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View Full Version : Paul gets his tassel on - HD Ride review....



Paul in NZ
29th May 2011, 20:49
We all know the stereotypes about Harleys and their riders. God! Endless pages of it exist on KB and to be fair I’ve sneered at the thought of these ‘Hells Accountants’ and Gauffed at ‘Wild Hogs’ etc. But how many of us have actually ridden one? Um……

Fast rewind to last week – I’m out enjoying a mild Wellington autumn day with a lunchtime stroll around the block and as I amble past Wellington Motorcycles I trip over Pete McDonald drumming up custom on the footpath… According to Pete I apparently ‘have’ to take a Harley for a test ride… I say ‘no thanks Pete, not quite my thing’… He says Hey ‘ I know that, I’m not trying to sell it to you I just want you to ride it’…. (Yeah riiiight Pete) So anyway – I end up on this thing that kinda resembles a motorcycle that I’m used to. The wheels are in the right places and the controls sort of familiar but dear god – everything is soooo far away. The sticker on the rear vision mirror claims that objects in it are closer than they appear BUT the bloody footpegs aren’t. I wobble off into the Friday traffic with feet flailing about looking for them while I wrestle with a chopperesque 21” front wheel. I’m laughing and remembering those choppers we built back in the day. Difference is – this is one expensive motorcycle, its not mine and I’m shitting myself…. I feel the expectation of over a hundred years of HD tradition bearing down on me and decide I’d better man up….

I’m riding a new for 2011 ‘Blackline’

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_AU/Motorcycles/blackline.html#/gallery

I haven’t got a bloody clue where it fits into the line up or who its aimed at – I’m just trying not to aim it into a bus as 1st stop is work to pick up my shit and head home. Oh god – the ramp to the parking garage suddenly looks like an Olympic BMX ramp and I don’t really know where the brakes are… shit… It’s the end of the month and its work drinks – ‘Oh a HARLEY’. Shit – that says it ALL really. Honestly you could rock up on Burt Munros Indian and it wouldn’t matter shit – that HD name really does count for something…. Every woman in the place wants to sit on the back and go for a ride – I’m gobsmacked. I’m starting to really feel some pressure here.

I grab my stuff and hit the track for Kapiti and with every turn of the wheel its feeling a little more familiar and – actually – this isn’t so bad, brakes work, engines solid, clutch is predictable and I’ve even found the footpegs without wobbling… I relax enough to look around to see if anyones lookin at me…. Nope…. Bugger…

Eventually I’m brave enough to open the throttle and get down to it….. Interesting… There a few more ponies running around than I anticipated. Admittedly they are the sort more used to pulling coal carts but still… Predictably the arrival at the house flushes out every small boy in the area – and instantly they all know exactly what it is – amazing….

So – FF to Sunday and it’s the Classic Club ride and the reason I have the bike. Daughter #1 wants a ride and Vicki does not want to miss the club ride so a pre lunch spin is on the cards to keep everyone happy. The Harley takes it all in its stride – daughter cops a bee to the cheek but is still besotted with the bloody thing. I’m getting grumpy – I can’t compete with this long low orange lout of a thing, women throw themselves at it and forgive it any sin…. Gah!

Quick lunch and we hit the track for the city…. Light traffic and a sunny (but very chilly) day seems perfect for a spin. We peel off onto SHW1 and give the big orange beast its head. Bloody hell – it accelerates like a wardrobe full of rocks down the stairs. All rumble and drama and unstoppable – what a hoot…. Its in its element – this is what it does. At highway speeds it steers and rides really well. You can see how the bad boys peel em through the traffic and why they do it so quickly, its easier to keep it moving. Its less convincing pulling in for a wee and a coffee (in that order) on an uneven car park surface. The 30 degree rake and the 21” front means you have to apply a bit of muscle but I’m amazed how quickly you get used to it – the weight (306kg) melts away.

The guys at the classic club’s eyes bug out on arrival and thank god there are no more women leaping onto it and we head off around the bays. This is where the bikes one fault is uncovered. The road is appalling and the pillion in a million is so battered that she is in tears and we stop for her to recover her composure. Vicki puts a bit more weight on her legs and things improve – but not much.

