Borrowed a Harley from a mate in Australia (a Road King) and rode 700 miles round trip on very straight roads, Melbourne to Griffith and must say in a bit of their country without twisty bits they make perfect sense. Even the humungous screen keeping the bugs away and no-one in the UK need ever complain about flies once you've dealt with Aussie bugs, think locusts and they hurt! So horses for courses. Head down the other way on Great Ocean Road and you'll hanker for a Hyper or sports bike. They're all bikes, it's the people on them you like or dislike.
Nope, disagree with that. The people are fine, and the bikes are fine in the right context, it's just the price. The price ain't right.
I have owned a couple of Harleys.........One from new, one secondhand and old......... Apart from quality and hadling being sh*te as well as everything else being sh*te; I do quite like riding them at a leisurely pace....particularly the 1340 engined models........there is something about the noise and that bl**dy great lump thumping away underneath you...... ....however, I didn't keep either very long, mainly because of the handling, cost of parts, and rust. AL
I'd agree with this. I have rented Harley’s whilst in Orlando a couple of years ago with some mates. Rode out to Daytona Beach where Biketoberfest was in full swing, took in the ambience for a couple of hours and took the opportunity to check out some interesting takes on protective clothing (less is more, apparently), then off again down the coast to Cape Canaveral - and on round a big loop back to the dealer as the sun was setting. Plodding along at 60/70 mph along smooth straight wide roads, in the warm sunshine, with hundreds of other bikes was a really memorable experience, no doubt that’s the environment that Harley’s are best suited for, and they suit it well. Was in Las Vegas the following year and out on a Harley again. Myself and a couple of mates had a brilliant weekend plodding through spectacular scenery (Valley of Fire, Zion National Park, Hoover Dam, etc) on almost deserted desert roads. It was bloody hot though, even in October, and an ice-cold coke from a sun bleached vending machine whilst gassing up the hogs completed the “All American” experience - Totally righteous bro! Again, the Harley was perfect for the trip, really comfortable over distance, and easy to ride - once moving. I don’t think it would have been as enjoyable a trip on anything other bike. If you have the opportunity to try this – do it. I’m sure you will look at them in a different light afterwards, and you could definitely say you are a Biker.... I suspect one would be absolutely toilet on he A30 in a wet rush hour, and have no intention of actually becoming an owner, or fitting highway pegs and tassels to the carby. Renting one and riding from, say, Boston to San Diego is bucket list material though.....
I see the rationale for the type of bike, but still can't see why you would go for something like a big BMW, a guzzi California or triumph rocket 3. My money would probably go on the BMW, as its going to be more competent when you do reach twisties, and far less sad.
well asked my 13 year old daughter wether she thought her dad was a biker or a motorcyclist.............. well the answer was something along the lines of .....well dad your a motorcyclist you can't be a biker !!!!!!!!!!!! when asked why well your not tall enough to be a biker and your beard isnt long enough ............kids ...........
Phil, I guess you mean why not a Guzzi, BMW or Triumph instead - fair point if the intent was to tour, rather than immerse yourself in the "American experience" so to speak - "When in Rome.." I guess. Also whilst you can rent Guzzi's in the USA the dealer probably wouldn't appreciate you dropping the bike off 3000 miles away (not the case with renting Harley's where H-D support trans-continental travel without a need to start and finish at the same location). Perhaps this should be in the Americans thread but having travelled in the US several times, the motorcycle enthusiast side of my brain always wondered what the fascination with Harley's is. I spent a few years in New England where people from work, who rather than ride them, put their Harley's in the back of their pick ups and drove to Laconia or Sturgis to be bikers for the week - most odd....they did bring me a T-shirt covered with flaming skulls in an effort to turn me to the dark side but I have never found a suitable occasion to wear this. The local Harley dealer also sold Triumph's and Ducati's. Went there on a Harley open day for a go but the place was chocker with all test rides booked for the duration, but when the "Duck Truck" turned up with a fleet of test bikes complete with Neil Hodgson who was racing in the US at the time, there were only a few people there. As a result I had a go on all of the bikes and a cup of coffee and good moan about life away from Blighty and the non availability of PG tips, with a WSB world champion (a most excellent day out!) I had the opportunity to rent and experience a Harley in it's own back yard - sad, maybe, but glad I did as it satisfied the biker side of the brain, and I'd suggest anyone who has a similar opportunity take it and see for themselves - cost me around 125 quid/day including insurance plus fuel. I also had an Oldsmobile rental car (Alero, I think) for a trip to the airport one time, but in all honesty, I could not recommend that experience to anyone else..... :biggrin:.
