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

**coffeejunkie** · 25th March 2009, 09:24

Harleys are nice to look at BUT you must wear shades or go blind from all that bling,lol

**Horse** · 25th March 2009, 09:35

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I was told yesterday that Harley are NZs 3rd top selling brand last quarter. (Unconfirmed & unofficial source).

Presumably that's just new bike sales? So wouldn't include 2nd-hand purchases (such as mine) from an official dealer?

**Big Dave** · 25th March 2009, 09:43

Registrations.

**wbks** · 28th March 2009, 08:45

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!!!

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....

What model was it? I just rode one for someone not very throttle happy (strictly for informational purposes) to clear out the plugs as it sounded like it was only on one cylinder and so I cleaned it and took it out for a ride... Brmmm... Only 80k, full throttle... Somethings wrong here. Drop down a gear and give some more revs - BANG brmmmm BANG (second cylinder starting to kick in) and o shit I'm on 140

It was a mint 89 sportster 1200. Friggin fun. Sure, i didn't throw it into corners at 230 knee down like what people seem to buy sportbikes for because of the capability (SUV hummer that never touches dirt springs to mind). Sure, I felt like I was going a whole lot faster than 100 cruzing just because of the wind resistance on my entire body... No fairings, but it sure was a different experience to any other bike I have ridden. I kind (ok... really, really) liked how un-refined it was compared to pretty much anything, it was plenty of torque, from low to mid, and made a hell of a noise when you open it up or close it off, and without a but stop and soft shocks it wouldn't take much to hit a bump accelerating to fall off the back. I've got to say, I had more fun cruzing at 100 and never going over 140 on that bike than I have on the road. I still prefer riding a sportsbike on a trackday at taupo, sure, but this has got to be an awesome road bike.

Nicely built, easy to ride, covered in aero-protection bike? You need to be tucked in at 300 or knee down at 130 to have fun... This thing? Just accelerating to the speed limit was fun enough

**Bonez** · 28th March 2009, 08:50

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Registrations.

I'd believe that they're everywhere.

**fergie** · 29th March 2009, 14:14

one of the most interesting harley bashing threads i've read in ages.

**Iggy** · 29th March 2009, 20:27

I currently ride a sportsbike and had the opportunity to ride a harley the other week, a different experience and I enjoyed the ride. I guess the point I would like to make, is we all have one thing in common and that is we all ride a motorbike and that we enjoy that unique experience. I like Harleys but I just prefer to ride a sportsbike, nothing wrong with that.

**Robbo** · 29th March 2009, 20:39

As long as you enjoy your ride it don't matter a damn what brand or model it is.

**Big Dave** · 29th March 2009, 20:57

Originally Posted by Robbo

As long as you enjoy your ride it don't matter a damn what brand or model it is.

**Patrick** · 2nd April 2009, 14:44

Originally Posted by wbks

What model was it?

Originally Posted by Patrick

Bike was a 96 Standard 8..... Unsure what that is......

.................

**vgcspares** · 2nd April 2009, 14:47

until today the only Harley I'd ridden was an 883 Sportster - today I got to play on a Night Rod

Like chalk and cheese in one dept - the twist grip actually worked as an accelerator rather than just volume control tho redlining it was a waste of effort

Still felt like a plank if you waggled the bars and still drifted in an aimless (read ponderous) fashion at walking speed

Nearly made a ZX10 rider falloff when I waved at him ....