My New Harley Softail Slim

Zanotti · 11-30-2012, 12:59 PM

I finally broke down and bought a Harley Softail Slim (ABS). Its quite a nice machine, I guess I had listened to all the Harley bashing around here for too long. Well made, great old school look, and easy to drive, fits me well.

Its the right tool for my current kind of riding - less touring and more just minibike around town.

I appreciate all the help here discussing forward controls, lean angle, and the lifestyle aspect. I bought a machine, not a lifestyle. The forward controls are comfortable and fits my 5'8" frame well. I can just push off the seat over bumps, but of course its no dirt bike!

Yes, the lean angle sucks (I scraped the floorboards exiting the dealer.) I have only 75 miles to date, so I can tell really how well it runs. It has a nice pull off the line, easy to manouver, and well balanced until it scrapes. Very predictable.

A couple pictures above the brochure pics:

Thanks again for all the help and the advice on alternative forums. I am not leaving here, its all an adventure, an dI plan on enjoying this bike for a while!

Warmest regards,

Z

DAKEZ · 11-30-2012, 01:33 PM

Congrats!!!

The foot boards are on hinges for a reason. Take your time to get to know your bike and its limitations and you will do well. With proper riding instruction you may even find yourself leaned off the inside of your bike and throwing sparks all the way around the on/off ramps.

desmoface · 11-30-2012, 01:37 PM

This, the fatbob and the 48 are my favorite Harleys. Congrats.

Steve
05 st3
00 sv6fity

Clint Taurus · 11-30-2012, 03:08 PM

Congrats on the new bike, Your first Harley?

Monkeyshines · 11-30-2012, 03:32 PM

Congrats. it's the bike I would buy.

About that ground clearance, Harley added the longer shocks to the catalog this year.

Cakeeater · 11-30-2012, 03:35 PM

Good luck to you. Keep us updated on what you find.

I'm one of those folks who spent decades hating on Harley, and wish I hadn't. There's a lot of fun to be had with their machines.

Cakeeater

mattoid1 · 11-30-2012, 03:43 PM

Congrats on the new bike, they are nice looking machines. I bought an '11 Electraglide and enjoy it more every time I ride it!

Zanotti · 11-30-2012, 03:58 PM

First Harley. I am coming off one of these, and the trade in sucked:

OK, maybe a few bikes in between. Last two were a Bonneville and a BMW R1150R.

Z!

Ratchdaddy · 11-30-2012, 06:42 PM

I can't blame you. My BMW was in for warranty work last week and while I was waiting I went next door to Skip Fordyce HD and the nice saleman took me on a testride of a new Dyna. All I can say is WOW! The motor company has listened and if I didnt have 4 teenagers in my house right now I would have a new Dyna in the garage. I just wish I could buy an American made adventure bike. Sorry the Ulysses did not float my boat.

Ratchdaddy · 11-30-2012, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Congrats!!!

The foot boards are on hinges for a reason. Take your time to get to know your bike and its limitations and you will do well. With proper riding instruction you may even find yourself leaned off the inside of your bike and throwing sparks all the way around the on/off ramps.

+1000

I had an electraglide before I bought my beemer. I came off a VStrom and a Buell and the part that scared me on the electraglice is how fast I ran out of lean angle and felt hard parts like frame rails scraping. I was always worried I would pogo off the road. Not a problem with my old sportster.

KMC1 · 11-30-2012, 07:08 PM

I'll tell ya, Harley really doesn't realize what they've got. I had a beautiful 2007 Softail deluxe that I just LOVED riding on the back roads and what not, until I got sick of scraping floorboards all the time - that's just asinine.. The drivetrain in my opinion is THE perfect drivetrain for the real world.

The cornering clearance however, is ridiculous. The ride quality is terrible, the bikes themselves are too small and cramped.

If Harley would make a real world bike they would have a smashing success, in my opinion. Something roomy, at least 7 inches of ground clearance, at least 6 inches of travel, with an actual lean angle.....they would have a real gem.

I love the drivetrain, but I'm not willing to live with the shortcomings of the chassis.

Colemanfu · 11-30-2012, 07:52 PM

Cool bike but just in time to park it for the winter right? What winter mods ya got in mind? That's the first flat black one I've seen - I dig it!
I got this Fatboy back in 09 before the Lo came out. I think I did better than the motor co. Not a fan of the mix of flat/gloss/brushed.

EricD10563 · 11-30-2012, 10:28 PM

Nice bike, congrats on your new "scooter".

AKDuc · 11-30-2012, 10:51 PM

Very nice! Big congrats. Nice pics too.

I was wondering if you had studio lighting with a black backdrop.

Going to pegs got me more comfort and cornering clearance but I may get those new shocks next year for a bit more.

Have fun, Mark H.

Gas Hog · 12-01-2012, 05:09 AM

Congrats on the new ride

..
Now all you have to do is color sand and clear coat it and you will be done

Gary

11-30-2012, 12:59 PM	#1
Zanotti ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Philly Oddometer: 570	My New Harley Softail Slim I finally broke down and bought a Harley Softail Slim (ABS). Its quite a nice machine, I guess I had listened to all the Harley bashing around here for too long. Well made, great old school look, and easy to drive, fits me well. Its the right tool for my current kind of riding - less touring and more just minibike around town. I appreciate all the help here discussing forward controls, lean angle, and the lifestyle aspect. I bought a machine, not a lifestyle. The forward controls are comfortable and fits my 5'8" frame well. I can just push off the seat over bumps, but of course its no dirt bike! Yes, the lean angle sucks (I scraped the floorboards exiting the dealer.) I have only 75 miles to date, so I can tell really how well it runs. It has a nice pull off the line, easy to manouver, and well balanced until it scrapes. Very predictable. A couple pictures above the brochure pics: Thanks again for all the help and the advice on alternative forums. I am not leaving here, its all an adventure, an dI plan on enjoying this bike for a while! Warmest regards, Z __________________ ------------------------------------------- It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially.

