Harleys; have you? Did you? Would you?

[Demannu]

The most telling thing about a HD is people who know diddly squat about bikes always think they're cool.

Not sure what that tells us TBH. People who know diddly squat about cars think Ferraris are cool but then people who know diddly squat about computers think Apple products are cool.

But a Ferrari IS quite good at what they do, generally really fucking fast, handle better than 90% of other cars on the road and prop up many a flagging ego.
I appreciate not everyone wants a gsxr hyperbike, but to trade on 'heritage' with virtually no product investment, and then expect the punter to stump up another couple of grand to 'accessorize' their ride.
Most are bought by marketing execs with a weak prostate and a need to prove to themselves they've still got it (HD & Ferrari's)

[Asian Boss]

Right now I've just got me a Honda, but I'll have a Harley someday.

[Yorick]

Rode a fair few, I like the simple 1200 sportsters. By every measurable metric they are rubbish but I enjoyed them and will have one some day. I liken them to a brand new classic, I’ll prob have a 1200 roadster as they have some resemblance to a normal bike but not too much

*plonk*

[Bigyin]

I've known a couple of people who've learned to ride specifically so they can get a Harley. One guy used to delight in telling me how his suspension mods made it corner on rails and the brakes were unbelievably good now etc.

He'd literally only ridden Harleys and the knackered old stuff he did his DAS on

We get loads of them through the school. One bloke was a real short arse and couldn’t reach the ground on any bikes we had apart from the 125’s. Lovely bloke who just wanted to join a couple of his mates on their Harleys. He did his CBT then bought a 1200 low rider long Harley with forward foot controls and stuck L plates on it for his DAS training.

He passed Mod 1 and Mod 2 on it so fair play to him as it wasn’t easy on that bike as he had to be really precise to get that long bike through the slow speed manoeuvres

They are not for me and I don’t see the attraction of them at all despite one of my fellow instructors trying to get me to ride one of his Harleys just for a laugh. I’ll have a go on one but I don’t see me suddenly being a devotee to the church of HD

[Noggin]

I like the look of the sportsters, but then I see the foot position and I know I couldn't ride one!!

Now I definitely couldn't as couldn't reach the right bar if my feet were forward as well!!

But I can't balance with my feet forward (as I found out trying to ride the school 125 when I was learning!), so I'll stick with something else and leave the HDs to you cool older guys

[Taipan]

I am really feeling the love for this one!

[Yorick]

Hardleys just turn petrol into noise without creating the danger of a motorcycle travelling at silly speeds

[KungFooBob]

I am really feeling the love for this one!

That's the one I like. They look massive in the pictures, but IRL they're quite petite. The later X is the one to have as it has proper adjustable suspension.

[Yorick]

The ShandyMan will be all over this. Reminding him of his distant yoof in That London on his Raleigh Chopper

tp.jpg (45.67 KiB) Viewed 403 times

[Yorick]

The ShandyMan will be all over this. Reminding him of his distant yoof in That London on his Raleigh Chopper

tp.jpg

But I bet he'd fit a brown seat and handlebar tassles

[demographic]

I actually liked the idea of the VR1000 (the ones that look like a melted welly) but the whole idea of cruising around on the motorcycle equivalent of Foghorn Leghorn does nothing for me at all so the traditional versions are totally out.

Plus my backside is too hairy for arseless chaps.

[Rockburner]

Like I've said before - if I wanted to do the stuff you do on a Harley, or have the ownership/riding experience of a Harley: i'd have a 50s/60s British single/twin.

I've had two of those

I really don't think a modern HD would be quite the same.

No, they'd be quite different. They'd handle. They'd be comfortable, and rideable.

[ninja]

I've got a mate who has one the same as the one in the OPs picture. It's slow, rusty and makes a horrible noise.
I'll never ride a Harley, I hope.

[Felix]

Hate the sound of them

[Bigjawa]

Eldest lad bought a 2015 Sportster. Had issues from day one, finish is crap, the chrome literally falls off the exhausts. Changed them for a set off a slighty newer bike, chrome fell off again. Front wheel bearings also collapsed with 15k on the clock, but worst of all, the stupid sprung plate inside the clutch did it's usual exploding trick.

It's glacially slow, but makes a nice noise, as Tiepin says, people who don't know about bikes love them, everybody has heard of Harley Davidson and they make one hell of a racket. Considering nearly every bike in movies has a HD engine noise dubbed on, people are familar with the sound and you can away with louder pipes.

Anyway, the son was so pissed off with it, he flogged it to some idiot with more money than sense,

Guess who the idiot was......

[KungFooBob]

Eldest lad bought a 2015 Sportster. Had issues from day one, finish is crap, the chrome literally falls off the exhausts. Changed them for a set off a slighty newer bike, chrome fell off again. Front wheel bearings also collapsed with 15k on the clock, but worst of all, the stupid sprung plate inside the clutch did it's usual exploding trick.

It's glacially slow, but makes a nice noise, as Tiepin says, people who don't know about bikes love them, everybody has heard of Harley Davidson and they make one hell of a racket. Considering nearly every bike in movies has a HD engine noise dubbed on, people are familar with the sound and you can away with louder pipes.

Anyway, the son was so pissed off with it, he flogged it to some idiot with more money than sense,

Guess who the idiot was......

Geoff Capes?

[Dodgy69]

Well, a few months ago, I'd never of thought I'd ever be a GS owner.

[dern]

Well, a few months ago, I'd never of thought I'd ever be a GS owner.

Catches you unawares like that, happened to me to but don't worry, they sell pretty easily when you've realised what you've done.

[Mr Moofo]

We rented a Road King Heritage in the USA - via Eaglerider, and then did a 7 day tour with them LA -> Las Vegas. Including Joshua Tree National Park, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, Grand Canyon, Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley.

On day one - I hated the HD - handled like a pig, brakes were rubbish, and boy was it slow. By day 7 , I actually quite liked it. What I did like was the lazy torque from the V Twin ( and the simpleness of the whole thing). I wasn't taken with the Harley Heads - Harley T Shirt, Harley Jeans, Harley Boots, Harley Belt, Harley Gloves, Harley Helmet, Harley Underpants.

So I bought a Buell - the tuned 1200 engine in a much better handling chassis.

I rode a sportster when we were on the trip - and absolute loathed it. The big front wheel gave it the dynamics of a shopping trolley.
I was offered a 1200 XR a couple of years ago - which I nearly bought ( I have followed one up a few mountain passes in CH, and it certainly was good enough for that).

The Harley did show me that I love (v) twin engines. I like bikes with low down grunt - I'm not that bothered about 190 BHP at 16k revs.

[dern]

I am really feeling the love for this one!

That's the one I like. They look massive in the pictures, but IRL they're quite petite. The later X is the one to have as it has proper adjustable suspension.

There's something about them but give me an xjr1300 any day of the week...