So, My Son Went and Bought a Harley

[mach1mustang351]

I work at a Harley dealership and there are definitely all kinds of people, every imaginable type of person on Harleys.  Some fit the stereotypes to the letter, some would surprise you. Some ride 50k a year, some haven't been out of town. One thing I will say, the Harley folks are passionate about the brand and they are loyal to it. There is definitely something to be said for that. Tell your son "welcome to the family"

[Muzz]

He does like his Harleys, but only the 1200's.  Has no interest in the big blocks at all.

Actually, that's a bit like me...   Small blocks rule,  ok?

[Rough Edge racing]

Loud pipes = look at me look at me = a pose. That's my rule of thumb for identifying genus poseur.

 Not always...The guy who rides my LSR Triumph also races a 1000 cc Suzuki in circuit racing ,off road bikes and ATV's also. He likes loud pipes and some might call him a Hipster...

[oldbike54]

Not always...The guy who rides my LSR Triumph also races a 1000 cc Suzuki in circuit racing ,off road bikes and ATV's also. He likes loud pipes and some might call him a Hipster...

                                                                       Hipster Piper


  Dusty

[Kev m]

He does like his Harleys, but only the 1200's.  Has no interest in the big blocks at all.

Actually, that's a bit like me...   Small blocks rule,  ok?

  

[cruzziguzzi]

Not always...The guy who rides my LSR Triumph also races a 1000 cc Suzuki in circuit racing ,off road bikes and ATV's also. He likes loud pipes and some might call him a Hipster...

Hipster - the newest pejorative.

I had a weirdo up Sun Valley, Idaho last July 4th, imply that I was some particular sub-set of Hipster (wish I could remember the title) for using - and enthusiastically - mini-plugs while fly fishing.

When I asked him about the title he and his gal set out telling me about several sub-sets of hipsters in various activities...

Funny thing was - were one to ask me what they looked like, I'da said "kinda Hipster oddballs" for grooming, clothing and accessories. After we were done talking - in order to reconcile their position and appearance, I came to realize that within hipsterdom, there is a contempt for posers as well.

Here all the while, I thought hipsters were posing.

Any how.... Loud pipes? I only really care with the gratuitous revving of the throttle.... Geeze, already... we SEE you!
Perhaps though, it's all about "Exhaustile Dysfunction":  http://tinyurl.com/pb9msjn

Todd.

[Kev m]

It took me a long time to get here, but I might just be starting to respect the hipsters and the posers for at least just pursuing what they want other's (especially the snobs) opinions be dammed.

It is a might better than worrying whose standards I'm not meeting.

Hell, I always rejected standards just on principle. When did I start caring. Did I start getting old in my 40's? Was it hanging out here listening to some of the curmudgeons?

I don't honestly care anymore... Throw your aspersions around. I'm gonna like what I want to like, no apologies.

[oldbike54]

It took me a long time to get here, but I might just be starting to respect the hipsters and the posers for at least just pursuing what they want other's (especially the snobs) opinions be dammed.

It is a might better than worrying whose standards I'm not meeting.

Hell, I always rejected standards just on principle. When did I start caring. Did I start getting old in my 40's? Was it hanging out here listening to some of the curmudgeons?

I don't honestly care anymore... Throw your aspersions around. I'm gonna like what I want to like, no apologies.

 Enlightenment is often painful .

  Dusty

[Lannis]

It took me a long time to get here, but I might just be starting to respect the hipsters and the posers for at least just pursuing what they want other's (especially the snobs) opinions be dammed.

A poser/hipster (pipster?   Hoser?   HOSER!  That's it, thanks Bob and Doug; put that one up there with plugIndian ...) is someone who's pursuing what someone ELSE wants, not what they want.

If you're pursuing what YOU want, you're not a hoser .....

Lannis   

[motrhead]

 I have a loud Harley Sportster (XLCR), a loud Buell, loud FZ750, loud RZ350 and the loudest of all is my V11 LeMans with titanium race pipes. I like to hear my bikes! I try to not offend people around town, so I do my best to keep it quiet, but I let 'er rip on the highway.
 I wear the same black leather jacket and pants on all of my bikes, from Stelvio to Harley to DR650. I am too old to be called a hipster. I have had the same beard and long hair for 20 years, and I have a few tattoos, but I predate hipsters! LOL
 I was given a Bell half helmet by a Harley buddy and wear that (and sometimes a classic red bandana over my face on the highway to keep the bugs off and for warmth) on some Harley rides with Harley buddies. It's a different frame of mind riding with them- usually much closer to the speed limit, with more stops...but when I am out by myself I wear my LS2 FF393 convert modular, the same one I wear on the Stelvio and the DR and the LeMans.
 I ride all kinds of bikes, and I ride 11 (sometimes 12) months of the year...as long as there is no snow or black ice on the highway, I am riding. so I hope you wouldn't call me a poser, despite how I may look to you.
 More than a few of my Harley buddies live on their bikes. These are not posers. These are serious bikers/motorcyclists...definitely not posing. In my experience, the most standup, selfless, coolest guys tend to be on Harleys (or Guzzis), and they will be the guys that stop to help you on the side of the road.  Yep, there are plenty of posers/knobs on Harleys, but there are just as many on BMW GSs! I can appreciate most bikes, Harleys included (my Buell X1 is really just a a hot rod Sportster after all). In fact I am pretty sure there is a V-rod in my near future.

