Thread: Ouch! Why I wear gloves and a jacket on the bike 2

funny how most of the Harley comments on this thread mirror landy comments on most other 4x4 forums piece of blah blah blah

I've owned heaps of bikes over the years all japanese until the last one which was a Harley absolutely loved it but sold it as I needed the money.

What most people forget is that most models of harleys are touring bikes (yes some are for show but jap brands make them too) as such they are a very comfortable bike to do hours in the saddle so of course there are other bike that will out perform them

the sport bike is the Buell - goes stops turns; a brilliant bike.

never riden a sporty so I cant comment

Oh and full gear or your tempting fate.

P.S. I always nodded to other bike riders on the harley and just like landys some nodded back but most didn't.

Originally Posted by ezyrama

I still cant bring myself to take the VStrom or the Trumpy out without being kitted up. We have some fantastic rides here in the Hinterland of the Gold Coast

Are you on the Stromtrooper forum? Stromtrooper Forum : Suzuki V-Strom Motorcycle Forums

The GC guys arrange rides - see Strom troopers ride 4/5 feb - Stromtrooper Forum : Suzuki V-Strom Motorcycle Forums

We have the annual V-Strom gathering coming up in Bingara in March: http://www.stromtrooper.com/australi...ch-2012-a.html

Originally Posted by blitz

P.S. I always nodded to other bike riders on the harley and just like landys some nodded back but most didn't.

That's 'cos we non-HD riders aren't expecting it!

Originally Posted by p38arover

That's 'cos we non-HD riders aren't expecting it!

ah hahahahahahahaha i really did laugh out loud, not just LOL

This is why I subscribe to the motto of ATGATT. All The Gear, All The Time.

I'd rather lose sweat than skin!

Not just gloves and a jacket, all leather! I totally agree with you lads, I am 30 now and have been riding on road since I was 16 (and 9 months) and so have the rest of the family. 3 brothers and old man.
Always wear gear! Always.

I wont even head to the local shops without leather jacket, gloves and proper boots protecting my ankles.
After riding/racing on dirt for my teenage and below years and seeing so many injury's protecting your skin is vital!

On the hardley dangerous argument:
I stopped into EC as a mate of mine writes or used to write/test for Rapid Bikes, just to watch the ride day guys hammer around, and a big huge muscle bound guy jumped on a tiny HD Sporty, and we all had a giggle and thought, here we go. But he was absolutely blasting this thing around! Carving up all bikes from big to small, just manhandled the thing into oblivion, I had nothing but respect that day! And always look back fondly.
Also Mad Matt Mingay carves one up on the stunt track, can't say anything bad about that!

Ok so to revise, my HD view is more based around the certain clubs/people that ride them not the bikes themselves, I love all things with 2 wheels.

Side note my Repsol CBR Fireblade is for sale.

Originally Posted by mick88

The Rebels Outlaw Gang had an overnight stay here about three weeks back.
There were approximately 500 Harleys, groups of 20-50 bikes at a time rolling into town, all with a police vehicle of some sort tailing them.
The sound was unreal, something like a freight train going through a thunderstorm.
Harley Davidson are definetly doing something right to have such a following, there must have been fifteen million bucks worth of motorcycles.

Cheers, Mick

15 million bucks worth, and all stolen.
I must admit they do sound brilliant, a good S&S 1500 or bigger in a Duece frame, can smoke the rear wheel with ease. Note* They are not so good at wheelies.

Cheers,
Ben

Originally Posted by LowRanger

Ron
You should have a look around Penrith
There is a particularly large and well know OLMC there that most of the members ride Triumphs.

And having owned and raced Jap bikes as well as Ducatis,and choosing to own and ride Harley's,I can honestly say that I acknowledge all bike riders,but find that I Never get a return acknowledgement of Jap bike riders.So the inverse is also true.

I also agree that it would be very uncommon to see a Jap bike that will clock up the high mileage that Harleys will happily do without an engine rebuild.
The last 2 Harleys I owned,I sold with 91,000 and 98,000km on them without a rebuild of any type,and neither used any oil or blew any smoke.

Wayne

Hmm, I do agree HD's are good for the miles (Late model ones), but maybe due to spending their lives at low revs? Not sure any of the HD's that can perform like a modern 1000 would do more than a few KM's. So I guess comparing a spade with a spade, a HD would not even get close to what a Jap bike can endure? - I do realise that said they arnt designed to take the same treatment, so why do we compare them at all? bit of fun I guess

Jap bike experience:
One of the guys I rode with from Bikers Anon did over 150 on an 05 R1. Still rode like new - including a huge amount of track days.
My old mans FJR1300 did over 100kms, still ran like a new bike
His previous FJ1200 was closer to 200kms and still ran fine.
Brothers Honda thingamagic V4 400 had gone around the clock multiple times and ran fine even though it said 80kms on the clock - ex courier bike.
My XR650 I got to 45kms from memory with nothing other than regular servicing, and ran like new.
I had a FZR250R that had 55kms on the clock, not bad for something that spends most of its life at 18,000rpms!

We do have a Yamaha YDS5e with 3000 miles from new on the clock, original tyres and everything That is my favourite, 1966 or 67.

Cheers,
Ben

Great thread... Enjoying the viewpoints of all involved.

I'm doing a ride with the wife to Broken Hill in the October LWE...

We'll be riding individual bikes... It's her first bike rally as a rider.

Looking forward to it immensely.

For that ride, definitely ATGATT..

For my ride to work this morning, however, you'll never get me in all the gear.
5 minutes, 3km, jeans, work boots, t shirt and open face.

Sunny day "beachies" are shorts, t shirt and sneakers..

Morning runs to the Gym is the same.. It's invigorating to ride in shorts and t shirt when it's 5°c

Anything out of town gets the gear thrown on...