We call that "a chicken stripe". My Vrod's tire is nice and round (even though we hardly have any turns in So. Fla) and my riding friends get scared ****less everytime I scrape my pegs on the freeway off-ramps......

I grew around bikes and never liked the old Harleys (I now see their beauty and place). I learned to ride on an R75/5 Toaster that my dad still owns and from that graduated to a K100 and a CBR1000.

I've ridden Triumphs, BSA's (I own an A10 Road Rocket bought new by dad in 1956), Suzukis, Ducatis, Guzzis, you name it. Riding my VRod does not make me any less of a rider.

Each bike has its charm and its place just like each Porsche model.

I don't wear Harley leather as its too expensive, carries the stigma referred to on this post and its too hot for me. I use a Honda jacket, an Arlen Ness mesh jacket (not sold in the USA) and one of dad's really old Langlitz Leather jackets.

Having said all this, what makes you a biker? If the Rolex Riders can afford the bikes great let them enjoy them.

The same could be said of the owners of PCars that are never tracked, driven aggressively, .... Heck, go to a PCA meeting and there are more Porsche ties, buckles, shirts and **** to make any Harley rider sick to the stomach.

BTW, most Porsche drivers are as guilty of being posers as the Rolex Riders.

I carry stuff in my truck, race my Porsches, ride my bikes, actually drive with my driving shoes, wrench with my tools, keep crap and do mechanical work in my garage (sorry no tiles, no fancy cabinets), ......

->He who is guilty of being a poser may throw the first rock<-

Again as to a bike, start small and grow from there.

And by all means, WEAR YOUR SAFETY GEAR which includes helmet, googles or poly-glasses, gloves, boots, at a minimum a shirt and long pants. I don't care what the law says, remember that many car drivers can't see you or just plainly don't care...

Which one of the bikes towed the rig?

Once you finally cave to temptation remember that Aprilias have horrible resale. I recently sold my Mille-R, and even though I bought it used, I still managed to take a long bath on it. No matter what - your starting offer should be $K's under asking. It was a great bike but I could not overcome the numb hands and fingers syndrome and it was a solo rider only. I was planning on replacing it with a used '06 S3 but then heard that '08 brings the Triumph Street triple...

Or maybe a super-moto...

on-ramp - take the MSF class. Then rent a sportster from your local HD for a day. Then...ride a used import bike. Don't spend any money, other than on gear, before you do those things in that order.

Good Post Juan. I agree with everything you said.

Pilot, the guy had a F350 to tow that big bastard. He had a blow out on one of the camper tires on the way up as well, that was fun.

I took everything I needed on the back of my back, and brought home everything I took. No trailer queen here.

Bill

I Must HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could really make my bar rounds on that one!!!

hahaha Byron, why did I know you would be the first to say they wanted that death machine?

Your "burgundy" looks an awful lot like my "luxury rich red". On top of the Spiral Highway, southeast corner of Washington just outside of Lewiston / Clarkston:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186612355.jpg

My other bike, a '76 Sportster with Andrews R5 cams, Wiseco forged 10:1 pistons, heads ported by Branch Flowmetrics, Andrews gears in the tranny, Barnett clutch, S&S Super "E" shorty carb. I've owned this bike for 27 years, having bought it at the ripe old age of 19:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186612558.jpg

That street triple is cool, but I don't think you save enough to put up w/ what they decontent you out of, which is all of the good suspension and brake bits.

As to anyone who thinks I'm a poser b/c I have both a hog and a Duc, come on out and ride w/ me. Oh yeah, turbo 3.2 also, guess I have a small scwantz...

Seriously, I tell folks all of the time, want to learn to sportbike, SV600... want to learn to cruise, lowered Sporty. Either will work. Just respect whatever you're on. The throttle is not an on-off switch.

And as to AGATT, I use Todd as an example to my friends all of the time as to why all of the time means ALL of the time. Here's a dude who pretty much did it right, and got caught by a slip up.

Could because my buddy build & let me ride this way back when but won't part with it:(http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186615807.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186615850.jpg

Sad thing is that his is just sitting in his shop with flat tires:(

And the slip-up was only on the pants. I was wearing proper riding boots and they still shredded. ***** happens. But I also put about 15K miles on my bikes in a year and a half. And had years of previous experience on two wheels. So it wasn't like I was a newbie when it happened...

