Just back from a HD ride

[DiverRay]

Just got back from a five hour HD rental ride. All I can say is WHY!?!?!?!?
The HD was a Road King with a handlebar windscreen, saddle bags, and NO POWER. It had the 88 inch motor, and when I tried to pass a car, it took ALL I could give it to get over 75 MPH from 50MPH. Granted, it was an older one with the 88 inch motor, and a carb. But after talking with the guy at the rental place, here in Kaui, I don't think the newer one would be much different.
I needed to ride, as the time in a car was getting too me. The Harley was available, and not THAT much. I did notice I could NOT go into high BELOW 50, without having the bike complain!! I also needed to shift all the time, as the speed on the island is 25 to 50MPH. I know my XS1100 would be in fourth all the time, because of the 750 final drive. the big difference would have been the handling, torque, and horse power the HD DIDN'T have.
I now now, and my girlfreind agrees, NO HD in my future, unless they do more to make it a RIDABLE bike.
JMHO

[mason79]

this stolen from a motorcop forum

I live in Houston, I know hot and humid. In the worst heat, it doesn't really matter what you wear if you have to work outside for 10h. But should a three month period in a small part of the country dictate the rule? Because I see motorcycle cops in ridicolous horseriding apparel all over the country. To me it's obvious that you need to have gear adapted to the geography, season and task. Like I will have warm and cold weather gear, and rain gear, so should the police. If you can hunt down bad guys in the double cavalry trousers, then you can hunt them down in my mesh pants. It seems to me that they care to much about "good" looks.

I don't know anything about how things are organized here, but purchasing seems to be a very local thing? In Europe, the police is mostly a national organisation. They will have a central purchasing function that specifies, tests and approves all equipment to be used. This gives them buying power, and they can have things specially made if the commercially available gear is not good enough. (Uniforms, tools, etc, required to do a job is almost always provided in Europe, in any line of work.)

An important function of the central purchasing is the thorough testing and approval of all equipment used. A funny example is when the Harley importer tried to take a piece of BMW's action a few years back by giving a bike to the local police department. The bike was tested, and the verdict was: "This bike is unsafe at any speed, and is not approved for police usage. If we could decide, it would not be allowed for use on public roads at all."

[prometheus578]

"Ray... will ye ne'er learn?"

Diver Ray goes to Kaui...
Does he dive?
No.
He rents a Hog.
I thought hogs were just for luau's?

You already know what Harley's are like, Ray.
Were you just out slummin'?
I think it would have been better if you'd not told us about this.

[DiverRay]

Prom, I HAVE to tell the good, and the bad. The winter surf has come in early, and alas, I CAN'T GET a dive together!!

[prometheus578]

I had forgotten what it's like over there this time o' year.

[MAXIMAN]

Ridin' in Hawaii!!!

Woo hoo...I bet it fun even on a frickin Hardly!

There is no difference between the RK you rode and the new ones. After Brent and I got home he told me the next road trip he makes he will likely do it on his Eleven.

He said there were several times over the 6000 mile jaunt he had real problems staying up with us. One time in southern Utah going back home he really had a time going up hill into a head wind. He said he could barely get the thing up to 70 mph.

What else can I say. They are underpowered but that's nothing new. One thing about the old kick start vibrator. It consistently got better mileage than any of the Elevens averaging 42 to 45. (Oh yes other than Ray's trick of getting 50 mpg with his "engineer's" math)

But personally I'd rather get 36 to 38 and have the UMPH! of an Eleven.

[trbig]

Surely the ones with the 100+ cubic inch motors would do better wouldn't they? I'm still in no way tempted to get one, but I was just wondering.



Tod

[GNEPIG]

How original, another lets kick Harleys in the nuts thread.

You would think that someone with the potential intelligence of DiverRay would think of something else to start a new thread about. Something like, I'm in Hawaii and the riding is killer even if I can't ride my favorite bike.
By the negativity of your post, it sounds to me like you are not having a good time.
We don't care how bad Harley's ride/drive, we all know that they are crap, that subject has been beat to death on every thread across the web, since the beginning.
So, come on man, how's the scenery, hows the food, do the beaches look as good in real life as they do on TV? Are there Hot babes walkin around in bikinis all over the place? Did you and your girl make luv in the dark sands, on the beach at the base of a volcano?
How bout some pictures (not of you and the girl makin luv) of some Hot babes in bikinis and mountains and beaches and ...

