Saw my first new Sportster S

[the Ferret]

Some of the responses in the early part of this thread related to the exhaust made me laugh out loud.

The people that will buy this bike don't care about class leading this or that...if they did they certainly wouldn't be shopping Harleys...Same goes for a lot of other items we purchase...The Ford F150 is the #1 selling vehicle in the US... don't think it's the class leader in anything that I know of. Certainly not the fastest, or the best braking...but, for some reason they seem to be very popular.

I can't quantify the intangibles that attract people to Harleys. However, the name and brand still have cachet it seems (in spite of the performance, design and technological limitations of its offerings) whether some in the motorcycling fraternity like it or not.

Harley didn't just throw this Sportster together. You can bet there were numerous focus groups comprised of the demographic that the MoCo is trying to entice to buy this model.

When I look at its ridiculous exhaust appenditure I think back on the Indian FTR when it came to market...first thing I thought was how did that ever make it into the showroom...same goes for this one as well.

I've seen these in the flesh at the local dealership and the salesman there keeps offering me a test ride every time I walk in. He knows I have an XR1200 and for some reason thinks I'm predisposed to purchasing this model because of that. I'm not interested in the bike so I haven't taken him up on it...I will say they're selling them...again, in spite of apparently not leading their class in anything. Think they've moved three so far that I know of and there have probably been more.

Couple of things that haven't been discussed by us so far is the overall size of the bike and that front tire. Tiny is almost an appropriate description. The bikes physical presence is very small...and low. You have to see one in person to put that into perspective. Most guys at 6 feet or over and in the 200+ pound range will look like circus monkeys on this machine. Then there's that front tire. It's a 160 I think and very chunky. My buddy made a good observation as we looked over the last one the dealer had in the shop "when that center flattens out I wonder how it will affect handling". I to am interested in that. Maybe a 48 rider can chime in.

I want them to sell like hot cakes. Here's hoping the current gas prices push a lot of folks to consider purchasing a bike as a cost-effective alternative mode of transportation to a car or truck.

The XR 1200 was a very good looking motorcycle and probably would have been a bigger seller with less weight and more power. I considered one before test riding one and just found it kind of ponderous on the road. In other words it was just a normal Sportster of which I had already owned two, dressed up in Flat Track clothes.

I would still take up the offer of a test ride on one of these if given the opportunity, even though I am not interested in buying one just because I like experiencing different bikes. I've also test ridden an Indian Scout with no intention of buying one. And a Yamaha Niken 3 wheeler which I found amazingly normal to ride. Same with the Piaggio MP3 3 wheeled scooter I test rode. I may not like trying different foods, but I love experiencing different motorcycles. I'm really looking forward to riding the new Moto Guzzi Mandello 1000 even though I know in advance from riding other Guzzi's that I'd never own one.

You, sir, are the poster child for why dealers are more and more reluctant to offer test rides these days. Sheesh.

You, sir, are the poster child for why dealers are more and more reluctant to offer test rides these days. Sheesh.
I test rode a lot of bikes working in the industry for 19 years.

I test ride a lot of bikes at Dealer Demo Days where the manufacturer invites people to come test ride their bikes. Like Yamaha and Indian. Myself, my brother, my son and my son's FIL will go and stay for the day riding different bikes. I usually don't go in to dealerships and ask for random rides although my local dealer a Honda Yamaha dealer who I have done business with since 1972 would let me ride any bike I want to in his inventory new or used (I have bought 10 new bikes from him). Other dealers here will offer you a test ride if they see you looking at something. My brother and I stopped at a local Moto Guzzi shop. I was staring at a Griso and he an Eldorado. The dealer offered us test rides and we accepted. If I stop in there and he offers me a ride on a Mandello 1000 I'm riding it.

I test ride a lot of different bikes that belong to friends and acquaintances... my nephews KTM 690 and V7 Guzzi, and Piaggio 500 scooter, Offroad's BMW 1600. Ole's CTX 1300. My family doctor, a riding buddy, recently picked up a V85TT MG and has offered me a ride next time we get together, and I will accept his offer. My other nephew just picked up a Husky Vitpilen 701. Next time I see him which I think will be in September, I'm guessing he will ask me to take it for a test ride and I will.

I won't ride over to HD and ASK to test ride one, but if I stop in at the local Harley Dealer and he OFFERS me a ride on the Sportster S or the new 975 Nightster I won't turn him down. I have no intention of buying one... but you never know?

Dealers aren't afraid to let older gentlemen of obvious experience and means who ride into their dealerships test ride bikes around here. They are afraid to let sketchy looking young people out on high powered bikes who drive into the dealership without gear and ask to test ride the latest sport bikes.