Harleys

[abaddonxi]

If Harleys are so great, why do all the Harley riders I see look so grumpy?

Just got back into the 130 after several weeks without driving. The whole time I was zipping around in the Subaru so I was a little apprehensive about getting back into the truck.

Smile from ear to ear all day.

:D:D:D

Cheers
Simon

[CraigE]

They look grumpy cause they are not riding a real twin. My 7yo boy calls them girls bikes.:angel::wasntme::angel:

[Disco_owner]

Harley Davidson = Hardly Dangerous

[seriesly]

smiling on a harley equals bugs for brekkie...
not to mention the odd ciggie butt..

[RonMcGr]

If Harleys are so great, why do all the Harley riders I see look so grumpy?

That is because Harleys, like dogs, enjoy riding in the back of utes :D

The rider cannot smile because he dosen't know when the bike will come to a grinding stop..:)

[Ken]

Its just a big water pump on wheels kachuga kachuga kachuga :o

Give me a SP1 Honda anyday now theres a real bike :twisted:

[Vern]

That is because Harleys, like dogs, enjoy riding in the back of utes :D

The rider cannot smile because he dosen't know when the bike will come to a grinding stop..:)
Thier like isuzu's, they rattle and shake every bolt loose;)

[djam1]

Is there any truth in the rumor that Harleys are made by Briggs and Stratton?
Well they sound like them and are about as reliable.

[Quiggers]

If Harleys are so great, why do all the Harley riders I see look so grumpy?

:D:D:D

Cheers
Simon


:D:D:D:D:D:D

Isn't that the 'tough Harley rider' look? :D:D:D

GQ

[loanrangie]

You'd be grumpy to if your knuckles dragged on the ground.

[Barra1]

A lot of the comments regarding Harleys are what I imagine ToyNisMitsi drivers say about Land Rover owners.:eek:

I've always found Harley owners as passionate about their bikes as most Defender owners are about their vehicle. Funny that.:o

Might even be said that both groups can usually be considered "alternative or non-conformist" (for the want of a better description).

And....could it be fair to say, Land Rovers and Harleys - the only vehicles with a soul.:p

But then again I'm not a bike-rider.... just my observations.

[Ashes]

I've often noticed the no-smile faces on Harley riders and thought that they weren't enjoying the ride. Definately a case of open face helmets and faces steeling themselves against the elements. Full credit to them for that. Pasion about their machines, beyond question.. :eek:

I ride a BMW R1200GS so my idea of battling the elements is switching on the heated handgrips, turning up the thermostat on the heated seats and plugging in the heated vest..:D

[100I]

A lot of the comments regarding Harleys are what I imagine ToyNisMitsi drivers say about Land Rover owners.:eek:

I've always found Harley owners as passionate about their bikes as most Defender owners are about their vehicle. Funny that.:o

Might even be said that both groups can usually be considered "alternative or non-conformist" (for the want of a better description).

And....could it be fair to say, Land Rovers and Harleys - the only vehicles with a soul.:p

But then again I'm not a bike-rider.... just my observations.

There's nothing 'alternative or non-conformist' about HDs today, they're just another boutique brand.;)

[Cap]

Im n ot a Beemer fan as such, but the R1200GS is a weapon. My brother and father both owned the 1100GS/1150GS so I have riden them :D

Have you seen Pfeiffer stunt the BMW! :eek:

http://www.mwerks.com/artman/publish/motorcycle_news/article_990.shtml

[Tank]

Harley Davidson = Hardly Dangerous
Harley Davidson = Highly Dangerous, Regards Frank.

[Tank]

I've often noticed the no-smile faces on Harley riders and thought that they weren't enjoying the ride. Definately a case of open face helmets and faces steeling themselves against the elements. Full credit to them for that. Pasion about their machines, beyond question.. :eek:

I ride a BMW R1200GS so my idea of battling the elements is switching on the heated handgrips, turning up the thermostat on the heated seats and plugging in the heated vest..:D
Have you ever noticed that MOST Harley riders are "Rugged Individuals" with long beards, balding in the front with long flowing locks at the back, Tatts all over, jeans and vests. Funny then how they ALL look the SAME, Regards Frank.

