Oh yes they are a girls bike, just ask JW1200!

 

Not picking on you, but there are planty of rebutals here.

Function or form? The plastic (along with carbon fiber, aluminum, and titanium) reduce the weight of the machine Which improves acceleration, braking, and handling. Chrome is HEAVY and I cring every time I see the "custon" chromed oil cooler because the chrome kills the heat exchange that the unit is supposed to have.

I love the twin sound to, but there are other places to get it. KTM, Suzuki, Honda, Ducati, and Aprilla all offer sport oriented machines that are V-twin. In fact the Suziki TLR1000 (aka widowmaker) sounds like the wrath of god with an after market exhaust. It's discontinued now because it was to heavy to race competitively and underpowered compared to the sewing machine I-4s with 14,000 RPM redlines.

You are going to be hunched, this is why you don't cruise of a crotch rocket. However, if you race you see the need for the sportbike ergonomics immediately. The clip on's get you the hell out of the 160mph windblast on the straight, lower the controls so that you can still finely adjust the throttle hanging and with a knee down and the high pegs allow the sometime 50 degree lean angle the bikes are capable of. If you are grinding you nuts you aren't sitting properly. Not to mention there are an entire set of "hooligans" that are basically crotch rockets without all the plastic The Speed Tiple, Super Duke, Tuono, Streetfighter, ZRX12000 ect that offer HUGE performance without the clip-on and a much more sustainable riding possition.

It's a simple equation. Form or function? I almost guarantee that is how they see it. Sure you can blow 20,000 on a rocker (which I like) or a tourer, but you could also get a Ducati Superbike S with a 1200cc 170hp twin, ohlins suspension, brembo brakes, carbon fiber everything and more handling then most guys (me included) could ever fully exploit at the track

Don't get to hung up n stereotypes. There are a number of types a motorcycles anymore, you only deal with Supersports and cruisers, what about adventure tourers (dirtbikes with tourpacks), standards that offer both performance and comfort to varying degrees, sport-tourers and land yachts like the Goldwings. You "shouldnt" like anything at any age I was 18 when I bought my first Harley, but I don't know to many other kids that would have taken that one on. I like both motorcycles in general, all off them to some degree or another.

It not *only* money related. Image has a fair amount to do with it. Personally, I don't need a bike to be a badass, don't need a bike to get coffee, don't need a bike to make friends, don't need a bike to be accepted, nor do I need one to pick up women. But when you have a 20-21 year old guy with 6 grand in his pocket that he saved for years to buy a bike you bet your *** a lot of this goes through his mind.

Just trying to explain the flip-side of the coin, I'm not raggin on you.

 

wahahhahaa

 

I've been riding a long time and started on a Harley. Never have been able to afford a new one probably never will, but I've almost always had one. There are some affordable bikes out there if you aren't focused on just new, IMO.

 

I agree, just have to dig around a bit.

 

been riding HD since i am 20, got lucky got my dad's sporty when he finally upgraded, now at 35 I have long since moved on to a heritage.

I would agree with most that its the mind set of the youth (though I think I am still border line youth lol) about going faster than sound and all that stuff...and well HD is expensive...it like walking into Jaguar dealers...no young ones there either...they just cost to much.

Personally, speed is really not that interesting I like enjoying the scnenic view from my bike to much that i want to see it all zoom past as a blur

 

I see the scenery just fine....when I stop for a smoke. What SUCKS is getting stuck droning down the highway. I can't stand that.

 

What should it matter that you are Asian...and want a Harley? If you like and want a HD, get one. Don't worry so much what other people will say. I'm sure if you're a nice person, it won't really matter.

FWIW, I don't see many Caucasian's worrying about what they'll look like on the Japanese cycles.

 

Most kids can't afford a Harley!

 

Sure they can. Just like I did, you get a job and buy mostly complete busted up bike. Simple fact is most kids don't have the will. Where there's a will there's a way, you can just as easily buy a wrecked bike off the insurance company and with the aftermarket for these machines build a VERY nice bike, without the $10,000+ markup for a new bike.


In fact a lot of older riders don't know the difference either. I met a guy that recently spent $600 bucks getting fork seals done on a dyna. COME THE **** ON, dude didn't know enough to tell that mechanic that he was a ****ing idiot for even ATTEMPTING to charge that. I would have laughed at the guy and walked right back out the door. I about fell off my bar stool when this saw my Triumph and told me his aftermarket FORK seals cost him 600 bucks installed.

When did riding owning a bike become am excercise in credit fortitude? They say "freedom aint free," but damn.