For the Over 40 Crowd
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Yeah I wanted one for years and got to buy my step father's bike a few years ago. Worked on it, fixed it up, had it sounding right, Then my dream bike (Streetglide) became within my reach. I traded the Fatboy for the glide and haven't looked back. I am 39.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,921
Likes: 33
From: Lewisberry PA
desire to ride
I started riding when I was 12, first bike was a 65 cc Benelli. Next bike at 14 was a 125 Suzuki dirt bike. Rode many other trail bikes until I went in the service at 17. Being in the Navy, never had a place to leave a bike while I went cruising the med....
Came across a KAW KTD 1000 a few years back, rode it for 2 years it brought back that smile from when I was young...
Just traded my road king for a SG....
Came across a KAW KTD 1000 a few years back, rode it for 2 years it brought back that smile from when I was young...
Just traded my road king for a SG....
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Greensboro NC
50 now and got mine
Started riding in the mid 70's and at the time, well I will say it Harley's were a POS and AMC owned them. Had no desire to own a bike that you needed to work on for 2 hours just to ride it for 3. It was a sad time for harly and I realy loved the look and basic feeling of the brand.
I am glade to say that they have done a lot of good and I am proud to be a EG owner. I think HD is more then just a motorcycle company and the bike speaks more about who we are as a country.
We are proud, rough, not streamlined but strong in stature. We stand above others not becouse we can but because we have earned that right. It is about haritage and honor, where we came from and where we are going.
Sorry, got a little deep. Just my opinion for what it is worth.
I am glade to say that they have done a lot of good and I am proud to be a EG owner. I think HD is more then just a motorcycle company and the bike speaks more about who we are as a country.
We are proud, rough, not streamlined but strong in stature. We stand above others not becouse we can but because we have earned that right. It is about haritage and honor, where we came from and where we are going.
Sorry, got a little deep. Just my opinion for what it is worth.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
From: Carroll Co, Md
riding
If you got the right bike when you could, and took care of it the way you should have, used good judgement, rode in all the right places, took the best roads, avoided all the things that you could, didn't really care if anybody saw you ride and had a good time doing your own thing, you would be happy riding what you have, reguardless of how old it is, how old you are, no matter what all the ads, and people say.........sometimes it just dont matter
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 2
From: Mass
First Harley at 53. Wanted one all my life. In my late teens I used to ride my 71 Honda 750 with a bunch of Harley and limey owners, caught lots of flack. Wasn't long before I decided I was getting a Harley, but career, wife, mortgage, kid, boat all got in the way. With a new job I finally decided it was time and fooled my wife into thinking I was going to spend big $$ for a corvette, she caved and said get your damn bike! I've been having two wheeled sex for going on four weeks now.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 16
Always loved Harleys and when I moved to New York and started working a real job,I bought a new 1984 FXR.It wasn't long after that that my grandfather bought his first bike at age 67.He rode until the end.I still have the bike in the garage now.I cant sell it,I just buy new ones now and then.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Madison, WI
When I was younger I wanted nothing but horsepower. I bought a Honda V65 Magna and it provided that. I did enjoy it. I never gave Harleys much thought at that time.
When fatherhood came (in my mid-20s) the wife made me get rid of the bike and I went along with it. Once my son hit 16 and got that drivers license (and started ditching me) I started to miss cycles again. I bought a used Suzuki Intruder for the first year figuring it would be good to re-learn the art of riding.
I also had a plan to upgrade after a year. I initially had my eye on the Star Raider. But as I looked at all the different bikes out there I kept coming back to the Harleys. I can't say exactly what it is about them, but something just called out.
I bought a Street Bob and could not be happier. I love the way it rides. I love the way it looks. I love the way I feel on it. I will always be a Harley guy now.
When fatherhood came (in my mid-20s) the wife made me get rid of the bike and I went along with it. Once my son hit 16 and got that drivers license (and started ditching me) I started to miss cycles again. I bought a used Suzuki Intruder for the first year figuring it would be good to re-learn the art of riding.
