Rented a Harley - impressions

[planedick]

Harley hangouts...

I go to Cook's Corner a lot just for the ride and usuall stop to look at all the custom HD's there. I can't count the times I came back to my 79 XS to find a group of HD guys admirring my old maching. Usually something like "I had one of those. Wish I still had it." "Helluva machine." "Ain't no HD's that old still runnin'."

[MikeFromMT]

What can I say, I may own an XJ but my heart belongs to a Harley. Not unlike a high school romance that we old guys reminisce about. When I was HobbyMans age I was designing/building custom Harleys, Flatheads, Panheads, Shovels and Evos, back before it was trendy and every yuppie with too much money fancied himself a builder or a "biker." At the end of the late 80's I gave up on the company that went "corporate" and turned it's products into a fashion statement for those in the midst of a mid-life crisis. That being said, I've always liked the torque of a Harley, something I've not found in any other bike, something about that big ass flywheel that just pulls like an old John Deer tractor, a comfy riding position (my bikes either had apes or drag bars) and a look that no other had, I liked that I could cruise down the hwy at 2500 rpm and (on my bikes) give the jap sport bikes a good run for their money, but after the new bikes passed $12000 I just could not justify their cost compared to what else you could buy for the $$$. When I ride my $900 XJ it feels no different than a $6000 bike of the same basic style, without the price tag. Like a lot of guys, I'd like to have one in my stable but unless my 6 numbers get drawn this weekend, I'm keeping my XJ and my next bike or 3 probably won't be an HD.

[Meatloaf]

Interesting that you would attribute such performance to the HD.

While obviously torquier than your typical sport bike, I found the brand new HD I rented to have far less torque than many of the metric v-twins I have ridden. I swapped with the guys I was riding with that day and the Road-King felt pretty much middle-of-the-pack torque-wise. Others lugged along better at low speeds in high gear and roll-ons, well... the less said the better.

Despite that I'm in the process of buyng a '95 softtail and power has nothing to do with it and I'm not parting with the XS to get it. I'm starting a collection

[GIXXER 711]

i own a harley and would not own it, except for the fact that is was given to me and my fiance. harley's just have not progressed technologically. the new softail still looks like my 99 as they do all the way back to when it was introduced. i will say it has been a better bike that i anticipated, but i have such a bad taste in my mouth for harleys because of the whole stigma attached to them, it is difficult for me to grow attached to it. it does nothing well, it just is what it is. the only thing you can really do with them is make them look kinda cool, hoepfully without all the freakin bolt on chrome bs. here is an article that sums it up pretty good: http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/noharley2.html.

[50gary]

My sister has had two new Heritage softtail specials a '99 and '03(Heritage Special name lifted from Yamaha) and I rode her 2003 anniversary model. I drove like a car with the requisite vibe and HD signature sound there is no mistake you're on a Harley. Easy to ride and that's part of the appeal to HD people I think? It's that life style thing they talk about more than hardcore motorcycling. I'm not at all against them just way too costly for what you get. The flip side of the cost is the very good resale. My personal choice for a crusier (power crusier) would be the Yamaha Warrior of course.
Cheers, 50gary

[trbig]

That link doesn't work, but here's one to the same place sort of with a few pretty funny quotes...


http://www.goingfaster.com/angst


And here is the main page... some pretty funny stuff. Thanks Danny.




Todhttp://www.goingfaster.com/angst/main.htm

[GIXXER 711]

it was the dang period on the end. here it is: http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/noharley2.html

enjoy!