Author Topic: I want a bike  (Read 1726 times)

Offline Megalodon

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #45 on: April 15, 2008, 10:30:02 AM »
Any Japanese 600cc bike will put a whoopin on a Harley in every aspect of performance.


BS  :aok
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Offline bergy

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #46 on: April 15, 2008, 10:41:05 AM »
OK, I stand corrected, the Harley has torque over 600cc, thats all. Look at 0-60 times, 60-0 times, 1/4 mile performance, etc.

I agree on the Helmet laws, they suck, if you want to splatter your brains all over the road, then that is your right. I know that sounds sarcastic, but really, if somebody doesn't want to wear a helmet, then so be it. We do not need some goverment agency telling us how to live or die. Personally I wear a helmet, but I will be the last person to tell you to, same with seat belts.
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Offline Maverick

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #47 on: April 15, 2008, 11:02:43 AM »
I will ride only for pleasure and possibly a 6 hour road trip a few times a year. $13K is probably max for my budget.

For what you want a cruiser is going to do fine. Brand is up to you. I personally like the Japanese HD clones particularly the ones with shaft drive in that category. HD will have better resale but will also cost you much more out the door. Reliability is vastly improved with HD, not that they had anywhere else to go but up. They are starting to approach the other manufacturers now in reliability. HD also has a very extensive dealer base making it easy to get service or parts.

My own bikes run to touring style, I have an 04 BMW 1150 RT. If you can find one, a really nice touring bike well inside your budget would be a Kawasaki Concours. Not the brand new one but an 06/07 where they were going for about $8k new fully kitted up. I almost got the Concours but the BMW had a slightly more relaxed upright seating position for me. With the 2 blown disks in my back that's important to me now.

Whichever one you get make sure you get some refresher or initial training like the MSF courses before you hit the roads on your own. It should help get you into the groove of riding.
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Offline Jackal1

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #48 on: April 15, 2008, 12:03:40 PM »
No more likely cause its NOT a Harley.
My gal....Only a fuel pump gone out in 8 years.Ask a harley to do that.
(Image removed from quote.)


You said 10 years in an earlier post..but we will not mention that. :)
I have a `60 Custom Harley chopper still going strong.
You just don`t see many rice burners of that age..........period.
I also have an `02 Harely Deuce.......................s weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet>
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Offline Megalodon

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #49 on: April 15, 2008, 01:19:26 PM »
OK, I stand corrected, the Harley has torque over 600cc, thats all. Look at 0-60 times, 60-0 times, 1/4 mile performance, etc.

I agree on the Helmet laws, they suck, if you want to splatter your brains all over the road, then that is your right. I know that sounds sarcastic, but really, if somebody doesn't want to wear a helmet, then so be it. We do not need some goverment agency telling us how to live or die. Personally I wear a helmet, but I will be the last person to tell you to, same with seat belts.

If I ever needed <if hell froze over> a crotch rockette, I would buy a Buell/HD.

Buy the way that is just the point. I don't need to go racing down the street at 150+ in my t and shorts with my sandals on, hutched over resting on my palms, on the most uncomfortable pos on the market, with my girlfriend on the back screaming  "go faster Pee Wee!"  and it is exactly those types that brought us the helmet laws.... and I don't plan on splattering anything. <knocks on wood>

Now... I might get splattered but all bikeriders have that option.




I would suggest from the picture that you posted AKIron and what you will use it for and $... a used Fatboy or a new Super Glide Custom or Fatbob 96 bout 13-14k.    :cool:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/2008_Motorcycles/2008_Motorcycles.jsp?locale=en_US&swfsection=family&swffamily=so

Buy American. :rock


« Last Edit: April 15, 2008, 01:22:20 PM by Megalodon »
Okay..Add 2 Country's at once, Australia and France next plane update Add ...CAC Boomerang and the Dewoitine D.520

Offline bergy

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #50 on: April 15, 2008, 02:27:37 PM »
Agree on the Buell, sweet bikes! Barely a Harley, but one nonetheless.
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Offline lazs2

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #51 on: April 15, 2008, 02:40:08 PM »
I can answer one question about why it is soooooo cool to have straight pipes and a Harley.

They allow bikes to "split lanes" here.   

I am a pretty good driver.. I am an old biker too so have empathy.   I also on occasion, drive a Lincoln Towncar to pick up my grand daughter.    This is a quiet car that is great when you have to be stuck in traffic.. when traffic slows..  it is my nature to crowd the left side of the lane to see as far ahead of the blacked out SuV or minivan in front of me as I can.   lots of people do this...

I have not yet killed a jap bike rider (BMW riders are too smart) but it has been close.   no matter how loud they are or how neon..  You don't see em or hear em till they are past you.. only fortunate timing has saved their butt to this point.

Never.. not once.. has  a Harley surprised me in this manner.. I can hear and feel em coming up on me.

lazs


Offline MiloMorai

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #52 on: April 15, 2008, 02:45:21 PM »
It is like this bergy.
Noise makes you 'visible' to those morons in their tin boxes yapping on their cellphones and oblivious to what is around them.

Offline Cougar68

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #53 on: April 15, 2008, 03:20:50 PM »
Loud pipes are not a safety feature.  Being able to hear them coming may be an added benefit, but their main purpose is to please the ears of the rider.

Offline bergy

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #54 on: April 15, 2008, 03:31:29 PM »
I respect what you all believe, and I may start another thread on this, but I don't want to highjack this tread anymore than I already have. :salute
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Offline AKIron

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #55 on: April 15, 2008, 03:43:41 PM »
Don't worry about hijacking the thread. Any motorcycle topic is relevant. I already know I don't want loud pipes though. I prefer not to irritate my neighbors.
Here we put salt on Margaritas, not sidewalks.

Offline Roundeye

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #56 on: April 15, 2008, 04:00:14 PM »
Its funny how the Harley guys don't like the metric bikes but the metric bike guys don't mind the Harleys. Has anybody noticed that every year the metric bikes are dumbed down to look like a more traditional Harley, and every year the Harley is more refined to look like a metric bike?



You've been around some twisted "Harley guys"

I ride a Harley and have for years.  There are 3 HDs in my garage now....you could say I'm a "Harley guy".  I like metric bikes.  I also like euro bikes.  I like all bikes.  In fact, I have never met a bike I didn't like....but I have met some riders who were a@*&%@^s.

2 close friends of mine ride metrics, one a Honda VTX and another a Yamaha.  I have never said a bad thing about them or any other metric to anyone.  When they ride with us "Harley guys" on runs, all I have heard is positive coments about them.  Just last weekend the Honda rider arrived with me to the rally point and a few of the 8 HD riders gathered around it ..."nice ride" was all I heard.  (maybe it's a regional thing?) Alot of these new metric bikes are some sweet looking rides, good build quality, good reliability and ride comfort.  The ONLY issue I have with some of them is the use of plastic parts like fenders, primary covers, etc.  But that is an industry trend with cars now, plastic fenders, intakes, clutch pedals etc.  I'm just glad HD has not gone that route....yet :pray  Doesn't make any metric less of a bike though IMO.

No TRUE biker would knock another bike.  It defeats the basic rule of the motorcycle community.....if you give respect, you get respect.


Please tell me exactly what model Harley is refined to look like a metric?
« Last Edit: April 15, 2008, 04:09:20 PM by Roundeye »
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Offline AKIron

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #57 on: April 15, 2008, 05:15:31 PM »
Going to a Yamaha dealer this evening. The others close too early. Will have to wait 'til Sat to look again at the Harleys and others.
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Offline MiloMorai

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #58 on: April 15, 2008, 05:32:37 PM »
AK, I found the perfect bike for you. http://www.bockscar.de/blog/index.php?/plugin/tag/tank

Don't let the Vespa put you off as no one will mess with you, be sure. :lol :lol

Offline bergy

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Re: I want a bike
« Reply #59 on: April 15, 2008, 05:37:00 PM »
Please tell me exactly what model Harley is refined to look like a metric?

Roundeyes, the Harley V-rod comes to my mind first as a more refined Harley.

Don't get me wrong, all bikes are cool, and I am not knocking what anybody rides and if you got that from my prior posts, then please accept my apology.

I am knocking the double standard of "I have a _______ (fill in the blank, Harley, Jap bike, etc) and my bike sounds cool without the muffler", meanwhile, other parts of the motorcycle community are getting hammered for noise pollution. Many an off road rider has recieved tickets ($150.00 and up)for going out into the middle of nowhere and being 1.5db over a sound limit with our bikes, while the rest of the motorcycle community can run down the street in front of our houses at 110+ db, and within the motorcycle community, that is acceptable.

So, if you want say I am disgruntelled, then I would have to agree, but I am not mad at the bike, but the thoughtlessness of the motorcycle community in general. I unfairley placed the blame on the Harley community as the biggest offender and as I write this, I realize that was wrong of me, for that, I apologize to the Harley community. I just get confused when we all fight together to try and stop helmet laws, but since the land closures don't effect the road guys (accept the ones that ride off road as well), they don't seem to give a sh#t and our trails get closed. Unfortunatly, the people who are signing these petitions only hear "motorcycle" they don't know the difference between a dirtbike or a Harley, or a BMW, just a motorcycle and the last one that passed them had no muffler and they came out of there skin it was so loud.

As many of you know we all are facing closure of public lands for OHV use, whether that be a dirt bike, snow mobile, atv, or truck (4x4). We (the off road comminity) are loosing riding areas. One of the biggest tools being used by the enviromentalists against us, is the complaints of "Noise pollution". Now while I have never seen a Harley out on a trail (somebody somewhere has done it lol), and I am 100% positive that they are not to blame. But the little ol'lady signing the petition to close the trails, knows how loud the un-muffled street machine ( RE:not just Harleys) is, and she wants to see them quited down, so she signs the petition. The next thing we know the off road guys don't get to enjoy there ride.

I too enjoy the song only a motorcycle can sing, all I ask, is to think of your community before you pull that muffler off.

There was a mention of lane splitting earlier, and I have no opinion on that, as the peoples republic of Oregon will not let us do that (makes too much sense), but the "loud pipes saves lives" theory has been debunked many times. The biggest threat to the motorcyclst is:cell phones, stereos, tvs, computers, illegal left turns, drunks, etc, so unless you turn your pipes around and blast the noise forward, there is no need to remove your muffler, as you are past the problem by the time that they here you (remember, these people don't hear trains, sirens, car horns etc either)

My feelings and opinions are just that, feelings and opinions, I respect yours, and you can do with mine what you feel is right. With that, let the flaming begin, but thanks for letting me get that out, it has been bothering me for awhile.
« Last Edit: April 15, 2008, 05:51:49 PM by bergy »
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