Artmageddon

Nothing special, I am a graphic designer, my wife is a teacher, we just pay our bills on time and don't run up credit too much, save, and put a lot toward retirement. We own a house, that's key for getting good rates, and we try not to live beyond our means. Also, always check State Farm Bank when you finance anything, especially if you have insurance through them. They will beat nearly any other rate you can find.

I know about k & n, had one in my Mustang and one is in my Ranger now. Just never got around to it for the Shadow. I'm not familiar with the Power Commander, but a quick glance at their website tells me that they don't make one for the Shadow. It has a carb, not fuel injection. Am I missing something?

My current pipes are the feature I love best about the Shadow now. It sounds fucking awesome. Not sure about how they are on power, but I'll sacrifice some for the roar of the mighty Honda.

Right now my extra cash is disappearing with the rest of the stock market. I wish I could help you out.

Welcome, good to have you.

Here's the really sad part, my wife and were out in the garage and I took the cover off the bike for the first time since December, and the first words I said to her was" damn that's pretty!" I sat on it and wow did it feel good, better than the sportster. I think I'm getting cabin fever and trying to cure it by looking at new bikes. I'm keeping the Shadow at least a little while longer. I'm up for performance mods- and open to suggestions. I'm okay mechanically, but I'm not a gear head either, so nothing that involves tearing down the engine.

This is a bit off topic. I agree with you, but in reality this very seldom the case. I make decent money, and I could pay cash for it. Why would I finance it then? I like having my savings cushion. I don't want my wife hurting financially if I wreck my bike and I can't work or something(if I die, she's on easy street) When I take out a loan, I get it for the lowest interest rate I can, and say its a four year loan, I pay it off in one. I tend to earn money in large chunks, so this way works for me. I lose a few hundred dollars in the long run on doing it like that, but I am okay with it. Not everyone has $10000 to go buy a new bike either. If they can afford the monthly payments without struggling, more power to them.

I'm with you, I was thinking about that too. That's 3 important things that confirm what my head says. My heart says get the Harley, and I'm a bit of an impulse shopper. I'm pretty sure I'm going pass on this one. Either ride the Shadow one more year and sell it, or just keep it till it melts.

Se, as stupid as this is, that never even crossed my mind. You guys are pretty much confirming my second thoughts.

Perfect explanation. We're all screwed.

I thought the exact same thing. That's why I'm struggling with this. I went in to this planning on buying new if I got one this spring. I just happened to see this deal, and thought it was pretty good. For a bike with 600 miles, it is $3000 less than a new one.

Good info. Ride like you're invisible guys. I am amazed at the idiot cagers out there that will risk their own life and others to save two seconds of time.

Alright, I've got a decision to make, and was hoping to get some feedback from you guys. Right now I have an 02 Honda Shadow Spirit 750. I love the bike; how it looks, how it rides. and its paid for. My biggest complaint is I ride the highway a lot, and feel like I have the engine wound out cruising at 65-70. If I was just bar hopping or cruising around town, it would be perfect, but I have a ton of weekend trips planned and most of them are 200-400 miles one way. It has about 8500 miles on it. I have a windshield, bags, custom pipes(this bike sounds sweet). Yuo can kinda see it in my profile pics. I found a great deal on a 2006 Harley Davidson Sportser 1200 custom. It only has 600 Miles on it(yes, 600), guy won it and never rode it. It has a windshield, luggage rack and sissy bar. I would have to add the bags and that's about it. It's selling for about $1500 less than anywhere I've seen, and those bikes had at least 5000 miles on them, without the windshield. I can afford it easily, but at the same time the economy is terrible right now and I'm hesitant to put myself in any debt. But it's way more powerful, I like it a lot, and it feels good. Alright, maybe I'm sucker for the the whole mystique of riding a Harley, but I feel that regardless, I'll eventually own one anyway. I'm second in line for the Harley, there is one other guy who doesn't look like he can get financed and can't come up with a down payment. I'm already approved and have a down payment, so if he falls through, it's mine if I want it. I will find out and have to make a decision tomorrow, this bike won't last. It may end up that I don't even get, if that's the case I will buy new if I decide to with a Harley. I was thinking about buying a brand new bike this spring anyway, so the even though the Harley is barely ridden, it it not new. But a new one is several thousand more. Let me hear some of your opinions. I know there are a lot of Harley haters here, so I don't need the bashing, just give stick to what you think about these specific two bikes. I'm struggling with a decision and just want some feedback to get my own thoughts rolling. Here are links to specs on both, and both are black. Honda http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2002models/2002models-Honda-VT750DC-ShadowSpirit.htm Harley http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2006models/2006models-Harley-Davidson-XL1200CSportster1200Custom.htm

