I fully believe they're designed to make wimpy blokes who suck their thumb sleep with the light on and still cuddle a woolly blanket knitted by mummy feel like real men,
much like car's with long bonnets compensate for the chipolata brigade.

At this point I'd like to point out I ride a C90 and drive a Nissan Note.

P.S name and addres with held atb x

Why dont most children not like fine wine or stilton cheese? 

Ok guys you win. Lets agree Harleys are pointless and an embarrassment to mankind. Enough said.

Regardless, I'll be enjoying mine in the sunshine of Andalucia this September. Can't think of anything worse.  

More sophistry needed gentlefolk. Aristotle taught Phaedrus. Where is our philosophy? Wittgensteinien?

The Man from La Mancha has spoken.

Hang on, I'll take it all back.  I want this one:

It is not just Harley's though, it is cruiser bikes and that genre in general that some people just don't "get".
Harley's get more flak as they produce so many different models based around the same concept with just some tweaks here and there and a few antique accessories thrown in for nostalgia. That coupled with their almost fanatical following in some countries tend to attract derision from the general non following motorcycling population.

It is one of those things with Harley's, you always going to get the "them and us" attitude with them, more so with a Harley than a wannabe Jap cruiser. The same can be said for BMW as certain types of bike like GS's appeal to the wannabe armchair explorer. The reality is they are very capable at doing what they were intended for and the proof is the massive amount of Harleys and BMW's you see on the continent and beyond.

I don't care much about it really, if that is what someone wants or likes or fits their purpose then it is up to them, if they get enjoyment from it then so be it. It is still a bike (even though they weigh 1.5 times more than a mk1 mini lol). Its not what appeals to me in a bike, least ways not at the moment, perhaps when I am as older I might but really doubt I could be swayed to have one, I hate cleaning bikes and all that chrome is a nightmare and it does rust, trust me my mates looked terrible after one winter of not being garaged in a central heated dust free climate controlled cocoon.

Anyway I am trying to be far too diplomatic here and will regress to my usual piss taking so will add " You can't polish a turd, but Harley Davison will chrome plate it for you". 

 

I sat on a brand new HD wide glide today. Nice.

Each to their own but when did HD last come out with anything that could be called an evolution? There is surely something else they'd like to build or have they and I've dismissed it as tat?

What happens to all the old HD's? Is it like Landrovers where 99% of what was ever built is still broken down by the side of the road and therefor earns the title of most long lasting vehicles ever built?

Also whilst I'm at it is this the most on topic topic we've ever had? If it is that's something for a trail riding group.

Social anyone?

I'm going to ride more this year than I've ever ridden, hopefully some of it in Devon.

Remind me about Portugal.

Remind me about France.

There thats ****ed it up

That's a coincidence my missus was asked at skool what king tried to turn back the tide an she too proudly jumped to her feet and shouted king kunte, swifty followed by an early bath.

An old Harley broke down in my street bout 5 years ago and I watched 2 of the fattest hairiest smelliest gorillas trying bump start the pig for over an hour, eventually I could s****** no more and offered them a lift home in my Mazda E2000 panel van, I had the tail gate from a tipper lorry that I used to load my XT250 within minutes tailgate was the shape of a letter C and out came scaffold planks.

I want a world war so that all Harleys can be swept up and melted down to make tanks. They are poo. x
.

Riders at Bridgewater have a fine selection of American classics. That is were said leg was swung Tim. It is most sefinightly a love hate thing. Just a point though, my bro has had his sportster for 5 years, no problems............and he must do at least 3k per year. If you buy a ****e bike, any ****e bike, it may let you down.

Pete, say somthing off the wall.

Gary, by a 2T.

Well I'm free let's start it this afternoon.

I'll get us up and running with

1. send the bloody German royal family back, thus freeing up most of Devon and Cornwall to ride around on.
2. cannabalise legalis.
3. mandatory MILF brothel in every village.

That's pretty much me done, let's start with leaflets and if we need to go hardcore I suggest Tshirts.

P.S having a Nanna nap at about 3 or 4 pm should be considered very manly.x

BTW what's a jihogist? x

Dude, quick get your bid in now!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/10579928/Popes-Harley-Davidson-for-sale.html

Born to be Mild

LongDude wrote:

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Does this make him a Hells Hampster. Its brown 

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 So is poo.

Harley's are mostly about image. Every owner and would be owner knows that even if they wouldn't always openly admit it.

There are generally various types, the wannabe rebel who usually puts ear splitting stupidly loud pipes and customise and ride it no more than 50 miles at a push. Then there is the maturing rider who wants a comfy long distance tourer with the right image, many that fit in between.

