Harley Davidson
Discussion
SteellFJ said:
and they sound AWESOME!
The HDs I've heard on open pipes sound like a rapid succession of obnoxiously loud wet farts. About as far from awesome as it's possible to get, though they sound ok with a reasonable exhaust on them. Apart from that Steve has it nailed and the 883 in particular is a gutless boat anchor.That said I do quite like the style of the V-Rod, and at least it has a reasonable amount of grunt.
No not ridden one, nor any bike yet for that matter but one passing me at lunch got me thinking that the BB regulars are pretty much against them. I'm always in here looking at all your bikes (in jealous envy) and never really seen anything HD but a couple V-Rods.
I fancied one a while back and looked at the 883 then. Before realising my license dreams would have to be put on hold. If its a gutless bike it could be suitable for a first bike I thought?
I'd rather ride one of them with very little pace while I learn than die in a head on inferno with a road sign the first time I hit a patch of oil/diesel. 3 point turning to go round a mini roundabout seems a safer bet.
I fancied one a while back and looked at the 883 then. Before realising my license dreams would have to be put on hold. If its a gutless bike it could be suitable for a first bike I thought?
I'd rather ride one of them with very little pace while I learn than die in a head on inferno with a road sign the first time I hit a patch of oil/diesel. 3 point turning to go round a mini roundabout seems a safer bet.
As a bike, they're woeful in terms of technology and engineering. Heritage my arse. lazy more like
As a brand they're , well, sad. When your business model is about the crap you can tack on to a bike to "personalise" it, that says it all really. And the American Thunder thing. It's sad. Really, really sad.
As a motorcycle, for me they completely miss the point. having a bike that can't go around corners is kind of like having Sky HD and a 11" B&W Telly. Classiscs excepted, it's the dynamics of a bike that really excite, the 3 dimensional aspects, the handling, the acceleration. Harleys. Noisy without any performance. At all..Why???
And finally, there's the HD "thang" No, you're not a baaaaad ass, you're not a 1%er. You're a sad middle aged middle management type who's naughtiest thing ever is overstaying a parking meter by 3 minutes and not 'fessing up to the Feds.
Patches are only acceptable on Cubs, Scouts and Girl Guides. Or Emergency Services. You're not. So don't.
As a brand they're , well, sad. When your business model is about the crap you can tack on to a bike to "personalise" it, that says it all really. And the American Thunder thing. It's sad. Really, really sad.
As a motorcycle, for me they completely miss the point. having a bike that can't go around corners is kind of like having Sky HD and a 11" B&W Telly. Classiscs excepted, it's the dynamics of a bike that really excite, the 3 dimensional aspects, the handling, the acceleration. Harleys. Noisy without any performance. At all..Why???
And finally, there's the HD "thang" No, you're not a baaaaad ass, you're not a 1%er. You're a sad middle aged middle management type who's naughtiest thing ever is overstaying a parking meter by 3 minutes and not 'fessing up to the Feds.
Patches are only acceptable on Cubs, Scouts and Girl Guides. Or Emergency Services. You're not. So don't.
I tend to alternate between a Harley and then a BMW R1200GS.
Have had a Night Rod Special, A Fatbob and a Fatboy.
I like them personally and my next bike will probably be another Fatboy or Soft tail Slim.
You just have to be more choosy about the weather and you need to clean them more.
They can corner but, perhaps, not as well as other bikes.
Have had a Night Rod Special, A Fatbob and a Fatboy.
I like them personally and my next bike will probably be another Fatboy or Soft tail Slim.
You just have to be more choosy about the weather and you need to clean them more.
They can corner but, perhaps, not as well as other bikes.
Edited by Davel on Friday 18th March 19:10
Bluehawk said:
R8Steve said:
A bike that handles?
Having test ridden a few of the newer models, I can safely say they are surprisingly agile!They do appeal to some though so i suppose they either are your type of thing or not.
They're not for me...although having said that, a blacked out V Rod would probably feature in my lottery win garage somewhere, it would be behind about 100 sports bikes though.
I was bored the other week and popped into Black Bear Harley, There is some nice kit in there, but the base model looked so cheap, the rear swing arm appeared to made of two cheese strings.
The Vrods do look good, but the whole leather chaps, tassels etc just doesn't do it for me. Ill stick to the sports bikes for now.
A bike that handles?
A bike that doesn't make you look like you've just walked out of the blue oyster bar?
The Vrods do look good, but the whole leather chaps, tassels etc just doesn't do it for me. Ill stick to the sports bikes for now.
R8Steve said:
SteellFJ said:
what more can you want?
A fast bike?A bike that handles?
A bike that doesn't make you look like you've just walked out of the blue oyster bar?
Either you get them or you don't.
for me bikers come in 3 categories of desire
On an open road you can see just as much scenery as on a jap bike but it feels more of an event.
Chaps/Bumming/Tassles/Tache/Bandana/Waistcoat/Fat Wife are all optional not a requirement
for me bikers come in 3 categories of desire
- Speed
- Freedom
- Cost
On an open road you can see just as much scenery as on a jap bike but it feels more of an event.
Chaps/Bumming/Tassles/Tache/Bandana/Waistcoat/Fat Wife are all optional not a requirement
andburg said:
Either you get them or you don't.
for me bikers come in 3 categories of desire
On an open road you can see just as much scenery as on a jap bike but it feels more of an event.
Chaps/Bumming/Tassles/Tache/Bandana/Waistcoat/Fat Wife are all optional not a requirement
How does an HD give you more freedom than any other type of bike? The Ducati Diavel seems to offer a much better balance of power/handling and style, but does it give you less 'freedom'?for me bikers come in 3 categories of desire
- Speed
- Freedom
- Cost
On an open road you can see just as much scenery as on a jap bike but it feels more of an event.
Chaps/Bumming/Tassles/Tache/Bandana/Waistcoat/Fat Wife are all optional not a requirement
I can see how a big, lazy bike could be attractive in the same way as a big, lazy car when you have long distances on mostly straight roads, but in the UK sitting on motorways for miles on end is my idea of biking hell.
Edited by Mr2Mike on Friday 18th March 15:59
Mr2Mike said:
andburg said:
Either you get them or you don't.
for me bikers come in 3 categories of desire
On an open road you can see just as much scenery as on a jap bike but it feels more of an event.
Chaps/Bumming/Tassles/Tache/Bandana/Waistcoat/Fat Wife are all optional not a requirement
How does an HD give you more freedom than any other type of bike? The Ducati Diavel seems to offer a much better balance of power/handling and style, but does it give you less 'freedom'?for me bikers come in 3 categories of desire
- Speed
- Freedom
- Cost
On an open road you can see just as much scenery as on a jap bike but it feels more of an event.
Chaps/Bumming/Tassles/Tache/Bandana/Waistcoat/Fat Wife are all optional not a requirement
I'm sure I said people who buy Harleys aren't looking for speed or something cheap.
andburg said:
I never said it did??
I'm sure I said people who buy Harleys aren't looking for speed or something cheap.
Apologies, I must have misinterpreted your post. I still don't understand the freedom bit since it doesn't seem like an attribute that would sway someone's choice of bike.I'm sure I said people who buy Harleys aren't looking for speed or something cheap.
I suppose fans of HD's (and other American iron) are primarily attracted to the image that the bikes project, which means nothing else really comes close.
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