Hi all,

I recently sold my 2001 Moto Guzzi V11 Lemans to raise a little cash towards a new bike.  The wife has approved the purchase of a Harley Davidson.

The 2014 HD range has recently been put up on the US website, and after seeing this 360 view of the bike ( http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Motorcycles/softail-slim.html#!threesixty  I think I'm hooked.

Monday I plonked down a $500 deposit for a Softail Slim in Daytona Blue Pearl, and the bike should arrive sometime in December according to Lambos at Richardsons Harley Davidson.

Originally I was interested in chasing power and was thinking of a Fat Bob with a stage kit to bring the power up.  I've re-evaluated and decided I'll keep the bike stock for a while and get used to it before starting any customisations.  In my eyes the bike looks gorgeous stock, and the power is still probably a step up from the Guzzi (it is on a chart).

Are there any common maintenance gotchas I should be forewarned about with the softail slims?

Any other idiosynchrasies the bike has one should be aware of?

 

Cheers

voigtstr

 

 

 

Mate the only thing I can warn you about a Softail Slim is once you ride it you will never want to get off it great bike, I test rode one last year very impressed if I had the $$$$ I would have a Slim sitting in my garage right now enjoy your new bike cheers.

Thanks Choco!

Have had mine for 6 months and haven't looked back, digging the ride bid time. The only "pitfall" I might point out to ya is coming off a guzzi to the slim is board height. The slim is the lowest softy in its class mate and you may get the occasional scrape...big deal I say....and the only maintenance I've experienced so far is fuel and tyre pressure. (excluding service of course) It's a great retro look, a great ride and as for power the 103 is a good puller down low and goes like a cut snake up top, 6th gear you wont need till you hit 120/30 ish upwards on the dial, it'll cruise all day in 5th below that. Stage 1 with tuner etc will give the bike an extra bit off go ie: running cooler and not so lean and breathing through an air cleaner that's anything other than stock. All I can say is GO FOR IT bloke you wont regret it. Good luck with the wait

 I got mine today, and I have to say, why did I wait, I still have a bike that hit's warp speed, but after getting my first Harley and going for a long ride home on the Slim from the dealer, you won't be disapointed in the slightest.

The sound and the pure force makes me wish I had of got one sooner, being a Ducati and Beemer rider on sport bikes for over 25 years the only thing as it was pointed out is, if you lay it over you'll scrap your foot rest, but who cares, I did it twice on round abouts, and like all good things, it won't take you long to work out how far you can lean before you get reminded.

Good addvice thanks Frosty, I'll be getting the stage 1 and filter when I can sneak more funds, the bike is fun and I've got to stop smiling otherwise I'll give away what everyone else has known for years, cheers and enjoy your pruchuse.   

 Thanks guys, its going to be a long wait!

I'm an FXR man, but that bike looks bloody nice! Your missus is going to get a real sore butt on the rear though...lol

 You have a point tussuck, I went down today to the dealer to pick up the old pipes and old mate asked, did I want the reg changed from single seat to twin because it was an easy fix, I said nope missus wont be joining me, sorta fixed her curiosity 15 years back on a sports.....LOL didn't go down well 

Mungo, what colour did you get your slim in?

 Hi Voigtstr, I went the denim black, which is a nice way saying flat black.

Nice work man, that'll be a long bloody wait but a great bloody christmas right!?

Hi guys my vivid black slim is ready to be picked up on Wednesday 11th BUT my swing don't end till the 23rd dam this is gonna be a long swing cant bloody wait

  Reference more:

Just noticed that the slim is different on the US page to the Aussie site, the US has the number plate off to the side, but here has it at the end of the fender.  I've just asked the dealer to get the kit to make it side mounted again...

Compare http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Motorcycles/softail-slim.html  which is what I want

To http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_AU/Motorcycles/softail-slim.html

I think the wheel looks better with less covering it.

Other changes (said I would wait, but changed my mind )  :  Vance and Hines long shots, and a higher flow air filter (under the same black cover)

Slowly getting closer to December.

 

 

 

Had mine now for 13 months very happy, a few issues with rust on spokes and some minor nuts. After first service changed the mufflers to S&S more noise but not stupid loud, and not long ago changed to Screaming Eagle heavy breather air filter kit, breathes a lot better now and a couple more horses . Apart from that 22000 Kls of bliss.

Had mine 7 months, love it, put stage 1 kit and Vance and Hines straight shots on it from new, only issues is it handles so well it's very easy to scrape boards especially on roundabouts because they tend to slope from the centre out, other issue is trying to work out a good comfortable pillion seat with back rest for the missus for long rides, something that won't scratch the back guard paint, my bad lander seat took the paint off and had to get it fixed

I'm still waiting for mine. Should be early to mid December. Got finance approved in the last few weeks. Went for Vance and Hines long shots, and a hi flow air intake behind the stock Softail Slim cover. This bike shall hopefully provide the sanity that 3 kids under 3 sometimes robs of me.

cheers
voigtstr

Will Tas Police give a shit about the side mounted number plate?

The bike is finally in at the dealer.  Bits are to be installed over the next couple of days and then its mine!

reused a duplicate post from 8/12... Bike was checked out last friday and I should have it either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday this week.