[yammyboy]

First let me say that after 40 years of rideing and 27 bikes ive owned this is what I have learned about $ spent on my type of bike rideing style and my new Stryker. First I have to say I am NOT a full bagger type of rider, I did try and bag up my 2007 Roadliner with the bat wing fairing ,radio , trunk, ect. I did this also with a 1977 KZ1000 in 1979. Did not like it back then and still don't. I got into rideing in 1973 because it made me feel like a bird flying and free. I like the wind in my face and a little shield to keep the the wind blast off my chest at high way speeds so not to tire me out. Ive owned sport bikes and naked bikes and cruisers alike. Gold wingers and the like don't do it for me . Might as well just get a convertable car and call it quits, but I have one,LOL. So since I sold my Roadliner S and was wondering if I did the wrong thing by buying a smaller CC v-twinn and a lighter one at that. I took my Roadliner S for a ride for the last time thru the mountians after not being on it for two months and only rideing the Stryker. Let me just say I do NOT miss the 1854cc motor or the heavy weight of the Roadliner. in fact it felt like a TURD. I really mean it and I LOVED that Roadliner. Im glad to see it gone. Bigger is NOT always better in my rideing style. So I realized that after spending ALOT of money on several bikes I have owned that in my case, any thing over $10,000.00 for a new cruiser I am just wasteing my money. You really don't get any thing more in my opinion. sure you can mod and chrome the crap out of your bike and make it your own. But I have had a Roadstar and a Warrior with almost $20,000.00 into them each!! and lost a **** load of money selling them. When I first took a Stryker for a test ride in daytona in 2011 I was amazed at the bike and I owned my Roadliner S,2002 FZ1 and a 2004 FZ1 at the time. While no bike is perfect the Stryker for me fit me like a glove. their is plenty of power and the handeling is sweet. Reminds me of my 2002 Warriorafter I put drag bars on it, but I also remember the Warrior vibrated at high speeds way more than my Stryker. At my age and wisdom. I realize I could have bought a Raider just for bragging rights that it is bigger than anything hardley sells. But Im really not getting any more than my Stryker can deliver. Im sure I will have my Stryker for a few years at least. The most time I owned one particular bike in 27 of them was my 1977 KZ1000 which I owned for 5+ years. The Roadstar and Roadliner were close secound. I do just fine two up on my Stryker and my long trips seem to be over since I live in the best rideing roads in the USA and don't have to go far visiting 4 states in a afternoon of mountian road carveing. Yep, for me any thing over $10,000.00 is just a WAST of $$$$$.IMHOP.

 

[Silkentek]

I feel the same way about my stryker but I didn't have to spend more then 6k before realizing it thankfully. My old virago was an excellent value for $500 in that I learned to ride on it, I was able to do some major miles on it with Toby to even decide if motorcycling was for me in the first place and that part of the adventure only cost 1k total (bike, tires and maintenance) for 12k miles and when I sold the bike, I actually got $1k for it. (it was in a lot better shape when I sold it then when I bought it lol)
Then we bought the v-star 950 and that is when I actually started piloting myself.
This bike was $5,500 OTD, I spent about $1k in 22 months in tires and maintenance and put 14k miles on it. I was ready to trade up to something new, bigger and hopefully much more comfortable for me.
Then Toby did the magic... he pulled over on one of our rides, came around to my bike and pointed at his and said 'mount up, lets go, I am sure you can handle her'
That was a magic moment for me anyway, He let me ride his baby, and boy, what a ride... it wasn't long because I was very nervous about how powerful his bike felt, how different it felt... but there was no denying the attraction there.
Then, one one of our 800 mile weekends, he put me on his bike again, I had the back support from the sleeping bags and was able to settle down in the seat and suddenly my pains went away. The pain I was doing my best to ignore that the 950 always caused me due to my broken tail bone.
Then the search was on... I wanted a blue one just like his... but the dealership was trying to work me over on the price, so when our local guy said 10,485 OTD on a '13 pearl white, I pulled the trigger with Toby's blessing and haven't looked back.
I even got enough trade in for my 950 to pay it off.
I have been thrilled with my new stryker, I can sit that saddle all day without hurting, she handles so sweetly in the twisties, she is so smooth on the slab, we get out on the road and I just never want to come home lol
I try to envision myself riding something else, ooooh and ahhh over the victories and the Indian chieftains. But none of them can compare to my Dancer, and really, how much more bike does one need?

 

[yammyboy]

I agree , I thought I was the only one thinking like this. you can keep the expensive new indians. My Stryker at 630lbs is heavy enough.:thumb:.

 

[Silkentek]

I agree , I thought I was the only one thinking like this. you can keep the expensive new indians. My Stryker at 630lbs is heavy enough.:thumb:.

seriously lol
The thing that makes me ogle the Indian bikes is the gorgeous leather seats and saddle bags with fringe. I LOVE fringe... and leather...
I searched Ebay today and found a place to buy black leather fringe in 36 in strips (the fringe is 4 inches, the strip of fringe is 36 inches long)
I think I will be buying some and customizing my seat and saddle bags
I may even put fringe around my new luggage rack... since I have made my own leather gear in the past this shouldn't be too difficult.
I really don't see myself riding anything but my stryker for a long time... when I finally do trade it in lol it will probably be on another stryker...

 

[sicontex]

Stryke dat