Who owns a Harley?

[ladyskydiver 0]

I have friends that work at Harley. What exactly are you looking for in a cycle? Let me know, and I'll get a hold of them and see what they'd suggest.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[sundevil777 102]

Why do so many people want to have the cruiser style bikes?

The foot position is stupid.

The V-twin design should provide good ground clearance for cornering but it doesn't.

I hate the excessive noise that apparently an indispensable part of the cruiser experience. Many riders seem to have an obsessive compulsive disorder to 'blip' the throttle just to make more ear-splitting noise when stopped. I would like to have a mega powerful air horn to blast back at them.

Cruiser style bikes do nothing in a high performance way except make noise.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[shropshire 0]

My name is Tony and I have a Sporty (883C) it's been 3 years since I had my last performance bike...... [Hello Tony]



If had I wanted a 'Sports' bike I'd have another R6 (had 2), Ducati (2) or Laverda (1) but I didn't, I wanted another Harley.

The Sporty is NOT uncomfortable ..... for my body type (29" legs!!) and is in fact more comfortable than the other bikes mentioned.
The Sporty is NOT expensive (£4600 on the road).
The Sporty does not lack a lot of range in the tank. I get 140 miles (by which time I fancy a cup of coffee anyway).
V-Twins sound excellent.
I get to see the country side not have it whizz past me - who needs that shit anymore?
It's very easy to work on (if you need to) and parts are easy to come by.


Last point. It matters not what bike you have (why would anyone get all arsy about it on your behalf?). It's s'posed to be fun not a willy comparison [sorry lass). Some one earlier gave bay far the best advice... Try some out and see what you think.

Have fun, stay safe and keep the rubber side down (Thanks AggieDave for that one).

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Squeak 17]

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My name is Tony and I have a Sporty (883C) it's been 3 years since I had my last performance bike...... [Hello Tony]



If had I wanted a 'Sports' bike I'd have another R6 (had 2), Ducati (2) or Laverda (1) but I didn't, I wanted another Harley.

The Sporty is NOT uncomfortable ..... for my body type (29" legs!!) and is in fact more comfortable than the other bikes mentioned.
The Sporty is NOT expensive (£4600 on the road).
The Sporty does not lack a lot of range in the tank. I get 140 miles (by which time I fancy a cup of coffee anyway).
V-Twins sound excellent.
I get to see the country side not have it whizz past me - who needs that shit anymore?
It's very easy to work on (if you need to) and parts are easy to come by.


Last point. It matters not what bike you have (why would anyone get all arsy about it on your behalf?). It's s'posed to be fun not a willy comparison [sorry lass). Some one earlier gave bay far the best advice... Try some out and see what you think.

Have fun, stay safe and keep the rubber side down (Thanks AggieDave for that one).

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.. Ya Great Big Girls Blouse

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[2fat2fly 0]

I haven't owned a bike in years, but I rode with whoever on whatever. I went through a handful of Harleys and Triumphs when I was active and never understood the snob factor. No offense intended but the "I won't ride with anyone that's not on a Harley" people are usually just people that are trying to buy cool.

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[steveorino 7]

This is my Fatboy. My neighbor rides a Fatboy as well. She handles it well, but I doubt it was her first bike.

steveOrino

[wmw999 2,460]

I used to, until I traded it in for a Honda. I owned one for the same reason; we rode with a HOG group. But, ya know, you CAN ride another brand if it fits you enough better. There was a woman who was very tiny who rode a Shadow, because the money to lower anything else enough was prohibitive, and the CG on a Shadow was better as well.

I started with a Sportster, and got a big twin a year later (Low Rider). If you get a Sportster, get one with a larger tank (aftermarket). Because yes, the distance is limited. There will almost certainly be other Sportsters in the group when you ride with a group, but there's no reason to limit yourself when riding alone or just with your husband.

Also consider the CG. The Sportster at least used to have a higher CG, which made it a little harder to deal with sometimes. I liked the Low Rider a lot better. But, ya know, I like the Honda even better.

Good luck, and enjoy

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[normiss 806]

just because we don't like twisties anymore...doesn't mean jack shit about performance
Harley Performance
anybody else make 800 pound bikes that can do this??
my last one, a fully loaded bagger, the Ultra Classic, with a 103" stroker motor was a BLAST to do this next to the 600cc toy bikes I see people throw away every day...damn disposable bikes...

[normiss 806]

spend a few more years with the majority of your body weight resting on your hands and wrists...then tell me what you think of an almost reclined body position for a full day's ride.
Crotch rockets are a blast for the first hour or two...but all you want to do is go fast.
I prefer to have finally slowed it down a bit, relaxed and enjoying the ride.
Nothing against the lil donor bikes, I still admire them...I just don't feel comfortable on them any longer. I've had plenty of them though. My Ninja was a real treat to ride through the mountains of Tennessee!

