u/AircraftAdventures

This will be an odd comparison but here we go...

So I presently own a HD Softail Slim. An "okay" bike but I'm ready to move on after 3 years, preferably a more "upright" bike. I live in South Florida, my riding consists of afternoon rides out of town, nothing I'd consider long-range. Usually 2hrs at a time on the saddle.

So here's the contenders for replacement:

Mandello
My first choice..this is the bike I've been lusting after since I first set eyes on it. Downside? Horrible dealer and support network. There's only literally 4 of these in the whole state of Florida for sale, and the closest dealer/shop is 3 hrs away. I've read they hold up pretty well for an italian bike, much cheaper to own than a Ducati. But still, kind of scary to think this thing could break and no parts or service for it. I never rode one, just sat on one at a dealer.

HD Pan America ST
This was NOT on my radar...till I was talked into taking a test drive a few weeks ago. Whoa!!! 150HP, almost 100hp of torque. This thing can pull. I'm not sold on the weird futuristic looks but with 150hp, it could grow on me, it's got character for sure. The most tempting part is HD is offering a VERY reasonable trade-in for my Slim, but boy..burning $20k+ for a bike is a tough pill to swallow. Plus, dealing with the HD dealership left a bad taste in my mouth.

Honda NT 1100
And this leaves us with the NT 100. The Africa Twin was a real contender for me, great looks, a long pedigree and Honda reliability. Then a friend introduced me to the NT1100. Turns out the NT 1100 is cheaper than the AT, and is built solely for highway riding. Great reviews also. The price is very reasonable for a new bike, plus Honda usually has great incentives. Downsides? This thing is uuuuugly. Plus it's an automatic shift...meehhh. So this bike in a way would tick off some checkboxes (comfort, features, reliability, price) but it definitely doesn't get my wheels turning like the other two.

So there you have it. Any thoughts or opinions on these 3?