I may have to reconsider Harley

I always thought for the most part Harleys were all for show. I've known this guy for 20 or so yrs that used to ride quite a bit on a 1976 KZ900. He got about 70,000 miles out of it and told me he got tired of fighting, trying to keep it running, would run good one day, not the next ect. So he gets a new 1500 Kawasaki Vulcan to ride a few yrs ago. Now he comes into the shop today riding a Harley. I figured he "upgraded for the show/coolness factor". He told me all the problems he had with that Vulcan mechanically and other things that he didn't like. "water cooling just cooks you in the summer when the fan comes on". Just little things like that. So I go out to look at his Harley. Nothing real special about it, just another Harley among the 6 gazillion on the road, then he say's he's got 85,000 miles on it and it's a 2003 model. He told me everything he just loved about that Harley and he's had virtually zero problems with it. He says just as a casual line "I've got 16,000 miles on it for the year so far" like nothing real special, but that's doing some pretty good riding for any bike and here in Denver we get 3 months of summer, 9 of winter. I know this is a boring story, but I thought 85,000 on a 2003 Harley was pretty amazing.

I'm still thinking HD as a daily commuter based solely on MPG and gas savings...and I'm thinking Sportster (the big one)...overall, HD gets great mileage...

We're pretty biased against Hurleys but the new ones are not the old ones. Besides I really don't think it's the bikes it's the Hurley Zealots (the ones that have nothing good to say about any other bikes) but we have them folk too! Prejudice comes in all colors and flavors! :kiss:

To each his own, this would be a really boring world if everyone liked the same things.

Personally, I really like the Harley Street Rod (but I like a whole bunch of other bikes also).

Newest Harley I've ridden was a 98 Super Glide, and that rubber mounted engine just flat sucked, every bump turned into three bumps, one when the front wheel hit it, then again when the rear wheel hit it, then again when the rubber mounted motor hit the stops.

I have to admit a genuine like for 1200 Sportsters, in fact, that's the Harley I want more than the others, even if it is the "entry" level Harley. I like the smaller size and slimmer profile, the big, fat cruiser thing does nothing for me.

Seems like every classifieds you open has a bunch of them for sale too. Maybe I oughta start shopping around. There are so many motorcycles I'd like to try that are higher on the priority list than any Harley though.

I just sold my 1977 KZ 650C and bought a 2005 Sportster 1200C. I am expecting delivery of it this next week. I'll let you all know if it's any better.

I loved my 650, but it requires a younger body than mine to ride comfortably...Hopefully the sportster is more comfortable. It is definitely shinier, haha.

I liked my two old harleys way back when , a 45cu in and a 74 cu in with reverse gear both Suiside shift owened the 45 first ( First bike) and the 74 a few years later , LOL It took a whole new outlook and a bit of time when i first went Metric to learn shift with foot and clutch with hand :laugh:

Forget Harley, get one of these

I have a pic of one as the background on my desktop.

steell wrote:

Forget Harley, get one of these

I have a pic of one as the background on my desktop.

Actually, I have a sweet spot for any Benelli Sei:)

i want a harley too.

steell wrote:

Forget Harley, get one of these

I have a pic of one as the background on my desktop.

Sorry guys ! to damn space age for me dont look like a motorcycle should IMHO!
But hey We all can't like the same thing:)

Well, you have to admit, you would stand out in a crowd of bikes :laugh:

And that's why I like it so much, but 142 hp and being a triple don't hurt any either

From the front it looks like some kind of killer alien insect, or maybe an evil robot bike. Got to hand it to the Italians, they don't make boring bikes