Have you guys noticed???
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,981
Likes: 696
From: N.C.
I think it doesn't matter what you ride, where you ride, when you ride, how you dress or who you talk to, none of it matters to anyone but yourself as no one needs to prove anything. If you are happy riding with a group and attending events that is OK too. If you want a new bike and all the latest gadgets, that is OK too or if you like to sit at the computer and type about your experiences - it's all OK. If you like to spend time at the dealer that is OK too.
I bought my bike to ride, not to work on and find that many Harley riders are too worried about proving something, what they are worried about I don't know as it may be different for each individual.
If my wife and I are riding and either one gets tired we stop, I don't need to prove anything, I don't need to use the bike as a commuter - and I don't need the latest, greatest of anything. Our rides are nothing to brag about, but I will mention a good place to eat. It annoys me when people want to talk about and/or critique our setup - a simple "nice bike" or "I like Hondas better" is enough.
Sometimes when I can't ride I will spend time with the bike because it relaxes me, I may just clean it or tighten a bolt or even remove and or replace something. It's hard to say. It's not a job, and I am not obligated, it is something I enjoy doing. I do like the Harley clothes, and like buying things for my wife. I like uneventful rides, most times we are all alone. I do have a GPS and it's set up to record where we have been so if I ever want to go back I can use Google Earth to see the ride path we were on.
I was planning to go to the dealer to pick up a new Harley on a Friday but saw a picture of the one we have now, liked it, and had the cash to buy it so I contacted the guy and told him as long as it starts I will buy it and we picked it up that Friday - little did I know I would become attached to it. To be honest, at the time I did not expect to ride it much, I didn't even sign for the tittle as I just finished chemo and was not too confident I would be around too long. My goal was to just ride the Harley a little bit before I die, now I call it "Harley Therapy". The day may come when I bump into another Harley that I like better and I will buy that, but I am not looking to find one.
.
I bought my bike to ride, not to work on and find that many Harley riders are too worried about proving something, what they are worried about I don't know as it may be different for each individual.
If my wife and I are riding and either one gets tired we stop, I don't need to prove anything, I don't need to use the bike as a commuter - and I don't need the latest, greatest of anything. Our rides are nothing to brag about, but I will mention a good place to eat. It annoys me when people want to talk about and/or critique our setup - a simple "nice bike" or "I like Hondas better" is enough.
Sometimes when I can't ride I will spend time with the bike because it relaxes me, I may just clean it or tighten a bolt or even remove and or replace something. It's hard to say. It's not a job, and I am not obligated, it is something I enjoy doing. I do like the Harley clothes, and like buying things for my wife. I like uneventful rides, most times we are all alone. I do have a GPS and it's set up to record where we have been so if I ever want to go back I can use Google Earth to see the ride path we were on.
I was planning to go to the dealer to pick up a new Harley on a Friday but saw a picture of the one we have now, liked it, and had the cash to buy it so I contacted the guy and told him as long as it starts I will buy it and we picked it up that Friday - little did I know I would become attached to it. To be honest, at the time I did not expect to ride it much, I didn't even sign for the tittle as I just finished chemo and was not too confident I would be around too long. My goal was to just ride the Harley a little bit before I die, now I call it "Harley Therapy". The day may come when I bump into another Harley that I like better and I will buy that, but I am not looking to find one.
.
Eight weeks ago I was preparing to go to the hospital to have my cancerous prostate removed. This past week the blood test results showed that the operation was successful as my psa was undetectable. I was lucky considering what the clinical biopsy revealed. Kinda like drawing a queen on an inside straight. There is always the possibility of recurrance, but for now I'm looking at it as a bump in the road and a second chance.
Returning to work Monday and the world looks different having gone through this. Don't know what I'm trying to say to anyone reading this really except maybe learn to be a little more tolerant of others, enjoy what you have, and don't be so hard on yourself. Funny thing pajoe, I use to tell other people that riding a HD was cheaper than a psychologist. And, I was RIGHT! :-)
Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 1
From: Norwalk, CA
I will take her to the doc if I cannot get her going with the help of the knowledgeable Harley enthusiasts on this forum. I am a hands on person and enjoy working on my vehicles, I know a bit about cars and their workings, but Harleys are new to me and I see that as a challenge and drives to learn about them . So I want to tinker with it first and try to get it to start, how else am I going to get to know my bike and what better way to learn what makes her tic, and roar.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 820
Likes: 18
From: Hawaii
I'm glad all you EVO riders love your bikes but I don't understand inter Harley rider predjudices,I started on a Sporty but quickly went to a Shovel Superglide back in 74.I loved that bike but now I ride a 03 Dyna Superglide and wouldn't go back to the old Shovel as an only bike.My bike isn't fancy with doodads like you guys claim all TwinCams are.It's a stocker,lowered at the back,solo seat,after market mufflers and rejetted.It's faster,smoother,doesn't leak a drop,and no problems at all,zero.It's got 25,000 mi. on it and I ride it hard,burnouts, wheelies,and I'm on an Island,thats why the low mileage compared to mainland bikes.I love all Harleys, and when I hear one group dissing another like Vrods or whatever it sounds juvenile.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
Gotta be one of the best post I've read on HDF.
