Harleys... pfft.... (at least the one I rode last night).

**peasea** · 21st March 2009, 21:02

Originally Posted by Patrick

Each to their own, but I gotta say, I was very underwhelmed...

A pursuit (not mine... just assisted in the stop) last night from Inglewood to New Plymouth, the rider was pissed (Blew 670 odd). He wasn't keen on leaving the bike at the side of the road, and neither was I, knowing that the bike had been stolen from his home 2 months ago and recovered soon after...

So I put my hand up and obliged, and rode it to the station for safe keeping.

Hardley Fergusson was apt. Deisel tractor sprung to mind. Often....!

Uncomfortable seat and pegs (but the forward "rest" pegs were good...), left indicator switch on the left and right indicator switch on the right (why not one for both, in one switch? Made me look silly, that one did... but the self turning off thingy was a good idea, thank christ...). Just to name a few...

Scummy wouldbe pleased, it had a tassled tool bag under the headlight... where the tools rattled louder than the bike!!!

PS: Thanks for parking it.

Bit my tongue when he said, "Go on, admit it, you enjoyed that..."

Nope... not a bit......

I hope other models are better than this one was....

Well, you know I've been clocking up some k's on a T'bird, right? Well, everytime I head for the garage I can't help but fall onto my Wideglide. The T'bird has it's good points, especially in the 'get-there-quick' and 'go-round-corners' stakes, but I love the laid-back ride of the W/g. If I wanted to go fast-as-fuck everywhere I bought the wrong machine. Try a W/g sometime for 'cruisy' riding. Maybe the bike you rode wasn't set up for your own bod/preferences, it doesn't make it a shitter.

**cave weta** · 21st March 2009, 21:19

Originally Posted by Molly

So, all Harleys are shit based on the old nail you rode last night? You know how that makes you sound? Go ride a new 96" Dyna or a V-Rod then report back.

Maybe that nail was somebody's pride and joy and they got more enjoyment out of it than you've ever had out of whatever bland, Japanese inline four you might be playing Power Rangers on at the moment.

Imagine owning a bike that you constantly have to defend in public!
I wouldnt bother!-
Didnt HD just get bailed out again by 300 million US dollars- Warren Buffett the squillionair bought it and registered it as a charity or somthing as a huge tax dodge I heard......

**Bren** · 21st March 2009, 21:30

My woman aint the best performer, and some might say she aint the best lookin, but I love her, and I will defend her including all her flaws, and I love to screw her....stuff what everyone else is screwing, I know she is mine, and I am happy.
I think Harleys are like women, tempermental, and there are some things they dont do well..But they are good to ride!

**cs363** · 21st March 2009, 21:31

Originally Posted by gammaguy

Can't judge an entire marque by virtue of one example of one model.

Well, when that marque is seemingly entirely based on one model - though with different model designations based on whether it has a screen or different handlebars, or painted matt black or gloss and so on, then it does tend to make it easier to make generalisations....

....p/t.....

**Molly** · 21st March 2009, 21:32

You're wasting your breath Peasea.

What is it about bikers that they have to slag-off each other's favourite brand of bike? It's narrow-minded and just plain f'kin' ignorant. Some people just don't want to have to challenge their inherited views or reach an opinion of their own based on relevant experience rather than bar room bullshit.

What matters is the pleasure you get from owning and riding your bike (whatever bike). Be grateful that the safety or environmental police haven't killed your passion yet and that you're still free to ride.

'Harleys are shit' threads just serve to highlight narrow-minded, prejudiced views and limited intellect. Patrick, you should join the cops...

**MaxCannon** · 21st March 2009, 21:38

I think he is a cop. Hence riding some drunk dudes harley back to the police station for safe keeping.

And I could care less about what anyone has to say about my bike.
The motorcycle press labels the Bandit as slow, boring and crap.
Mine does exactly what I want it to and gives me smile each time I ride it.
Whatever anyone else things doesn't matter one bit to me.

**Molly** · 21st March 2009, 21:39

Originally Posted by cave weta

Didnt HD just get bailed out again by 300 million US dollars- Warren Buffett the squillionair bought it and registered it as a charity or somthing as a huge tax dodge I heard......

Well, I don't know if they got a hand-out but they did cut production a few times recently. Maybe it passed you by but there's an economic recession on in the US.

What's your pride and joy by the way? Please say it's an MV Augusta...