I understand perfectly why people own them and want them and ride them. They are great for long distance cruising on open roads they have a fanatical following they have a long durable life even though they are not the best built or reliable bike, they have a certain longevity about them, they are like jeans or an old style suit and will probably never go out of style.

Most Harley riders have had other makes before they have bought a Harley, many then keep the Harley. It is like comparing a pair of slippers to trainers, the Harley being the slippers. A true Harley rider and owner will keep the Harley for many years but so many buy them as they get suckered into the image and the badge on the tank and the salesman's pitch.

I think a Harley will suit you dude, you like to ride long distances on mostly highways and did that long ride back from Switzerland which apparently you enjoyed. I don't want to do that, simple as.
I hate pounding endless almost featureless highway on a bike especially one that returns worse fuel mileage than a car, I would rather take the car or fly but if the end destination warrants that a bike would be good to have then I would take the bike, and there in lies the dilemma, do you take a bike for the journey or a bike for the destination?.

On the roads we did 95% of them were better for having a bike like Lucky's BMW (apart from fuel consumption but the beemer is not too bad). So that means the best bike was the BMW as it was the best for 95% of the time.

BUT... it was the 5% that me and Andy went for and that is where the out and out touring bike begins to unravel. A Harley is that, at least Gary's K1600 has the good grace to have some decent performance and road manners when pushed harder, a nod towards handling and performance without sacrificing reliability safety and comfort. Some argue that surely it is better being best for 95% of the time, however you wouldn't take a Harley down a green lane, even though 80% of our ride outs distance wise are on the road. It is the goal rather the pitch inbtween that is important.

In answer to you saying take a test ride and make an informed decision. No need, just a quick glance at the specs is all that is needed, pan down to "weight" its immediately obvious it is too heavy for me as is the K1600, okay so you ride a bike not push it and ride it for 99.999% of the time.

Its that .001% however small that concerns me and I know a heavy bike is too much for me. It confirmed to me recently when I moved the washing machine upstairs with my mate. I took the stairs first and my legs would not physically do it no matter how hard I tried and we had to swap places.

What I am trying to convey piss taking aside, is that certain things fit peoples personal needs and wants and to some the image, the badge, the bling are more important than function and suitability. I have been asked 100's of times advice on which car to buy only for them to turn up in the car they mentioned and I specifically warned them against getting, so I now don't bother much.

So to conclude the long winded reply. Get your Harley, get it as soon as you can rather than wait, be aware that most of us do not share your dream. I have done the cruiser bike, liked it but one ride on the ZX9R was enough to make me realise how shat the cruiser was. The versys is the best bike I have had so far, ticked most boxes but regretfully had to sell it but would consider another when I can

Theres a Harley in the Maritime Museum in Santander, my Spanish was not good enough to translate "Ancla" which reminds me of group name, It's a bunch of.......................

Get one Dude just don't ride with others of the same persuasion........ or me although I should have a go on one in the name of research.

Oh, and if I get one, you can have a spin.

Having the XR's rims/hubs  powderd at the moment. Just need a c&s kit, some paintwork, decals and a few days and it should be looking good.

LongDude wrote:

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Oh, and if I get one, you can have a spin.

Having the XR's rims/hubs  powderd at the moment. Just need a c&s kit, some paintwork, decals and a few days and it should be looking good.

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You forgot to add "knobblies" to the list.  It won't look good without them.

-- Edited by Tim on Thursday 23rd of January 2014 07:23:58 PM

Hold on therE Snaffer If you wanna sample the Harley experience save fuel and some street cred, meet me in Tescos carpark later where I can push you around in a trolley whilst you vigourously bang some pots and pans together.

p.s don't wash.x

Ming is God when you stretch your mind to another universe,

How are you God?

Dirty Ming wrote:

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supertaff wrote:

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Hold on therE Snaffer If you wanna sample the Harley experience save fuel and some street cred, meet me in Tescos carpark later where I can push you around in a trolley whilst you vigourously bang some pots and pans together.

p.s don't wash.x

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 I take it you're not a fan either?

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 Yo Mingster, mate I hate these hunks of junk, they're like fat chicks, too heavy, too loud, too ugly, drink too much, the one plus point to em is like fat chicks they're probably a comfortable ride.

If I had to choose between a ride home on a Harley or crawl home naked across broken glass, I'd be whipping me kit off quick smart.

p.s I should point out that I've never even sat on one so am not really an authority on em,

I'm just happy to join in a bit of Harley bashing.x 

Blootered to know why not.