[squirrel 0]

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anybody else make 800 pound bikes that can do this??

yes, its called a vmax.

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[normiss 806]

yep...and you sit like you're on a bar stool with no backrest...and she's also a straight liner bike...with no value once you buy one...fun for fast...nothing else...
next please

those are right up there with the Kawasaki KLR, very nice nostalgic Jap bikes.
edit to add...they don't weigh any where NEAR 800 lbs either

[squirrel 0]

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yep...and you sit like you're on a bar stool with no backrest...and she's also a straight liner bike...with no value once you buy one...fun for fast...nothing else...
next please

those are right up there with the Kawasaki KLR, very nice nostalgic Jap bikes.
edit to add...they don't weigh any where NEAR 800 lbs either

and your telling me that the harley in the video that did the wheelie is a great turning bike? dont think so...next please.

oh, and i bought the vmax for 4 grand, cash...and can sell it for more today, and every time i ride with my harley buddies...i ask them to put up or shut up...pink slips...not one taker, ever.

if you want to buy something that appreciates...buy real estate.

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[normiss 806]

you need to re-read my posts...I never said the Harley's are good in the twisties..in fact I said the exact opposite.
tell me how you like your vmax after a 2000 mile ride please. I've also always made money on selling used Harleys, a few rice bikes as well - but only if they are uniquely popular like the vmax...
Harley's are not about the performance..unless you go top fuelies...then they hang right with the Susuckies...
and ask how many ladies are comfortable on the back of a donor bike? they look like a monkey fucking a football!

but we're waaayyyy off thread topic now aren't we?
she wants a Harley...and she will love her Harley!

[Squeak 17]

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you need to re-read my posts...I never said the Harley's are good in the twisties..in fact I said the exact opposite.
tell me how you like your vmax after a 2000 mile ride please. I've also always made money on selling used Harleys, a few rice bikes as well - but only if they are uniquely popular like the vmax...
Harley's are not about the performance..unless you go top fuelies...then they hang right with the Susuckies...
and ask how many ladies are comfortable on the back of a donor bike? they look like a monkey fucking a football!

but we're waaayyyy off thread topic now aren't we?
she wants a Harley...and she will love her Harley!

Mark I would put a Guzzi California against your Harley ANYDAY, for handling speed and comfort, over a 4000km ride.
I would put a months pay that my stock Guzzi will do EVERYTHING better than your stock Harley. And do it cheaper, with no down time, and at the end of the I will lose VERY little if any money when i sell it.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[squirrel 0]

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tell me how you like your vmax after a 2000 mile ride please.


but we're waaayyyy off thread topic now aren't we?
she wants a Harley...and she will love her Harley!

well, it was not quite 2000 miles, more like 1400...from san diego to Kansas...but, i liked it just fine. i do have pegs up front though for cuising. some people say the seat is not comfortable...i actually like it. but i have heard complaints about every bike seat.

yeah, we are of subject, but hey, this is the bonfire.

that fact that her friends wont let her ride if she does not buy a harley is simply, ...amazing. thats like some click in grade school. i rode with a group of harleys awile back with 2 other friends, my vmax, a sweet old GS1000, and a nice new suszuki something...they poked fun at us, and we at them...but we were still "WELCOME" to ride with them! i have even brought out my old XT550 and rode with them. I think she should really evaulate her friends before she drops some serious cash....just to...belong.

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[ryoder 1,590]

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Many riders seem to have an obsessive compulsive disorder to 'blip' the throttle just to make more ear-splitting noise when stopped.

From a "Cycle" magazine review of a Sportster years ago:

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In fact throttle-blipping a Harley is such a kick in its self, that in a recent poll of fun things you can do by yourself, it came in second, right behind you-know-what.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[ChrisL 2]

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My husband and I have good friends who have a Harley and are pushing us to get one. He rides it and she rides on the back. I am all for getting Harleys, but I want my own, don't want to ride on the back of my husbands. We are going to take a motorcycle riding class (we've both ridden motorcycles, but not for years), then decide on what we want to get. Any suggestions?

Screw anyone that says you should get a sportster because you are a woman. They arent "girl" bikes, and in point of fact I found them harder to ride than my FatBoy.

Try out a bunch. Sit on them. Ride them Get the one you like and dont get pushed onto a Sportster cuz you are a woman.
I know several women, small women, that ride full sized bikes with no problems at all.

BTW, I ride a Harley and wont ride anything else, but thats because I LIKE MY BIKE. If your friends wont ride with you unless you are on a Harley then you need some new friends.

People that dis Harley's or Harley riders out of some dumb ass bias are idiots. People that make generalizations about Harley quality definitely have no idea what they are talking about.

Additionally, people that dis metric cruisers for similar reasons are also idiots and should also be ignored.

Ride what you like and fuck anyone that has a problem with it.

