Goin' to the dark side

[The Lorax]

Well, I apparently went over to the "dark side" as well, just not as dark as you did, I picked up a 2000 Suzuki vs1400 Intruder back in November, it is a goodly sized v-twin 45 degrees, it's not configured the same as a HD, I must say that I like the low end torque it has, and it will afford me the opportunity to do a frame up restoration on the XS (unless my wife finds out I'm keeping the XS, then I'll just be paying a lot of child support ) enjoy the HD man, as far as I am concerned, a bike is a bike, and they are all awesome. have a nice day and ride safe

[Rev.Rick]

One good thing about it Oldbiker, is because you own a xs11 you probably won't turn into a stuck up HD owner. Around here it's customary for fellow riders to give a salute to each other. Unfortunately most (not all) HD riders act like their too good to wave to anyone other that other HD riders. It's almost like if you're not riding a Harley you shouldn't be on the road. Anyway have fun with your new ride. I wish I could afford to have a second bike. I would have a new Yamaha Vmax in the stall next to my xs11.

[oldbiker648]

One good thing about it Oldbiker, is because you own a xs11 you probably won't turn into a stuck up HD owner. Around here it's customary for fellow riders to give a salute to each other. Unfortunately most (not all) HD riders act like their too good to wave to anyone other that other HD riders. It's almost like if you're not riding a Harley you shouldn't be on the road. Anyway have fun with your new ride. I wish I could afford to have a second bike. I would have a new Yamaha Vmax in the stall next to my xs11.

I wave at everone, but my buddy used to just acknowledge other H-D riders. With all the Jap clones, he has accidently waved at a few Yamaha V-twin cruisers, and that got him upset, so he has stopped waving at anyone as a result. He's a great guy, he simply doesn't understand why anyone would ride anything other than a H-D, and he hates the fact that the big Jap cruisers are eating into the H-D market.
One thing I am looking forward to is that big fat seat. Last Memorial Day weekend I did about 500 miles in 12 hours on my '80 G and since I hadn't probably ridden any more than 20 miles at a time before that trip last spring, my butt was really sore.

[b.walker5]

...Unfortunately most (not all) HD riders act like their too good to wave to anyone other that other HD riders. It's almost like if you're not riding a Harley you shouldn't be on the road. ...

Thats a universal thing the world over. I sometimes borrow a friends Harley, when my bike is down or I want to remind myself why I like my bike, and other HD riders wave all the time including some who know me, but when i'm on the 11 those same people wont lift a finger of acknowledgement in case thier seen by others. Cant be seen to acknowledge a rice grinder, even when ridden by a friend. One of the most pathetic things out there.

[Rev.Rick]

I've actually found a group that seems worst about not waving than HD owners; thats the sport bike crowd. I'm like you Oldbiker; I wave at everyone. To me were all doing what we love despite the ever present dangers of doing so. I gree that it's pretty pathetic that people won't greet others simply because they don't ride sportbikes or HD. But in a world where image is all important, it shouldn't surprise us that things are this way. Oldbiker, get your HD and wave at every rice burner you see, maybe it will start a trend.

[crazy steve]

I've actually found a group that seems worst about not waving than HD owners; thats the sport bike crowd. I'm like you Oldbiker; I wave at everyone. To me were all doing what we love despite the ever present dangers of doing so. I gree that it's pretty pathetic that people won't greet others simply because they don't ride sportbikes or HD. But in a world where image is all important, it shouldn't surprise us that things are this way. Oldbiker, get your HD and wave at every rice burner you see, maybe it will start a trend.

It's not just the HD and Sportbike crowd; I've had 'Wingers blow me off, same for BMW riders. And I wave at pretty much everybody; if they don't wave back, so what?

I do kinda draw the line at scooterboys though....

'78E original owner

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there John/Oldbiker,

Nice to see you're still around these parts! Congrats on your new acquisition. Several years ago I got the chance to ride Brent's Fireman Road King. First thing that surprised me was that there wasn't a TACH! I was afraid to twist the throttle too much not being able to tell how close to redline I might get! I'm sure it's a fine ride, but definitely not my style, I'm too accustomed to the power and response of the XS11! But I feel your pain in the seat department on the LDRs!

T.C.

[Geezer]

The last dealership I turned wrenches at was a Harley & Kawie shop. I came in as a Kawie mechanic and left with H-D experience.

In my experience H-D's are nice riding bikes that require way to much maintenance. You won't get more than 60K miles on a H-D without getting into the engine. That's way better than the old days but not up to modern standards in my opinion. BMW twins have been capable of 100k on a top end for many years and so should H-D.

If I had the money to blow, I'd have a 1200 sportster with low bars and cafe styling for an around town bike but I think they suck on the freeway. Big twins are great freeway bikes and when you get them in the right RPM rage, they are as smooth as anything out there. Outside of that range and they shake like hell. My pic of the big twins is the Heritage Soft tail but to each his own...

Geezer

[wa407mpp]

There are a lot of us older riders on here who can remember being one of only a few in their area who rode motorcycles and to meet and wave to another rider was something you did without first checking to see what he was riding, just like stopping to help if someone appears to be broke down along the road, it's just something you do. Granted I don't wave at everyone, it depends on the circumstances.

[joceiphus]

Am I the only one that doesn't like to wave? I mean, I still do it, but I don't like to. I feel bad if I forget, or I get mad if some one doesn't wave back. There's so many people that ride around here that I really don't want to wave at every Tom, Dick and Harry that rides by.
This makes me a jerk huh?

[XSokieSPECIAL]

If

you ever get that fictional hardtail backbreaker of yours running and you don't wave when you go by I will chase you down on that ill handling piece of art and put you into the wall.

[crazy steve]

you ever get that fictional hardtail backbreaker of yours running and you don't wave when you go by I will chase you down on that ill handling piece of art and put you into the wall.

Can we dogpile on?

'78E original owner

[DGXSER]

Am I the only one that doesn't like to wave? I mean, I still do it, but I don't like to. I feel bad if I forget, or I get mad if some one doesn't wave back. There's so many people that ride around here that I really don't want to wave at every Tom, Dick and Harry that rides by.
This makes me a jerk huh?

A Lazy Jerk at that.

[joceiphus]

Good lord I guess I'll wave then!

[oldbiker648]

Hey there John/Oldbiker,

Nice to see you're still around these parts! Congrats on your new acquisition. Several years ago I got the chance to ride Brent's Fireman Road King. First thing that surprised me was that there wasn't a TACH! I was afraid to twist the throttle too much not being able to tell how close to redline I might get! I'm sure it's a fine ride, but definitely not my style, I'm too accustomed to the power and response of the XS11! But I feel your pain in the seat department on the LDRs!

T.C.

Yeah, TC, I've been lurking for a while, haven't lost interest, but my girlfriend has been working me like an illegal alien. My buddy called on Sunday to say he got my deposit check and reminded me that other than when he was on a trip, the Road King has spent every night in the house. He's got a big room in his basement that he can ride directly into. I told him I'd have to see if SWMBO will let me park in her studio over the winter months.