Switching

[oldbiker]

Some of you asked me why I switched to a Harley from the Nomad. Well, I've had a month and over 2000 miles on the Road Glide to think about it and I've finally figured it out. As some of you know I've owned three Nomads and a couple of Honda V twins. I've spent thousands of dollars trying to make them all sound like and look like a Harley, but I couldn't quite get there. So I thought , what the hell, buy a Harley. I'm not a bit sorry I did. We just got home from a week end in North Carolina. I averaged 48.6 MPG, riding two up, in the mountains.

[mdm44]

You know, Oldbiker, life is too short not to do what you want, if you can. Had you not bought the Harley, you might have always wondered if you missed out on something you should have done. Enjoy your new ride!

[blowndodge]

As long as that harley last as long and is trouble free as a Nomad it's worth it oldbiker!!

[mrfuni]

Glad you're happy oldbiker.
It'll be interesting to see what the total "cost of ownership" will be in a few years.
Enjoy the ride..Joe

[racinchef]

Hey, not only did you get a Harley, but wherever you go the chicks will be checking you out. Don't know why, but it is what it is.
BTW, there was an article comparing the Victory Vision to the GW and the E Glide and the author said that after a few weeks on the Vision the E Glide felt like a minibike. I think if I took one(Vision) for a test ride that drool would start forming again in the corner of my mouth. I think that is my lottery dream bike.

[dui546]

Congrats Ole Biker. I looked long and hard at the Harley and the simple reason I chose and bought the Nomad was price, Price, PRICE or aka: $$,$$$.$$. Did I mention is was the cost?

I agree 100% that there comes a time in life in which you should be happy and there is a place in life where you can afford to do exactly what makes you happy. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif I won't do any HD wanna be changes to my Nomad because I was fully aware of what I bought when I made the decision to buy it. I appreciate the quality of how the Nomad was designed.

I envy you. I'm close...but not exactly there just yet.

[ponch]

A guy I know from the gym just traded up from a 2005 TC88 Road king to a 2008 TC96 Ultra Classic. He said the power difference is amazing. He said he's done 120 with it, which is damn fast for a full dress bike. THe problem for me is that I own my Nomad, and to get a Harley, I'd have to take a loan, which I'd rather not. That being said it looks like you have a winner. You'll have to tell us more about it in the future.


Some of you asked me why I switched to a Harley from the Nomad. Well, I've had a month and over 2000 miles on the Road Glide to think about it and I've finally figured it out. As some of you know I've owned three Nomads and a couple of Honda V twins. I've spent thousands of dollars trying to make them all sound like and look like a Harley, but I couldn't quite get there. So I thought , what the hell, buy a Harley. I'm not a bit sorry I did. We just got home from a week end in North Carolina. I averaged 48.6 MPG, riding two up, in the mountains.

[waterman]

Glad you enjoy the new bike, oldbiker. In the end, we are all on two wheels, so enjoy.

[Yellow Jacket]

Oldbiker, I'm pretty much in the same boat with dui546. When I bought my Nomad in 06 if I had had the bucks I would have bought a Harley. I didn't have the bucks then and don't now. As it is, I'm pretty happy with my Nomad. Now if I were to win the lottery I most likely would buy a new Harley the next day.

I'm glad you were able to buy what you wanted. In the end, that is all that matters. Enjoy!

[tomk]

Something to consider.

[ringadingh]

Ive had a lot of different bikes over the years, but never a Harley, with any luck someday I will.

I had the bucks.

I made a very nice profit when I sold my previous house. I could have bought 3 Electraglide Ultras and paid cash for them. After I saw the Nomad, and rode a Nomad, I didn't want a Harley.

End of story.

[coacha]

Beautiful bike oldbiker. I may have a H/D some day but not in the near future. I am having too much fun with the Nomad and have too much stuff I still have to do to it, lol.

[audiogooroo]

Find what you like and ride! :)

[Idaho]

OB, I'm happy for ya. Let us know how you like the Harley after you start paying for scheduled service, oil changes etc. I really do hope the enjoyment lasts.

[rickyboy]

Good for you OB,....I'm on the same page as "audiogooroo".... get and ride what ever you like. Me?....I have never wanted a Harley, because from what I see with some of the guys I work with that have Harleys, it's just a state of mind. Do I like the looks? You bet. The heritage look is what makes the Nomad so appealing. But I put my money on the Nomad for reliability.....and it had the style I liked. But by all means ride what you want. Stick around here at KawaNow though.

[oldbiker]

I will save money on the service because I do most all my own work. I use Amsoil in everything. It brought my oil temp. down 15 degrees and cut way down on transmission noise. It should do wonders for the Nomads. I talked to a factory rep for Amsoil when I had my Nad and he told me that Amsoil doesn't break down and I could get 15,000 miles between changes.

[kawbuc]

Nice ride oldbiker. Stay safe and watch out for the cages.
I owned Harleys years ago among other types of scoots. I say , as long as you are happy thats all that matters.
Good luck and congrats.

...I talked to a factory rep for Amsoil when I had my Nad and he told me that Amsoil doesn't break down and I could get 15,000 miles between changes.

Well, a rep will say anything.

The truth is:

a) Everything breaks down. This is established in the second law of thermodynamics.

b)You can get 15,000 miles or 30,000 miles between changes, if you don't mind pumping dirty oil through your engine for 15,000 or 30,000 miles.

Because a Harley doesn't share oil between engine and transmission, you won't have the same breakdown rate as a Nomad where the gears are literally cutting the oil molecules up, making the oil thinner. This is a big advantage to the Harley.

In theory.

The problem is that big V-Twins tend to pollute the oil with combustion byproudcts more quickly than modern engine designs. And they all suck some dirt as you ride, no matter what air filter you have. So while the viscosity won't diminish as rapidly, the oil still gets dirty, and needs to be changed.

I'm not saying Amsoil is bad oil. It's very good oil. But it's not magic in a bottle, and still suffers the real world issues of IC engines. Also a cooler running engine should last longer, but a hot running engine is more efficient and produces less of those nasty combustion byproudcts that pollute your oil. (Assuming that the hot running is a matter of design and not mechanical defect.) How hot should it be? People say the new Harleys are way too hot, so cooler running should be an improvement. That part probably justifies the cost of Amsoil, but remember that as the oil gets dirty the engine will run a little hotter.

Also, in spite of the Second Law of Thermodynamics, I hear the new Harleys break down a lot less than the old ones. Good luck with yours, and remember that the greatest factor of all in engine life is a loose nut behind the wheel. ;)

[VulcanE]

Really proud for you Wayne, although I do have a lot of Harley stuff on mine, it wasn't my intent to TRY and make it look like a Harley. I love my Nomad, but I really liked some of the features of the HD, so I incorporated them onto my Nad. In my mind, I have my "ideal" bike. To me, all that matters is that we're on 2 wheels. Ride safe, and you, DK, and I need to get together and do some riding!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I really like that Amsoil too.

[dantama]

On two of my Nomad purchases, I could have paid cash for a Road King. The thing that keeps me coming back to Nomads is the six years of warranty.

I may have been swayed over to the RK if they would give me the same warranty.

Congrats on the Harley, OB. Just like some others have said, ride what suits you best, and what makes you happy. I'm happy for you. Hope you and the Mrs. have many,many trouble free miles. Glad you're enjoying yourself. Keep us posted.

[billmac]

I may have been swayed over to the RK if they would give me the same warranty.

Do what makes you the happiest. But like Dan, the warranty on the Nomad speaks volumes.

What? In California they only give you a 2 year warranty on a Nomad.

...unless they changed since 2004 that is.

[ringadingh]

In Canada its only a one year warranty.Unless you buy an extended plan of course.

[VulcanE]

Th Nomads come with a 2 year warranty (in '05 anyway http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif), and you could buy an extra 4 years. A friend of mine has an '07 Electra Glide Classic who's warranty runs out in December. He went last week and bought a "factory" extended warranty for 7 more years. It covers everything from roadside retrieval to staying in a motel due to breakdown.It covers everything except light bulbs, brake pads, tires and oil changes, and has a $50 per occurrence deductible. That's eight years total, and I think he said it was $1200. http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif

[ells]

I got the Nomad over a Harley because of value and quality, not price. I know Harley has cleaned up their act considerably and I'm not talking resale value because the market is still a little confused on that, but it's what you get for the money is what is so completely obvious, unless you're buying a dream and hard to put a value/price on that.

[donoller]

what ever floats your boat .do it

[namvet]

My first motorcycle was a used 1969 Electra Glide, bought in 1973, wish I still had that one, loved that big white floating seat.
Anyway over the years I have had a number of Harley's, from low rides to the Ultras, not to mention the number of Honda's that came and went. My last was a 1990 Ultra Classic. I paid $10,900 ( out the door new) for it and thought that was just getting too high, for a motorcycle. Up till that time I had never paid more than $2500 for a motorcycle. The next one down in cost was a 1990 rebuild that I can built from a old wreck 1973 shovel head. I was a (part time) Custom Chrome dealer at that time, so parts were at my cost. I purchased new light weight frame, S&S motor kit and carb, rebuilt tranny, wide glide front end with 19 inch tire and put it all together over the winter, rode it to Sturgis that summer. Should have kept that one too, I turned every nut and bolt on that bike myself. Things happen, made my last run to Sturgis in about 95, sold the Ultra, finished raising the kids and then retired. Looked at the bikes and said there is nothing here for $2500 anymore.....25k plus for a new Ultra.....15k for maybe a used one from the dealer. The I found the Nomad 2007 with 7,000 miles on it, still has warranty till 09, rubber mounted engine and out the door for $9250. Looks like I am gonna ride to Sturgis, at least one more time.......

[dogdoc]

Its a shame every bike is based off a harley or compared to a harley. if it ain't a harley then it seems to me yours doesnt measure up. This is from contact with riders and talking to friends of course. I started to buy a fatboy once and didnt like the service so didnt. I started to look at a road king but didnt like the dealer. i bought the Nomad because I LIKED it and the price was GOOD. I'll keep my Nomad thanks. but wayne hope you enjoy that H-D its a sweet bike. Good Luck too.

[jussmatt]

Glad it's workin out for you OB!!! As Long As We're Riding...It's ALLLLL Good!!! LOL!

[misunderstood]

Glad it's workin out for you OB!!! As Long As We're Riding...It's ALLLLL Good!!! LOL!

I'll second that motion. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif