Been there, done that... I had an '02 FXDWG so I know exactly what you're going through. The answer is within you and how you are as a person. How's your self esteem? Your willingness to have to fit in with certain crowds? Can you stand to be a little different? If you have to be one of the boys, I'd say keep the Harley and don't jump into the metric market. If you need the Harley to fit in, then yes, there will be days you will have some regrets... Especially on the days when people tell you how much your bike looks like a Harley - like it's the ultimate measure.[xx(]
Now if you can be your own person or true to the sport, then go ahead and jump on that Warrior and don't look back. I went through a rough spell a couple of years ago that forced me to sell my pride and joy FXDWG. I bought the Warrior as an "interim" bike because of the lower cost and I could settle some debt. Boy, looking back now I was so ignorant. I really thought driving it home I was taking a step backwards - no BS. I even remember feeling bittersweet when they handed me the keys looking down at that water heater for an exhaust that just went a lame put, put, puke... Feeling the plastic chrome thinking WTF... I took care of it though and read a lot of stuff on this 4M. The guys here are really into their rides and I saved a ton of dough thanks to the many how to's written up. Now after riding it for 1+ year, putting some mod money into it, and the support of this group 4M for any question, I realize how much more advanced this bike is well beyond any Harley I could ride. Even though I dislike the plastic air scoops, the plastic does serve a purpose of making it lighter and also less expensive to replace if it gets scratched so there is a trade off. Also what Yamaha/Star gives you for paint, the aluminium frame, 102 motor, the clear signal lenses, tack housing, etc... is so far beyond anything you would get from Harley $ for $. I'm on year 2 of ownership and I laugh every time I step into my garage. I also laugh as I out hustle my Harley friends when we go group riding because this handles like a sport bike plus more power. I have no regrets now that I "get it" plus I money left over for my son to have his own YZ. I have not given up my Harley shirts or leather gloves as I like all motorcycles. Mindful that comparing brands of motorcycles is like comparing trucks, some like Dodge, some Ford, some like Toyota's new rig, but I'll stick with my Chevy for my own beliefs. As for motorcycles, I'm Yamaha/Star now all the way... With the metric market growing so rapidly and Victory making a strong coming people are starting to look to other manufacturers more often than just Harley for sure. The future is bright for non-Harley riders which will only benefit us as a consumer. Competition is what gives us better engineering in our bikes so bring it on and let the manufacturers have the pizzing match. All I want to do is ride on a machine that never quits and ride it fast....[/emoticons/emotion-5.gif]
