As some of you know I've been hanging out in Alaska since last August... bikeless. Sold the R* before coming up here from Richmond, VA. Now it looks like we'll be staying indefinitely, and I'm tired of these Alaska guys zipping by me on their motorcycles. Turns out the riding season up here is longer than I expected, I'd say a solid 5 months. Mid-April to end of September, maybe mid-October. I digress...

There's a 2008 R* in Richmond that I like:



16,000miles
Freedom Performace 2.5" True Dual Exhaust w/ Sharktail Tips - $870
Barons Chrome Flamed Big Air Kit - $299
Cobra Power Pro EFI Tuner - $599
Chrome Front Passing Lamps - $300
Stainless Steel Braided Throttle and Clutch Cables - $175
AIS Removal Kit - $25
Yamaha Billet Cam Cover - $60
Yamaha Front Pulley Cover - $100
Yamaha Stratoliner Floorboards - $199
Custom Black Laced Wheel Set - $600 (painted stock rims... done 300mi ago)
New Bridgestone WWW Tires - $300
Black Anodized Floating Front Rotors - $275

I passed on the solo seat to get the price down a bit. Including shipping I'm looking at about $7,300.

Then there's a 2009 Stratoliner in the town of Kenai, AK (where I happen to be moving):



Less than 1,600 miles . New batwing fairing, beach cruiser handlebars, and he still has stock windshield, and stock handlebar. Stock exhaust.
He wants $10,000 but I'm working on him. I've offered $8,000 and we'll go from there.

Important Question: Can the roadwing shock conversion we're doing for the R* be done on the Roadliner/Stratoliner?

Important Question 2: Would you buy that R* without a test ride, personal visual inspection, and shipping it 4,500miles?

Well there it is... and now let me know which one you'd choose!

Frankly, neither. I wouldn't buy a bike I hadn't checked out, and wasn't close enough to me I couldn't retrieve for next to zip!

Others?

I think I'm the only one who doesn't really like the Strat. I just think the R* is a better looking bike. Price with shipping on the R* is not bad but unless I could have someone that I trust inspect the bike first, I would not buy it.

I agree with Questcap

Just boggles my mind how anyone could purchase a big ticket item online without doing the touchy feely thing first. No thank you on many levels.

I like that Strats and the Roadies but I would have to sit on any pre loved bike and test drive it before making a commitment. My .02 worth.

early reports are the roadwing shock CAN work on a 'liner. The problems is, where to hide the pump Those bike are really packed tight

It took me over two years to buy a bike, so I'm probably not the person to ask. But I'm thinking I would certainly have to see them first.

Im currently looking for a volunteer to mount a roadwing on there strat/liner. Not for free of coarse but i will offer a discount in exchange for a "full" write-up and report. I have found that you can mount a roadwing into the links but as ironman stated is there a spot to put the pump? If not we can RAP it.

Yeah too many bikes out there to roll the dice on one that far a way. As far as between those 2 - if the Strat can be had for only $700 more I would have to go with it. They usually bring a couple thousand more (roughly) comparing similar year and condition bikes.

I like the looks of the Roadie better. But who would buy a bike without seeing it first

Kai would be the person to answer these questions since he has both bikes, but I wouldn't buy a motorcycle unless it is in front of me and I've test ride it first.