New Swing Rider

Hello all. Just picked up a new 08 Silver Wing today. Traded in an 08 Harley Electra Glide Standard. What a difference. Anyway glad to be a part of the forum. I'm from Northwest Ohio (Toledo). Riding about seven years. Got into it late in life and have been through many bikes. First scooter. Please to meet you all.

Hey Jay600,

Welcome aboard. This is a good place to get information about your new Swing and chat with a bunch of great people. I just sold my 59 FLH PanHead...Just did not need it any more.

DennisB

Jay600 wrote:

Just picked up a new 08 Silver Wing today. Traded in an 08 Harley Electra Glide Standard.

Welcome to the forum.

Jay600 wrote:

What a difference.

I would like to understand what the difference you perceive already .

Jay600,

Welcome to the forum.

honda_silver wrote:

Jay600 wrote:

Just picked up a new 08 Silver Wing today. Traded in an 08 Harley Electra Glide Standard.

Welcome to the forum.

Jay600 wrote:

What a difference.

I would like to understand what the difference you perceive already .

Well, I think the perceived difference would certainly be most noticeable when you ride the HD in and the Swing out. The weight, manuerverablity, seating position. I'll get used to it.

DennisB wrote:

Hey Jay600,

Welcome aboard. This is a good place to get information about your new Swing and chat with a bunch of great people. I just sold my 59 FLH PanHead...Just did not need it any more.

DennisB

DennisB, I never did do any touring on the HD so it was really more bike than I needed for the kind of riding I do. Harley's are good bikes and there is always a little bit of the feeling that you're on the king of the road, so to speak, with the rumble and all, but, still, it is just a bike. I do need to do a little modding to the Swing to get some more legroom. I think they build these bikes for the average height Japanese. I've been out for about 25-50 miles so far and the power is amazing for a 600 cc engine.

Welcome to the forum.

Jay,

Welcome to the site. I had a Sportster 883 for about 4 years back in the late 80's & early 90's, and I really liked it. I think the SWings power is comparable to the 883 but the SWing is more comfortable. I never had a chance to ride the bigger Harley's. Put some pics in the Album section when you get a chance and post some pics of future rides too. Hope you enjoy the site and there are quite a few of knowledgeable people here too.

Welcome and congrats on your new ride, Jay. I'm a Burgie 400 owner who's probably getting a Silver Wing 600 soon.

GratefulGrrl wrote:

Welcome and congrats on your new ride, Jay. I'm a Burgie 400 owner who's probably getting a Silver Wing 600 soon.

Thanks for the welcome GG. I test rode a Burgman 650 and they are a fine machine. The ergonomics are better than the Swing for me at 6 feet but I got a very good deal on the 08 Swing and couldn't pass it up. And with some minor mods the Swing will be great. Hope you get yours soon.

Welcome Jay,
This is a great forum, with all the knowldedgeable folks and the untold wealth of information they can provide! Enjoy!!

Welcome, Jay,
I'm also new to a Swing, having ridden quite a few Hondas previously (but no Harleys). I have about the same riding time in as you do. Yesterday I rode up to the Blue Ridge Parkway with my spouse (he rides a Kawasaki Concours). I've been on the BRP many times, as we live about six miles from the nearest access road (NC Highway 80). Fortunately for me there are a few easier access points (like Hwy 226 which is what we used yesterday). I'm still not riding the Swing as aggressively as I hope to be able to do on the twisties--just something about the size of the wheels and that drop off point on engine braking that I'm still getting used to, as well as a longer wheelbase (my other "ride" is a BMW F650GS, which I'm keeping). I'm pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to lean the Swing into corners, though, and I love the ABS brakes. It's very different than other bikes I've owned, but then I also said that about the GS bike when I first rode it.

Thanks for all the welcomes everyone. Nice folks here and I've already learned a bunch about the Swing.

Hello from the other side of the pond, Jay.

Welcome aboard