ORIGINAL: PoleCat

I just read this entire thread.

Some of you have thought this through quite carefully. It's good to know that you know exactly why you ride what you ride.

At first I took offense to a couple of the comments about the "new harley rider" . . . not being worthy or not payng enough dues. But then I thought about it.

If by dues you mean that I've yearned for this bike my entire life, (since I was about 4 and had my first ride), That I've scrimped and saved enough to finally be able to afford the bike of my dreams, that I'm an experienced rider and I'm confident that I can do justice to the abilities of the new beauty that inhabits my favorite parking spot; then yes, I'd have to say that yes I'm paid in full.

But, if you're saying that some of us haven't spent enough time working through the ranks of owning some crappy old AMF Mistake and fixing/riding it anyway, (let's face it those are not Harley's best years and they don't make very good selling points.) MoCo doesn't hide the fact that it happend, but they sure don't like to talk about it either. It was a mistake that took a few very long years to set straight. That doesn't mean that we all should have bought two extra bikes back then just to support the company. If we did, they might still be under AMFs big sloppy foot.

. . . or If you mean I haven't been arrested enough times and don't have enough gang tats on my body . . . too freekin bad. IMHO The day of the big stupid criminal biker is gone. I know they still exist, but they are such a minority now - time will soon erase them from the landscape. Most of the MCs nowdays are more interested in promoting safety and taking care of riders than running a syndicate.

Now, I'm an okay wrench, but I'm not sure that I trust my hand at working on my new SG. Time will alter that opinion I'm sure. (It's just so shiney now) I'll probalby have the shop take care of most of the maintenance. I'll do some mods myself, very carefully, but probably only cosmetic things. Performance mods will surely need to go to a pro. Does that make me unworthy? I guess I don't care.

Not to insult anyone's sensibilities, but I'd be willing to bet that nearly everyone could prove that they've paid the price to get their dream bike. Even if all they ever did to get it was write a check. How do you measure desire? How do you quallify love of a fine machine? Everyon's price is different. You didn't have to pay my price, and I didn't have to pay yours . . . and thats a good thing, trust me.

Why do I ride a Harley? Because for nearly 40 years that's all I've ever really wanted to ride. I've owned many bikes, all kinds and shapes and sizes, and I've truly enjoyed (loved) a couple of them. Crud, this is my second HD (first one was an AMF Holdover '96 Sporty). but none of my bikes have come close to giving me the complete satisfaction that I get from this big beautiful Street Glide.

Shoot. I'm so happy with this new sweetheart, and with this forum . . . you could knock me over with a . . . bowling ball. j/k

Cheers, Let's ride.