I don't so much have a problem with Harley Davidsons as a bike. I appreciate what they are and aren't. What I don't understand is MOST people I know with them. They buy them with the blind regard that they are the best bike around and anything else (and particularly anyone who rides anything else) is inferior. Man are they misguided!
I find it really funny that they try and tell me how wrong I am about Harleys when they have never ridden one. Had a lady I took for a licence last weekend tell me how great Harleys are and that she is going to buy one. I hope it suits her. She looked at me like I didn't know what I was talking about. I'm sure I don't know everything to do with bikes (no-one does) but here is my experience with Harleys:
Ridden:
1997 1340cc Evo Dyna Glide Convertible-
paint shaker. NO BRAKES, no go, fuggin uncomfortable. Rode it 80km too far....yuk
Twin Cam Dyna Glide (current model)
Nice engine- sure went harder than earlier Evos, handled nice enough, NO BRAKES, fuggin uncomfortable- couldn't reach bars and pegs properly. $32k shitbox.
883 Sportster Low. '07 model
Actually quite a nice bike this one. Had pipes and not too bad overall. Pretty slow but who cares. One big glaring fault though- I couldn't get it to corner even approaching moderate speed- SCARY- wouldn't turn and scraped. I'm surprised it didn't scrape on the sidestand!
'07 Fatbob
This is the only Harley I have so far liked. Comfy, handled well (did Q-Ride slalom demonstration on it...hehehe) and generally a nice bike. Would need a brake upgrade too. I could own this one....maybe. $25k isn't too bad ask though.
Other Harley experiences-
A friend's bro has a 6 month old Night Train. A linkage in the softail let go last week, leaving him riding the bike with it's arse dragging. Lucky he didn't have a pillion at that time.
A few weeks ago a Harley went past as I was holding a Q-Ride course- the driving light fell off and rolled down the road. A souvenir in my garage now.
Went to Bathurst Easter 2000 to see the bike racing. Went with 3 Harleys (never again!!!!!!!!!) One FXR blew the bottom end of the engine, the Shovel had to stop constantly to adjust the points, and the FATBOY blew a forkseal. To be fair my ZZR1100 blew a forkseal on the same trip. We left Goondiwindi at 6am and arrived at Bathurst 10pm. Coulda done that trip THREE TIMES in that amount of time. Harleys stopped EVERY town to fuel up.
Mate with Dyna Glide had seat mounting bolt fall out on short ride from Toowoomba. Had a spare in my GT topbox. Would have lost rear seat on way home otherwise.
Last group ride to Tingoora pub year old Harley with buggered electrics and flat battery. Unwilling push start.
Mate with Buell (Harley 1200 engine) has had to make custom oil breather system to stop oil pissing out of the breather from crankcase blowby. My GT shares the same problem....
A mate went to a Harley bike show in Brisbane a few years ago with his STANDARD VN800. They had a dyno there and his bike was pronounced the second most powerful at the show, amongst all the hotted, larger capacity Harleys. He said he could have heard a pin drop when the result was read. Lots came up to him afterwards asking ' what have you done to that thing?' Nothing!
WHO HAS NEVER HAD RIDDEN OR DESIRED A MASSEY FERGUSON/HD I RESENT THE STEREO TYPE
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Yeah I like Kawasakis.
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