[Kev m]

A poser/hipster <snip> is someone who's pursuing what someone ELSE wants, not what they want.

Jokes aside, what makes you think you can always tell what another person really wants?

Not that it matters, even if you could that doesn't change the nature of my objection.

[maquette]

Can a poser be someone who "belongs" to another group and looks down their nose at someone who rides, say a Harley? Kinda like many, (some) of the Guzzi faithful belonging to "their"group and making disparaging remarks about others? Does anyone really give a shit about what I (you) think about what they ride? If so, wouldn't that make many of us "pseudo posers"? If you can sort out my thoughts you're doing better than me. Is it winter already?

I say good on the young man with the Harley and wish him many, many miles of safe, delightful riding.

Just sold my Eldo, hmmmm maybe I'll go look at an Electraglide.

Tom

[Rough Edge racing]

Jokes aside, what makes you think you can always tell what another person really wants?

Not that it matters, even if you could that doesn't change the nature of my objection.

 Kev,they can tell because they are always correct, just ask     

[oldbike54]

Can a poser be someone who "belongs" to another group and looks down their nose at someone who rides, say a Harley? Kinda like many, (some) of the Guzzi faithful belonging to "their"group and making disparaging remarks about others? Does anyone really give a shit about what I (you) think about what they ride? If so, wouldn't that make many of us "pseudo posers"? If you can sort out my thoughts you're doing better than me. Is it winter already?

I say good on the young man with the Harley and wish him many, many miles of safe, delightful riding.

Just sold my Eldo, hmmmm maybe I'll go look at an Electraglide.

Tom

 I'm gonna need more   


  Dusty

[Lannis]

Jokes aside, what makes you think you can always tell what another person really wants?

Not that it matters, even if you could that doesn't change the nature of my objection.

We could look at it in terms of probabilities.

If I see an army of identical motorcycles going down the road, with everyone in the outlaw non-conformist uniform, with many of the same logos on their T-shirt, with the same kinds of shades and masks and vests ....

.... I generally don't assume that it's a massive coincidence that everyone is independently doing just what THEY want to do, independent of the others.

When I look at a Guzzi rally, I see a LOT of variation.   Sport bikes, old bikes, new bikes, textile jackets, leather jackets, Aerostich, skinny guys, fat guys, full helmets, half-helmets ....

Almost all of them are either bald or gray, though, so there's that ....

Lannis

[myway]

I'm gonna need more   


  Dusty

I don't know how to put this. my wife rides a HD softail. my user name is myway an has a lot to do with this one sided crap fest. the crap flows from one side. an I personally hope that this is not the norm around here. I would not want to be part of a group known for bashing HD's. I've owned hd's an I would again. in my opinion it should be a banned subject. but I don't write the rules or anything like that.

the only reason I posted this was to suport the side I'm on. I figure there's more of us than the other really, there's bikes siting in museums not being ridden at all. when I was young I did all sorts of look at me crap. hmm might be on to something here.  Dan

[Lannis]

I don't know how to put this. my wife rides a HD softail. my user name is myway an has a lot to do with this one sided crap fest. the crap flows from one side. an I personally hope that this is not the norm around here. I would not want to be part of a group known for bashing HD's. I've owned hd's an I would again. in my opinion it should be a banned subject. but I don't write the rules or anything like that.

the only reason I posted this was to suport the side I'm on. I figure there's more of us than the other really, there's bikes siting in museums not being ridden at all. when I was young I did all sorts of look at me crap. hmm might be on to something here.  Dan

Me, I like Harley Davidson motorcycles.   I've had three of them.     They sort of have the same characteristics that I do - and I enjoyed riding the ones I had.

And for the older ones (for those of us who like older motorcycles), I think it's great that the SAME clutch will fit a 1948 through 1984 Big Twin (just as an example).   They're the cheapest, easiest bike to get parts for, and easiest to work on, that I've ever had .....

Lannis

[Stormtruck2]

Your opinion of me matters as much to me as my opinion of you matters to you.

