Sportsters and Big Twins...

[Smith357]

I guess the BMW riders don't consider this a worthwhile discussion. Either that, or they are just out riding.

I'm not out riding.

Did someone want to see BMW's? This ones been running up and down the highway for the last 35 years. I have no idea of the mileage, odometer quit at around 60 K and that was many years ago.

My odo quit working around 180k

 

[buser]

Some of my buddies ride Harleys, but we rarely ride together because they just can't keep up.

Maybe it's because they don't want to ride with you.

 

[Evil One]

If harley is so bad , how come it outsells everything else on the road?

So... with that logic, depending on the year...
Ford escorts, taurus, toyota camry... were all the best cars ever made?
There are more Corollas sold than Bentleys, so obviously Corollas are better.
Harley sales are more of a show that people want to belong to a club than a statement about their motorcycles.
I have ridden various models and years of Harleys, the only one that made a positive impression was the V Rod. I liked its engine but hated its awful riding position.
Harley was competitive until the japanese mfgrs brought out the 4 cyl bikes.
At that point... they gave up.
Minimal advancements, minimal improvements...
They can now count on people to buy their product, no matter if they improve it or not, to fit in with the crowd.
My hat is FULLY off to the HD marketing wing.
They move BOATLOADS of HD merchandise to the "buy american" crowd... that is made in pakistan and china.
Dont believe me... next time you are in a HD retail shop, look.
I have ridden honda, suzuki, kawasaki, HD, hodaka...
Pull into a bike meet and you get friendly waves, smiles, conversations... from most bike owners.
If you get a snub, look at what brand he is riding.
Harley also markets smugness and attitude.
THIS I find to be an amazing feat.

When I lived in Mo I had the time to do a LOT of riding.
I didnt care who I rode with... I just wanted to ride.
I met up with some cool HD owners that didnt care either.
Yes, I DO know that they are out there.
I stopped riding with them due to the fact that there were mechanical breakdowns at LEAST every other ride.
Not fun to hang out in leathers in the middle of summer on the side of the road.
I actually went into the HD dealer recently to honestly look at a bike.
The XR1200.
I applaud them for that effort, and wish they would put that kind of attempt into the rest of their line.
To be honest... I WANT to buy a Harley.
But, until they make one that appeals to me... I cant/wont.
If I buy one, I will more than likely have to totally go thru it and make a 90% custom.
My next bike purchase will be a bike made in America.
A Honda Valkyrie.

I will ride with whoever wants.
I will wave, have a coke with, help out... anyone on 2 wheels.
I ride for the enjoyment... and ride in groups sometimes for the camaraderie.
Im all for a friendly rivalry amongst owners or different products... it makes things fun.
But when people are threatened, insulted, have their bikes spit on...
By people who bought something to fit in with a group that they assume does things like that...
Then I think that said group needs to do some internal policing and evaluating.


Jim

 

[ladder13]

3 very big nearby Harley dealerships have closed in the past 2 years, including Reggie Pinks who had been in business for 80 years.


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hdforums.com%2Fforum%2Fgeneral-harley-davidson-chat%2F491443-80-years-and-the-doors-close-tomorrow-for-reggie-pink.html&rct=j&q=reggie+pink+harley+davidson+closing&ei=es3eS7mjNMKC8gaavfidBQ&usg=AFQjCNEl-pnSBNP6CjFFWHsIY14R_ICgDQ


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...9_mgBQ&usg=AFQjCNFqIFcipecxxD2ArXJ9oJ8mWZYaMw

 

[handejector]

I have yet to try a harley that didn't drag hard parts cornering at a moderately brisk touring pace.

Good grief, man.
Do you think it is all about the ride?!?!
What about the look?
Have you never seen "Easy Rider"?

 

[mkk41]

It's more than just a motorcycle.

Has anyone ever seen someone riding a 50/60/70 year old Honda?

Do restored Yamahas bring 50,000-100,000 dollars?

Ever notice a Kawasaki emblem in the back window of a pick-up truck?

Ever seen anyone with a Suzuki tattoo?

 

[jframe]

Ya gotta start some where.

"62 composite sporty. 1200cc, 110hp. It can get out of it's own way quick.

78 1/2 FLH Classic Custom. 1340cc, 85hp. Goes good for the size.

DW

Nice bikes, all, but I personally prefer that 70-70 Monte Carlo in the background. Always liked those cars, thru the late 80's anyway. Had an '87 Aerocoupe SS, and wished I'd never sold it. Guy kept throwing money at me until I relented though.

 

[32sgteot]

Almost every Harley in the classified here in S. Florida from 2000 up hasl less than 1500 miles with a very few exceptions and they are close to that mileage. Harley is selling an image ( not important to me ) and they have done their business/ merchandising homework. Bring your wife, poodle, yorkie into our showroom. You look at the bikes, let her buy some clothing, and even something cool for Lassie.
Then on Sunday we can put on our leather uniform and play dress-up. We'll meet at the dairy and then we can discuss lawn care and baby sitters.
You know all this is true. I've been there.
If you do ride though, be safe

 

[Evil One]

It's more than just a motorcycle.

You are 100% correct... you purchase an image

Has anyone ever seen someone riding a 50/60/70 year old Honda?

Considering that the first honda motorcycle was made in the early 50s, and they didnt make an impact in the states till the 60s...
I see quite a few early... 1960s... hondas out riding.

Do restored Yamahas bring 50,000-100,000 dollars?

yep, race bikes.

Ever notice a Kawasaki emblem in the back window of a pick-up truck?

yep... LOTS of them

Ever seen anyone with a Suzuki tattoo?

yep, seen LOTS of them too, along with yamaha, kawi, honda, bmw...
Hell, I have even seen a Hodaka tattoo...

Did you have a point here?


Jim

 

[absolutevil]

Darn I din't know I purchased an image, I din't really realize I had an image to uphold. All I know is I've owned all kinds and makes of cycles over the years including pieces of junk but now I have a Harley for the only reason is that I wanted it. I like the way it rides, I'm happy with it and I don't know what the point is of arguing over the make of a bike. Ride what you like I don't care...I like Harleys...You can tattoo a monkeys *** on your arm, I don't care....Ride what you have.

 

[Terry C]

I've been riding since I was 14, I'll turn 52 in July.

Over those years I've owned and ridden whatever I could get, and was damn proud of each and every one of them. Brand loyalty was something I couldn't afford in those days.

Now I ride (at least I will when my legs get strong enough again) a '92 Sportster 883 Deluxe.

No, it's not going to win any drag races. But it hauls my fat arse around at a pretty good clip (it's still an 883, but not entirely "stock").

It's old, it's rusty in spots, and it doesn't get washed or polished very often.

I have a sticker on the back fender that says "It's not much, but it's PAID FOR!"

It just rolled over 50K on the odo, most of that put there by me.

Oddly, I don't have any really recent pics. I ride it, I rarely wash it, polish it, or photograph it.

Here it is at a pit stop on a run a few years back. Left foreground, the red one. Some things have changed since then, the rear has been lowered (shocks off a 883C), the front turnsignals have been relocated off the handlebars, The seat was swapped out for one wider in the rear (for the wife), bigger saddlebags, plus a few other changes.

BTW: Of the bikes on this run, the Sportsters outnumbered the Big Twins 2 to 1...

So, yeah, I ride a girl's bike. But for some reason, nobody gives me a lot of crap about it...

 

[pownal55]

Some harley owners may have an attitude, but not the ones i ride with. It's more about the company you keep than the bike you ride. What about the clown that flies by me on a crotch rocket doing 90 in a 50mph speed zone, is that not an attitude? If that is meant to prove a point i must confess i missed it.

 

[DHENRY]

2005 XL 1200C...Quick, nimble, looks perfectly stock (heh heh heh) and is perfect for me.
Had most all of 'em, had a MC business, blah blah blah...
IMHO, the best bike I've ever owned.
Not the cushiest, not the biggest, but it's what I like.
Don

 

[absolutevil]

I've had guys on sport bikes weave between and pass the group of riders I was in on curves and no-passing zones while riding in the White Mts. of New Hampshire. You also see nuts on Harleys too but I've seen more sport bike accidents, by far, then Harleys.

 

[G-Mac]

So, yeah, I ride a girl's bike. But for some reason, nobody gives me a lot of crap about it...

Terry C, I ride a 1988 XLH-883 Standard that I purchased new. I've found that those who do put down Sportsters are mostly wanna-bes that don't even have a bike.

I'd like a bigger Harley, but it's more of a "want" than a "need". The Sportster does most anything I need to do on a bike.

P.S. - I don't put down people that ride Jap bikes...I've owned plenty of them!

Gordy

 

[Catbird33]

I made the switch to Beemers back in '96; for me, there is no better bike. Now that I've been spoiled, I don't think I could give up the all the creature comfort features that I now take for granted, e.g., electronic ignition, fuel injection, electronic suspension, electronic windshield, AM-FM-CD stereo, heated grips, heated driver/passenger seats, ABS, drive shaft, cruise control, anti-theft system and on and on and on....


2005 BMW R1200RT

 

[wildsailer]

Ive had my knees in the brezze for 35 or so years. had honda bsa kawa hd . still have my gen shovel but ive a hankerin for a 650 dual sport. any how i live my life with the belife that you should "let those that ride decide" ride safe and shoot straight! thanks for readin.

 

[32sgteot]

650 dual sport is definitely my number one want right now, recently bought a new Everglades boat so the 650 will have to wait. Somehow the S&W's are'nt even a in the top 10 of anything I wish for.

 

[Evil One]

It's old, it's rusty in spots, and it doesn't get washed or polished very often.

I have a sticker on the back fender that says "It's not much, but it's PAID FOR!"

It just rolled over 50K on the odo, most of that put there by me.

THATS what I like to see... not that what I like does, or should matter to anyone.
I like bikes that get ridden, no matter the brand.
It just seems that most harleys I see are ultra low mileage, not a speck of dust, and the riders look like they are trying to follow a snake track taking off.

Darn I din't know I purchased an image, I din't really realize I had an image to uphold.

Like it or not, many times when we purchase something visible, we purchase an image.
Harley markets to that image... and attracts many people who wouldnt think about riding a motorcycle, if not for the image they just purchased.
I used to ride sport bikes, and no matter how I rode... I got scowls from people who had been blitzed by squids on crotch rockets. Hell, I even had people dart at me when I passed them.

I know lots of motorcyclists... Most are good people, no matter what they ride.
You have "turd suckers" in all of the camps.
Idiots who think their bike doesnt have a throttle... but an on/off switch.
People who hate anyone who doesnt ride what they ride.
The people who have no business on 2 wheels... but got a bike to pose amongst other people...
I have no use for any of those.
I have stopped to see if someone needed help, just to be told to "Get the hell out of here" because I rode the wrong bike.
On the other hand, I have pulled into a rest area for a break... and was invited to have a burger by people I would have figured to torch my bike while I was relieving myself.

People have stereotyped thoughts of certain groups.
And I know that its wrong to automatically assume something about people without knowing them.
But also, there is a reason stereotypes get started.
I ride jap bikes, they are what suit me the best.
Diversity is what makes this place great.
If anyone has a bike and honestly rides it... and isnt reckless... I would be happy to be their wingman any day.


Jim

 

[ladder13]

So how many miles per season does one need to "ride" to make them "legit"?
How long between washes?