Before we know it – its time to head back up the coast in the chill late afternoon air – again, as the speeds rise, the bike relaxes and everything starts to work a little better. It’s a belting thing to ride if its given some space.

So – whats it like?

Well - I dunno, better than you could possibly imagine I guess. Its super long (1670mm wheelbase) and super low so you wouldn’t expect to enter it into a trail ride or win the Rimutaka GP but that’s missing the point. If you want to do either of those things you buy a suitable mount. The length and layout do make it super stable at speed and I’ve never ridden a bike where a pillion has so little effect on the handling or is so well behaved in the nasty Wellington winds – solid!

Its fuel injection does the job – ABS works, it has a trip computer and a wizzy digital tach that tells me which of the 6 gears I’m in which is handy cos I can’t count past 4. The high tech stuff surprises me and illustrates that HD can do modern but choose to build what they do ‘cos that’s what their customers want.

To be fair, the engines not a smooth running dynamo but if it was it would detract from the whole experience – it just wouldn’t be a big harley without that big ole lump chortling away underneath you. When it get’s into its stride it really does chuffle and snort like a contented linebacker tucking into a tuna melt and giant fries – happy as a pig in shit really.

The handling is of course full of character but this is a long low custom so you cant ping it for that but be assured that it will do nearly anything you want as long as you ask it politely and in a little advance. I’m not sure how it would handle a nasty surprise because I didn’t ask it to but I have no doubt it would have impressed me by being more capable than I expected and not turning around with 45 drawn blowing my head off….

As befits a ‘custom’ the finish is astonishing – it is really hard to fault. The paint and chrome reek of real quality and with a little care should last for many many years. The orange finish didn’t appeal to me but everyone else seemed to REALLY like it.

To sum it up – once I got over myself and started to enjoy the experience this bike was WAAAY better to ride than I thought. Its stonking fun to ride and catching a shadow image of that profile below a setting sun caused me to catch my breath and think of Captain America and took me back to being a 16 year old kid hooning about on my rigid Triumph dreaming chopper dreams. This is one of the great motorcycles of the age, it didn’t change the game or take a second off a lap time – it wont be a ‘collectable’ and people wont talk about it in 50 years time. BUT as a fun machine to feed the human soul and lift the spirit it’s a belter. Bung on a better seat for Vicki and I could just be talked into it – but Pete knew that didn’t he – bastard….

Get into Wellington M/C’s and take it for a spin…..

martybabe
29th May 2011, 21:02
Great write up Paul, thoroughly entertaining read. Modern Harley's are much better than the knockers think, not for everyone I'm sure but they can be a lot of fun when you adapt.

Good stuff.

Paul in NZ
29th May 2011, 21:02
More pictures.....

Paul in NZ
29th May 2011, 21:04
Great write up Paul, thoroughly entertaining read. Modern Harley's are much better than the knockers think, not for everyone I'm sure but they can be a lot of fun when you adapt.

Good stuff.

Yup - the wierdest thing was it was MY crappy attitude that was stopping having fun. Halfway home I started laughing and got my groove on.... Bloody loved it....

martybabe
29th May 2011, 21:28
Yup - the wierdest thing was it was MY crappy attitude that was stopping having fun. Halfway home I started laughing and got my groove on.... Bloody loved it....


That's exactly it Paul if you ride these things with attitude and prejudice you get exactly the ride you were expecting. That's what I liked about your review, you openly admit the you didn't fancy the ride or the brand but you gave it a chance and were surprised at the fun that can be had on one.

Totally true about the women also, dunno what that's about, they love em.

Hitcher
29th May 2011, 21:32
Nice work Paul. You'll be riding Hondas at this rate.

jaffaonajappa
29th May 2011, 21:37
Totally true about the women also, dunno what that's about, they love em.

One of only three brands that still make bikes with that Bad Boy Attitude - which can be a bit of a draw card or so I hears...

Oh dear, now the Honda and R1 owners are going to get upset with me....

But Paul, agreed - nice post. And would have been disappointed if you hadnt been willing to reset the normal "Harley" humour/beleif/jokes/jealousy whatever that many of us have. I suspect lots of older-ish guys (and gals?) on here would end up giving a Harley some serious consideration if the money was available......and they liked that style of bike......and they were Drunk. (jokes on the drunk part hahaha)

sels1
29th May 2011, 21:59
Hey Paul - I followed you guys for a while around the Bays - didnt realise it twas you.
You gotta watch that Pete McD, he deals all sorts of trouble...
Never thought he'd get ya one one those things tho...