[oldbike54]

I don't know how to put this. my wife rides a HD softail. my user name is myway an has a lot to do with this one sided crap fest. the crap flows from one side. an I personally hope that this is not the norm around here. I would not want to be part of a group known for bashing HD's. I've owned hd's an I would again. in my opinion it should be a banned subject. but I don't write the rules or anything like that.

the only reason I posted this was to suport the side I'm on. I figure there's more of us than the other really, there's bikes siting in museums not being ridden at all. when I was young I did all sorts of look at me crap. hmm might be on to something here.  Dan

 I think you may have misunderstood , more  was a reference to Maq's funny post , not any bashing of another brand or lifestyle . I fit into the MC fanatic category , and am friendly to riders of all brands , even HDs 

  Dusty

[fossil]

There was no doubt, when I wanted to start biking again after 30 years or so, it would be with a Sportster. A "real" bike, not too strong, just right, very good looking, dependable, and with real tradition. Not a retro bike, but something that has been built and enhanced for decades now. The only thing that came near was that small Guzzi, V7 Classic. Only this bike had a plastic tank, I did not like the the shape of the cylinders, no spoked wheels with tubed tyres, and so on. Only Guzzi got all these things right with the V7 Stone....

I enjoy my Stone, but I know I would enjoy a nice Sportster the same way. Congrats to your son!

[Lannis]

There was no doubt, when I wanted to start biking again after 30 years or so, it would be with a Sportster. A "real" bike, not too strong, just right, very good looking, dependable, and with real tradition. Not a retro bike, but something that has been built and enhanced for decades now. The only thing that came near was that small Guzzi, V7 Classic. Only this bike had a plastic tank, I did not like the the shape of the cylinders, no spoked wheels with tubed tyres, and so on. Only Guzzi got all these things right with the V7 Stone....

I enjoy my Stone, but I know I would enjoy a nice Sportster the same way. Congrats to your son!

I use my BSA A10 with Craven panniers for my 60's touring bike ....



.... but I'd LOVE to have an early Sportster CH of the same vintage and do the same thing with it.   There's something so bare and spare and elemental about those old magneto fired bikes that I'd have one in a minute.

BUT ... whereas my A10 is a 44-year-old magneto-fired bike with a reputation for vibrating badly, my engine guy proved that a carefully assembled engine, with the ignition timing set properly, can be a smooth and easy runner, and many 1200 mile weekends have proved it.

However, nobody has ever been able to show me an old Sportster that didn't vibrate madly at highway speeds.   I'm told that the 45 degree cylinder angle and the weight of the engine and bike precludes being able to balance and tune it for all-day highway comfort like the BSA ...... So I guess it is not to be.....

Lannis

[Rough Edge racing]

 Well Mr Lannis we may have something in common....I built this  55 A10 with bits and pieces from  from Ebay and swap meets around 2002. 10-1 pistons, #357 cam, oversize carb, blah blah. It ran quite nicely and was smoother at high speeds than any of my Triumphs...It's the only bike I regretted selling and would buy in back if  found...

       

  And the Harley attitude... This is me in my " poser" clothes and tough guy look about 15 years ago on my kick start only Superglide. My grand daughter is nutty happy after a no helmet ride.... At low speed on my own property.

       

[cruzziguzzi]

I thought hosers were Canadian, eh?

Take off!... Eh?


Above photo looks like Kurt Russell... lookin' like Elvis with who... a bitty Kate Hudson on back?

Todd.

[guzzimike]

:1:

 

NICE..!          

That, right there,  is one of my favorite looks for a HD... 






If I ever got bit by the HD bug and decided to get one of the Harley Davidson bikes, it would likely be either a Bobbed Sportster or one of the XLCR Café Racer models ( 1977 - '79 ) as seen in the pic, below..








 
 --

[motrhead]

NICE..!          
That, right there,  is one of my favorite looks for a HD... 

If I ever got bit by the HD bug and decided to get one of the Harley Davidson bikes, it would likely be either a Bobbed Sportster or one of the XLCR Caf� Racer models ( 1977 - '79 ) as seen in the pic, below..




 
 --

 I love my XLCR, but damn does it vibrate!
I picked a tube frame 99 Buell over a late model Sportster. Significantly more power, very little vibration, and it is my most comfortable bike. It's a glorified Sportster engine...101 hp stock, and it really handles. Goes good with the Guzzis.

[Muzz]

The update.  He went out and got leather stuff.  Have not seen it yet but I suspect it will be pretty standard looking but pretty good stuff.  Finalising the helmet now;  currently doing the research on mid range bang-for-the-buck full face. The bike came with forward pegs fitted as well as the standard ones but not forward controls.  So far in the Harleys that he has owned, two had normal and one had forward.  He quite likes the forward but the Harris pipes which are a two in to one design do not allow the conventional forward kit to be used.  The Harris pipes are made sort of locally out in the boonies on the edge of the Hurunui district and do make a difference in the performance and to me anyway give a nicer sound.  He is loathe to drop them so at the moment that is in the wait and see basket.

He wants to get rid of the rear fender that was mounted on it and fit the original, but has found a slight problem with that.  Will start a new thread for that.