Max. I had worked out that he's a cop... Bandits? Had a 600 and a 1200 in my time. Both good bikes. When the 600 came out in the UK it was three grand on the road and just wiped the floor with the other big three.

**Rob Taylor** · 21st March 2009, 21:45

Originally Posted by Molly

You're wasting your breath Peasea.

What is it about bikers that they have to slag-off each other's favourite brand of bike? It's narrow-minded and just plain f'kin' ignorant. Some people just don't want to have to challenge their inherited views or reach an opinion of their own based on relevant experience rather than bar room bullshit.

What matters is the pleasure you get from owning and riding your bike (whatever bike). Be grateful that the safety or environmental police haven't killed your passion yet and that you're still free to ride.

'Harleys are shit' threads just serve to highlight narrow-minded, prejudiced views and limited intellect. Patrick, you should join the cops...

Well said,,Thank god they make Jap bikes..........Nudge,nudge,wink ,wink

**AllanB** · 21st March 2009, 21:53

Good move taking it off the road for him, though if his level was that high, shit I'd probably left it there to teach him a lesson.

Be interested to see what model - a older one I'd say. Jump back on a 15 year old anything - eeekkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**cs363** · 21st March 2009, 21:56

Originally Posted by Molly

You're wasting your breath Peasea.

What is it about bikers that they have to slag-off each other's favourite brand of bike? It's narrow-minded and just plain f'kin' ignorant. Some people just don't want to have to challenge their inherited views or reach an opinion of their own based on relevant experience rather than bar room bullshit.

What matters is the pleasure you get from owning and riding your bike (whatever bike). Be grateful that the safety or environmental police haven't killed your passion yet and that you're still free to ride.

'Harleys are shit' threads just serve to highlight narrow-minded, prejudiced views and limited intellect. Patrick, you should join the cops...

No offence, but I think you might be overreacting - Patrick didn't say Harley's are shit, he just said he was underwhelmed amd he did qualify that by saying 'at least the one I rode'.

At the end of the day who gives a shit what you ride as long as it provides personal pleasure as per your second paragraph (above) and Max Cannon's post. People should be more secure in their personal choices.

The Harley threads and comments are no worse than the constant Honda pisstaking or the Suzuki's are shit posts, or for that matter the BMW knocking.
The vast majority of the comments & posts are made lightheartedly and are just meant as poking fun.
I've personally done some reasonable milage on various model Harleys and sold them on occasion too in the past, that has given me enough insight into them to know it's not for me (at least for now, who knows), though that is more from the the narrow focus (cruiser) which doesn't suit my needs. If I won Lotto and could afford a bigger bike collection I'd almost certainly have one or two different Harley's in the shed for those times when I felt like riding that style of bike.

**cs363** · 21st March 2009, 21:58

Originally Posted by AllanB

Good move taking it off the road for him, though if his level was that high, shit I'd probably left it there to teach him a lesson.

Be interested to see what model - a older one I'd say. Jump back on a 15 year old anything - eeekkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kind of depends on the condition of the 15 year old bike though, doesn't it?

**AllanB** · 21st March 2009, 22:18

Originally Posted by cs363

Kind of depends on the condition of the 15 year old bike though, doesn't it?

To a degree, a shitter is just, well, shit!

An absolutely minter or fully restored (in stock configurtion) while often a thing of beauty and a lovely Sunday morning ride is still lacking in comparison to modern brakes, handling and suspenders - I have found these three areas the biggest improvement over the years (plus tyres of course!).

**cs363** · 21st March 2009, 22:25

Originally Posted by AllanB

To a degree, a shitter is just, well, shit!

An absolutely minter or fully restored (in stock configurtion) while often a thing of beauty and a lovely Sunday morning ride is still lacking in comparison to modern brakes, handling and suspenders - I have found these three areas the biggest improvement over the years (plus tyres of course!).

I hear what you're saying and agree re: shitters being shit

And yes an old minter restored is not up to modern spec no matter how pleasant a ride, however a 15 year old bike is only 1994 - most Jap & Euro bikes of that age were running reasonable brakes and suspension and wide rims with radial tyres so something that's well cared for and set up right is not too far behind a newer model, at least in real world road riding. Different kettle of fish if they line up on a track or for someone that thinks it's cool to ride like Rossi on the road.

Again though, a 15 year old shitter is as shit as a 5 year old one and so on...