How to Choose the Best Harley-Davidson for YOU!

Hey how are you doing Matt from Laidlaw it's Harley Davidson so I wanted to make a video to talk about what I do on a daily basis and that's how people

choose

the right Harley Davidson for them so basically I have five. tips or five things you should really ask yourself and five things you shouldn't consider when looking to buy a Harley Davidson, so the number one question I ask people when looking to buy a Harley Davidson is what kind of If you plan to ask that question, we're going to help me and help yourself figure out exactly which bike is going to be

best

for you so basically the

best

thing you can do is also consider the vacation platforms that Vincent has so basically there are three main frames or vacations and build all of their bikes, you've got the touring frame, you've got the Softail frame and you've got the Sportster frame, so depending on what type of riding you're going to do, it'll really help you figure out exactly which frame.

To get it, you also have the street platform and I'm going to talk about that as well, but street is a very specific type of riding style and in a niche type of buyer for a street motorcycle for the touring platform for Someone to If you like to hit the road and go a lot of miles or 65 miles per hour or more on the highway, then the Touring chassis will probably be your best choice personally. I'll use myself as an example. I have a Bicycle with a Touring chassis. 90% or more of all the miles I ride on my Harley Davidson are on the highway at 65 miles per hour or faster, which combined with my height, I will reach height in just one minute.

At my height, I'm six foot six inches, the touring chassis bike is a pretty easy choice for me as far as what Holladay was saying, I should go for it if you're someone who gets out on the road a lot and puts in a lot of miles in combination. With maybe you spend the night at home, maybe you travel a lot with two people, then the touring bike is definitely the platform for you. A lot of times I get people who come to the dealership and say, you know what Matt? I'm stuck between a Street Glide and a Street Bob.

I'm really not sure which one I should tell myself. What that says about this person is that he has absolutely no idea about the different frame that Harley-Davidson offers, so you really have to know the basics of the frames and what each of these three core frames or offers. Vicent's vacation makes better and how they differ from each other the other frame the second frame the medium size frame is obviously the soft tail which we don't have now I don't have a Dyna frame, the soft tails and the dinettes intertwine where there were subtle differences, but in some ways they served the same type of mid-frame platform to customers.

Now it's a lot easier if you want a mid frame bike, it's your obvious easiest option is a soft tail, so first out of the queue is obviously for the guy who is an experienced rider, someone who has been riding for a while and want to ride more aggressively than you can or are capable of on a turning bike and someone you know. you want to do a kind of combination of everything, it's the best, like a Swiss army knife bike, where it's good on the road, not as good as a touring bike, but it's a very capable bike on the road, but it's also very good on the road. the canyons and the local stuff too, so it's probably your best motorcycle for everyone.

I would recommend her to someone who has been riding for a while. It may be a beginner's bike, but there are better bikes suitable for beginners, which brings me to the Sportster, which is The smallest frame of the three main frames is heavier than the street frame, but I think the Sorcerer frame can meet the needs of a couple of different cyclists. Maybe you're a new cyclist. I think this Sportster frame is a great frame for a new rider. It's a lightweight motorcycle, it's about 100 pounds lighter than the soft tail, the Enchantress is very limited and its capabilities on the road, so where I really find people who trade up or are dissatisfied with their Sportster are the guys who buy the Sportster and then you find yourself traveling in groups, you go out on the road and you do 2 3 400 miles in a day, you really don't have the fuel capacity at worst and the ride comfort on the highway just isn't the best .

A Sportster is best, whether you're wondering what kind of driving I'm going to do, if you're going to do a lot of local stuff or if you're a beginner, then the Sportster might be a good choice for you and I would also take into account your height and also your budget, which I'll get to the budget at the end. I think budget is probably the question that should be asked last, not because it's not important, just because I'm a firm believer and you need to buy a bike, don't buy a price tag, buy a bike if you spend a little more money and you get a bike that's right for you that's really worth the extra money. you pay off in the long run you'll enjoy your bike more and you'll ride it longer and you won't have to replace it right away alright guys so point number two I want to make and I've mentioned this in bits and pieces in other videos that I've spoken.

Another thing you want to do is

choose

the bike that is closest to the final project or your final vision is possible. Many times I receive guys who come. here and I'll give you an example, they say, hey man, I want to buy a Road Glide. Oh by the way, can you give me a list of accessories with a touring package, lower leg fairings and speakers in the back and I'll just look? To them I say, did you know the Road Glide Ultra existed? Because you can get all those things you just ordered at a lower price than if I installed them all here at the dealership and paid, you know? those parts you're at a dealership level and my goal is to make money, but at the same time you know I also want to get the best value for the customer so a lot of times guys come here and don't.

They don't realize all the different models available and they don't choose the bike that is as close as possible to their final project and a lot of that is also just profitability, you know, if you want to use a blacked out bagger, well. then get the special, you know, the street boys special, the Road Glide special and then add those elements to it. I totally understand because taking a coat of black powder off everything and everything is going to exceed the price of a rogue light ultra or limited or something, so I guess my best advice is to learn about all the models, don't feel like I have to go into and buy the 883 plate or do I have to go in and buy the street.

Bob, you know two really popular models and I think people have this preconceived notion of which bike is cool to buy. Open your eyes, you know, discover exactly what you want. You know, a lot of times guys want storage and they're ready. They'll come in on their bike, look at a Softail and say, Hey Matt, you know? Can I put bags on this bike? The answer is usually yes, but I said: Did you know about the Heritage sport glider? I already have bags there or the guys will say, well, you know, I want comfort on the road.

I'm going to get a lowrider and I want to equip it with bags and a windshield and I and I usually say, well, did you check out the Heritage and choose? the bike that is as close as possible to your final project or vision when you choose yours, so the third tip or the third thing that people ask is what kind of writing experience do you have? In general, I like to ask them if they've ridden motorcycles before, if they've ridden dirt bikes or come from sport bikes, a lot of people come from sport bikes and this is their first Harley, so they ask me what's a good Harley, a dirt bike? transition to the world. from Harley Davidson, so they usually like to pinpoint it on a Softail, they're looking for that sportier ER bike, they're not ready for a big touring bike yet, the Softail is a great starter bike for people who are just name brand. new to the world of motorcycles fresh out of the Academy or just starting to look at Harley's or any type of two wheeled transport I join, we start with a Sportster or a street 750 normally Sportsters are a better option for many people like that and you know what the bike looks like and stuff like that, one of the first things I asked you is what are you riding right now and how long have you been riding and what kind of riding have you been doing, like Andrew said.

Know? Are you a dirt bike rider? Did you grow up riding dirt bikes? Have you never been on the street before? Are you a new motorcyclist and don't even know how to operate a motorcycle clutch? These are things you'll want to ask yourself before choosing a bike if you're someone new, you obviously want to get a bike that's lighter but also bites and that you can confidently touch the ground with both feet. and something that you feel comfortable in and that is not too big. We'll talk about your physical height in just a minute, but your physical height also plays an important role when you're a new rider and want to feel comfortable and confident. on the motorcycle, someone who comes in and has been writing sportbikes their whole life, you know, guys have been coming out like they're CVR 1000s or whatever, these guys are very confident riders, some of that comes like that.

I won't try to put them on a Sportster. I just think this is bound to be very disappointing and I don't want this to become a video where we insist that Sportster forces are amazing iconic bikes and definitely have their place. in the lineup but in Southern California we are on the road a lot and you know a lot of people are doing 65+ miles per hour with only 5 speeds, a lot of times experienced riders are not happy with a Sportster and I just watch them shift with frequently, so ask yourself what kind of experience you have and I would always recommend that this be something you really want to do, especially to determine how your experience matches up with the bike you ultimately choose that you want to do. test trip there's really no substitute for doing a test trip in general, it's all about what kind of trip you're going to do and who you're going to travel with because if you're most of your dad's friends and your friends etc. and so on, everyone has touring bikes, it's probably not a great idea to get an Iron 1200.

I've ridden with a group of people who had Sportsters and some who had touring bikes and you're kind of the main anchor when you're on a Sportster 48 and you have to stop every 70 miles to fill up the tank and ask yourself, do you know what kind of experience I have right now? and my experience as a safe pilot. If you are a confident pilot, you can get it. on any bike here and then it just comes down to the type of riding you're going to do and you know if you're going to be riding with a passenger you're going to have the storage so you write Some of those other factors factor in beyond the fact that you're an experienced rider or if you are a beginner.

So my next tip is that you really need to pay attention to your physical height and your fitness on the bike. I'm going to talk to you about probably the most common things that I see and also the biggest fears that I see, so I guess I'll start with the biggest fear. The biggest fear is seeing these people come in and maybe they're smaller, maybe you get on a bike and you're on your tiptoes and you're not sure about the weight of the bike compared to your feet planted on the ground and depending on your driving experience, there are certain things that I think you should be aware of or aware of, so the more experience you have in writing, the less important it will be to have your feet and heels planted on the ground for a long time while growing .

I could always stand on tiptoe. My dad always. Put me on bikes that were too big for me, maybe it's because he was putting me on his bike and you don't want to buy young Matt a new bike. I don't know if Andrew had a similar experience, but generally he grew up. In a family that rides dirt bikes, you just take used stuff and ride whatever is available, but as I got better, you know I even rode bikes where I was only on one foot and couldn't even touch them. On both sides it's because he had the ability to take off on one foot, so I guess, really, what I'm trying to say is that if you're an experienced writer and you go to a Harley Davidson dealership, if Oh, if you're about the balls of your feet, you'll be fine, so go for a bike or should I say eliminate a bike altogether because you don't feel like your feet are firm enough as plants on the ground. throwing your heels on the ground that is a mistake in my opinion now I don't want to contradict what I just said a minute ago where if you are a beginner you should look for that because if you are a beginner having that confidence of having both feet planted on the ground is an advantage and helps you learn to ride.

I've had some clients come in and their father, their uncle, their cousin had an incredible or luxurious inheritance, so when they grew up, I've alwayswanted that bike, that bike, but they may not be as tall or have a longer inseam like them, but they know they want that bike. I recently had a customer come here and I knew he wanted, you know, a Deluxe sat on it he just couldn't reach the kickstand to fully extend it, so there is the option and Harley has all the tools to help you build the bike tailored to you and when all else fails, you know you sit on the bike and I suggest when you are. you buy bikes and you're in the market and you're sitting on different bikes and you're in a dealership where the shoes you're going to wear when we actually own and ride bikes because people come here with Flip Flops sitting on bikes and they don't realize.

I can't get there that well. You'll have about an inch of heel to work with in a boot, so wear your boots, just come in here where the pants are. What you're going to use if you're on your toes, keep in mind that most dealers have an extendable seat that you know you can put on the bike and sit on the bike that way, adjust the handlebars a quarter inch forward or backwards can also help a lot, since Well, keep in mind that there is always the option that you can build the bike to suit you.

The second thing I see is on the opposite side of the spectrum, maybe you're too big, so a lot of times when I meet these guys that come here. and you know, maybe there's six, three, they're like 280 pounds or something and they jump into a sport, maybe even a Softail and a lot of times, regardless of what kind of riding they plan on doing if they're a really big guy like that, I will almost always guide you towards the rotating chassis bike only proportionally. I mean, they just look better on the bike, they'll fit better on the bike, if you fit better you'll be more comfortable on the bike.

On the motorcycle you'll also be able to make full use of the full range of motion of the handlebars and the controls and everything, so take a personal inventory of yourself and have enough self-awareness to know, “Okay, hey, me.” I'm too tall for this bike I'm too big for this bike or I'm too small for this bike, but also be confident in your abilities. You know, if you're especially for experienced cyclists. I saw you had this guy. here, who was a really accomplished sports cyclist, I mean, this guy did all kinds of stunts and everything, but then he was thinking about buying a Road Glide and he was really intimidated by the Road Glide and I was like, dude, you're a good To the rider it seems that this Road Glide has nothing to be intimidated about, it weighs more, but with a little correct muscle memory and a little technique, the Davidsons really support their own weight and the weight of a Harley-Davidson is probably the number one thing I see people get intimidated by and it's actually something that's not a problem.

The other day I had a lady come into the dealership. She was 65 years old and measured 5 by 5 feet 4 inches. and she weighed 130 pounds and wrote a road slide this woman had no strength she had no height but she had good technique with good technique the weight of a bike really means nothing so use my judgment when buying a bike I have mentioned don't think too much on the weight, obviously you know the weight a little bit, but as I just said in the example I just gave you, the weight doesn't make sense, but in the long scheme of things, especially when I know what you're doing and, If you're an experienced rider, you'll adapt to a Harley very, very quickly, so again, on that tip, be aware of your physical stature and how it relates to the motorcycle you choose.

Alright guys, so my penultimate point will be the style you are choosing now. I've said this again in fragments in many other videos from my past. Style is really important, many already know. Sometimes guys will look at all the soft tails and basically determine that they want the soft tail chassis. The soft teal chassis is more conducive to the type of riding they do at their physical stature and everything else that I already mentioned and they say, "Well, do I buy the Street Bob or the soft skinny tail?" Swipe and I'll tell you which one you like best in look and style.

Now there are other factors that come into play between a street guy and a lying rascal, but appearance and style, as superficial as it may seem, is actually a really important factor. When choosing between a street glide and a row glide or perhaps between a Fat Boy and a breakout, it really all depends on the style. You had to ask yourself: Do I want the look of the post-World War II slim era? Do I want modern muscle? Fat boy's fat cruiser style Do I want that raked helicopter style of a leak? You know a lot is the type of style you want and that's why Harley-Davidson has so many bikes to suit a variety of different people and riders. and skill levels of the rider, but also to accommodate a lot of different styles, here on the west coast we have our own style and we have our own style in the Midwest.

I'm sure they have their own style and style. Well, you know, certain models that work best here probably won't do as well there, but there are models that work well, so it's about starting with the bike that is as close to the end goal as possible and then making your own. twists or whatever to make it yours and give it the style you want to give it, ultimately don't be afraid to choose a bike, that's a choice dictated by the style you want now, on the contrary. On the end of the spectrum I see the error and this is a very common error.

People come to the dealership and they've been on the Internet and they just look through all the bikes and pick the one they like. I think it looks better and they come and want to buy that bike. They say, "You know what, Matt. I don't really need your help deciding which bike I should buy. I've already looked at all the bikes and figured out which bike." I like it better and it was fun because I saw this happen. The number one bike, the one that has happened all the time, was the V-Rod. I swear half the people who bought the V-Rod bought it just because they liked the way it looked, when in reality they were buying the highest performing Harley-Davidson they were offering at the time, there was so much more to the bike than the capabilities, the motorcycle was much more than most people who bought it could understand who didn't know about the first one.

The thing about sight is they just know I knew it looked cool and that's cool and like I said you should like the look of your motorcycle but buy a motorcycle 100% based on looks alone and just deny it or forget about it . Regarding the other factors that I have already explained to you, it is a big mistake, the other thing is that the other bike that I see a lot of being finished with is the Iron 883, a lot of guys will come, maybe there will be newer riders. they like the budget they like the fact that the iron costs $9,000 they like the look of it and they say irons for me, let's do it, let's buy it and I say, well, wait, wait a second, you know, and let's ask a couple of questions further. it's your writing skills and the number one question I said I asked people is what kind of riding are you planning on doing and do you like and you already mentioned the group of riders you ride with, what do they have and what kind of riding are they into to guide you when you buy your Harley Davidson, so there's more to it than just picking the bike you like and just having the preconceived notion that you know you want the bike when you walk into a dealership, but style is important, but it's not the most important thing.

There are other things you should keep in mind before blindly choosing a bike, because if you like the way it looks, my last point I want to mention The good thing is that if the budget and a lot of people could put this as the first thing, if you can't afford it, so why consider it? And I set the budget, it is the last reason because I see another very common mistake that buyers make. get people to come in and buy a price tag, the biggest thing I see and I tell people this all the time, look man, pick the bike that you think will fit your needs, the best you would like, the best. the best and you'll be in love with the one the most and then we'll look at the price and see if you can afford it, if you can't afford it, then maybe save a little money, you know, in some circumstances I recommend to people who, hey, maybe you don't. be.

It's time for you to get a bike, but maybe save a little more money that way you'll get the bike that's best for you and most conducive to your writing skills. You know as much as I do that I'm losing the sale. I'd rather see someone wait a month or two to save up the required down payment or make room in their budget for the extra hundred dollars or whatever a month and get on the bike they'll be happiest with instead of pushing. Someone walked out the door on a Sportster because it was a cheap motorcycle only for them to come back and say, Hey Matt, you know 90% of my one mile trips I'm on the highway in the fast lane with my friends.

I stay behind, I'm the one who has to stop for gas every 90 miles. I mean I've seen people pick up a motorcycle for over 20 or 30 dollars a month, to me that's like crazy for 20 or 30 dollars a month to go up. the bike that you know is best for you to me, that's a no-brainer, so budget is important and you need to take that into account, you know where your budget limitations are, but at the same time, in my opinion, that's the least important. The most important thing is that you get on the right bike and have a bike that you like, what we would rather spend $10,000 on a motorcycle that is not right for you and that you end up not liking that you don't ride it or spend $15,000 on a bike that you love, perfectly satisfies all your needs and that you use very frequently.

I think I got my point anyway guys, thanks so much for watching. If you're interested, I'll be streaming live at the dealer announcement meeting next time. Tuesday, August 20 at approximately 10:00 a.m. so if you want to log in and watch my YouTube channel at 10am. m. central time, I'll be in Milwaukee where they'll be announcing the 2020 model year. I'll be live. streaming from the show floor so check out my 2020 model year live stream and if you're looking for a new bike in Southern California visit us here at Lady Lost Harley-Davidson, we never have any additional dealer margin charges, the same transparent price for more than 60 years thank you very much guys take care