[100I]

Have you ever noticed that MOST Harley riders are "Rugged Individuals" with long beards, balding in the front with long flowing locks at the back, Tatts all over, jeans and vests. Funny then how they ALL look the SAME, Regards Frank.:D Like a Monty Python chorus "Yes, we're all individuals"

[rovercare]

Have you ever noticed that MOST Harley riders are "Rugged Individuals" with long beards, balding in the front with long flowing locks at the back, Tatts all over, jeans and vests. Funny then how they ALL look the SAME, Regards Frank.

Obviously you know very few harley owners......and little about what its all about

Just like Land Rovers, you have one because you want to, when you could simply purchase a better quality Jap equivalant

[Outback 1]

Just like Land Rovers, you have one because you want to, when you could simply purchase a better quality Jap equivalant

oy someone clip his ears :angel::wasntme:
lol:p

[rangieman]

All i can say is each to their own , and they are not my bit of kit :cool:

Harleyferguson:D
Masseydavidson:D

[Disco_owner]

For Price of a New Chopper @ $65K plus the rest , I'd much rather have a New fender , how's that sound ? I think there will be afew sharing the same sentiment here , As someone said Different courses for Different Horses...or vice versa.

[RonMcGr]

For Price of a New Chopper @ $65K plus the rest , I'd much rather have a New fender , how's that sound ? I think there will be afew sharing the same sentiment here , As someone said Different courses for Different Horses...or vice versa.

Holy *****!

Surely no one in their right mind would waste that amount of money on a MC??

I won't even spend that on a vehicle!

[Disco_owner]

Holy *****!

Surely no one in their right mind would waste that amount of money on a MC??

I won't even spend that on a vehicle!

Here 2006 CMC Custom Build in UK

28000 pound it cost to make = $66000 AUD

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C25583

but Geez it looks nice with that deep Blue paint Job.

[spudboy]

Ron - you need to get out more!

Buy yourself a copy of 4-cylinder Ricer Monthly or something similar and see what people spend on doing up their cars. 6 figure sums are pretty common. It amazes me that someone can start with a very modest car (Suzuki Swift for example) and then spend more than the cost of the car on a sound system, or the chrome rims, etc etc.

At least they are passionate!

[twitchy]

Damn I hate the HD, I used to work on them & they are a piece of used dog food.......................

On the sixth day God created the Harley,
& on the seventh day he was still trying to start the bastard!!!

[tombraider]

Ron - you need to get out more!

Buy yourself a copy of 4-cylinder Ricer Monthly or something similar and see what people spend on doing up their cars. 6 figure sums are pretty common. It amazes me that someone can start with a very modest car (Suzuki Swift for example) and then spend more than the cost of the car on a sound system, or the chrome rims, etc etc.

At least they are passionate!

Man, my D1 cost me $100k

The defender outlay was over $80k

My bike was cheap at $20k

The wifes was cheaper... $10k

The Disco only owes me $22k

[harry]

Man, my D1 cost me $100k

The Disco only owes me $22k

my d1 cost less than $15,000 a while ago, to purchase.

but i don't give a toss what anyone's vehicle/toy cost them.
bragging 'aint my game and i don't think anyone here should get into that.
we each spend what we want to on our vehicles , toys , etc.
but we need to stay away from that cost thing.
in this world we can talk to the rich and famous or the paupers of the world without inciting the 'i'm better than you' by oneupmanship
oh, and back to the subject 'harleys'
as a kid walking to school and back, every day i would sit on a harley with sidecar, the owner never came out to tell me off or even say gidday, bastard!
i so much wanted to ride it.
later on dad's mate took me for a ride on his outfit, two boys in the chair, up the street and back, the whole time the chair wheel was in the air and i was spinning it backwards with the spokes!
when i finally had enough money to buy a harley, here on the gold coast i lost interest,
they are like ********s, everyones got one.
on a similar note, her indoors had always wanted a trans-am, damm , finally got enough to do that also, nup she said, they're like what i said before, so i bought her a w107.
now that's a car, anyone want it?
need the cash in case santa doesn't bring me my bloody front locker.

