Aggressive riders only.
After 4 weeks of selling my sportbike and owning my harely, I'm still trying to get used to the footpegs hitting the curve before my knee. It's hard to break old habits, but I'm beginning to slow down and just enjoy the scenery.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 723
Likes: 2
From: Nc
That's the rider, not the bike. You come up against an equal rider on a little Ninja 250 on the Dragon and all you'll see is his back tire... for a little while. When I rode metrics, Harleys were just obstacles in the road, even when they had 3 times the displacement. I love Harley's, but I don't fool myself into thinking they're some kind of racing machine, not with anywhere near stock engines and suspension. It's more rider than anything else. There are riders that could probably beat us through the Dragon on some of the stock scooters, unless you're a pro racer; and I'll admit I'm not.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 846
Likes: 13
From: Out there!
I'm quite happy to ride quickly but its 'progressive' not 'aggressive' as whilst I might be cranked over or going quick its always in control, not reckless and with a view to minding hazards on the road and being able to pre think them - its a game plan, just remove the 'suddenly' from your riding vocabulary
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Clearly a young rider with little experience is a greater risk than a young rider that has been riding a long time. Just as a 50+ year old that has been riding for a long time with little or no interruption and has good skills is a lower risk than a 50+ yo just getting into riding or just getting back into riding after a long absence. We can debate statistics all day long. There is a reason that motorcycle racing is a young man's occupation. I am also not saying that there are not young idiots either, that will find a way to crash anything anywhere anytime.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 213
Likes: 11
From: The Old Pueblo
I ride aggressively in a 'reasonable and prudent' kind of way. The last thing I want to do is stack the odds against myself or others on the road because I was riding too fast for the conditions. What I don't get is why a rider (or a group of riders) get their panties in a wad when they are riding too slow for the conditions and get passed... wtf? To me it's as dangerous as someone riding above and beyond their skill set and what the conditions allow.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810834.pdf
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 496
Likes: 20
From: Chardon, Ohio
That's the rider, not the bike. You come up against an equal rider on a little Ninja 250 on the Dragon and all you'll see is his back tire... for a little while. When I rode metrics, Harleys were just obstacles in the road, even when they had 3 times the displacement. I love Harley's, but I don't fool myself into thinking they're some kind of racing machine, not with anywhere near stock engines and suspension. It's more rider than anything else. There are riders that could probably beat us through the Dragon on some of the stock scooters, unless you're a pro racer; and I'll admit I'm not.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 496
Likes: 20
From: Chardon, Ohio
That's the rider, not the bike. You come up against an equal rider on a little Ninja 250 on the Dragon and all you'll see is his back tire... for a little while. When I rode metrics, Harleys were just obstacles in the road, even when they had 3 times the displacement. I love Harley's, but I don't fool myself into thinking they're some kind of racing machine, not with anywhere near stock engines and suspension. It's more rider than anything else. There are riders that could probably beat us through the Dragon on some of the stock scooters, unless you're a pro racer; and I'll admit I'm not.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 25
From: St George, UT
Different strokes for different folks. But, why expect a bike such as Harley to measure up to say a Ninja, when the concepts are so different and the application so different.
For me, I love to go on road trips with miles and miles of interstate or two lane roads. I'll put on some music, set the cruise control, and kick back,let my mind wander a bit. That is what my Ultra was built for.
When my body needs some adrenalin, and I hit the back roads with curves and ups and downs, I am not afraid to push the Ultra over to the floorboards. Having been schooled by a profession motorcycle instructor, I know the limits of the bike and myself. I don't expect to keep up with a metric designed to go fast and with 50 degree lean.
On a road trip to Canada and the Pacific Northwest, my buddy who went with me was riding a BMW RS1100, a pretty respectable curve carver. Yet, he said on more than one occasion he was amazed at how fast I could do the sweepers, tight curves, and that he found it hard to keep up.
Just go with it.
For me, I love to go on road trips with miles and miles of interstate or two lane roads. I'll put on some music, set the cruise control, and kick back,let my mind wander a bit. That is what my Ultra was built for.
When my body needs some adrenalin, and I hit the back roads with curves and ups and downs, I am not afraid to push the Ultra over to the floorboards. Having been schooled by a profession motorcycle instructor, I know the limits of the bike and myself. I don't expect to keep up with a metric designed to go fast and with 50 degree lean.
On a road trip to Canada and the Pacific Northwest, my buddy who went with me was riding a BMW RS1100, a pretty respectable curve carver. Yet, he said on more than one occasion he was amazed at how fast I could do the sweepers, tight curves, and that he found it hard to keep up.
Just go with it.