__

My mighty steed

[ryoder 1,590]

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Mark I would put a Guzzi California against your Harley ANYDAY, for handling speed and comfort, over a 4000km ride.
I would put a months pay that my stock Guzzi will do EVERYTHING better than your stock Harley. And do it cheaper, with no down time, and at the end of the I will lose VERY little if any money when i sell it.

I was about 20 years old, and the proud owner of a like-new one-year-old Sportster when I pulled up along side a Guzzi at a stoplight. After a few back-and-forth glances and nods, the light turned green the the the noise began...from only my bike. The Guzzi was busy opening up the distance ahead of my bike, all the while making no more sound than your average family car. A humbling experience.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[squirrel 0]

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Mark I would put a Guzzi California against your Harley ANYDAY, for handling speed and comfort, over a 4000km ride.
I would put a months pay that my stock Guzzi will do EVERYTHING better than your stock Harley. And do it cheaper, with no down time, and at the end of the I will lose VERY little if any money when i sell it.

I was about 20 years old, and the proud owner of a like-new one-year-old Sportster when I pulled up along side a Guzzi at a stoplight. After a few back-and-forth glances and nods, the light turned green the the the noise began...from only my bike. The Guzzi was busy opening up the distance ahead of my bike, all the while making no more sound than your average family car. A humbling experience.

i still have my stock pipes on my bike...dont really like the ear shattering noise that straight pipes make....except...when i am driving my car, and a bike is splitting lanes...i can hear them coming, and give a little room. i remember seeing a sticker one time...."Loud pipes save lives." guess they are good for something. i prefer the "sleeper" mode....nice and quite, but able to haul butt!

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[ryoder 1,590]

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I was about 20 years old, and the proud owner of a like-new one-year-old Sportster when I pulled up along side a Guzzi at a stoplight. After a few back-and-forth glances and nods, the light turned green the the the noise began...from only my bike. The Guzzi was busy opening up the distance ahead of my bike, all the while making no more sound than your average family car. A humbling experience.

i still have my stock pipes on my bike...dont really like the ear shattering noise that straight pipes make....except...when i am driving my car, and a bike is splitting lanes...i can hear them coming, and give a little room. i remember seeing a sticker one time...."Loud pipes save lives." guess they are good for something. i prefer the "sleeper" mode....nice and quite, but able to haul butt!

My bike was 100% stock, and still too loud for my tastes. I had a friend with a similar bike, but with straight pipes, and I hated riding with him. I had a firm rule that if he wanted to ride with me, then when we passed cars, I went first. A couple miserable experiences getting my ears blown out by him passing first were enough.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[normiss 806]

have I unbeknowingly offended the Italian bred sleds?

as I've toldyou many times before...I dig Italian bikes very much. as I dig many Jap bikes...I CHOOSE to own a Harley. sumpin wrong with that?
I've owned many more jap bikes than I have Harleys...so far anyway.
I wave to all riders (ok - maybe not to the mopeds and scooter riders cause I can't stop laughing long enough to remember to wave) and ride with all types...I simply prefer the Harleys. and you guys that keep saying the Harley has no reliability and requires "down time" simply do not know what you're talking about. I know guys AND girls with panheads older than you are and their bikes are amazingly reliable. and beautiful pieces to boot.

[Squeak 17]

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have I unbeknowingly offended the Italian bred sleds?

as I've toldyou many times before...I dig Italian bikes very much. as I dig many Jap bikes...I CHOOSE to own a Harley. sumpin wrong with that?
I've owned many more jap bikes than I have Harleys...so far anyway.
I wave to all riders (ok - maybe not to the mopeds and scooter riders cause I can't stop laughing long enough to remember to wave) and ride with all types...I simply prefer the Harleys. and you guys that keep saying the Harley has no reliability and requires "down time" simply do not know what you're talking about. I know guys AND girls with panheads older than you are and their bikes are amazingly reliable. and beautiful pieces to boot.

Nothing at all wrong with liking what you ride, but you tend to give them a much bigger rap than they derserve
I have nothing at all against Harleys, but they are not "all that" there are a lot of bikes out there just pleasant to ride

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[normiss 806]

until you ride for more than a few hours at a time, I would agree with your comments.
I got a chance to ride the BMW K1200 touring bike last year to WFFC.
I took my bike off the trailer a few hundre miles later...that bitch was a nice ride, but very uncomfortable.
I give them everything they deserve... Try owning them for about 10 years as I have and then you'll understand.
I don't mean to knock any other brand, I love all bikes...but it IS simply that nothing compares to a Harley in the long run...at least to me.

and I still want a Suzuki TL1000r
mmmmm...torque!

[cocheese 0]

Ah why you wanna wide a Hally?

you pay ten tousand dollah.. go hundrid mio per hour.

Wit rice bunner, you pay five tousand dollah ..go two hundrid mio per hour.

We make bike fastahhh, make tyah stickyahhhh.

[shropshire 0]

Grrrrrrrr

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome