Bike alternative.

Moto Guzzi Stelvio

I'm kinda growing to like my little Varadero and am using it more and more for little trips to the shops n stuff - whereas before I'd have used the car. They are both the same amount of hassle to get out of Fort Knox (my garage), but strangely I've been picking the little guy.

But for the distance you are looking at - I'd be more comfortable giving it a few steroids and turning it into a Transalp.
Which, to be honest, if it weren't for the costs involved I would do now anyway.

pedro, go on, get a sportster, they are good fun and yes, even though they weigh in at a hefty 255kilos, you can still chuck them round corners at a decent rate of knots

only thing is that on a right hander, the exhaust clamps will "explode" on contact with the road, long before yer knee scrapers get scuffed

Buel Ullysees

Moving to a Sportster could be a case of natural progression as apparently the bearded bat eating Harley types view the Sportster's as a "girlie bike"
Dont bother me none.

Originally Posted by Pedrosa

Moving to a Sportster could be a case of natural progression as apparently the bearded bat eating Harley types view the Sportster's as a "girlie bike"
Dont bother me none.

Thats precisely why I wouldnt get one. For the image you may as well get a Suzuki Maurauder

Did anyone mention the Triumph Thruxton...

Originally Posted by Gmonsta

Thats precisely why I wouldnt get one. For the image you may as well get a Suzuki Maurauder

Did anyone mention the Triumph Thruxton...

only an opinion but I think that a "bare bones" solo seat sportster is one of the coolest lookin harleys you can get

re the girlie bike - you will always get the big beardie old school types slaggin us off, in fact us vrod owners are referred to as IKEA bike riders

obviously they have no taste

The Thruxton is a lovely Cafe Racer retro bike but not for me I am afraid. Despite me never owning a bike wit a parallel twin engine it simply does not have the allure for me.

The more I look at this pic on the link:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/C...y&swffamily=sp

The more I salivate over a Nightster. The only downside with it for me is that you do not have the option to slap a dual seat on it should you wish to. There are no positions for rear foot rests to be fixed.

So Despite the Nightster being my fvoured one, in order to keep single and passenger carrying options open I think the 1200R is more likely to get the nod.

[Biker Biggles]

Stop playing hard to get and go out and buy the 999R that you really want.
A Harley is something you hire for a week to tour America,not a serious bike to own in Spain.

Originally Posted by Pedrosa

The more I look at this pic on the link:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/C...y&swffamily=sp

The more I salivate over a Nightster. The only downside with it for me is that you do not have the option to slap a dual seat on it should you wish to. There are no positions for rear foot rests to be fixed.

So Despite the Nightster being my fvoured one, in order to keep single and passenger carrying options open I think the 1200R is more likely to get the nod.

Have you actually ridden one yet. I thought that I wanted a Sportster a few years ago, but a test ride quickly showed me the error of my ways. They've really no power at all. The 1200 is a bit better than the 883, but they're still not very good bikes. If the new Bonnevilles had been around then, I'd have gone for one of those instead. I test rode a couple of the big twins and was much more impressed with the Dyna Low Rider, which I bought. I then got a Ducati ST2 as well. Though I loved the Harley, most days I'd reach for the Ducati keys. I think that you might well be very disappointed going from a Ducati to a Sportster. As a second bike, I'd say go for it, but if it's going to be your only bike, then there are a lot of better choices.

Whatever you do, don't test ride a v-rod / night-rod, as you'll then not be satisfied with anything less.