[mason79]

hey ray,

i know we are all motorheads and mechanically inclined some more than others, me the less able, but no less enthused,

thank you for spending your own money to experience that hardly
in enough time to get a feel for what it was, yeah, i never spent too much time lookin into it, like even reading about it.and thank you for the road test article, albeit short...

until recently, i wondered what the mystique was, it must be that diehard patriotisim, for someone to play with motorized 2 wheel in that price range, ( they do hold their value, but those funds can be invested better i think)and get half the performance,nothing wrong with that either, nothing wrong with posing, heck i live in los angeles, even pennyless film star wannabees pose here, nothing wrong witdat either, to each their own.

but i have to admit that, 21 inch and 16 inch laced wheels with a black on black paint on a chopper with a v twin is not all that offensive to me, even appealling, leading me to read a recent online article shootout, v rod, midnight warrior, v max, yada yada.
v max ruled what's that say?

for the first time getting the skinny on what the best of the best v twin criusers can muster, and it is an embarrasment and appalling, silly, sad, and shameful, that in this day an age anyone can dispense that kind of lack of performance ( in all aspects of riding, handleing, braking, roll on etc.), heck if the money machine aint broke just keep foolin them.

so... it was perfect timing ray, a flame of curiousity was flickering in me about them bikes and now it is extinguished, my appricieation for what i now own grows, the mighty eleven never needs vindication, for when astaddled, and hammering away below you the masterpiece of an engine jamming thru the wind,
is reassurance that you'll make it home, those hefty brakes, going unsung until they bring you down from the wind, speeds that modern v twin would never see, knowing the first bend on the road is just that the first and not the last, that is what the eleven is to me.

a badass crusier that can take a huge load and go and go and go.

[Wildkat]

He's got a one track mind, Gene

Leave it to Ray to go to Hawaii and then write us about bikes...


Pics would be great! My request... no pics of guys in Speedos...

[GNEPIG]

Quote:
Pics would be great! My request... no pics of guys in Speedos.

+1 !!!!!

[mason79]

hey wildkat, i thought you were a gay man, why wouldn't you want pics of gays in speedos? justkiddin besides ray would ever point a camera at something like that,...

[Special Ed]

Alo-o-o-ha Ray!
I didn't include in my Tahoe ride report about a minor but sh!t eating grin inspiring event on the ride back. On Hwy 80 west bound out of Sacremento we were riding in a fairly tight pack of 8 bikes in the #2 lane of 3 west bound lanes. I was riding tail and since Ray didn't stop for gas in Sacremento and I was getting low, I wanted to catch up to him and signal to him. I peeled of to the right hand lane and turned up the wick. We were already going close to eighty and I caught up to Ray in about 4 seconds.
80 to over 100 MPH in 4 seconds and I still had throttle left.! What a rush!
By the way, my bike's odometer ticked over to 90,000 miles while we were in Virginia City.
Hope you're having a great time Ray.
E.Liberty

[DiverRay]

I'll send pics once I'm back home, and I'm able to remember the password for my account.
I hope to be able to dive in the morning, but I still have to see. I did take pictures today, as I have every day since I've been here. I will post pics of the scenery, but all in a "family friendly" manner.
I'm still trying to get some homework done, as I am trying to learn something new! I know some people can't understand this, but in my job, you ALWAYS learn!
Wildkat, I'll try to get something posted for John, but I'll make sure if the twins see it, they won't be asking questions!
More posts after I get back Tuesday night.

[Wildkat]

Something for John?

No Ray... it's all about me! me me me me me

(I am not opposed to pics of nice looking women who are scantily clad... just guys in Speedos... Cody's pic will be giving me nightmares for years to come)
Man... I appreciate you keeping it so the girls won't ask questions though... At this point in their lives... the questions are getting MUCH more difficult to answer...