Thread: Any bikers out there? BMW vs Harley

After about 20 years of wanting a bike, I recently went through a rider course and got my license. Given I live in NY and can't rider for the next ~5 months, I plan on spending a good part of the winter doing research on what to buy. I love the idea of adventure riding but given I also want to take multi day trips/camp out I figure a touring bike is probably the way to go given comfort/bells & whistles offered on a touring bike vs an Enduro. If there are any riders out there, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the new BMW1600 GT vs a Harley Cruiser. Since I was young I always wanted a Harley but everything I read seems to tell me BMW is the way to go.

More of a Shwinn guy myself...

If you have little or no previous experience in motorcycles, i would suggest to find something more lightweight. Most Harleys and BMW1600 are pretty heavy bikes = for a beginner they are more difficult to control specially in slow city speeds. Most (but not all) Harleys have their center of mass much lower so they are relatively easier to handle, specially for beginner. BMW goes like a train on highways and doesn't much care if it's windy or not.

I think that Harleys and BMW's are so different that you will hear opinions from both camps.
I've had bike for over 30 years. Personally i wouldn't take neither, but as you asked opinions on these two, i honestly cannot say.

I go with the BMW personally. I have nothing against Harleys, other than there just a tad loud for my ears. On side note, I do laugh to myself everytime I see some guy on a Harley wearing ear plugs. Too cool for me. Now, if I was 20 years younger, not married, no kids, and had a better bank account, my dream bike is the Ducati 996. IMO it's a peice of art, though I would probably now need some yoga classes to contort my body in order to ride it.

Mine is a Harley family.

While I'm in the not married / no kids camp, I can't see myself being comfortable on a street racer, despite how cool the Ducati looks. As for the size / weight of the bike, several people have told me that I'm better starting on a lighter bike, but do you think starting on a heavy / experienced rider bike will really be a problem or is it more something that may frustrate me at first but something I can grow into (much like using a straight razor!)? I also want to avoid dropping $10k on a lighter bike, only to want one with more bells and whistles a year later.

If you've always wanted a Harley, you'll probably end up with one. I've always wanted a BMW and am very close to pulling the trigger on a R1200RT. My personal take on it is I don't like the noise, and I think they charge way to much just because the logo reads 'Harley Davidson'. I don't dispute the quality or reputation, just the noise and price. And of course nothing beats a Harley for wow factor. That being said, if it's your first bike I would advise something closer to the 650cc size. Last time I checked Harleys smallest offering was 883. I'm surprised NY doesn't have a graduated license requirement, where you have to start small and work your way up unless you can test out on a larger bike. So to answer your question directly; BMW is the way to go, especially if you anticipate any off road riding (R1200GS). But really I think what you need to do is get a smaller bike to start with. I know every time I check the classifieds here there's no end to the list of people selling off bikes that aren't that old for 5k or way less. Lots of metric cruisers to choose from. And as sure as straight razor shavers nick themselves, you're gonna drop the bike at least once, hopefully during PLP or at a stop sign. So before you shell out 21k on the 1600, or more for a new Harley..... Just sayin.

Ride safe

Originally Posted by Straightrazzin

As for the size / weight of the bike, several people have told me that I'm better starting on a lighter bike, but do you think starting on a heavy / experienced rider bike will really be a problem or is it more something that may frustrate me at first but something I can grow into (much like using a straight razor!)? I also want to avoid dropping $10k on a lighter bike, only to want one with more bells and whistles a year later.

Harley and BMW are so different concepts so you really need to think what do you want to do with your bike. BMW, being a very heavy is not so great if you are about to ride it mostly at the slow city speeds, stopping on a red light every few hundred meters. You can't use all the gizmos you paid for in the city. Same goes with Harley as well. And for all MC's there are. There is no single best good-for-everything bike. Of course this is my opinion only. Those who have BMW's (and Harleys) usually live happily with their bikes with it's pro's and cons.
What it comes to weight, i would say from my experience, that learning to handle heavy bike and specially handling it in some urgent panic-like situation is much more difficult for beginner. Of course it is possible, but remember that it is not like shaving. With the razor you might take a deep cut that heals in time, but with the bike the consequences might be final. Either for you or someone else. You are not alone in the traffic, but the biker always has to learn the hard way. Money shouldn't be the question when considering your safety.
Think what you mostly want to do with your bike. Once you get it, practice and practice again, away from traffic. Little by little you learn to handle your bike better, and it is very rewarding.
Do not get me wrong. I'm not trying to scare you. I know several people who drove their bikes for few years and then stopped after their first crash. There are only two kinds of bikers: those who have crashed with their bikes and those who will do it in the future. I've been about 4 or 5 more or less serious crashes. Some were because my own stupidity and with some i couldn't do anything. I was crashed from behind as i stood in a red light.
I've made about 15 trips here and there in Europe and Scandinavia with my wife. Having such a precious treasure with me, i can't really afford to be self-confident about my skills, no matter my experiences. With the bike it is never up to you only but also for all other people who happen to drive the same roads at the same time.
That said, motorcycles are truly one of those finer things in life. It is not up to certain make or model. Think seriously what you want and i'm sure you will be happy with it. Have a safe road and keep the rubber side pointing down!

Here's my old and rugged 1200S mule. Pic taken last summer somewhere in Via Baltica, on the road to Lithuania or Latvia.

I will throw my two cents in here too. If you've always wanted a Harley, get a Harley. You CAN do a cross country trip on a little KLR, and you CAN do a day trip on a full dressed 1800 Goldwing. The bike is what you make it. The important thing is that you enjoy it.

Also, you don't have to spend $10k on a starter bike. Buy a 750 or 1100 Honda Shadow to start on if you want. Good bikes, resale will be almost exactly what you originally paid, and easily sold. You may spend $30,000 on a bike, ride it twice and hate it. Just saying.

My current ride: 1995 Kawasaki Concours with custom ground high power cams. 92 hp of oh baby! power. It cost $1500 and it makes me smile every time I ride it.

I hate to say this, really it pains me, but I rode in the city for years. Bigger will not do you better there. Go for a used 500-750 and cruise on that for a year before pulling the trigger on a big boy. There really is a steep learning curve to city riding.