[UKLRO]

I have owned both, at various times. Isn't it down to personal choice? It would be a boring old world if we all drove round in the same 4x4 as everyone else, or rode round on the same bikes.

[CraigE]

A lot of the comments regarding Harleys are what I imagine ToyNisMitsi drivers say about Land Rover owners.:eek:

I've always found Harley owners as passionate about their bikes as most Defender owners are about their vehicle. Funny that.:o

Might even be said that both groups can usually be considered "alternative or non-conformist" (for the want of a better description).

And....could it be fair to say, Land Rovers and Harleys - the only vehicles with a soul.:p

But then again I'm not a bike-rider.... just my observations.
Harley riders Non conformist??
Every yuppy owns a shiny new Harley these days.:eek:

[Tank]

Obviously you know very few harley owners......and little about what its all about

Just like Land Rovers, you have one because you want to, when you could simply purchase a better quality Jap equivalant
It was a JOKE, Joyce, Regards Frank.

[tombraider]

I wasnt bragging...

I was however pointing out how expensive this hobby can be.

A HUGE portion of that money was testing and development work to ensure that things were the best they could be and worked offroad...

That vehicle was the test bed for modifications to everything....

Now back to Harleys.....

They arent a tough thing anymore...

They are a 'freedom' thing.... If you've never riden you wont understand....

My wife and I went the Boulevards because we got 2 for the price of a Harley, but they're still cruisers....

Theres nothing like wind in the face and the freedom from sitting in a "cage"

[twitchy]

I still ride the in-laws Harley even though I am not a fan they are still better than a cage in the city.......

Still, I would rather a Jap cruiser ANY day.

[BradM]

I owned a 1991 FXSTC for 11 years :D. For people who know nothing or little about Harley Davidson it is the Soft Tail Custom.

As with every internal combustion engine that I have owned I like to get a little more out of it. It had port and polished shaved heads, an andrews EV27 cam, S&S E series carbie, cycle shack extractors, screaming eagle computer and a host of other mods and options.

I rode it north/south across Australia several times and it never missed a beat. Even in 46 c summer heat in the middle of Australia. The EVO motor onwards are great engines and reliable. So is the rest of the bike.

There is a saying amonst Harley Riders "It is no point trying to explain to someone who has not ridden one how good they are". Bit like Landrover drivers I think trying to explain to someone how good they are if you have not experienced them off road when the going gets tough.

The reason they do not smile while wearing an open faced helmet is as was said "you get a mouth full of bugs, dirt and whatever else is flying around". ;)

[vnx205]

My favourite Harley story actually doesn't have a lot to do with the models you are discussing, but I'm going to tell it anyway.
In the early '70s (that is the 1970s, not the 1870s just in case some young whippersnapper wants to make some joke about just how long ago it was), I worked with an American. He bought himself a 350cc Harley Davidson, a truly dreadful bike with less performance than the average 250. In fact I'm pretty sure my CL175 Honda outperformed it.
Whenever anyone asked him why he bought the Harley instead of a Suzuki, Yahama or Kawasaki or even better a Honda, he always said, "Because it's a Harley and it's American."
So one day I got a bit tired of that and pointed out that the battery was a Nippon Denso (Japanese) and the carburettor was a Dellorto (Italian), the muffler was some Italian brand which I can't actually remember now and the whole bike was assembled by Aermacchi, as were all the smaller Harleys.
The bit I really liked though was that when he woke up to himself less than a year later and tried to trade it in on a decent bike, none of the dealers would give him anything at all for it. Not even one dollar.
I think his reason for buying it was the same as most Harley buyers. They buy it because it's a Harley. Some of us wouldn't touch one with a barge pole because it is a Harley. I suppose it would be a pretty boring world if we all rode the same brand of bike and drove the same 4WD.

[vnx205]

My only personal experience of a Harley was bound to leave me with a prejudice against them.
When you are used to operating the clutch with your hand and changing gear with your foot, it takes a bit of getting used to a foot clutch and a hand gear lever.
Add a rigid rear end to those problems and you can probably see why my first ride on a Harley (even if it was an old one) was also my last.