11-30-2012, 01:33 PM	#2
DAKEZ Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: U-gene, OR. Oddometer: 18,067	Congrats!!! The foot boards are on hinges for a reason. Take your time to get to know your bike and its limitations and you will do well. With proper riding instruction you may even find yourself leaned off the inside of your bike and throwing sparks all the way around the on/off ramps. __________________ "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." — Dr. Seuss “Watch out for everything bigger than you, they have the "right of weight" Bib DAKEZ screwed with this post 11-30-2012 at 01:39 PM

11-30-2012, 03:08 PM	#4
Clint Taurus Studly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Heart of Dixie Oddometer: 668	Congrats on the new bike, Your first Harley? __________________ Don't be a panty-waste

11-30-2012, 03:58 PM	#8
Zanotti ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Philly Oddometer: 570	First Harley. I am coming off one of these, and the trade in sucked: OK, maybe a few bikes in between. Last two were a Bonneville and a BMW R1150R. Z! __________________ ------------------------------------------- It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially.

11-30-2012, 06:42 PM	#9
Ratchdaddy Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2006 Location: 29 Palms, CA Oddometer: 134	I can't blame you. My BMW was in for warranty work last week and while I was waiting I went next door to Skip Fordyce HD and the nice saleman took me on a testride of a new Dyna. All I can say is WOW! The motor company has listened and if I didnt have 4 teenagers in my house right now I would have a new Dyna in the garage. I just wish I could buy an American made adventure bike. Sorry the Ulysses did not float my boat. __________________ Ratchdaddy 2010 F800 GS 1988 NX250

11-30-2012, 01:37 PM	#3
desmoface Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Mentor, Ohio Oddometer: 255	This, the fatbob and the 48 are my favorite Harleys. Congrats. Steve 05 st3 00 sv6fity

11-30-2012, 03:32 PM	#5
Monkeyshines Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Menomonee Falls Oddometer: 3,957	Congrats. it's the bike I would buy. About that ground clearance, Harley added the longer shocks to the catalog this year.

11-30-2012, 03:35 PM	#6
Cakeeater Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Where it snows a lot Oddometer: 526	Good luck to you. Keep us updated on what you find. I'm one of those folks who spent decades hating on Harley, and wish I hadn't. There's a lot of fun to be had with their machines. Cakeeater

11-30-2012, 03:43 PM	#7
mattoid1 Adventurer Joined: Jun 2010 Location: Nebraska Oddometer: 46	Congrats on the new bike, they are nice looking machines. I bought an '11 Electraglide and enjoy it more every time I ride it!

11-30-2012, 07:08 PM	#11
KMC1 There is no spoon. Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Greater SLC Oddometer: 1,212	I'll tell ya, Harley really doesn't realize what they've got. I had a beautiful 2007 Softail deluxe that I just LOVED riding on the back roads and what not, until I got sick of scraping floorboards all the time - that's just asinine.. The drivetrain in my opinion is THE perfect drivetrain for the real world. The cornering clearance however, is ridiculous. The ride quality is terrible, the bikes themselves are too small and cramped. If Harley would make a real world bike they would have a smashing success, in my opinion. Something roomy, at least 7 inches of ground clearance, at least 6 inches of travel, with an actual lean angle.....they would have a real gem. I love the drivetrain, but I'm not willing to live with the shortcomings of the chassis. __________________ Obama says adding $4 trillion to debt is unpatriotic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kuTG19Cu_Q&sns=em An Overview of the United States National Debt: http://www.davemanuel.com/us-national-debt-clock.php

11-30-2012, 07:52 PM	#12
Colemanfu King of all manfu Joined: Jan 2006 Location: DAYTONA USA Oddometer: 2,724	chrome will get ya home Cool bike but just in time to park it for the winter right? What winter mods ya got in mind? That's the first flat black one I've seen - I dig it! I got this Fatboy back in 09 before the Lo came out. I think I did better than the motor co. Not a fan of the mix of flat/gloss/brushed. __________________ Guns keep society safe.

11-30-2012, 10:28 PM	#13
EricD10563 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Central Arizona Oddometer: 391	Nice bike, congrats on your new "scooter". __________________ In one year I rode 18,589 miles on an island that's 72 miles long. That's 50 miles a day everyday for 365 days. I think I'll go home now. 70k miles and still riding http://travelwithe.com/blogengine.net/

11-30-2012, 10:51 PM	#14
AKDuc Alaska Born Ducatisti Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Oddometer: 6,085	Very nice! Big congrats. Nice pics too. I was wondering if you had studio lighting with a black backdrop. Going to pegs got me more comfort and cornering clearance but I may get those new shocks next year for a bit more. Have fun, Mark H. __________________ My Ride Reports of Alaska & The Yukon

12-01-2012, 05:09 AM	#15
Gas Hog Two Wheel Fanatic Joined: Dec 2008 Location: 7,000ft CO Oddometer: 704	Congrats on the new ride .. Now all you have to do is color sand and clear coat it and you will be done Gary

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode