feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Universal Japanese motorcycle
The so called classic japanese motorcycles.
The so called classic japanese motorcycles.
Harley question...
- Thread starter 5-Shot
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66TAS
Member
We have a winner!!
Don't forget to make Corvettes at Carlisle, one of the best if not the best all Corvette show going. It's always the last weekend in August. I've been going to Carlisle since 1985, driving my vette all but 2 of those years. Besides the Homecoming, this show imho, is the show to attend.
I make my reservations for the following year at checkout
This year the show is Aug 26-28. I'll be in the Grandstand on Sunday at 3pm waiting for my number to be called for the free vette gieaway.
I had a thread last year going about Carlisle, I'll revive it as we get closer.
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doublesharp
Member
I've been riding since the early 70s. Never had a Harley and never wanted one. Nothing personal. My pals in the 70s mostly rode Honda 750s. Seems like you could buy them new in Tennessee for about $1500. I rode a 1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki for years and have had several Hondas over the years.
This 1998 r1100r does everything I want a bike to do. Just broke in at 32k miles.
And mama and I get on the Honda scooters and ride all over the back roads. Mine is a 600 Silverwing and Vics is a 150.
This 1998 r1100r does everything I want a bike to do. Just broke in at 32k miles.
And mama and I get on the Honda scooters and ride all over the back roads. Mine is a 600 Silverwing and Vics is a 150.
mkk41
US Veteran
Don't forget to make Corvettes at Carlisle, one of the best if not the best all Corvette show going. It's always the last weekend in August. I've been going to Carlisle since 1985, driving my vette all but 2 of those years. Besides the Homecoming, this show imho, is the show to attend.
I make my reservations for the following year at checkout
This year the show is Aug 26-28. I'll be in the Grandstand on Sunday at 3pm waiting for my number to be called for the free vette gieaway.
I had a thread last year going about Carlisle, I'll revive it as we get closer.
Oh , I've been going to Carlisle for , , years. I for the Corvette as well as the big spring/summer/fall shows. They have a motorcycle event too. Last week in July IIRC. Usually too damn hot to ride though. I take my A/C'd truck so I can buy stuff.
But I suspect if I show up at Bowling Green , I'll be tarred and feathered.
ChattanoogaPhil
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Been there twice. There's simply too much to see in just one visit... or two for that matter. I'll be going again.
65kaiser
Member
Oh yeah.. that's my Garmin! Some of us appliance riders have advanced beyond magnetic tank bag maps.
I wired it into the battery with a dual cig lighter/charger and toggle switch under the left plastic side cover.
My wife and I like taking day and weekend trips. I toss on the windshield and stuff and we're ready to go. Garmin comes in handy.
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Phil, I used to have the same bike, loved it! Now I ride a 1600 RoadStar. How does the Garmin hold up to the vibration? I have the same model and considered mounting it on my bike but was concerned about the vibration
SWP357
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ChattanoogaPhil
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So far it's seen about 5k miles of use with no problems. Mounted where it is there really isn't much vibration/shaking compared to further out on the handlebars where I see others mounted. I used a RAM cradle (snaps in and out) for the Garmin but had to make my own mount to get it as low and angled as I wanted it. Otherwise, RAM has all the stuff to install it on a bike in minutes.
617X10
Member
If I was to get one of the "bagger" bikes I'd look for a Royal Star. De-tuned V-Max engine(anything de-tuned can be re-tuned), and four individual pipes that sound MEAN at idle. I also like the concept of rescuing a good bike out of the junkyard. I've been toying with the idea of making a bobber out of a Triumph basketcase. Why? So I won't look like the Steve McQueen wannabe's riding the new Bonnevilles.
Currently I own a Harley Wide Glide, a Suzuki DR 650SE Dual Sport, a Honda CRF 150F converted to a 230, and a TRX 400EX quad (for sale). I have owned, ridden and switched off regularly between my two wheelers, ATC three wheelers, two stroke and four stroke woods bikes, MX bikes, and the quad. Probably a more diverse rider than most. I'm not much for the mystique or classic looks...the Wide Glide has only been around since the mid 80's. I just like the long and low looks of the bike. I never had the "ride the best fu** the rest" mentality. For me...as far as Harley Davidson goes the exposed V Twin engine pulsing in the frame and the unmistakable sound of the engine exemplifies the "art" of mechanical beauty and sound. Sure there are smoother running, better handling bikes out there. Lots of Asian look a likes out there too, so there must be something about the HD look and sound. The Asian sport bikes have some wonderful technology...mostly hidden from view, As high tech as these bikes are I find myself getting bored quickly looking at a bike with an engine completely hidden from sight by vacuum formed plastic panels. I am now taking a liking to the Victory line of bikes. I have ridden a few and they are good running bikes. To each their own...and it's not what you ride...it's that you ride.
Be safe out there
Tech23
Be safe out there
Tech23
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Armyphotog
Member
Years and years ago, a buddy pulled up beside me on his Ariel Square 4, and said, "Why do you ride that thing?" (Talking about my Duo-Glide Harley),he continued, " all that heat between your legs." To which I responded, "Yeah!" "All that vibration," he continued. To which I responded, "Yeah!" "All that weight and so loud." To which I said, "Yeah." "This thing rides just like a car," he continued, "smooth as silk." Finally, I relented and anwered, (old school), "When I climb on this thing and kick crank it, I know I am on a MOTORCYCLE. If I had wanted a car, I would have bought a car."
Evil One
Member
My first "motorcycle" was a 1955 Sears Allstate vespa.
I went from that to a 1978 Honda hawk 400.
From there to a Suzuki 750 Katana.
The 750 got swapped out for a built up 1127cc engine.
From that I went to a 1983 Suzuki GS1100E.
My next bike will more than likely be a Honda Valkyrie.
Many of my friends have had Harleys, and we have traded off on rides.
Never cared for any of them.
Not that they were all bad bikes, but just not for me.
Riding position is all wrong on most.
I cant take my feet and arms out in front... kills my back.
In a half hour I am DONE on one.
I took my Katana cross country... legs, arms, and butt carrying the load.
I look at Harleys like I look at Jeeps.
"Its a Jeep thing..."
I happen to love Jeeps... others would rather set them on fire.
Ride what you like... but just ride.
Oh yea... and watch out for the idiots in cages, sometimes I think we have a bounty on us.
Jim
I went from that to a 1978 Honda hawk 400.
From there to a Suzuki 750 Katana.
The 750 got swapped out for a built up 1127cc engine.
From that I went to a 1983 Suzuki GS1100E.
My next bike will more than likely be a Honda Valkyrie.
Many of my friends have had Harleys, and we have traded off on rides.
Never cared for any of them.
Not that they were all bad bikes, but just not for me.
Riding position is all wrong on most.
I cant take my feet and arms out in front... kills my back.
In a half hour I am DONE on one.
I took my Katana cross country... legs, arms, and butt carrying the load.
I look at Harleys like I look at Jeeps.
"Its a Jeep thing..."
I happen to love Jeeps... others would rather set them on fire.
Ride what you like... but just ride.
Oh yea... and watch out for the idiots in cages, sometimes I think we have a bounty on us.
Jim
absolutevil
Member
I have an 06 Harley Road King. I can't give an explanation or any logical reason for owning it. I liked it when I purchased it and still like it. I assume the people with other types of bikes like theirs too. Darn, I should have said Harley is the best bike in the world, just to start more stuff.....Just be SAFE when out there.
Maximumbob54
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What is the Harley Tax? | Sportster.org
I can’t believe the Harley Tax hasn’t been mentioned yet. I know I sure paid it on mine. I can only assume they still do the same game for selling you a stripped out bike that they added a bunch of chrome and marked it up and then leave you to buy parts to make it an actual ride. My buddy never did figure out what all the rubber tubing was that was in place of his air cleaner.
I can’t believe the Harley Tax hasn’t been mentioned yet. I know I sure paid it on mine. I can only assume they still do the same game for selling you a stripped out bike that they added a bunch of chrome and marked it up and then leave you to buy parts to make it an actual ride. My buddy never did figure out what all the rubber tubing was that was in place of his air cleaner.
Interesting link...does this mean I just paid the Harley tax on my Suzuki? I paid the Harley tax on a dozen Honda's over the years. I have never owned a bone stock bike of any kind. Not sure if you have ever noticed or not but there is a huge aftermarket industry for the Asian bikes. One thing I have noticed with this though is no aftermarket part seems to fit like a factory part. You can get it to fit after some grinding, bending or tweaking of some sort. Harley accessories are built by Harley and fit like a factory part...because they are a factory part. I have been riding and modifying my bikes for 38 years and I can assure you I prefer a part that fits like its supposed to. Your friend must not be the sharpest tool in the shed if he can't figure out what's inside, around or near his air cleaner. Does he own a gun?
Tech23
rkrcpa
Member
All the bike I've needed for the past 30 years. I may not get there first, but I get there none the less.
See No Evo, Hear No Evo, Ride No Evo
Maximumbob54
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As for my friend, we bought the Screamin Eagle branded (K&N) filter and wanted to put it in. We pulled the cover off and... There was a plastic shell cover. We removed that one... And there was plastic membrane of sorts. So we pulled that off and it revealed a wad of rubber tubing. We gently pulled more and more of it loose only to find one end not connected to anything. So we keep working at it making sure not to tug anything loose. And it falls out when we get most of it loose. The tube wasn't connected to anything... It just seemed to be plain black rubber tubing that was there to act as a filler presumably to restrict air flow. There was another plastic shell in the back so we removed that as well. Rubber tubing removed, we pulled the crummy paper filter and dropped in the good one. My Sportster is a 99 and his was a 2000. So we used mine as a guide as to what we were trying to make his look like. His was rated to be a California sales model so I guess it had something to do with air quality control standards. I haven't the slightest idea how restricting it like that would help, but it sure ran better once it could breathe better.
As for the "Harley Tax", that was just the first random link I found that had some info on it. What I was refering to was the crummy parts or missing parts they put on as "stock". They are so low quality it is almost a slap in the face. My bike came with a small hard vinyl single seat, terrible no grip rubber foot pegs, no passenger pegs, slippery cheap rubber handle bar grips, a single piston front brake, and more... I'm not trying to say I bought expensive chrome clad everything, I just wanted some grips my hands didn't slip off, foot pegs that the rubber didn't fall off when I leaned into a corner, and maybe a seat like my Kawi had that actually had some cushion under my butt. I spent the next couple of months finding more and more aggravating cheap or low tech lame parts that I replaced. Then I noticed the clutch cable was rubbing the paint since it wasn't properly attached to anything. Some touch up paint and a bracket later and I ended up replacing some more cables and adding some more brackets to make sure that didn't happen again anywhere else. It just feels the same to me as buying a twenty thousand dollar car that doesn't come with floor mats. It just isn't right.
And thank you for the sharpest tool in the shed comment, that was classy.
I've bought 3 new HD's over the years, and never felt like I didn't get good value for my dollar.
mkk41
US Veteran
NEWSFLASH!!!
There's more than just one model 'Harley'!
Saying ya rode 'a Harley' once and it didn't fit ya makes no sense.
For many years , there was the XL Sportsters and FL Big Twins. Not a big change from the '50s to the '80s. OK , there was the '71 FX , a Big Twin with a Sportster fork and fenders. Basically they all rode and handled like the same bike from 1957-58.
In the 80s came big changes, the Big FLT touring bikes with great suspensions and rubber mounted engines and 5 spped transmissions. Then came FXR Big Twin powered 'sport' bikes. In '84 the Evo motor replaced the antiquated Shovelhead. Rubber mounted engine/trans , these things handled like no Harley before them. There were many variations with different handlebars and footrest locations. Then the FXD Dyna Glides came along. Looked like the old FX , but rode and handled very well. Again , iso-mounted so no bad vibes. The 883 and 1100/1200 Evo Sportster were great bikes. Handled pretty good and were 100x more roadworthy and trouble free than the old Ironhead. It too got the rubber mount treatment.
And between the factory offerings and huge aftermarket , ya can get enough different seats , handlebars and foot rests to make any bike fit any body size , shape or comfort requirement.
As jaded as I may be , I can tell ya there are worlds of difference between my rigid framed 1955 FL , my swingarm equipped 1968 FLH and my 1997 FLT framed Road King.
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