Eight weeks ago I was preparing to go to the hospital to have my cancerous prostate removed. This past week the blood test results showed that the operation was successful as my psa was undetectable. I was lucky considering what the clinical biopsy revealed. Kinda like drawing a queen on an inside straight. There is always the possibility of recurrance, but for now I'm looking at it as a bump in the road and a second chance.
Returning to work Monday and the world looks different having gone through this. Don't know what I'm trying to say to anyone reading this really except maybe learn to be a little more tolerant of others, enjoy what you have, and don't be so hard on yourself. Funny thing pajoe, I use to tell other people that riding a HD was cheaper than a psychologist. And, I was RIGHT! :-)
Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.
Eight weeks ago I was preparing to go to the hospital to have my cancerous prostate removed. This past week the blood test results showed that the operation was successful as my psa was undetectable. I was lucky considering what the clinical biopsy revealed. Kinda like drawing a queen on an inside straight. There is always the possibility of recurrance, but for now I'm looking at it as a bump in the road and a second chance.
Returning to work Monday and the world looks different having gone through this. Don't know what I'm trying to say to anyone reading this really except maybe learn to be a little more tolerant of others, enjoy what you have, and don't be so hard on yourself. Funny thing pajoe, I use to tell other people that riding a HD was cheaper than a psychologist. And, I was RIGHT! :-)
Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
I would never "diss" the V-Rod crowd though. V-Rods aren't really my thing, but those guys buy them because of their performance, and they do have it in spades. If I were younger I'd almost surely have one - but I'm now an old Geezer riding an old Geezer-Glide that suits me!
I have a friend who just got a customized V-Rod about a month ago. I did have to straighten him out a bit though after he got new pipes installed when he bought it, though. He had said that "it turns out the V-Rod needs a little backpressure to run best", because that's what someone told him at the dealer. He just didn't know what he was being sold, because he hadn't done the research. I gave him some basic info about 2-1 exhaust design, good scavenging, lack of restriction, exhaust gas velocity, and good matching with the rest of the engine components being what counts for performance - not "backpressure". Lots of disinformation out there...
Enjoy your bike!
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
I'm glad all you EVO riders love your bikes but I don't understand inter Harley rider predjudices,I started on a Sporty but quickly went to a Shovel Superglide back in 74.I loved that bike but now I ride a 03 Dyna Superglide and wouldn't go back to the old Shovel as an only bike.My bike isn't fancy with doodads like you guys claim all TwinCams are.It's a stocker,lowered at the back,solo seat,after market mufflers and rejetted.It's faster,smoother,doesn't leak a drop,and no problems at all,zero.It's got 25,000 mi. on it and I ride it hard,burnouts, wheelies,and I'm on an Island,thats why the low mileage compared to mainland bikes.I love all Harleys, and when I hear one group dissing another like Vrods or whatever it sounds juvenile.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
My windshield is not detachable, but it's only bolted on with four bolts and I can take it off in about 10 minutes, and the detachable Tour Pack comes off instantly. I've done that couple of times on this bike, on a nice warm day when I wanted to feel the rush. No windshield or trunk totally changes the experience - it is a lot more fun. Bike feels half the size and three times as fast!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,981
Likes: 696
From: N.C.
A ride sounds good. Maybe the Graham County area (western N.C.) in the spring, when it's warmer? Ride that way a couple of times a year. I'll shoot ya a PM.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
Cool! We like to ride up in western NC... it's beautiful up there. I have several good friends who live in Franklin. One of them got a new Fat Bob last year, and I love to razz him about not riding it enough!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
I ride an Evo 'cause its all I can afford. Well, that and an old Shovel that needs work. I'd buy a new Road King in a second if I had 20 grand doing nothing...but I don't. Cancer...the 4th time back...made sure that won't happen. I think most of us have more respect for any man or women that rides more than polishes his bike. But hey, we all love what we own a little bit more than what others own.