Harley-Davidson

[Gundini]

I'm going through a mid life crisis, and I'm thinking of buying a Harley...

Anybody here own one? Any fans?

Should their exaust be muffled?

Why do people buy them.... and some do for investment...

Must admit I am a bit of a fan, just haven't ridden one yet!!!

 

[GumbyLearner]

I'm going through a mid life crisis, and I'm thinking of buying a Harley...

Anybody here own one? Any fans?

Should their exaust be muffled?

Why do people buy them.... and some do for investment...

Must admit I am a bit of a fan, just haven't ridden one yet!!!

I looked at this stock literally last night on the NYSE. They hit a bottom of roughly $8 USD according to google finance. Sentiment will eventually lift these surely. The sound and hum has no comparison. IMVHO

 

[Stan 101]

Gumby, be wary of HD sentiment. Euro 3 emissions laws are closing in fast and harley's agricultural motor doesn't have a hope of passing. Major change to HD's engine configuration will be required.

The big Japanese motorcycle manufacturers have simply dropped the V Twin motors from their line up. Honda's VTR 1000 and Suzuki's SV1000 come to mind. They simply weren't worth the dollaars to try and get them through the tight euro 3 emissions laws and the SV motor is a reasonably high tech dual overhead cam, electronic fuel injected unit.

How Harley will make a motor that meets emissions and still holds their famous charactor will be a very hard ask.




Gundini,

I'm not so much of a fan of a harely. I have ridden a few and have a few mates with them and who swear by them. They do tend to love the whole tassels on the leather vests and the matt black nazi helmet looks whist still wearing their Armani sunnies as they park at the local cafe for a latte. though. All the power to them. A couple of mates have ridden them for years sans designer clothing.

From an unbiased view, I'd look elsewhere as many other bikes do everything better for cheaper, some do some things a hell of a lot better for the same price and some have ultimately better pose factor for the same price.

If you like the long straights with the wind in your hair a Harley might be for you but I'd prefer an MX-5 or S2000 convertible..

If you want to hit a few twisty roads, the HD sporty can actually be made to handle reasonably well. The HD motor is also used in the Buell range and is a great handling bike , has excellent brakes (compared to HD) with the thump you might like.

But if you want to have a nice ride, keep her shiny and love it to bits, just go buy what you like. Common sense doesn't always need to win out.

Be sure to let us know what you decide on..


cheers,

 

[Iggy_Pop]

Stan, buy the Harley and go out and enjoy. We all need something for that mid life crisis, and you do not want any regrets when you get older. The bikes are expensive, handle like a dog, but doesn't matter cause you will feel fantastic. Just be careful on the road, avoid cars and rain where you can

Go for it!

 

[pilots]

Stan, buy the Harley and go out and enjoy. We all need something for that mid life crisis, and you do not want any regrets when you get older. The bikes are expensive, handle like a dog, but doesn't matter cause you will feel fantastic. Just be careful on the road, avoid cars and rain where you can

Go for it!

My wife woke up one morning and said I would like some thing red, big, hard,throbbing, and noisy between my legs. I went out and bought a red Harley, trust me, My life has not been the same since.

 

[Purple XS2]

I'm going through a mid life crisis, and I'm thinking of buying a Harley
...
Why do people buy them....

If you want a bike to look at, and to be looked at with, then sure, get a Harley.
Be sure to get the T-shirt.

If you want a bike to ride, then get a bike that will get you there and back reliably.

There's plenty of good cruisers out there, and quite a few collectable classics.

Disclosure: My cruiser is a Moto-Guzzi, my collectable classic is a Norton.
The bike I no longer own, but was the most effective roadster I've had, was a cheap and nasty (and purple) Yamaha 650 XS2.

What I really want is a T-shirt that reads "My other T-shirt is a Harley-Davidson T-shirt".

 

[sam76]

The only people who ride HD are Bikies and wankers who pretend their bikies.

Get a Buell if you really must get an HD - your kids will thank you.

http://www.buell.com/en_us/

 

[bugmenot]

Yes, Harleys sure are great. I heard they have a special sales promotion on at the moment "Buy one Harley, get one drip-tray free."

Cant go wrong with an M109R:

 

[sam76]

Yes, Harleys sure are great. I heard they have a special sales promotion on at the moment "Buy one Harley, get one drip-tray free."

Cant go wrong with an M109R:

wouldn't want to see any corners while on that thing! lol

 

[Gundini]

wouldn't want to see any corners while on that thing! lol

You don't ride it... You put it in your bedroom and look at it, lol...

 

[Happy]

You don't ride it... You put it in your bedroom and look at it, lol...

I wish all did that with their noisy motorbikes.

I understand riders want to show of, but why somebody has more right to make noise than those who want piece and quiet?

Hope new standards put some real mufflers on them, not amplifiers as they are now!

