had a string of 70 plus degree days, each and every bike I printed off was selling off immediately. People are motivated. What if I miss out on this bike I've started thinking about? What happends if someone else gets it... can't let that happen.

So calls and emails go back and forth and the fever has me in its grips...
After about a week, I go back down to see the bike and the exhaust note has me... insert Jerry McGuire quote here.

So skip through the misfires, old gas and fouled out spark plugs and I think I'm on to what could be a pretty good buy. Talking the seller down wasn't hard, he seemed ready to sell and willing to negotiate. The good news is that the seller was an obvious gear head and his roommate was clearly just as good with a wrench. In fact the bike was parked next to an old Dodge Challenger. I agreed to $3200 (at first) and was even ready to pick it up as long as it would run and I could take it for a test...

I decided to go see it one last time and try to take a ride. It just wasn't mean to be though. When I got to the seller, he tried and tried to get it started. I suspected old bad gas and a dirty carb...he tried so much the battery died. Well that didn't go so well...oh well, I was sold by this point in time. I'd take it.

Later that night when we decided to go get the bike it started to rain, I mean pour! Downpour and hail. Sadly that meant I wasn't going to be able to get the bike that night.

The next day was pretty rough. Without going into too many details, I went home sick from work and wasn't going to be able to go get the bike...

However, later that day, I was able to make it out and about and my brother joined me to go get the bike. We headed down and loaded it up on the back of my truck. Tie straps and harbor freight ramps later and the bike was sitting in the back of my truck. We made it slowly back to my house and much to our surprise, unloading was much easier.

Too bad I had to park it in the garage and get to church...another day another step in my journey with Harley-Davidson.