Get fucked.
Make the bike available and I'll review it.
I'd like to test a Serious Ness and a Boss Hog too.
Get fucked.
Make the bike available and I'll review it.
I'd like to test a Serious Ness and a Boss Hog too.
And an electric bike and a Diesel engined as well.
Wouldn't mind a burn on a H-D Trike either.
Headbanger's Stripple for a few days too.
How the hell can any mass produced bike be a custom?![]()
Harley don't own the chopper look. Jesus, the whole chopper thing started 'cos people were unhappy with the standard mainstream stuff and rebelled against it. To see people worshipping Harley as a result is laughable.
It would interesting to see a road test comparison between say a Big Bear Bear Bones and the Honda Fury (despite the BB being 30% more expensive), but I wonder if you'd be ready for the result......

How can a mass-produced bike be a custom? Not sure, ask Honda. I'm not a kit bike fan but there are many variables when choosing your kit so I guess there's an element of 'custom' in that.
I didn't once use the word 'Harley' and when it comes to Big Bear motorcycles and Hondas there IS no comparison.That's like comparing stick-on tattoos to the real thing, Hyundai to Cadillac or comparing having a root to masturbation.
You're missing the point. Probably deliberately.

did 550kms on an hd trike big dave it was different but I liked it as for the honda why make it shaft drive as this will limit putting aftermarket wheel's on it?
I've never seen a chopped bike I'd want for a wart on my arse.
Then there's OCC, they just walk around a supermarket loading boxes into trolleys. No "soul" there.
If I wanted a "chopper" that'd be the one. I watched on Friday at the launch and there were definitely guys interested in it. What's more they looked like they could likely muster the readies.
Blah blah blah - I'm Mr Hard Case.
Said all along that if 'street cred' is your goal then an off the shelf Custom ain't going to get it for you. (It would be quite amusing seeing one ridden in to the fight club.)
That all comes from hours in the shed, skinning knuckles and putting in the yards - we all know that.
I spent 12 years keeping my T'bird pristine. Polished every inch of it regulary, customised and modded it heaps, won Best Hinckley at a few shows back in NSW.
Been there, done that, won the trophies.
Nowadays I would like a show bike occasionally, but I'm too busy dribbling on the internet, watching 6 Sports channels and riding test bikes to be arsed spending hours in a cold shed dicking around with a bike. (I have Factory mechanics set my suspension for me now dontchaknow).
I'd much rather just get on the thing and ride it. My Buell has no bright finish parts and only needs a wash with a bucket every 6 months to keep looking tidy eg.
So rain your diatribes on the off the shelf customs. Those that buy one are probably too busy enjoying riding it to give a toss.
And I quite liked the Fury. It's a nice looking, easy riding (intended) motorcycle. I wouldn't have the logo tattooed anywhere though.
Maybe it's the difference between a motorcycle and a 'lifestyle'.
"I am a licenced motorcycle instructor, I agree with dangerousbastard, no point in repeating what he said."
"read what Steve says. He's right."
"What Steve said pretty much summed it up."
"I did axactly as you said and it worked...!!"
"Wow, Great advise there DB."
WTB: Hyosung bikes or going or not.
Marketing.
Whatever you take on the big HD you have to give it to their marketing dept. The image (lifestyle if you prefer) bikes (if you are still smarting from a test ride pre evo engines, do yourself a favour and try a new one) and a dump-truck load of bling is all available at your local dealer.
Triumph are getting smart and offering goodies in their catalogue, good stuff too by respected partner brands like arrow exhusts etc.
Back to the Iron - cheap as a Jap cruiser but a true Harley. Sure your big-block mates may tell you it's a girls bike, but shit it is still a Harley, and those bikini clad hotties at the party don't know the difference between a small or big block (you may have trouble if you are small elsewhere though ....).
And HD know once you have purchased the base bike that you need some bling ....... then maybe some SE bits and fuck it, a 1200cc big bore kit will make it go better. This is fitted just before you trade it up for the big block ........ and the cycle starts again.
Rather like modern sports bikes with some - gotta have the latest GSXR, CBR etc and lolly-cake coloured leathers, 2011 Moto GP helmet, $1100 slip on muffler etc.
So I suspect there will not be many Honda Shadows, Suzuki C90, Kawasaki Vulcans sold if HD keep their Sportsters keenly priced and sharply styled as the new batch of Iron, Nightsters etc.
At those prices the days of starting your cruiser passion on a Jap cruiser before going whole Hog (ha ha get it) are gone.
Big Dave -
i do have a serious question for the magazine.
I may be wrong but I do not recall a multi bike comparison between say the big block cruisers of HD and the Japanese companies or even the Shadow, Suzuki, Sportster combo. Harleys in magazines are always compared to, well Harleys ..... like they are their own special identity. And maybe they are, I'm just curious as to whether or not it is intentional or not.
I subscribed to a American cruiser magazine a few years back and they did the same - comparison tests between say 4 Japanese bikes then a month later four models of Harleys.
And maybe that is the way it is, just reading this thread is evident that the HD boys don't give rats-arse about any other cruiser, consequently probably don't want to read about it either.
It's down to test bike availability. They have to come from the distributor and that needs a whole lot of stars to align.
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