For those readers debating between a new RE and a "similarly priced" Harley-Davidson, I have some advice for you. Regarding the professor's earlier post, he claims that "(t)he Sportster 883Low is priced at $6900 MSRP on the HD USA website". I want everybody to be aware of Harley-Davidson's pricing tactics. That Manufacturer's SUGGESTED Retail Price is a farce, and does not include a number of costs that are fundamental to the purchase of a new vehicle, most notably what might be termed "dealer markup" (which is $1000 minimum on a Harley-Davidson), together with tax, tag, and title for the state in which you live. And I can assure you those costs add up. In order to make their pricing SEEM more competitive, Harley dealers do not include ANY additional costs as part of the MSRP, and a customer can easily expect to pay $9000 or better for a "$6999" motorcycle. For those debating between an RE and a Harley, be prepared for those added charges. I speak from experience--twice!!
And do not forget $75 an hour for labor at a Harley dealership--for my money they should move much faster!! And for those of us that prefer to do our own maintenance and repair, special tools are also frequently recommended for maintenance on a Harley. Many of the costs of Harley ownership are hidden, but expensive!! I desperately need the new UCE to become available in the States.