I want a Harley-Davidson

[Dottore]

Denis,

I meant no disrespect to the Harley crowd. I've owned three of them (two sportsters and a Fat Boy) myself. For me, I can say, hand on heart, I have gotten Harleys out of my system. Yes that's a subjective comment, and not meant to rubbish your "visceral"
loyalty to the Harley marque. By all means buy one and do the Harley thing. It's a lot of fun while it lasts.

[Jeff Higgins]

It's lasted 36 years for me...

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

It's lasted 36 years for me...

That's great. I mean that quite sincerely. We should all take our pleasures where we find them.

[Gretch]

Originally Posted by motion

I think we can safely deduce that Harley riders have delicate egos

more likely you being a douchenozzle..........

you just can't help yourself can you.

What are you, 13?

[Bill Douglas]

Thanks Motion. A very purposeful looking machine.

[nostatic]

now now...don't get your chaps in a twist

[speeder]

I probably dislike most of the same Harleys that the haters dislike. At least 9 out of 10 that I see, (or hear), I don't like. But when one is just right, I love it. I also don't like 9 out of 10 911s that I see.

I definitely need to get a HD "out of my system". I've been riding for 35 years, never had one but always had a soft spot for them. I find them very comfortable to sit on, something that's become more of a factor as age and back surgeries add up.

I might not have liked any of the bikes you guys formerly owned who are off of Harleys now. The "Harley craze" is finally over and coincidentally I'm in my 50s, so it's time to try one. I would not have been caught dead on a Harley in L.A. during their trendy years. I just can't do what everyone else is doing, it's not in my DNA.

As a lifelong car gear head, usually surrounded by non-car people, I am frequently asked what my "favorite car" is. Of course their is no answer. Any car guy knows this. I have 2 dozen "favorite cars". If I was rich, there would be a hanger full of hardware at some local airport with my name on it. I don't think I could even keep the number of Porsches under 5 or 6.

I'm a little eccentric. I drive a 30 year old Mercedes diesel and love it. I like 1960s Cadillacs a lot. I also want a new 991 w/ PDK. I love a good diesel PU truck. Motorcycles? I have about 20 or 30 "favorites". I just happen to want a Harley-Davidson at the moment.

[Bill Douglas]

Speeder, would you like to ride this.

[speeder]

And modded BMW airheads are nothing new. These pics were taken several years ago in Minneapolis at the same garage:



A slash2 with newer engine and 5-speed:



His R90S owned since new:



And the bike I've always wanted but never owned, since they were new, an R100RS:

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by speeder

...on a properly muffled Harley...

Thanks for planning to be a considerate Harley rider, Denis...no need to add any more useless noise to the environment.
That bike shown in your initial post is a beautiful machine...good luck with your search.

[speeder]

Harleys with straight pipes sound so horrible to me...the *kack/kack/kack* sound...just hurts my ears. One of the worst sounds in life and the cause of millions of motorcycle haters, much less Harley haters.

An old buddy of mine who is a real biker, (1%er), once said that he likes his bike to be slightly muffled to remove the sharp corners from the sound, (which by definition is noise), and sound "like a drag boat". That's always how I've liked them, just the right amount of bass and free breathing but smooth sound.

[Buckterrier]

I'm with the fellow earlier in the thread that said something the affect it's not the bike it's the posers. Quick story.
Me & two buddies road our Harleys, (me on my 86' FXWG), from NH to Gatlinburg TN. with just camping gear. We get into town all of us tired and cranky plus I had caught a friggin' cold. Anyway we're on the main drag and pull up behind a big ass F350 towing a trailer, KY. plates, with the huge prerequisite "Live to Ride, Ride to Live" slogan on the back of the trailer.
That just irked me to no end.
IF YOU ARE LIVING TO RIDE WHY ARE YOU TRAILERING POSER PUSSY?

[mike monde]

Buckterrier= Former Motorcycle Enthusiast.....
The story about what happened in your hospital bed while you recovered from your riding accident is way more interesting....
Unfortunately, not appropriate for this forum

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by speeder

Harleys with straight pipes... One of the worst sounds in life...

It's unfortunate that more Harley riders don't agree with you, Denis. It seems that it's "the louder the better" for most of 'em.

[motion]

Originally Posted by Gretch

more likely you being a douchenozzle..........

you just can't help yourself can you.

What are you, 13?

Pot... meet kettle. And no, I can't help myself. Douchenozzle loud Harley blaapers have it coming.

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by mike monde

Buckterrier= Former Motorcycle Enthusiast.....
The story about what happened in your hospital bed while you recovered from your riding accident is way more interesting....
Unfortunately, not appropriate for this forum

LOL, Hey Mike. We'll just tell the lady folk to cover their ears
(Shhhhh..... but I should be getting the Carrera back by next weekend)

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by motion

Pot... meet kettle. And no, I can't help myself. Douchenozzle loud Harley blaapers have it coming.

Couldn't agree more. When I'm on my Ducati...

Of course, those douchenozzle squids have it coming, too. When I'm on my Harley...

Then again, they can all go to hell, the candy ass whimps. When I'm on my XR650L...

I'm so confused.

[speeder]

Hey Jeff, as much as I love the dressers, I'm leaning towards a FXDWG...what do you think of this '03 w/ carb?



It's local and I'm extremely partial to the 100th anniversary bikes in blue. I'd streamline it a little with lower bars and a slimmer seat + lose the sissy bar except for road trips. I'd also get a detachable windscreen in dark tint.

[911boost]

Denis, I think it looks good. I prefer the FI on mine, but if you want a 100th anniv I think they are all going to be carbed.

[Jeff Higgins]

Great bikes, Denis. Like I said, don't let the carb put you off. Mine has worked flawlessly.

The 100th Anniversay bikes were a mix of FI and carbed, depending on specific model. A buddy rides a 100th Anniversary Heritage Soft Tail that has FI.

The Dyna is kind of one of those "compromise" bikes from HD. They give up some handling, braking, and ride quality to gain some of "the look" that seems so important to some. If you don't plan on going any great distances, or carving up the backroads, they are just fine. Not quite the "riders' bike" of the FL models, but not quite the vintage or chopper wannabe of the Soft Tail models.

There are variations within the Dyna family as well. The Wide Glide is, unfortunately, about the most compromised as far as performance for looks. The 21" front wheel and mini apes don't help, nor do the forward controls. Some find them very uncomfortable, placing a lot of pressure and strain on the lower back, with no way to relieve it because your feet are so far out front and your hands are so high.

I think the best Dyna is the Superglide - normal control positions, normal handlebars, normal front tire size (18 or 19, can't remember, but certainly no sportbike 17). The Superglide also rides a bit higher, providing better cornering clearance. It's the "riders' bike" of the Dyna family.

Putting lower bars on the Wide Glide is certainly possible, but it would probably need all new cables and a front brake line as well. Not that folks don't do it, but be aware there is a bit more to it than just swapping bars. In the end, though, you are still dealing with the forward controls, which may actually be harder with lower bars. Hard to say. Seems like you might wind up kind of folded over at the waist to reach both.

You know what you ought to do, is go and spend a few days renting the ones you are interested in for a day. Many dealers have rental fleets. Granted, they are brand new bikes, but they will be identical in ergonomics to the older bikes. Try 'em out the way you ride and see what you think.