I also had a plan to upgrade after a year. I initially had my eye on the Star Raider. But as I looked at all the different bikes out there I kept coming back to the Harleys. I can't say exactly what it is about them, but something just called out.
I bought a Street Bob and could not be happier. I love the way it rides. I love the way it looks. I love the way I feel on it. I will always be a Harley guy now.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 537
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
I started on mini bikes back in the late 60's, my best friend an I would race up and down the street trying not to get caught by the man..
Graduated to a Kawi 500 triple in 71 (man was thing fast) which got totaled in 72 by a friend that wanted to just go around the block (of course he didn't tell me how fast that rip was going to be) when a late model Chevy sedan turned left in front of him and totaled the bike. To make things worse, when the Police got to the scene they thought it was me and called my mother. She made it to the trauma unit where they had taken my friend and she almost put me in the bed next to him
. That was pretty much was the end of two wheel riding for a while.
It was rekindled in the mid 80's when a friend told of a bike that was for sale. I went to take a look at it and of course this happened ..
A Honda CB750k with custom paint and only 18k miles. Kept that for about 5 years, sold it (big mistake) and then I got married.
At 54, I got the urge again about two years ago. Needless to say I got a whole mess of resistance. Having a son in the 8th grade, House, other cars etc. I thought, just complain, pout and sulk all the time and maybeeee... The pouting continued for two years
..
Then, something spectacular happened
, On Fathers Day weekend in 2008, she said, "I'm not condoning this purchase but I'm not going to say no". I rode home the bike you see below on Father's day 2008. Now she complains about what chrome accessories I buy. Although I don't ride every day due to the fact that I work so close to home, I still go out to the garage and stare at it daily.
Graduated to a Kawi 500 triple in 71 (man was thing fast) which got totaled in 72 by a friend that wanted to just go around the block (of course he didn't tell me how fast that rip was going to be) when a late model Chevy sedan turned left in front of him and totaled the bike. To make things worse, when the Police got to the scene they thought it was me and called my mother. She made it to the trauma unit where they had taken my friend and she almost put me in the bed next to him
. That was pretty much was the end of two wheel riding for a while.It was rekindled in the mid 80's when a friend told of a bike that was for sale. I went to take a look at it and of course this happened ..
A Honda CB750k with custom paint and only 18k miles. Kept that for about 5 years, sold it (big mistake) and then I got married.
At 54, I got the urge again about two years ago. Needless to say I got a whole mess of resistance. Having a son in the 8th grade, House, other cars etc. I thought, just complain, pout and sulk all the time and maybeeee... The pouting continued for two years
..Then, something spectacular happened
, On Fathers Day weekend in 2008, she said, "I'm not condoning this purchase but I'm not going to say no". I rode home the bike you see below on Father's day 2008. Now she complains about what chrome accessories I buy. Although I don't ride every day due to the fact that I work so close to home, I still go out to the garage and stare at it daily.
Last edited by Juve996; Oct 1, 2009 at 10:19 AM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 1
From: Wagoner, Oklahoma
I was unable to afford the HD until later in life. You know doing the kid thing with the sports college and so on. I was 54 when I bought the Ultra that I currently own, but the best part is now I can enjoy it and afford to do some fun things with it that I would normally be able to do at a younger age.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 897
Likes: 26
From: Mid-West-YAY!
For those who didn't get their first Harley until they hit 40+.....My experience was somewhat typical. Fell in love with them at about 16, Mom and Dad said no way in hell unless I moved out, the years went by and life got in the way with women and college and jobs and other hobbies and interests. That old spark never died. Now 30 years later everything comes together and I'm living the dream. I often wonder if at 16 or 18 or whatever if I would have appreciated my motorcycle as much, not to mention the fact that I may well have killed myself during those years of heavy partying and doing crazy stuff like (fill in the blank, y'all know what I mean!). I do know one thing, I'm making up for lost time and not looking back. I wonder how many kids in their teens nowadays are consumed by the desire to own a Harley, and no other bike is even in their consideration. Just some 5:00 A.M. rambling......
:icon_b ike: