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Many years ago I asked my dad how he ever got grandma to let him fly. She lived with us when my grandfather died. It was always her way or the highway. OCD and she ruled. If you were late coming home she thought you were in a gutter and stabbed. So she worried and she was a nurse and WWll air warden. Tough lady from WV with 12 other siblings all in war or coal business. At one point she went to FL to help after some major storm they had there. She would tell the story of how she was serving breakfast to one of her patients and described it as and then his men came in the room and put their Thompsons on the table. Many years later I asked my sister what was the deal with that because it just popped into my head. Sister said you don't know. I said know what? Grandma was Al Capone's nurse when she was in FL.
When I was much younger I asked my dad how did you ever get grandma to let your fly. My dad told me that he said I want to get a motorcycle or learn how to fly. With lots of military in the family she said have the military teach you. When I got older but still living at home I said I don't have the eyesight to fly so I'm getting a motorcycle. Mom said what were you thinking when you told him that story many years ago? My dad said who thought he would remember.
My plan was to get a small Intruder 800(because a friend had one & said they're bulletproof), learn how to ride & then get a Harley. Well most of my friends at the time (1999ish) had old FXRs and every time we'd go for a ride somebody was getting towed home. So I just stuck with Suzuki for a long time. 1400, then 1500LC which I still have. I finally got my '09 Ultra Classic because I did alot of research & wanted the 6 speed, 6 gallon tank & wider back tire and stronger frame. & obviously the sound has always been unique. As much as I love Suzukis the sound certainly doesn't compare.
Neighbor's daughters BF had a hard tail casket tanked Harley in her garage BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH I think he is a little high on price.
He asked why you bought a Harley. This really shouldn't take a 1000 words to explain.
For me it was these factors: large dealer network, two up capability, ABS, used bike availability in my price range.
I always liked the looks of non-bagger cruisers. My first bike was a Honda Shadow Phantom 750. After almost a year or riding that bike, I wanted something a little bigger with 6 gears and more power. But with more power comes less MPG so I also wanted something with at least a 5-gallon tank. The 2019 Low Rider was the only bike out there that fit those requirements. The fact that it's a Harley Davidson is incidental. So that's the bike I chose and as the Tossed Salad Man said, "And we straight, dat's it!".
You might be on to something with that radial engine thing. I was mowing my lawn this summer and I heard the sweetest engine sound over head. I stopped and took this picture of a B 29 Bomber flying over. Man, I don't much about planes but damn those engines sing. Harley engines are similar but not quite as sweet.
Yup those are turbo-supercharged Curtis Wright R3350-23 duplex cyclone engines with 2,200 hp. They were prone to catching fire (high magnesium content in engine cases and cooling problems). The russians copied them including the catching fire part. Later R3350's were reliable. I still remember our Argus anti-sub bombers with the R3350 turbo compound engines (3 heat recovery turbines) rated 3,700 hp take-off when a low high powered pass would shake the ground. They do shout the glory of God.
In the 50 + years I've been riding I've been on em all. My dad owned a Yamaha dealership so that's where I started. Not brand specific just because of it though. I like motorcycles, especially older bikes. Harleys have the best vintage bikes bar none . That's why I have 3 of them, and will die with all 3.
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.
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Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