I don't think that it could be any clearer. You would have to blind or stupid to miss it, and it looks fine.

Uh, this gives me 50. I promise when I post my bike in a few days I didn't join just to sell it!

Stevie Nicks????

Yep, that's me, and I'm typing this as Sambusa is gargling on my cock.

I ride because I think way too much and depress myself. On the bike, the only thoughts I have are the road, the wind and the music in my head. If you ever see me on the highway screaming, that's just me singing some tool and releasing my stress.

I just started noticing these a few days ago, they freakin' crack me up. I think we have a lot of latent homosexuals on this forum......

After seeing some of the rates you guys are paying, I'm glad I'm old and have a cruiser. My State Farm policy on the Shadow is $300 per year for full coverage. But I have a crap load of other stuff with State Farm. (2 cars, house, bike, 2 car loans) If my rates go up, I'm paying them to stay with State Farm. Why? I don't know if it's just my agent or not, but every time I need something, they treat like I am their only and best customer. The first year that I had them, I would get a letter from them every month saying that my insurance has gone DOWN. I still regular decreases from them. Not many people know they have a bank. I used them to finance my truck and my wife's car. They were at least a point lower on both. The fact that they hold the liens on the vehicles also makes my rates go down. Both times I used them I used the dealer financing first and they contacted me and offered me a better financing package. I don't have too many other companies calling me to say they can save me money. Customer service goes a long way in my book. It's nice to know the people that will be taking care of you if something gets fucked up. I trust them to look out for me. My wife had two minor accidents and my agent went out of his way to make sure our premiums didn't get jacked. We called around and compared pricing for her, and they were by far the best. I've referred them to a few friends, and they say the same things that I am. If anyone is looking for a good agent, I will be happy to refer them to mine. And no,this is not a paid advertisement.

That bites, I have State Farm.

I think AD Farrow is a good thing. This is Ohio Riders, not Ohio Sportbike Riders. Half of the reason I joined this board is because it seem to me that most of the people on it didn't care what you ride, as long as you ride. While I agree that there is a small portion of the Harley crowd that would snub their noses at a sportbike or a metric cruiser, I also don't think they will be joining this board anytime soon. A good integration of cruisers and sportbikes will help narrow the gap in the differences that are between the two groups. I think it is a generational thing, sportbike riders tend to be younger, Cruiser riders tend to be older. I also think that gap is closing. I'm in my early thirties and ride a cruiser. I like to ride casual for hours and don't feel the need to go 110 mph, so a sportbike doesn't work me. That doesn't mean I don't like them, if I could afford it, I would have both. I think most of the cruiser guys feel the same way. The guys I hang out with all have sportbikes, and I could care less. I think if most of us of cared less about the bike and more about the rider, the motorcycle community as a whole would benefit. Welcome AD Farrow!

Welcome, nice to see another cruiser. We're taking over!

I understand that if they don't get along with the kids something needs to be done, but just giving them away is wrong. I've had dogs all my life. Right now I have a miniature dachshund and it is the most loyal, loving, funny dog that I have ever had or met. While I do agree dachshunds tend to grow very attached to one person, mine is equally loving to my wife and myself, and I'm sure could adapt well to a child. Maybe it's how he was raised. If a dog is loved and treated well, I think it could adapt to the kids. I could understand if the kids are disabled or have health issues, but I just don't understand how anyone could just dump a beloved pet. I would choose my dog over 99% of the people I know. I would take that dachshund in a heartbeat but the one thing my dog isn't good with is other dogs. He wants all the attention all the time.