Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Rode an '07 HD Softail Heritage Classic

I've been Harley bashing for years, but after 240 miles on one up in Lake Tahoe a couple weeks back I think I'm going to kick it into high gear!

We pulled out of Reno H-D and after just a mile or so my wife said "this thing sounds rickety compared to your Triumph!" She was right - the whole thing just rattled and shook, and it had only 1,200 miles on it! Hardly any power - for nearly twice the displacement of a TBA it probably also took twice as long to get up to speed. Controls weren't very comfortable, and the pillion seat was repeatedly compared to sitting on a 2x8 plank.

There were a couple nice things, though. I love the quick release windshield and sissy bar. And the self-canceling turn signals.

Other than that, I'll be steering clear of anything out of Milwaukee!!!

Well, many of my friends ride Harleys, Matt, and they tell me, quote..."I-I-I l-l-like m-m-my H-H-Harley j-j-just f-f-fine, t-t-thank y-y-you v-v-very m-m-much!!!"

(so what were those problems you encountered again???)

what were you thinking

"Rode an '07 HD Softail Heritage Classic"

I'm sorry. Have an ice cream and you'll feel better.

Yeah my buddy is on an 06 Harley Night Train. 1450cc. Its a nice scoot but not worth the $20,000 price tag he paid for it. He told me that if he would have come by the deal I got for my bike he would have bought a Triumph. We switched rides for about 50 miles. He admitted to my TBA to be quicker, more comfortable, and easier to ride. I admitted that his sounded good, but wasn't impressed any other way about it.

I'm glad I went with what I did Triumph all the way.

We have a guy on aNight train where I work too. He laughed at my dyno print-out for only having 62 horsies. Mines got 120-easy! said he. Well he aint laughin no more, I caught up to him on the highway the other day and smoked im like a cheep cigar
G

Most of the time, the numbers don't mean a whole lot, only when comparing two of the same bikes.

Soren

"I caught up to him on the highway the other day and smoked im like a cheep cigar "
ahahahahahaha too funny

I have a friend on an 02 or 03 Night Train too with BB kit, 6 spd tranny, and dyno tune adjustment for the FI. I regularly out run him easily.

And don't forget the power to weight ratio. My F150 has 275 HP but weighs around 500 kilotons.

take that 07 Heritage over any triumph any day--> Been on both and thats the bike right there,,, well ultra glide really but we can't all be beggars..

best my stock speedmaster can do is 112MPH (I've hit 120 reguarly on my stock (except slip-ons) Deuce) .... calling all triumph owners who push past 100MPH--> whats the top speeds you've hit on your triumphs--> triple digits only club right here??????

over priced junk

I haven't ridden an 07 but have ridden a few older ones and they can't get out of their own way and handle like a dump truck.

Of course HD isn't totally useless it can serve as a bad example.

doubt that,,, I paid 8500 cash for this thing and I can't even dump it for 4000... bad example but envied by so many... my speedmaster on the other hand,, people come up and ask me about it and they walk away not wanting one anymore... or at least I hope my point got across..

Guess maybe you should have test ridden it first before dropping $8,000. Not many people will spend that kinds of money on something they don't want. My expierence has been almost everyone that looks at mine either has fond memories of the old one they had or walk away after asking where they can get one.

just another image seeker.

Quote:

---

my speedmaster on the other hand,, people come up and ask me about it and they walk away not wanting one anymore

---

That doesn't surprise me a bit considering how negative you are about the Triumphs on here. I would assume you are just as negative when approached?

When I am stopped, I am approached all the time; some with fond memories, others checking out the bike, every one of them wanting to know where they see more of them. It might be that I am positive about Triumph though....

actually I'm not that negative and I like all bikes but go in here and read some of the posts you guys make about other bikes.. as far as triumphs man I really like the old school bobber triumphs---> that was the bike that really stuck it to Harley and thats the bike I should of bought.

I really don't like these new bikes,,, their (spelling is pretty bad ) (edited out my smart comment) not as I would like them to be but I'm sure something can be done to better suit them to my riding style.

So you bought a bike based on a custom someone made 3o years ago

Quote:

---

I really don't like these new bikes,,, their dogs..

---

they're..they are yep, must be an HD guy.

If these bikes are such dogs why is it we regulalrly out run HD? These are not sport bikes nor were they intended to be. CCs don't equal speed. You need gearing and the engine needs to breathe along with a few other things a bike mechanic would know. I happen to have a few old Triumphs with various mods as well as stock bikes. The new bikes power to weight are about the same. I could tell you how to get more power and speed for a small investment and no BB. I won't though because of the way you went about it. Knocking the bikes everyone on this forum love isn't the way to get help making your bike faster or more powerful.

actually I got rid of the HD's cause you guys are right they are break down machines.. I want the triumph to work and I have asked for help but basicly nobody not even the two dealers in my area want to do anything to the bike.

I just got a little ticked off tonite with the bike and took it out here so I'm sorry for that,, no HD guy though if I was I wouldn't want a triumph leather for my pipes in the Classifieds..

almost forgot,, not 3yrs ago but every time I see one of them Bobber triumphs I really dig the thing..

All you had to do was come here and ask. We are all willing to help one another. Just ask any member here who has asked a question. They normally get multiple replies and in most cases fast.

I love you guys! This is what makes this site so great! Anyway, My two cents worth...I am the only triumph rider in a military town who thinks that a HD or Big Dawg is the only way to go...(grunt, grunt, grunt)-but let me tell you; I ride my bike EVERYWHERE and each time I park, I get comments like "WOW! That is awesome, what is it?" or, I've never seen one of those, and and and...Bottom line is this-Ride what you like, it doesnt matter to me! I have owned an HD Fatboy, an old HD Panhead hardtail, Honda, and Suzuki. I am just happy to share the road with another rider on 2 wheels! That is unless you are a PRICK, that cant say the same!
BTW-I have realized after all this time, TRIUMPH SM is the way to go!

You should go to the NorEast Rally in a couple of weeks. You will not only see more of these bikes than you might need, you will also meet some of the best people around.

Ask your questions in the forums. You will get answers.

$14,000 US?!?! Holy bank robbery Batman! That sounds crazy to me. You are even on the same side of the ocean as the manufacturer!

I was just suprised at it being so high. I would have thought it would be comparable in price, not close to twice what we pay. Maybe even a little less since it isn't being shipped over seas.

I figured it was like the M109 or yamaha Warrior, Triumph Rocket, or something along those lines as a very fast cruiser..

if you thought you can compare these bikes with those you have a lot of reading and learning to do. totally different class of bikes

Frank

You should remember though that any rental vehicle is likely to be mistreated and poorly looked after.
Now, my Night Train is about as smooth running as my America because it employs the same balance shaft technology. Being a good deal heavier, it rides smoother but can't corner as well. Both bikes are about equal as far as performance mods, opened up intake and exhaust. I've had the America up to 115 on the speedometer (about 105 real speed) with a little bit more to go. It took a bit of time to get there. I've had the 'Train up to 105 while passing a truck, and I had 2 full gears to go. There is a telephone junction box about 1/8 mile down the road. Both bikes show 75 MPH when I pass it. So, the Triumph is about as quick as the HD at low - mid range speeds. The HD is faster without question. The HD is better for traveling. The Triumph is better for ging too fast on back roads

Well I have owned both,just sold my Softail Deluxe great bike,very smooth ride,no vibration,just didnt fit my riding style,I like to ride the twisties very fast and that bike wasnt made for that.So I ended up keeping my TBS and my Dyna Superglide Sport,both have different riding styles but both eat the corners up with ease...

Huh? You could barely keep up with my Speedy!

Why all the hate?

I ride HD. I frequent a couple HD boards. I don't ever remember anyone on those boards starting a thread to bash another brand of bike.

The ONLY negative feedback I got from those folks when I told them I got a TBA for my wife was from one guy who said the new Triumphs weren't really Triumphs and were just cheap imitations. He owns two old Triumphs himself! Most every on else thought it was a nice bike and congratulated my wife on her nice new ride.

I love to ride my wife's TBA. It's a great bike and it always gets a comment or two. It's pretty quick. Handling is OK. Having said that. I will have no problem running any TBA on any road with my 95 Softail Custom. If you guy's are regularly blowing by HD's then you need to go up against someone who knows how to ride because you aren't going to blow by anyone who knows how to get the bike to go. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the typical HD is a bunch faster then a TBA/Speedy but there will be no blowing by.

This bike bashing stuff is childish and makes you look insecure.

You don't need to look for reinforcement of your choices from people on the internet. Ride what you have with pride and wave at the guy riding something different.

Long live Harley Davidson.

Long Live Triumph

Peace out.

I like all bikes, but there ia a guy at work who is a total HD jerk. He dogs anything and everything that is not a Harley. With him around it's hard not to dislike HD riders, but I remind myself he would be the same way about any brand of bike he owned.

Has nothing to do with dislike I have many friends on HD and they do know how to ride and make the bike go and they can't keep up if I am on it. I would say blowing them away is an exageration but I do pull away slowly. The only bike that gives me a good run is my one friends hotrod shovel but there isn't anything HD left of that except the frame. The rest is Delcron , S&S, Wiesco , Revtec, small block Chevy valves,etc....

Yeah right Yota! Charlie and I left you on highway 7...haha memory loss I guess on your part,oh I forgot you got behind a car that was your excuse..
Anyways it was ****** fun down 7 and we did have a good meal at the end of the day!

Quote:

---

This bike bashing stuff is childish and makes you look insecure.

---

Thats funny. I must tell all my Harley riding buddies that the reason they take the p1ss out of my 'Little Triumph" is because they are childish and insecure.

It's also cool to get more looks at a Harley event than most Harleys! Every Harley rider I meet around here Compliments my bike. Clearly they don't realize they could buy two or three of these things for the price of their ride.

hardly bashing by Triumph riders and Triumph bashing by hardley riders has been going on since....well forever. its part of the game. i have been rideing Triumph for yrs and my hardley friends and i have bantered back and forth all that time, my Dad rode h.d. and Indian in the 40s-50s and he told me it was going on then but that Triumph always could out run and out handle a h.d.and all his buddys new it. it is a tradition. now when someone seriously trashes Triumph i take afence but i find it is usually done in humor, unless you are dealing with a young r.u.b. or someone un-informed, thats when i try to set them straight. "ingnorence is not to be ignored" meaning they dont know untill they know and how they gonna know if not taught?? hard core, true bikers know the truth and respect what we ride. there was a time when you would have never seen a h.d with anything from the far east but you would see them together with English all the time. nowdays you see h.d.s rideing with jap bikes around every corner. so i think its just been a tradition for so long (the bashing each other) that its just the way it is. hopefully all in good humor. i have had both and will (and i never say never) never have another p.o.s. h.d. i ask a girl in my office the other day why she liked h.d. her only response was "cuz its a harley and i like the sound" i took her for a ride and told her the history hahahahahahahaha she now likes Triumph's too hahahahahaha see, she was just un-informed