 

[beamstas]

My wife woke up one morning and said I would like some thing red, big, hard,throbbing, and noisy between my legs. I went out and bought a red Harley, trust me, My life has not been the same since.

Your doing it wrong

 

[nunthewiser]

I'm going through a mid life crisis, and I'm thinking of buying a Harley...

Anybody here own one? Any fans?

Should their exaust be muffled?

Why do people buy them.... and some do for investment...

Must admit I am a bit of a fan, just haven't ridden one yet!!!

owns 2 , 42 wla and 82 chopped 1200 sporty, have my eye on a 72 original shovel police special at present also , just waiting for the perfect time to pounce on it

i luvvem

no re mufflers

agrees better handling bikes out there but you aint ridden a bike till you ride a harley

The only people who ride HD are Bikies and wankers who pretend their bikies.

bollox.........

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Harleys are for girls.

My Rocket 3 can outdo any old or new Harley.

I'm trading down to a Thunderbird in 2010, because there's no fun in leaving Harleys behind any more.

Triumph forever

gg

 

[Mad Mel]

Personally, I ride a Suzuki Bandit 1250S because what I want in a bike is good performance, comfort for long trips, reliability (~10,000 km /yr commuting), and is worth the money you paid for it.

That said, a motorcycle is like sex or pizza... everyone has a preference, but you will enjoy it, so there is no wrong choice. Go with what your heart tells you to, you can always buy another one (or eight) later.

 

[wayneL]

Harleys are for girls.

My Rocket 3 can outdo any old or new Harley.

I'm trading down to a Thunderbird in 2010, because there's no fun in leaving Harleys behind any more.

Triumph forever

gg

Don't do it!! Keep the Rocket!

 

[Sean K]

These sorts of toys are just dick extensions aren't they?

I had an R1 dick extension before it was stolen. Arrrghh.

Would like to add a Harley on when I get home, a place where people follow road rules. Except bike riders...lol

 

[sam76]

These sorts of toys are just dick extensions aren't they?

I had an R1 dick extension before it was stolen. Arrrghh.

that's a nice dick extension to have... pity it was pinched.

Why is it Harley riders insist on matte black open faced helmets and black tshirts???

Nothing stings more than hitting an insect at 100 clicks an hour

Oh yeah, and I would like to have my chin still attached to my face if I stack.

Not to mention the general public doesn't need to see your man boobs, lol

Nah, the general public are on to non bikie HD riders and their insecurities, (classics excepted) i reckon.

(pshhhht - that's the sound a can of worms makes when opened, lol)

get yourself a Thumper!

 

[Timmy]

Nice, Sam!

More photos please everyone (not from brochures/web, though).

 

[Stan 101]

These sorts of toys are just dick extensions aren't they?

I had an R1 dick extension before it was stolen. Arrrghh.

I can see your point of view, Kennas. A lot of poeple simple buy a litre bike or a harley just for the "wow" factor. I've owned bikes since I was six years old and can't image life without one long term.
I don't think I'll ever own a litre inline 4 sport bike again; they are just too heavy and I am always quicker on a smaller unit.

I recently sold an SV650s and still regret it. For all it's suspension faults, it was nearly the complete package of midweight bikes. I could lap consistant flat 1:30 wsith street tyres at Qld Raceways with higher corner speeds than R1, GSX-R and Busas only to be thrashed in outright speed on the straights and then need to weave my way back through the pack on the corners in B grade.

I currently have a GSX-R 600 K8 due only to the fact the deal I was given on trade in was too good to pass up. I would have got the 750 otherwise.
After changing gearing to 3:1 (three teeth up on the rear and one down on the drive shaft) it is a potent weapon for the roads up in the FNQ.

I get 3000km out of a rear tyre and nearly 5000km from a front and they are always worn on the edges to a point that the heat cycles have eroded any real grip on lean.

It's hardly a dick extension when you carve up your roads (with a safety buffer in mind) in the early hours of daylight with satisfaction you hit your apexes right, the bike was doing it's thing and the suspension was dialed in to almost pinpoint accuracy.

The 08 GSXR has an excellent rear shock in most aspects but the rebound is still poor at full load. Luckily they are easily rebuilt and the rebound stack can be modified simply to sort it.

The GSXR is still buzzy and I'll probaly look for a second series 999 ducati SP as I think they will one day be a real collectors item due to their excellent handing, and thumping motor but ugly looks and poor inital sales due to looks.

A great bike for touring is the Susuki VStrom. An uglier bike you'll not find, but it can carve up the KM, is comfy and in the right hands can embarrass ther dick swinging R1, GSXR riders.

The R1's are no road bike. They are peaky, wrist numbing and downright useless in the power spread department. Put them on the track however.....
My RG 500 was more of a road bike than R1 and that was nothing short of a beast on the road.


I'll post some pics when I get home.

Cheers,