Help me out here......
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 931
Likes: 3
From: England
Help me out here......
I am trying to understand the apparent obsession with speed and performance people want to wring out of their scoot.
For me - I bought my StreetBob to actually slow me down as previously I had owned ridiculously quick Jap creations, the last being a Honda CB1300F.
I will concede I had a Stage 1 & 2 done to allow the bike to breathe and have also had a Pro Tuner mod added to compensate for the V&H pipes I have added for appearance rather than performance.
I have always considered owning Harley Davidson rather like owning a piece of history that will chug on all day at a steady sensible speed and also that this current bike will see my biking days out.
I am considering in the next few years selling it and buying myself a piece of British car history with a soft top for that wind in the face experience such as an MG Roadster as a 'project' car for my more senior years.
Makes me sound like a real old fogey - but I have always associated speed with youth and the invincibility youth affords along with machines that are purposely built for such thrills.
Surely the quest to wring every last ounce of speed and performance from what is essentially a tractor engine is folly and detrimental to the overall well being of this very expensive toy.
Food for thought maybe :-)
For me - I bought my StreetBob to actually slow me down as previously I had owned ridiculously quick Jap creations, the last being a Honda CB1300F.
I will concede I had a Stage 1 & 2 done to allow the bike to breathe and have also had a Pro Tuner mod added to compensate for the V&H pipes I have added for appearance rather than performance.
I have always considered owning Harley Davidson rather like owning a piece of history that will chug on all day at a steady sensible speed and also that this current bike will see my biking days out.
I am considering in the next few years selling it and buying myself a piece of British car history with a soft top for that wind in the face experience such as an MG Roadster as a 'project' car for my more senior years.
Makes me sound like a real old fogey - but I have always associated speed with youth and the invincibility youth affords along with machines that are purposely built for such thrills.
Surely the quest to wring every last ounce of speed and performance from what is essentially a tractor engine is folly and detrimental to the overall well being of this very expensive toy.
Food for thought maybe :-)
Last edited by Gaffy52; Apr 5, 2013 at 08:30 AM. Reason: Spelling and grammar
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 235
From: Texas
yeah, I'm with you...I have owned fast cars and bikes, and rode few faster women...and crashed and burned on all three...but I wanted a Harley to just slow down some and putt along enjoying the ride...
Good questions IMHO, although you might get some negative feedback.
I think you chose a good platform for your intended use. In fact, I believe that's why they call them "cruisers." They clearly aren't made for speed or performance handling. A new Harley will do all the things that you seem to have planned for.
That said, the stage 1 mods, as you clearly already know, are good ideas to make the bike perform healthier (which also brings added speed performance.) Similarly, suspension mods contribute the same results; better health of the function.
Cams and a few other minor engine mods (oil cooler, high flow oil pumps, gear drive cam-sets, head porting, etc.) can also make a healthier motor by making the engine run cooler and/or live longer. With these mods comes even more speed related performance.
Because the drastic increase in performance is easily noticeable, people tend to seek more options for even more performance. Unfortunately, some of the more extreme mods can (but don't always) affect reliability.
Let's not discount the people who simply crave the speed and performance though. Like you, I grew up on much faster machines. Something deep down inside of me still wants to feel the rush of speed or a perfect line through a set of twistes, but they like the feel of a big HD, which is still a very unique feeling in the motorcycle experience no matter how many companies attempt to recreate it.
I think you chose a good platform for your intended use. In fact, I believe that's why they call them "cruisers." They clearly aren't made for speed or performance handling. A new Harley will do all the things that you seem to have planned for.
That said, the stage 1 mods, as you clearly already know, are good ideas to make the bike perform healthier (which also brings added speed performance.) Similarly, suspension mods contribute the same results; better health of the function.
Cams and a few other minor engine mods (oil cooler, high flow oil pumps, gear drive cam-sets, head porting, etc.) can also make a healthier motor by making the engine run cooler and/or live longer. With these mods comes even more speed related performance.
Because the drastic increase in performance is easily noticeable, people tend to seek more options for even more performance. Unfortunately, some of the more extreme mods can (but don't always) affect reliability.
Let's not discount the people who simply crave the speed and performance though. Like you, I grew up on much faster machines. Something deep down inside of me still wants to feel the rush of speed or a perfect line through a set of twistes, but they like the feel of a big HD, which is still a very unique feeling in the motorcycle experience no matter how many companies attempt to recreate it.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 537
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I too went from a rice rocket to a HD to slow me down a bit but I do like having the power and it is just the wow factor of a 2001 Dyna with a SE 103 that is built to last! Idon't realy care what the HP or TQ is and the only reason I will dyno will to get the best tune I can.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Okinawa, Japan
I see your point but I also see others as well.
Like you, I just switched from an Aprilia RSV 1000 Factory to a Low Rider to slow down and just enjoy the ride. I get that Harley engines are not even in the same universe as performance focused sport bike. But then again, neither are old hot rods compared to todays sport cars and yet people will never stop putting cams, blowers, etc on those.
To each their own.
Like you, I just switched from an Aprilia RSV 1000 Factory to a Low Rider to slow down and just enjoy the ride. I get that Harley engines are not even in the same universe as performance focused sport bike. But then again, neither are old hot rods compared to todays sport cars and yet people will never stop putting cams, blowers, etc on those.
To each their own.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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you are obviously in denial...look at the picture of your bike...loud pipes, apes, suspension modified, and stage 2 engine. you thought you wanted a slow bike-got one-had to modify it for more speed and performance and looks. you are a speed and noise junkie. when you get old, forget the MG and buy and old triumph/bsa with a sidecar.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 931
Likes: 3
From: England
you are obviously in denial...look at the picture of your bike...loud pipes, apes, suspension modified, and stage 2 engine. you thought you wanted a slow bike-got one-had to modify it for more speed and performance and looks. you are a speed and noise junkie. when you get old, forget the MG and buy and old triumph/bsa with a sidecar.
