The ride vs. the machine!!
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
You described it very well it's the same for me and thats the ride. I had a VTX before I got my Harley and I had a blast riding it. I had a good time on that bike and when I was rollin down the road with the wind in my face and the smells and that feeling of freedom what I was on didn't seem to matter as much. The ride my Harley gives me just makes it better. If I ran into hard times and had to sell the Harley I would try to pick up a less expensive metric because the ride means the most to me. JMHO. Ride safe.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 816
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina, US
Well I don't have a bike yet but I'll give my 2˘.
Back when I was in high school and then up to about 21 or 22 years old (25 now) I was all into a **** load of chrome and the looks meant more than performance (still cared for performance). But now I'm actually kind of into all black so I want a simple looking all black bike. I love performance so I'll do performance mods while also making the bike my own (not just HD stuff because I hear of people putting every HD accessory on their bike but still can't tell the difference). Watching Biker Build-Off seeing Indian Larry and Billy Lane are the ones that really got me to change my overall opinion.
So all in all, if all you care for is the ride and having a stock Harley is fine then that's fine. But if you go into aftermarket stuff you can go overboard with it and you should know where to draw the line. But also it's the person'a money so they should do with it what they want without getting **** talked about it.
No matter what you do, just enjoy the ride no matter how much you spent on the bike. If you love the ride the the $ is worth every bit rather you have a $2,000 bike or a $75,000 custom chopper. But if you don't enjoy the ride the any amount of money was useless and pointless just for an image of saying "hey look, I have a Harley, badass right?".
Back when I was in high school and then up to about 21 or 22 years old (25 now) I was all into a **** load of chrome and the looks meant more than performance (still cared for performance). But now I'm actually kind of into all black so I want a simple looking all black bike. I love performance so I'll do performance mods while also making the bike my own (not just HD stuff because I hear of people putting every HD accessory on their bike but still can't tell the difference). Watching Biker Build-Off seeing Indian Larry and Billy Lane are the ones that really got me to change my overall opinion.
So all in all, if all you care for is the ride and having a stock Harley is fine then that's fine. But if you go into aftermarket stuff you can go overboard with it and you should know where to draw the line. But also it's the person'a money so they should do with it what they want without getting **** talked about it.
No matter what you do, just enjoy the ride no matter how much you spent on the bike. If you love the ride the the $ is worth every bit rather you have a $2,000 bike or a $75,000 custom chopper. But if you don't enjoy the ride the any amount of money was useless and pointless just for an image of saying "hey look, I have a Harley, badass right?".
Last edited by SouthernGuy8503; Dec 22, 2010 at 02:52 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
For me, the mods have to enhance the ride. Sure, I've done a few mods for looks in the past, but now most of them have all been to enhance the ride itself, making the bike fit my body like a glove.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,208
Likes: 374
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
It's all about the ride. Some of the best and most memorable rides I've ever had were on cheap bikes that weren't much to look at or for performance.
I've done some mods to every bike I've ever owned, usually to improve comfort or convenience.
I've done some mods to every bike I've ever owned, usually to improve comfort or convenience.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,082
Likes: 11
From: Long Island, NY
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: michigan
I've owned metrics, Brits and Harley's. I had a harley early on and all the others were just keepin my *** warm til I could get another harley. I just love havin a heartbeat poundin beneath my seat. Harley's don't handle better, ride better, or go faster but man they just feel better. could be marketing, but I got hooked before there was marketing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 822
From: Nevada
I'm all about the ride, though I do enjoy wrenching and polishing.
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,806
Likes: 12
From: In a house down by the river
The ride, for sure. Only mods, so far, are for the wifes comfort. When I bought it I thought of a half dozen things I'd like to do to it, but the wife decided she wanted to ride after all. Gonna do some mild mods this winter, build a seat, tank lifts, and really want to lower the rear fender, ( not the bike ), but that may just be a fantasy with money as tight as it is these days.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 833
Likes: 221
From: Bridgeport, CT
I love riding. I enjoy my Triumph as much as my Harley. Two different machines but both fun. I keep my bikes fairly close to stock, other than pipes and bags and stuff. That way I don't get killed when I decide to sell and get a different bike.