James Deuce
29th May 2011, 22:50
Hah! Told you.

nudemetalz
29th May 2011, 23:16
The cylinders "Vee" the wrong way, Paul !!!

I've been deliberately avoiding riding an XR1200 because I know I will like it and Pete mentions them to me...

Harleys are only knocked by people that have never ridden them. They're quite cool !!

Big Dave
29th May 2011, 23:33
Hah! Told you.

Paul in NZ
30th May 2011, 06:14
Nice work Paul. You'll be riding Hondas at this rate.

Steady on old chap - no need to get personal.... :innocent:

Hey - truth is, my brothers 400F opened my eyes to life beyond British Bikes back in the day and I did a heap o miles on a Cub as well once. That things ability to take a beating really impressd me...

Paul in NZ
30th May 2011, 06:16
Hey Paul - I followed you guys for a while around the Bays - didnt realise it twas you.
You gotta watch that Pete McD, he deals all sorts of trouble...
Never thought he'd get ya one one those things tho...

ha - you should have followed us Sels - we went to a secret destination and gawped at a whole mess of interesting bikes.... astonishing what people have stashed away.

awayatc
30th May 2011, 06:55
good write up mate.....
But you are not supposed to say nice things about tractors,
don't want everybody to have one..
"they don't corner..blah blah"..remember?

Voltaire
30th May 2011, 07:05
Any vdeo of 'Sons of Kapiti"?:innocent:

Crasherfromwayback
30th May 2011, 08:57
Glad you enjoyed it Paul. Anyone wanting to come test ride it is most welcome, and you'll go into a draw to win a trip for you and 3 mates to Phillip Island for the GP in Oct for doing so!

Pete

James Deuce
30th May 2011, 09:10
Any vdeo of 'Sons of Kapiti"?:innocent:
No one needs another courtroom drama.

nudemetalz
30th May 2011, 10:50
Glad you enjoyed it Paul. Anyone wanting to come test ride it is most welcome, and you'll go into a draw to win a trip for you and 3 mates to Phillip Island for the GP in Oct for doing so!

Pete

Dammittt !!!!! you're making me interested !!!

Crasherfromwayback
30th May 2011, 10:51
Ride it, get your name in the draw!

oneofsix
30th May 2011, 10:55
Ride it, get your name in the draw!

get thee behind me. I will down there noonish and don't want to be tempted. Think i will avoid the show room :innocent:

Crasherfromwayback
30th May 2011, 11:00
get thee behind me. I will down there noonish and don't want to be tempted. Think i will avoid the show room :innocent:

Ride it. A trip for 4 of you to the Island is a nice wee carrot!!!

Swoop
30th May 2011, 11:18
No one needs another courtroom drama.
Just so long as it isn't a cooking show or some other crap where a person is "voted off" each week.:facepalm:

White trash
30th May 2011, 11:39
Nicest looking Softail yet. I'd own one myself. Except I'm broke.

Bren
30th May 2011, 12:03
Nice write up Paul...nuff said :yes:

scumdog
30th May 2011, 12:12
Pfft, the result was a foregone conclusion, no surprises there, move along please..

Paul in NZ
30th May 2011, 12:13
Honestly - as a tool to make you feel good about yourself and enjoy a ride at legal (and faster if required) pace its hard to beat.

I dropped the beast off this morning a little later cos I took my grandson to school on it. You should have seen him (its just around the corner before anyone gets all wound up)... Him and his mates were just so into it that it was hilarious....

FFS - isnt that what got us all into motorcycling in the first place? Boggle eyed 'oh god wes all gunna die Fun? Any device that turns grown me into small boys aint all bad. Go ride it - you may not like it but I promise you wont be sorry you did! And if you dont like something about it there will be another model more suited - either way its an opinion changing experience. My horizons are wider and I'm bloody glad I rode it - thanks Pete....

(and dont you buggers get any ideas about that contest - its MINE) :angry:

wysper
30th May 2011, 12:22
Glad you enjoyed it Paul. Anyone wanting to come test ride it is most welcome, and you'll go into a draw to win a trip for you and 3 mates to Phillip Island for the GP in Oct for doing so!

Pete

You know, you really are a bastard Pete, a good bastard, but a bastard none the less.



How long is the comp on?

Bald Eagle
30th May 2011, 12:27
Nice write up - you gotta watch that boy - the eskimos have bought most of his fridges.

Paul in NZ
30th May 2011, 12:31
Any vdeo of 'Sons of Kapiti"?:innocent:

Yeah well - I called a meeting of the sons of apathy but - I never got around to sending the email and - well - you know...

Crasherfromwayback
30th May 2011, 12:31
How long is the comp on?

Cheers! It's till the end of June mate.

MadDuck
30th May 2011, 12:51
Oarsome write up Paul.

I too once remember saying I would NEVER (EVER) own a Harley. Hmmmm ... one test ride and that was me gone :scooter:

merv
30th May 2011, 13:05
Haha, Paul fantastic. I just stay away from the shop, haven't got enough garage space yet.

willytheekid
30th May 2011, 13:11
Dammittt !!!!! you're making me interested !!!

:facepalm:....this infringement has been noted and the correct italian authorites have been notified! :laugh:

Big Dave
30th May 2011, 13:33
Nice work Paul. You'll be riding Hondas at this rate.


Someone should get him on a new Bonneville SE.

Latte
30th May 2011, 13:49
Someone should get him on a new Bonneville SE.

They are cool :D - got to ride one for all of 10 minutes and I want one.

nudemetalz
30th May 2011, 14:07
:facepalm:....this infringement has been noted and the correct italian authorites have been notified! :laugh:

Pete is the bugger who sold me the Guzzi in the first place !!!

I'm actually quite partial to Thruxtons more than HD's

willytheekid
30th May 2011, 15:36
Pete is the bugger who sold me the Guzzi in the first place !!!

I'm actually quite partial to Thruxtons more than HD's

All great character bikes mate :yes:
....So you have Pete to thank for your achin left hand, bad back and a deeper knowledge of electrics :killingme

Hay...is paul the same man who gave you that super flash Norge to cruzie around on?....if so....I think he's either teasing you...or spoiling you! (Norge jealously kickin in)
ps:Hope the old girl is back on the road and making you smile :love::yes:

HenryDorsetCase
30th May 2011, 15:56
Someone should get him on a new Bonneville SE.


Hell with that, send it my way! ;)

Spearfish
30th May 2011, 16:21
Great real world personal review, cheers for writing the experience up.

HenryDorsetCase
30th May 2011, 16:34
I had a very similar "road to Damascus" experience on my first (and to date only) Harley ride I must say. I'd totally have one. But I'd want a Daytona 675 or Street Triple as well. And a DR650. and an MP3 300. and a trials bike. and some talent.

BIG DOUG
30th May 2011, 18:23
Ah paul, I can see you starting to turn to the darkside.

Crasherfromwayback
30th May 2011, 18:24
Ah paul, I can see you starting to turn to the darkside.

Get off the computer. You've got much better things to do!

sinned
30th May 2011, 19:06
Glad you enjoyed it Paul. Anyone wanting to come test ride it is most welcome, and you'll go into a draw to win a trip for you and 3 mates to Phillip Island for the GP in Oct for doing so!

Pete
Is the draw still open in July? That may be the earliest I can get in for a ride on the beast.

Crasherfromwayback
30th May 2011, 19:12
Is the draw still open in July? That may be the earliest I can get in for a ride on the beast.

End of June sorry mate. It's an HD thing, nothing I can do about it.

sinned
30th May 2011, 19:16
End of June sorry mate. It's an HD thing, nothing I can do about it.
That is okay - I am not good at winning raffles. I would still like to ride the Blackline if you have it when I get back from soaking up the sun.

Geeen
30th May 2011, 19:25
You know, you really are a bastard Pete, a good bastard, but a bastard none the less.



How long is the comp on?

You thinking of getting a "proper" Harley now?? :innocent:

Zamiam
30th May 2011, 19:34
The Harleys are only knocked by people that have never ridden them. They're quite cool !!

