Harley davidson or vulcan

I realize Harley is probably a four letter word for most on this site. I am going to be buying a new bike for this year. My kz will not be ready to ride in time. I am trying to decide between a 1994 harley davidson street glide and a 2005 vulcan 2000. the vulcan only has 343 miles on it.

whatever is cheapest so when the time comes... more money for the kz

If it's an investment? The HD or perhaps the 1000LTD. If it's to ride and enjoy? The bike that brings you the biggest grin while riding it. Inline fours and cruisers mix about as well as oil and water. You have a riding position for relaxed going together with a buzzing engine that sounds stressed. I very much prefer singles and twins 80% of the time, although a wailing 4 or 6 definitely have their moments

I second Ed's motion.

The Harley for sure no question. my FLSTS was the nicest riding motorcycle I have ever riden. as for power it had it and an eye turner the vulcan is nice but has the wanna be look and it wants to look like the harley.

a 30 year old motocycle is a 30 year old motorcycle just because it looks new doesnt mean it rides new.

although I would love to have a stable full of KZ's I will also have a Harley in that mix if I'm spending that kind of cash all at once it's not gonna be on someone elses restoration

...buy the Harley and you'll have the BEST of BOTH WORLDS.

...the Harley will also hold its value and even go up in time as prices escalate for new models. You rarely see a Japanese bike worth a spit when they get older. Unless, of course, they are either rare older models and mint restored gems like what we have here on this web site. As far as Kawasaki goes, their gems would be any of the H, Z, KZ models (there are others), those sort of bikes. They're considered classic and very desirable!

...I'm not knockin' the Vulcan, 'cause it is a nice bike. But, how many old Vulcans do you see being restored compared to Harleys? How many Vulcans will still be on the street 20 years from now compared to the same year Harley? Or, compared to 40 year old Harleys for that matter. Say what you will, but Harley will probably survive Armageddon along with the cockroaches.

...PS. I made sure I underlined that one sentence so I wouldn't be banned for previous one.

ramtough_63 wrote: the vulcan is nice but has the wanna be look and it wants to look like the harley.

...you hit the nail right on the head. It's like kissing your sister!

...don't knock it, until you try it.

...owning a Harley that is, NOT kissing your sister.

ramtough_63 wrote: The Harley for sure no question. my FLSTS was the nicest riding motorcycle I have ever riden. as for power it had it and an eye turner the vulcan is nice but has the wanna be look and it wants to look like the harley.

a 30 year old motocycle is a 30 year old motorcycle just because it looks new doesnt mean it rides new.
although I would love to have a stable full of KZ's I will also have a Harley in that mix if I'm spending that kind of cash all at once it's not gonna be on someone elses restoration

This is true, but I would rather trust a 35 year old pristine KZ1000 than a 18 year old Harley. I really don't have any serious beef with Harley, but keep in mind, the Harley in question is not anything close to new. Ed

I like all motorcycles except Harley or anything that reminds me of one, so I wouldn't consider either, however if those are the choices I'll relay a story about a buddy of mine. He had a Z1 and put like 60,000 miles on it but it was junk when he got it, he had lots of problems so got rid of it and got a new Vulcan of which I don't know specifics, but it was early 2000s and the large one like a 1500. He rode it like 60,000 miles and told me what a POS it was, how the thing cooks you in hot weather, and last but not least how he parked it on the sidestand one day and walked away, heard a clunk and found the frame had broke at the sidestand and his bike was toppled over. So he gets rid of it and gets a new 2003 Harley ultra road gline electric lowride softtale springer fatboy. OK I don't know or care as I hate Harley but he rides a lot and had like 110,000 miles on it last I saw the guy. The Chinese Harley seat was torn to shreads and not unexpected with those miles, otherwise he claims he's not had one problem. I can't personnally look at it without squinting my eyes or looking the other direction and would rather be shot than listen to the thing, but it does the job for a guy who uses his bike for more than just looking cool.

RonKZ650 wrote: I like all motorcycles except Harley or anything that reminds me of one.

...I have to ask, why? Have you ever owned one, ever rode one?

KZ250LTD wrote:

RonKZ650 wrote: My biggest problem isn't with the bike but with the people on it (and yes this can apply for any brand or bike, blah blah)

...I assume you mean all those guys on u-tube doing burnouts with their Hayabusa's?

I love my KZ and it means more to me than any bike I have owned to date (I miss my harley) I know there is a prejudice against harley riders, be it from the old days when local biker gangs and fringe society guys terroized locals or most recently the yuppies wanting to pose we all have a certain reason for our less than fond feelings towards the biker culture

I will never forget AL he was a retired fringe biker with more than a dozen harleys 1 on loan to a museum several special occasion bikes 6 time Dyno shootout winner sidecar bike etc...

He was my brothers mentor so to speak anyway I had not owned a Harley yet and had mentioned I wanted one so I could ride with them Standing 6'5" burley man with Long grey hair and beard looked sdown at me and said

"Lil Buddy as long as your on two wheels we dont care what you ride"

I think more people should be less prejudice and embrace those words because we all have to realize we are bikers at heart if its on the bench for the last 12 years or we are putting 25000 miles a year on them

and he drove a Ford Lightening truck I hate Fords!