Picked up my Raider black 3 weeks ago.  I currently have 308 miles on it.  I was in the market for my first bike and was contimplating on a HD Nightrod Special or HD Nighttrain. After long research on HD I decide on Nightrod until I vetured out of the HD website and saw the Raider.  Not a big fan of chrome so the Raiders exhaust bothered me a little but overall it's a sweet looking bike.  I went to see it at a local dealer and rode home with it.  I'm even starting like the exhaust.  

I wanted to jump in this thread.
I just purchased the new Raider08 and love it.

I had the Roadliner 06 and loved it too but wanted
a touring bike so I purchased a new Vulcan Nomad 1600 last August.
I then sold my Boulevard M50, a great bike for a first time rider and picked up this Raider to replace it.
No match for the Raider the M50 was great in many ways especially the gas mileage.
However I think I can wring 42 out of the Raider if I watch my throttle hand if you know what I mean.
Send a reply. And someone tell me if you purchased the billet aluminum chrome parts. I did and I have a question or two for you.

Best,
Ken
Nomad07Raider08  

I was checking to see if anybody has checked to see what kind of fuel mileage they're getting. I know even with the big motor and the gas prices goin' crazy I would like to be able to ride if I made the move to by one, and I know if I can't afford to put gas in it I shouldn't even go there.
Be careful out there  

Yes, I have been monitoring my gas mileage.
I had the Roadliner 06 with the same engine.
I was getting 42 plus after 4000 miles on the bike.
This Raider is tight but getting 37plus per gallon now.
I expect at least 42 or greater.
Hope that helps.
Say, has anyone put the Billet Chrome on their bike?
Nomad07Raider08  

Yup ! Got One of the first  red Raider s bikes in ga. Did the tail light  mod to get rid of that gastly plastic and ugly signals. Performance Edge makes them as well as many other mods including a 260 rear tire kit ($3000.00) that I'm going for. I did the side  license plate mod also. Remember that when doing this your saddle bags will hide your license plate. Also did the upper and lower belt guards in chrome. Immediatly did short slash drag Pipes. Damn its loud and when rolling through a parking lot ,it slobers,gasps and weases WICKEDLY as if BREATHING!!!!! WAY COOL !!!!. I got Mortons cause they were the first to have the Pipes. DO NOT GET MORTONS. THEY ARE CHEAPLY MADE AND THE FRONT PIPE IS BENT WRONG.1/4" GAP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EXHAUST PORT.I FINALLY GOT THEM TO FIT BUT SHOULD HAVE WAITED ON THE street sweepers by Samson. I spent about 2 days trying to get the dynajet connectors plugged into the fuel injectors. and 4 hours to just change the oil. Yamaha SUX!!!!!!  I was ready to sell it and get a texas chopper. At least you can work on those. If you don't like to work on bikes and have lots of money to spend on Yamaha service then buy a Raider. It is an awesome bike but was designed especially to make it difficult to work on. Oil drain plug on side 1/2" from frame instead of on bottom of engine. I had to cut a socket down to 1 3rd and use a set of small vise grips just to get the plug out.  All inall an awesome bike though  

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/raiderrider/Raider/photo#5183030927939877394"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/raiderrider/R-3TKwe4OhI/AAAAAAAAACw/eHvu4QzA2_s/s144/raider%20new%20pipes%20vry%20sm.jpg" /></a>  

If someone can tell me how to put a phot on here I will. Geez!!!!!!  

wow!! with all the good reviews i'm now really giving some hard thought to shelving my 1100 v-star for the raider. i've looked at it, but haven't test driven. that will be on the agenda next week. i've heard that HD is hoping that Yamaha will go into the furniture making business    

Ive been a Harley man for 15 years and my last one was a 1200r sporster. My main complate was the vibration and the road feel of the bike just felt to much of the road. Well today I bought a v star1300 by yamaha a real plesure to ride no vibrations on the road and what a smooth ride this is a bike I can keep for a long time I opted for thr touring package sence they were selling for $7,999 2007 models in my area what a deal cheeper by far than the hd was.  

I picked up a Black Raider with the Speedstar Long Drag Exhaust looks,sounds & runs great. Picked it up 2 days ago.
I own a XL883c 03 Harley also.
I been riding for 30 some odd years.
Yea the gas mileage I was wondering about. I only have 95 miles on it.  

Yah all I have is 70 miles on mine so to early to tell the gas milage, but boy what a smooth ride and all the power you will need. Good luck with your new toy.  

I got 175 miles on it I filled up on gas it's looking like
the 30's it will get better after its broken in.
Yea the ride is smooth I have done some two-up the wife's
been going out with me. We had some cold weather, today
is warming up so we'll be out again putting some more miles on it.
Yes the power is great makes  it great for ride two-up
coming from the xl it's a big change
Good Luck with your toy also
Liv2Ryd  

Hey RaiderRider
Can you give a litte more info on the tail light mod?
Where did you get it? Do you have a web address for it.
I would like to see what you got.
My dealer had a open house past weekend I saw a blue
Raider it had a different tail light like to see what
the choices are.
The Raider demo bike didn't stop it was out all day
long they had a waiting list to demo it.
Liv2Ryd  

I've got 1000 miles on my Raider. Believe me, it's the best bike I've ever been on. 0-60 in 4 seconds,or less. 65 mph in second gear, 80 in third, 100 in fourth, all without even trying. This bike will rock you. I won't trade mine for any other bike. This dude will eat other V-twins for lunch.  

Purchased blue Raider S.  I have installed integrated l.e.d. taillight/ turnsignals, cobra swept exhaust and power commander III.  Bike looks and runs sick.  Handles better than any cruiser I've ever owned.  Has crazy torque and will really move.