Recently I had a pretty big crash? I was hit by a dickhead ute driver and my bike and I were a total wreck. I got off with a headache cause by the insurance company being useless dickheads and some broken bones. My bike was a total write off (had a 2008 softail custom) I decided I was going to give the bikes a break before I ended up dead but it's been 6 weeks and Im already going crazy without one. Now I'm toying with the idea of crossing to the dark side and buying a night rod special. How big of a rear wheel can you put on them and what are your thoughts on them as a bike. I love the low and fat look they have but  I'm worried I'll miss the big air cooled vtwin thump. 

 

 

Cheers,

Josh

Hello Josh,
 

Sorry to hear about your accident mate.

I understand how you feel.

A couple weeks ago i was out for a ride and a guy on Domino's scooter nearly rear ended me.

All I could see in the mirror was old mate cart wheeling down the road and pizza's going all over the place.

The very next day I was drving back to work, stopped at a set of traffic lights and old mate in HQ one tonner decided to see how far he could fit it into the back of my XR6 Falcon.

Only problem for him was the tow bar on my car!

Mate, I'm only new to Harley's, the Nightrod is the first one I have ever owned after coming from my last bike which was a highly modded R1 put together by the Bikebiz racing team.

I took one for a test ride a couple of months ago and the first thing I noticed was the lack of noise, sounded like a sewing machine!

After the ride I ordered the bike and a set of V&H black widows.

Understanding this bike will never sound like the "traditional" HD's i am happy with the noise now.

I would suggest however that if you are used to the air cooled noise you will probably need to put a full system on and even then it is nowhere near as loud under power.

I believe you can fit a 280 on the standard rim. I have read on the other forum they are also now putting 300's on with some modification required.

As far as the bike goes, I'm loving it.

Torque down low and through the rev range, goes like the clappers, stops well and actually goes around corners pretty well.

On top of that, it looks the business.

I am extremely happy to have gone to the Dark Side, now if I could only get my head (no pun intended) around wearing an open face helmet I might even look the part as well.

Why do those things sit on top of your Fkin head!!

Hope that helps mate.

Be safe

H

HFW

Its crazy how many stupid drivers are out there, so many people texting or on the phone.
Im only 20 so ive been driving for only 4 years and riding for 2 but id like to think of myself as a cautious driver/rider, alot of my mates and people my age drive like total dicks. Radio blasting while they fuck around with their ipod (or even worse have the ipod in their ears while driving) all while they are on the phone to the mrs and doing 50kms over the speed limit sideways around corners. People dont realise how bad they drive and how many bad drivers are around till they ride a motorbike and have a few close calls.

That was a bit off track but anyway, i do love the looks of the night rods. If i didnt get my softail custom they were the next bike id get. When im back to normal (wrist heals up and i get this bloody cast off!) i think ill be doing ALOT of test rides to see what i like. Maybe even a buell but i dont know how id go on one, they look bloody small and i think id look like a giant being 6'2.

Itd be hard to think of riding anything but a harley (ive always loved them and was so stoaked to finally get my dream bike while i was still young enough to enjoy it.) im worried nothing will compare to it. But i have to think with my head not my heart i think and i dont know if i could spend that much money again.

i know what your saying about the open faced helmets making people look like a bobble head, there are some shops around that sell "cannon ball" helmets that are a "novelty" item (get busted and they sting you for it $$$$$ and points) or some people so ive read will buy the smallest helmet they can and remove some of the insides so they fit lower and closer to your head. The only problem being if you have a big spill it might crack your mellon open. There are some great looking and fitting helmets in the states but because of australia and our stupid rules we cant use "DOT" helmets here where we need the "AS1968" or whatever even though some are way better built too!

Josh.