EXACTLY - they ain't the fastest, the most technologically advanced, or even the best BUT they are the only Harleys

Paul in NZ
30th May 2011, 19:43
Two small boys gettin their groove on....

jaffaonajappa
30th May 2011, 20:10
Two small boys gettin their groove on....

Can you reach the sidestand while sitting on it? (Cant on my guzzi...annoying at first).

Paul in NZ
30th May 2011, 20:43
Can you reach the sidestand while sitting on it? (Cant on my guzzi...annoying at first).

sure can......

scumdog
30th May 2011, 20:49
Can you reach the sidestand while sitting on it? (Cant on my guzzi...annoying at first).


Hmmmm, I was unaware there were bikes like that?

wysper
30th May 2011, 21:24
You thinking of getting a "proper" Harley now?? :innocent:

No need. I have got the proper one for me :yes:

Geeen
30th May 2011, 21:34
No need. I have got the proper one for me :yes:

You know I cant resist winding some people up :laugh::corn:

jaffaonajappa
30th May 2011, 22:03
Hmmmm, I was unaware there were bikes like that?

Guzzi Sport....sidestand is sooo far forward, its a knack to flick it up while seated. Well for those of normal height.....seats blardy high too. Ooops...sidetracked again...

nudemetalz
30th May 2011, 22:46
Guzzi Sport....sidestand is sooo far forward, its a knack to flick it up while seated. Well for those of normal height.....seats blardy high too. Ooops...sidetracked again...

Yup the V11 Sport requires a knack also with it's one.

Hey, you're talkling about an air-cooled pushrod v-twin machine....still on the subject ;)

sinned
3rd June 2011, 14:28
When I woke up this morning I decided; today I should ride the Blackline. No need to shave - this is a Harley day. I called Pete at WMC and booked a ride for 9.30am on the Blackline. Then it came to what to wear; the temperature indicated Cordura with thermals; but can you ride a Harley with anything other than leather or jeans? So I selected straight leg leather jeans instead of the slightly gay firm and shaped sports bike rider leathers, put on a leather jacket, head scarf, (helmet and gloves). The last time I road a Harley with cordura pants the exhaust burnt a hole in them.

It took me a while to get used to this bike and the feet forward positioning, loose steering compared with the Hayabusa, limited rev range of the motor. My ride was SH1 to Tawa, Johnsonville, Lyall Bay and around the South Coast, then back to WMC.

At first I wasn't that impressed and couldn't see the point of this bike. Then as I settled in the experience changed. When I got onto SH1, I noticed the stares of drivers and passengers in cars and a big double thumbs up and conversation while waiting at lights in Johnsonville. People notice this bike and more than that, they stare; something that doesn't happen with the Hayabusa. Opening the throttle alerts those around you that this is a Harley. On a personal level the sound and pulses of that big twin provides considerable incentive to roll on lots of throttle.

By the time I got back into Wellington and poodled around the harbour and coast the experience began to have an impact. The view forward of black headlight cover, chrome upper forks raking forward and set into black frame reminded me of some of the clips from Sons of Anarchy. For a moment I could have been riding with the Sons. The Blackline is truly cool and very good to ride on urban roads. If I wasn't such a conservative old coot I could be real bad on this badass bike.

This model HD, with minimalist styling, wire wheels, small front guard and a single instrument is what I have long thought HD needed to produce. It is a typical Harley with a low CoG, low seat height, is easy to steer around and through traffic and it has great sound.

As I moved off on the Hayabusa to go home, I thought, this is weird and that it is just not possible to compare the 2 bikes. They are so different in so many ways.

Would I have one? Yes - as a second bike to the Hayabusa.

Crasherfromwayback
3rd June 2011, 16:11
Great pics Dennis!

Paul in NZ
3rd June 2011, 18:20
Shit yes - great pic's mate.

yeah - you DO feel cooler eh? Its sad but true....

riffer
3rd June 2011, 19:17
Hey Pete?

Can you book young Tim and I in for a test ride for tomorrow afternoon?

He's really keen on going to Phillip Island and he's not actually been on the back of a HD before. Boulevards, Gixxers, Ducatis - but never a Harley.

We can do any time after 12.00

Cheers
Simon

riffer
4th June 2011, 10:43
Test ride booked!

We must take the camera too and post up some pics.