The bike completed 1000kms last night. 1 month and 5 days into ownership.
The headlight throw is quite effective 1001km comes up fast by my standards. I have not driven any other bike so consistently in my life. My last bike, a Karizma, completed around 5000kms in 9 years.
Pros -
- Zero issues
- FE is around 18~20kmpl for a 900cc engine
- Ordered a good full face helmet to breach the 140 mark soon. 125 already capped.
- Always starts in first push of the starter button unlike my previous Enfield 500.
- The built quality is impeccable.
- Solid cruiser with easy maneuverability even in crowded city streets unlike some of the heavier Harleys.
- Bike has improved in performance after oil change and 1st service. But the exhaust note also seems to have smoothened out (read gone down... lolz)
- The camaraderie of the Harley Gang in Meerut (now 12 members) is alone worth going for a Harley.
- Highly reliable till now. Comments like the one quoted below which were posted on my selection thread while I was making a decision are all highly exaggerated and now seems totally unwarranted.
Quote:
Mate,
Think you are in a wrong world. Have seen a brand new HD with a dead clutch, a failed throttle sensor & to rub salt with a failed tire. All duly done under warranty he steps out of the service station with a failed regulator.
Another Brand new HD, on a 900 km ride lets go at the welding of silencers. Result the hot escaping gases mar the paint on the chassis.
Another seasoned HD, on the same 900 km ride has a problem with the rear wheel bearing and had to lifted to the nearest town.
With all due respects I would say HD does make bikes. Whether they are reliable is another question. They do invest in a lot of pomp and show (with all chrome) but reliability is not in the top order.
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So my actual user experience is not at all like the one suggested by the respected team member though I am not contending that the issues listed by him might have actually happened with someone he knows.
Could have been better -
- Some ergonomic issues like placement of horn button are now used to. Also the brake pedal footrest is stretched too far out. Nothing major, just requires a little getting used to.
- Horn should have been more premium sounding, although its quite loud.
- The size of the headlight could have been bigger (Fat Boy style) for better styling although the effectiveness of the present headlight is impeccable. But then how would Harley space out its different models.
- The handlebar could have been lower for better looks like in the Iron. But ergonomically the present position is most comfortable for long drives.
- I could go in for forward controls due to my height but then I would loose out on the handling prowess of the mid mounted controls.
- Though I am having zero scrapes nowadays riding solo, as one gains experience at the speed and angle of ascent on really bad speed breakers, with a pillion you need to be careful on really large bumps.
- 'Khatak' noise while changing gears still scares many.
- Bump handling/suspension over really bad roads could have been better. Needs a paid upgrade/progressive springs, if one wants a better ride.
Cons -
- I don't really care for a RPM meter but it wouldn't have hurt if it was there as standard and not a paid accessory. Similarly also the Fuel Gauge instead of just a low fuel warning light. All are paid accessories on a 7 lac rupee bike.
- Accessories are costly.
- Any superbike like Ninja 650 and above would beat it in a jiffy but then that was not my, or should be your, frame of mind while going in for a cruiser like Harley. Most other Indian bikes are dispatched in the rear view mirror on a clear stretch of road. I don't race with the hooligans on crowded streets and believe me there are many.
- Scratch near the rear number plate put by the service station on 1st service.
- Service setup in Meerut and smaller towns is not there. They charge 5000/- and taxi charges to send a technician to Meerut for servicing and will be cost effective only if shared with other Harley owners.
- Unlikely that the bike would make it to Leh via Manali route crossing all those riverbeds and slushes, or lets say I am not risking a 7 lac bike doing that. Might make it via Srinagar route but I always wanted to do the Gata Loops on my Superlow. Maybe one day...
- Price further increased by 20k on the Superlow from 1st October.
Overall, I am most happy and satisfied with the best bike of my life and the nitpickings are just for the sake of it. Brings a smile to my face every time I ride it. Never happened with any other bike I owned.
At the tennis courts today