LOL. I'm not planning on making any "special" friends on my Harley or joining any clubs.... I just wanna cruise 40mph on beautiful scenic country roads and feel the open road and the air. If a 800cc Sportster is good for beginner, then that's what I'll go for, but I'll have to try several.. Good advice on renting one first after I get my license from the state.

Jeff, love that red Sporster. very classic piece , simple and elegant, exactly what I'm looking for. I'm not even going to carry a passenger in the back, that's another 150-200 lbs to balance. no thank you.

This has turned out to be a cool thread.

Thank you on-ramp; that machine and I go back a long, long ways. We have developed a somewhat special relationship. That said, be careful what you wish for. That old Sporty is exactly what gave H-D the bad rep that hangs on to this very day. It vibrates so hard it literally breaks pieces off of itself, the motor needs a top end refresh about every 30k miles, it handles like an old school bus, leaks more oil than my old 911, my bicycle has better brakes, etc.... You get the idea. It's perfect...

Those are just the mechanical highlights; notice the two gallon tank. It's there for a reason; I have about a two gallon ass when riding that thing these days and I would defy anyone to ride it any further. Hands and feet go numb at around the one gallon mark, where I turn around and try to make it home. It is definitely an "enthusiast's" bike, in that you would have to put up with a lot of no longer necessary b.s. to keep one around. I do that for nostalgic reasons, and the cool factor, but at best it's a "second bike". It could never be an only bike, although it was for me when I was younger. Much younger.

That's why I have the Road King. When I really want to ride, and ride some distance in comfort with absolute reliability, the RK is the obvious choice. While I did make it to Sturgis from Seattle and back one year (when I was much younger) on that old Sporty (it was actually pretty new then) I would never consider trying a stunt like that today. There is no reason to. The new H-D's are such a monumental leap forward, it's really hard to believe they are produced by the same company.

If you do wind up on a Sportster, get one of the new ones with the rubber mounted motor. That really is the key to long life and happiness for both bike and rider. 45 degree V-Twins have horrible primary balance, and will literally shake the whole bike to death. The rubber mounts mitigate virtually all of that. The bike lasts longer and so do you. The new, standard Sportster does not look all that different than it has for 50 years now, but it is a much, much better bike.

Hey,. I was up in your neck of the woods yesterday!. Drove up 25 from Denver to Cheyenne and back. I'm home now. Lots of bikes out there yesterday. I stopped at Loveland BMW to get a t-shirt. First time I'd been close to a Duc....man those are nice.

You shouldn't have any problem not making friends.

If ya wanna a racing barstool, better to start out wit a Harley powered one before the small blockSmileWavy

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186630305.jpghttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186630343.jpg

SmileWavy

Here is my Mille
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186636516.jpg

Knocked UC and slid off the track on my face. Low tripple dig splat.. one broken collar bone and some expensive bike parts to replace. Bonez are still not healed but I rode my 250 last weekend and it was not too bad. I am waiting until after my upcoming weekend at Barber to decide between waiting or bolting the bone back together.
Next aprila pic
my 250http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186636975.jpg

UknowUwana2ono :D

You know that's a "girl's bike" don't ya :)? I've got an '87 Sportster, and despite what Jeff says about the new HDs (he's absolutely correct), I'd say a Sporty (of almost any year) is a decent starter bike (if you MUST start on a HD). They're not for cruising, long rides, etc. but they also only weigh 500 lbs. which is a good compromise. If you've never ridden at ALL, (i.e. dirt bikes, etc.), and have to master the fundamentals, then a Sporty is probably too big to begin on, but unless you're totally unskilled (and don't belong on a m/c anyways), you would probably "outgrow" a lighter weight bike almost immediately imo.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186666062.jpg

I've mastered this with a passenger on the back.

In line with your other thread...she wasn't slutty was she :)?

Cool Steve, if you saw a red turbo speeding south on 25, that would have been me.

I like that BMW / Duc dealership. That is where I got my GS.

Bill