And on a lighter note. A Harley.

[Big Dave]

Kinda spoilt that with the new water-cooled one, though. They shoulda put fake fins on it. Not sure I like it. Maybe it'll grow on me.

I find it hard to list an aesthetically attractive water cooled engine.
My favourite looking donks all time are a T160 Trident and a Norton 850 Commando.

[Macktheknife]

Great photo's BD, as always, not a bad looking bike either.

[Ixion]

I find it hard to list an aesthetically attractive water cooled engine.
My favourite looking donks all time are a T160 Trident and a Norton 850 Commando.

The GT750 Suzuki could not be called a pretty engine, but it has presence. You look at the bike and what you see is this "don't mess with me" donk glowering at you.

The Manx Norton had the same thing. Look at the bike and the engine hits you right between the eyes.

Some of the early Harleys had the same thing. Not *pretty* engines (leave them to Maurice) but they commanded the bike. Original CB750 Honda had it too.

Those bikes, the engine was the primary element in the design presentation. And the engines themselves were functionally attractive. You look at it, you can see the engineering. Trace how it works. I never liked the Bugatti idea, just a pretty polished slab. I like to be abel to see what the engine designer was doing., what goes round and what attaches to what.

[Lou Girardin]

It might handle OK Dave, but I want more than 30 degrees cornering clearance.

[Edbear]

I find it hard to list an aesthetically attractive water cooled engine.
My favourite looking donks all time are a T160 Trident and a Norton 850 Commando.

Sure can't argue with that! Have to admit, though that of the water-cooled engines on "display", the Honda CB1300 is probably my pick of how to do it right. It's a nice looking bike and the motor seems to 'fit'.

[Skyryder]

Aye she's a big mother an' all. Liked the rustic weather boards too. Sorta set off the bikes good looks. Jeeeezz I'm saying something good about a Harley. "Always a first Sky me ol' son always a first."

Skyryder

[Big Dave]

It might handle OK Dave, but I want more than 30 degrees cornering clearance.

I found the cornering clearance pleasantly suprising.
If you want to ride at 'about' the speed limit - it's actually fine.

[Ixion]

Not ALL H-Ds are like that - sporties and superglides often don't have forward mounted pegs as they are designed for biffing into the corners.

You're right!. I overtook one on the motorway today. Quite a tidy unit, seemed quite small, but trundling along well enough. And the riding position was "normal" - ie footpegs and handlebars in what would be quite a good touring position. Lowish bars, not quite A10 but not much higher and footpegs in a "proper" place.

Ground clearance looked like it would be OK for touring.

Complete with handlebar tassels!

[Big Dave]

You're right!. I overtook one on the motorway today. Quite a tidy unit, seemed quite small, but trundling along well enough. And the riding position was "normal" - ie footpegs and handlebars in what would be quite a good touring position. Lowish bars, not quite A10 but not much higher and footpegs in a "proper" place.

Ground clearance looked like it would be OK for touring.

Complete with handlebar tassels!

A FXDX Dyna Super Glide Sport it could have been. A quite tasty motorcycle and very rewarding to ride.

That or a Sportster. Which are unfortunately too small for me, but are currently ridden by some of the best and most skillful riders I know.

[scumdog]

A FXDX Dyna Super Glide Sport it could have been. A quite tasty motorcycle and very rewarding to ride.

That or a Sportster. Which are unfortunately too small for me, but are currently ridden by some of the best and most skillful riders I know.

Agreed.
An FXDX? my pick of the HDs for cruising the twisty bits two-up.

And a Sportster 'S' for one-up.
.

[Ixion]

Uh-huh. Well now, see, that's the other thing about Harleys.

There is such a plethora of different model names.

FXDX. Dyna Glides. Street Glides. Sportsters. Road Kings. V-rods. Fat bobs. Wet Bobs. Hardtails, Panheads, Shovelheads, Knuckleheads, Fatheads, Night Trains, Milk Trains, gawd knows what.

And no apparent rhyme or reason to any of it. Can anyone elucidate what means what? And which ones come with tassels as standard.

[Big Dave]

More written about than any other brand of bike.

www.h-d.com

is where I start.

[Ixion]

Well, I went there, and now I'm more confused than ever. Lotsa pictures of lotsa different models, even more than before.

But the only thread I can make out is that Sportsters are, presumably, sporty (duh). And anything with King in the name is a big honker with luggage and fancy seats.

But whats the code of all the model numbers . Like, FXDX, whats the "F" mean? And the "D". Wots "Dyna" imply in the name? And so on.

And why would you pick one over the other, apart from the obvious difference between the sporty ones and the big honkers wiv the seatz.

(One I saw was a Sportster 800 Low , I think. Could make sense, cos looked like a chicky riding it, just based on width of shoulders and bum.)

[Motu]

I think I saw it on saturday,Albany Heights road in the company of a couple of other Harley's.It looked nice - natural,the rider totaly comfortable....which a lot of Harley rider don't look to me,sometimes they seem to sit arwkward,I won't mention how I think sprotsbike riders look....

I like my engines to confuse me,to wonder where the hell....what the fuck is that....why is that....


Velocetes always did that to me.They seemed to be made by six guys who all met one day with a part in their pocket,and they said - ''hey,if we put all these bits together what would happen?'' Much to their surprise it turned out to be a motorcycle.

[Ixion]

I think I saw it on saturday,Albany Heights road in the company of a couple of other Harley's.It looked nice - natural,the rider totaly comfortable....which a lot of Harley rider don't look to me,sometimes they seem to sit arwkward,I won't mention how I think sprotsbike riders look....

I like my engines to confuse me,to wonder where the hell....what the fuck is that....why is that....


Velocetes always did that to me.They seemed to be made by six guys who all met one day with a part in their pocket,and they said - ''hey,if we put all these bits together what would happen?'' Much to their surprise it turned out to be a motorcycle.

You just never could figure out the back to front clutch, could you.