I want a Harley-Davidson

[speeder]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I've been commuting by M/C every day for a bit now, and am loving it!

I've been riding since I was 16, but outside of some short periods in college, have never commuted/daily ridden.

The problem with that was, eventually it would lead to no riding at all.

As far as types of bikes, I think there's very few things in the world that are as "individual oriented" than motorcycles. Even food, cars, etc. have a lot of common ground for most people. Not so with M/C. There are just sooo many different styles and types of MCs. And then, like Denis says, even within a brand or style, 9 out of 10 examples might not appeal to you at all, but the 10th is off the chart "want."

And the reasons why some appeal to some, and not others, are IMO for the most part totally irrational! I think the appeal stems from roughly 2 places: 1) Imprinting from teen years, and 2) later in life, midlife crisis.

I'm definitely in midlife crisis mode, and at 53, I'm probably WAY past midway through this amusement park ride.

I make no apologies for that. I've never lived my life to impress or please others. I believe that once you are past the fun things that young people get to do, you have to take your pleasures where you find them, as our Dottore so aptly put it. This actually applies to young people as well, but their choices are different. When I was young, I had everything but money.

For some middle-aged folks, it's all about golf vacations. For some, getting out on a boat and fishing. I have lots of interests but can never get motorcycling out of my system for more than a couple years at a time.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by speeder

...you have to take your pleasures where you find them, as our Dottore so aptly put it.

My Dad is 83. He has been riding motorcycles all his life: Norton's, Triumphs, Indians, Harley's. He is a founding member of the Harley Davidson Club of Jakarta. He has never been without one.

He sent me the below picture last week. He lives in Paradise Valley Estates in Fairfield, Ca. Not my choice of residence, but it is what he wanted after a long and very distinguished career. The picture is for their, PVE, brochure. Eek.

He rides almost everyday, he rides the only Harley in PVE. Chicks dig him.

And he is no HD dilettante: He rides long distance every year to events across the country with his West Point buddies: Five Peaks in Five Days, The Dragon, Maine is Pain, etc.

Only in the last few years does he trailer across the middle states.



I have no idea what he is riding, only that it is a Harley. I also told him to hit the salad bar at PVE and lose the birth control glasses

[vash]

paul.

your dad looks like a badass..except for the leather tassles.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by vash

paul.

your dad looks like a badass..except for the leather tassles.

No kidding. For the love of god he graduated 12th in his class at West Point, fought in Korea and Vietnam, had a hootch in Indonesia in between: I'm calling his dumda$$ now. Tassels got to go.

That ***** may have worked with the Mamasan, just not here.

I have a rep to protect.

[speeder]

Your Dad is a great guy, Paul, as are you. I really enjoyed meeting him and what was interesting is that you, your son and your Dad are each completely unique to one another yet there is a common thread, obviously.

If I get a bike, I'll take a ride with him sometime up north.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by speeder

If I get a bike, I'll take a ride with him sometime up north.

He's a bit of a pain, as am I, as is my son. We'll all be there in a pinch, however, should you need us.

Sounds stupid, but you know what I meant/mean.

[Rich Lambert]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

No kidding. For the love of god he graduated 12th in his class at West Point, fought in Korea and Vietnam, had a hootch in Indonesia in between: I'm calling his dumda$$ now. Tassels got to go.

That ***** may have worked with the Mamasan, just not here.

I have a rep to protect.

The "tassels" have a history. In the old days they were called "get-back whips" and were definitely bad-ass. Link...Is an Old School Biker Whip Illegal in the State of California? What weapons are banned in California? | Biker and Motorcycle Lawyer Blog

It looks like your dad is riding a Super Glide...he has good taste.

[911boost]

When I was in Malaysia a few weeks ago I ran into the Harley Dealership for grins. They had an Electra Glde CVO for about 330,000 MY, or the way I figured it, well north of $100,000 USD.....

[Steve Carlton]

That's too far away for Denis to check out.