Sportster vs M50

**scumdog** · 28th March 2010, 19:25

My Suzuki has cost me more $$$ in repairs than all my Harleys put together.

Fact.

**peasea** · 28th March 2010, 19:48

I think the most unreliable bike I had anything to do with was a Suzuki. It was owned by a mate and I simply just got sick of hearing about the breakdowns. I helped where and when I could but at the end of the day it was a lemon. Even Tridents of the day were less hassle. Fact.

**popelli** · 28th March 2010, 19:55

The two most unreliable bikes I ever owned were a Honda and a Moto Guzzi

**peasea** · 28th March 2010, 20:23

You owned a Honda???

**popelli** · 29th March 2010, 06:59

yes and that was over 30 years ago

and I still remember it as the most unreliable piece of crap I have ever had the misfortune to own

**peasea** · 29th March 2010, 14:52

Originally Posted by popelli

yes and that was over 30 years ago

and I still remember it as the most unreliable piece of crap I have ever had the misfortune to own

I did have a lot of trouble with a 1968 650 Triumph I had but only early on in the piece.

After I put both con rods through the cases I rebuilt it, modified the head, punched it out to 686cc, fitted two Dellorto carbs and made a 2-1 exhaust it not only went well it never stopped. I got years of trouble-free riding and a lot of it was commuting across Wellington and then Auckland. Bloody good value for money that bike.

I have never owned a Jap bike and I never will.

**Big Dave** · 29th March 2010, 15:47

Originally Posted by peasea

I have never owned a Jap bike and I never will.

I don't think it's worth having a stick up your arse about.

If I need a machine to do a job, I'll choose the best machine for the job - place of manufacture is only one consideration.

**peasea** · 29th March 2010, 16:04

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I don't think it's worth having a stick up your arse about.

If I need a machine to do a job, I'll choose the best machine for the job - place of manufacture is only one consideration.

I haven't got a stick up my arse, I just hate Jap bikes. They steal their styling from others and make cheap knock-offs that have the resale value of dried shit.

Jap cars are fine in that they are reliable and cheap but to me (and anyone who cares) motorcycling is special. Jap bikes are not. They might be, like their four-wheeled counterparts, cheap and reliable but (IMHO) they're shite.

But that's only my opinion

, not a stick up my arse.

**The Lone Rider** · 29th March 2010, 16:23

Originally Posted by peasea

They steal their styling from others and make cheap knock-offs that have the resale value of dried shit.

Then again, how many ways can you make a bike with a V twin engine of a cruiser type and make it look different from anything else.

Look at a lot of the custom Harleys. Overall, they all are basically the same thing in the way they look. Custom bobbers look like bobbers. How many ways do you want to re-design it and call it a bobber?

And cheap knock offs.. don't know about that. Pound for punch the M109R has some heavy hardware pulling harder than anything Harley can come up with - short of throwing in a Kendal Johnson engine or an El Bruto.

Some people like the original Colt M16s. But push comes to shove I rather have one of the re-worked and better engineered Knights Armament M16s. Same gun.. just better and won't jam.

Anyway, aren't all the new parts for Harley now made in Japan? Except for a number of the upper end aftermarket bits.. or of course the thousands of small companies making aftermarket parts for Harleys. Harleys are dime a dozen in the states. Had I'd been in the states I'd probably have one.

**peasea** · 29th March 2010, 16:24

Originally Posted by The Lone Rider

Then again, how many ways can you make a bike with a V twin engine of a cruiser type and make it look different from anything else.

Look at a lot of the custom Harleys. Overall, they all are basically the same thing in the way they look. Custom bobbers look like bobbers. How many ways do you want to re-design it and call it a bobber?

And cheap knock offs.. don't know about that. Pound for punch the M109R has some heavy hardware pulling harder than anything Harley can come up with - short of throwing in a Kendal Johnson engine or an El Bruto.

Some people like the original Colt M16s. But push comes to shove I rather have one of the re-worked and better engineered Knights Armament M16s. Same gun.. just better and won't jam.

The last thing you want is jam in your gun.

**Big Dave** · 29th March 2010, 16:31

Originally Posted by peasea

But that's only my opinion

, not a stick up my arse.

It's just such a lovely term innit.

There were four graphic artists standing around the computer trying to work out why the publisher had knocked back the cover to Rip It Up magazine. We all thought it was a killer, but it got red x'd.

'Why?' we asked.

'Because he's got some stick up his arse', fumed Editor Scot Kara.

The expression has stayed with me since.

**peasea** · 29th March 2010, 16:32

Originally Posted by Big Dave

It's just such a lovely term innit.

There were four graphic artists standing around the computer trying to work out why the publisher had knocked back the cover to Rip It Up magazine. We all thought it was a killer, but it got red x'd.

'Why?' we asked.

Did it have a Jap bike on it?

**Big Dave** · 29th March 2010, 16:36

Originally Posted by peasea

Did it have a Jap bike on it?

Coldplay. But I can't connect a pun.

**peasea** · 29th March 2010, 16:46

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Coldplay. But I can't connect a pun.

Coldplay; there's a good reason to bin the whole magazine.

**240** · 29th March 2010, 17:44

Originally Posted by peasea

I haven't got a stick up my arse, I just hate Jap bikes. They steal their styling from others and make cheap knock-offs that have the resale value of dried shit.

Jap cars are fine in that they are reliable and cheap but to me (and anyone who cares) motorcycling is special. Jap bikes are not. They might be, like their four-wheeled counterparts, cheap and reliable but (IMHO) they're shite.

But that's only my opinion

, not a stick up my arse.

Thats great mate you stick with your ww2 technology machine and enjoy it,and what car do you drive a Morris Marina??