[460cixy]

plenty of these clowns around here. mild mannered public servent during the week hard core wannabe biker on the weekend and all look like they wanna cut ya throat but look like they would get queasy sqashing a cockroach at the same time real wackers

[Cap]

If were going to be talking about attitude, then lets spread the base here. As a sport bike rider, I seen WAAAAAAAAAY to many wannabe Mich Doohans in my 20 years of riding. Yes, they buy the lastest rice burner (jap sports bike), buy the most expensive leathers and helmets, spend on expensive exhaust etc etc, yet they cant ride for *****. So, in any sport, 4 wheel, 2 wheel etc, yuo get the people with attitude and you get the people who ride/drive for pleasure.

[460cixy]

oh yeah i even work with ppl like that more money than brains

[PeterM]

I just don't understand why people pay so much for the brand and then spend up big just to get them to handle, stop and go like they should in the first place.

Hence why I got one of these!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/03/141.jpg

[Fourgearsticks]

I sort of agree with the concept of cruisers but the practicality is not there.

The leaning back, legs higher than your **** and arms above your head does not make for comfort, just posing. The whole "Hardley Dangerous" marketing is genious with everybody owning a $30,000+ having to buy frills, studs, vests, tatoo's, scowls, stupid half face helmets, all to be a "rebel" and different. Tsa chuckle really.

I'll stick to my old bomb 1985 model chook chaser, cruise at legal speeds and able to walk upright after doing a three hour stint.

[numpty]

Same old story.....It's a Jeep Thing.....It's a Landrover Thing.......It's a Harley Thing. Each to their own I say. It's a passion, that's all that needs to be said

As an aside, I work with a bloke who is actually passionate about his Hilux:o. Try and say a word against a Toyota in general and you'd think the world was going to end.

Ahhh.....passion.:D

[tombraider]

I sort of agree with the concept of cruisers but the practicality is not there.

The leaning back, legs higher than your **** and arms above your head does not make for comfort, just posing. The whole "Hardley Dangerous" marketing is genious with everybody owning a $30,000+ having to buy frills, studs, vests, tatoo's, scowls, stupid half face helmets, all to be a "rebel" and different. Tsa chuckle really.

I'll stick to my old bomb 1985 model chook chaser, cruise at legal speeds and able to walk upright after doing a three hour stint.

I'd have to disagree here...

OK.. Ape Hangers dont look comfy...

But my cruiser (Boulevard) sits you right the way you want to... feet forward and down, arms nice and relaxed..... I can hop off feeling great.

And we have at least 100 Harleys in town, only the Red Devils and the Rebels wear the leather vests... The rest of the guys who ride the HDs just wear jeans and shirts... :)

Often you see the guys on the chook chasers in t-shirts and shorts :eek:

I think they're nice bikes.... And respect any rider, regardless of their vehicle of choice...

In fact, the most grounded and friendly guys I chat to here are often the bikie members....

They understand the freedom and feeling of not being caged....

[tombraider]

Same old story.....It's a Jeep Thing.....It's a Landrover Thing.......It's a Harley Thing. Each to their own I say. It's a passion, that's all that needs to be said

As an aside, I work with a bloke who is actually passionate about his Hilux:o. Try and say a word against a Toyota in general and you'd think the world was going to end.

Ahhh.....passion.:D

Well said........

[Fourgearsticks]

Tombraider,
Bikes are bikes as far as I'm concerned, stepthrough to big cruiser. As for the type of bike it's up to whatever turns you on. I've seen blokes on Harleys bare chested, road raged, tasseled wearing richard heads but that doesn't mean everybody on a Harley is the same.

If you call yourself a bikie or have to wear Johnny Reb boots every time you ride then your branding yourself as a follower of fasion. The whole "Live to ride" thing has been done to death and most who spruke that don't (ride that is).

If you enjoy riding then great, it's a great way of getting around. If you only enjoy riding twice a year then that's great too.

As for the type of bike, whatever suits.