First off, I'm new on the site, now down to business.
I've been debating on buying a bike for quite some time now, a lot of friends have crotch rockets but I don't like em, worked as a cook at a waffle house as a kid and a lot of guys came in with harley's, those I always loved. I started looking around and I think my absolute favorite is the Night Rod Special and I've put it on order here from Iraq but someone here told me that they only are making 1000 of them for 2007, I've seen nothing about that on other posts, wondering how true that is. Secondly, I've never ridden a bike other than a small drit bike when i was about 10, don't really count that. I'm going to have a couple experienced riders I know show me the ropes and take asafety course, is that enough to keep me from tipping the bike? Thanks all

You have some good ideas about the safety course first off. Common sence usually prevails when riding and a certain amount of skills too.

The V Rod is a great bike with all the advantages of water cooling but it never seemed to gain the acceptance of the die hard Harley lovers that the MOCO thought it would get. It is a very well crafted bike with it's hydro formed frame and the features on it should be applied to the big twins also. I'm sure you would love the bike if you get it. I would give some thought to resale value also on the V Rod as opposed to the big twins. I think this is where they fall short. Of course if you plan on keeping it for an extended period, then this would not come into play at all. Just buy what you like and enjoy it.

Thank you for your input, I talked to a friend back home who said he'd point me in the right direction as well, he said to get the sportster hugger, its cheap which is good for me of course, but I'm thinking it might be a bit too small for me, we'll see when I get home I guess.

i have no idea on how tall you are but the vrods and siblings are quite compact bikes the night rods is very low with mid controls and fits me like glove at 5.6ft the streetrod is very tall the saddle is an extra 4" higher so i struggle to reach the floor and the riding position is sportier than the other rods, as the night road special had been sold i was not allowed and rightly so to sit on the bike but i can tell you its a monster it just looked so cool in black sat next to all the other rods and harleys it just screamed speed, the sportsters are a lot bigger than they are given credit for i have the xl1200c and love it to bits i looked at a lowered streetrod as well as the street bob but the xl won

hmm thats some good info, an older friend of mine recommended that I get a sportster hugger since I'm completely inexperienced, but now I've heard they're small, I haven't had the chance to sit on one, I'm 6'2" 180, not huge but tall, if they're as small as what I've heard then I just don't think I'll fit, also I'm thinking my friend has a good idea since the sportsters are cheaper, and if I'm unfortunate enough to lay it down, it's not the bike of my dreams so no big deal, I'll get that when I'm more experienced, thoughts?

if the Rod is the Dream bike follow that dream as if you dont you will regret it for yrs to come.
Get to a dealer sit on them try them for size try the rods with mids and forwards the standard night rod has mids but comes with highway pegs for stretched out cruising.
The Xl's come in many flavours go for one with forwards or highway pegs as one with mids will be a bit tight for the legs, if you just want something to learn on get a cheapy that dont cost the earth to repair if you bin it something like a mid weight metric.

well thank you for the input again, the issue isn't so much the price or that I won't get the bike I want at a later date, I will, the issue is simply which bike I can learn on for now, if I can learn on the night rod special, which after looking at some other bikes more thoroughly I may not get afterall, but if I can learn on the dream bike, I'm getting the dream bike, but not if learning is gonna cost me to fix it, see the predicament?

Have ya give the 1200 Nightster a look?Been hearing a lot of rants & raves about that bike.Might wanta check it out.Just bought a 2007 Heritage Softail Classic myself. Absolutely "love" it. Good luck on your choice and ride safe, HI-Tek Rednek ( oh, and "Welcome" to the forum!)

As I look around the forum and the bikes that members own, I notice there are a large amount of 07 bikes here. Take a trip to the dealers and they also have the floor covered in 07 bikes too. Makes me wonder what the production numbers were for 07's.

My wife took the MSF safety course, highly recommended here. Hey, if You can get a new '06 for a better price, I'd go for it. The V Rod being relatively new should get better as it goes, IMO.

Brother...2008 Nightsters are arriving now. I bought a 2007, in Feb. If you put forward controls and drag bars on her she will fit you good. I have enjoyed mine and she goes like heck. Put V&H HS pipes on last week and now she roars!! I would suggest checking out my pics. Need to post updated ones, but go to your nearest dealer and ride one.

before buying my 07 Roadking this year I haddnt ridden for at least 15 years. During that time there was a bike of my dreams. It was the Roadking. I used to go into the shops & drool over all the Harleys, but the Roadie was the one that excited me. I waited all that time and finally bought the 07 Roadking classic last February. Now buying the machine of your dreams is is an unbeleivable joy. I love my King & spend a lot of time caring for it in the evenings during the week, I take pride that my machine is impossibly clean, to me it is the most beautiful motorcycle in the world! So, if there is a machine that you dream about, when you do finally get it you will have no regrets. Oh there were times that I though about buying a Jap cruiser like the Royal Star, I could have bought it a lot sooner, but you know, it would not have been the same.

I learned to ride on trail bikes. My first bike was a Honda XL 185 followed by an XL 250, then an XR 500. My first road bike was a giant leap up in HP & weight... a GSX 1100. I didnt have any trouble making the change to the GSX because when I first got it I didnt go hard, I just got used to its power & personality.

So I guess what I am trying to say is, get the machine that you dream about, take time to get used to it, be careful & dont take risks with it covet it with a passion that you alone understand and you will be happy with your choice.

Riding a dirt bike is the best way I know of to learn how to control the bike, the bigg leap to the street bike is training yourself to avoid all the people who will try to run you over. Trucks aren't trees!!

I Was Like You In A Few Ways--hadn't Ridden In 20 Years--always Loved Harleys-owned Jap And British Bike Before--bought A 2006 Screaming Eagle Vrod From Dealer On The Phone--drove 100 Miles To Pick It Up--drove It Home And Haven't Looked Back Since. Took A Safety Course And Got My License Second Year Of Owner Ship--rode Outlaw The First--it's A Haevy Bike But Has Great Performance--comfortable To Ride--and Handles Beyound My Expectations--with Taht Said I Bought A Completely Rebuilt 1977 Sportster That Was Slightly Customized---love It---ride The Sportster On The Back Roads Never To Far From Home--take The Vrod Anywhere(put Gps On It) Without A Worry Whether I'll Make It Back Or Not--i'm 5'10'' And 200lbs--my Friends Like The Rod As Well And 1 Is Looking At A Night Rod--they Only Made 2000 Of The 2006 Vrscse2 And Don't Know How Many Night Rods They Will Make--good Luck

I bought a 2008 night-rod with the 1250cc engine, its a flat crimson red denim. My brother was so impressed he had to get one but in black denim. We both liked the special but did not want forward controls so the night-rod was the obvious choice. We both would like the pipes to be a bit louder and we are considering sending them in to V-mod.

Get the v-rod. It will only take a few easy rides before you become very comfy with the bike. I bought a sportster for the wife and she was ready to get a big twin in short order (weeks). Couldn't sell the sportster. Must have taken 4 months. I was pissed. I personally went right to a road king after not riding for 12 years. Harleys are very well balanced bikes and handle better than some smaller ones. Pass up the sportster if that's not the one you really want and get the v-rod. You won't be sorry.

You may be on track there it was cheaper for me to buy my 07 EGC demo with full warranty than an 06 ultra with no warranty. I looked for months and this seems to be the case all over U.S. and Canada.