Aggressive riders only.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 195
Likes: 3
From: North Carolina
I used to ride my Sporty very aggressive and I loved the rush of flying through some twisties making sparks fly. With my NTrain though, I'm not nearly as aggressive.
My son, along with a few close calls and seeing bad things happen to others slowed me down a bit.
My son, along with a few close calls and seeing bad things happen to others slowed me down a bit.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 4
From: pittsburgh, pa
I know what you mean. I get most of my "aggressive riding" out of my system on my '08 FLHTP with the red & blues on it. The boards are worn pretty thin on it too!
On my '04 Ultra I ride for relaxation off duty. With the Stage I/II mods it will actually outrun the 103 stock police bike, though. Every so often, I just have to loosen the reins and put the whip to her. Did so the other night. FELT GOOD. Finally parked after about 2 hours of pushing it to 99%, bike just sat ticking as it cooled...
I don't do it often. It's my forever bike. But she's no garage queen either!
On my '04 Ultra I ride for relaxation off duty. With the Stage I/II mods it will actually outrun the 103 stock police bike, though. Every so often, I just have to loosen the reins and put the whip to her. Did so the other night. FELT GOOD. Finally parked after about 2 hours of pushing it to 99%, bike just sat ticking as it cooled...
I don't do it often. It's my forever bike. But she's no garage queen either!
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 4
From: pittsburgh, pa
More than once I've had a friend say that I ride like my hair is on fire. There are only one or two guys that I like to ride with, but I'm sure there are a lot of guys that don't want to ride with me. I actually don't think I ride that fast just faster than 90% of the Harley riders I know. Harleys handle better than people give them credit, but it takes a little more skill to ride them fast IMHO. Have had more than one "sport bike" rider look at me and say you really ride that bike hard. It's always been a kid and felt like telling him he needs to learn how to ride thats all. If I ever really slow down I mean a lot I think I'll buy a Miata.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Oregon
I'm pretty much only ride with my friends on crotch rockets, they all ride at a normal pace, most guys on cruisers barely touch the speed limit. It's not uncommon for me to be into the triple digits on the back roads (low triple digits lol). I race motocross, used to own a crotch rocket (on the lookout for another one), I guess the need to be on the edge never really goes away. That being said, I am pretty cautious around traffic, I would like to live to ride on the edge!
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 604
Likes: 5
From: North GA.
Ex Sport biker here.....
(me on the dragon 2 years ago)
I love throwing my ride through the twisties, I started riding at 18 on a sport bike, then went to a cruiser, then back to a sportbike, then to a Goldwing, now a Deuce (I alternate between the GW and D until I get a EG)....but I got off the sport bikes due to I was finding myself running triple digits almost daily and I knew I wasn't gonna be able to afford it if/when I got caught. So I went back to cruiser/touring, and I push them to their limits....no chicken stripes on my tires
I find myself feeling like I am dieing inside on group rides....running 55 all day....I only have 1 buddy that can hang....He rides a 95 Badboy Springer....and he was throwing sparks on the dragon with it!
He is also about the only person I rode with often that I consider a biker....dude is like me....just dont care...rain, shine, cold, hot, eff it lets ride....
(me on the dragon 2 years ago)
I love throwing my ride through the twisties, I started riding at 18 on a sport bike, then went to a cruiser, then back to a sportbike, then to a Goldwing, now a Deuce (I alternate between the GW and D until I get a EG)....but I got off the sport bikes due to I was finding myself running triple digits almost daily and I knew I wasn't gonna be able to afford it if/when I got caught. So I went back to cruiser/touring, and I push them to their limits....no chicken stripes on my tires
I find myself feeling like I am dieing inside on group rides....running 55 all day....I only have 1 buddy that can hang....He rides a 95 Badboy Springer....and he was throwing sparks on the dragon with it!
He is also about the only person I rode with often that I consider a biker....dude is like me....just dont care...rain, shine, cold, hot, eff it lets ride....
Ericd, Harleys handle a LOT better than people give them credit for in the hands of a skilled rider. The derogatory nickname for my FLHTP & Ultra is "geezerglide", yet I can handle those 800 lb bikes like sports cars. I am amazed at what an electraGlide or RoadKing can do. Great post, brother! Ride safe.
Last edited by Quadancer; Mar 19, 2012 at 09:01 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,870
Likes: 499
From: Alberta
If it can't "perform" then it isn't a motorcycle; don't have to go 180mph for a rush either...I started with an FXDXT and made a few mods...all that torque and adequate handling are the most fun I've had on the road.....I guess if it's not much faster than a minivan then it might as well be as comfortable...can slow down, stop and enjoy the view anytime I want, too.....
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Upstate, NY
Chalk me up as an aggressive rider.
I went the opposite direction as most though. The sport bike addition was after putting about 15k - 20k miles on cruisers and tourers.
I couldn't be happier with my current set up:Yamaha R6 and Streetbob. When I am not doing a track day with my R6, it's fun to chase down sport bikes on the local twisty roads with my Streetbob.
After I learned about body positioning and better cornering technique, I was amazed at how alive the bike and I felt on a twisty road. 60k miles in since my first ride in October of 2007 and dare I say I am even more passionate about motorcycles than the day I picked up my first ride.
I went the opposite direction as most though. The sport bike addition was after putting about 15k - 20k miles on cruisers and tourers.
I couldn't be happier with my current set up:Yamaha R6 and Streetbob. When I am not doing a track day with my R6, it's fun to chase down sport bikes on the local twisty roads with my Streetbob.
After I learned about body positioning and better cornering technique, I was amazed at how alive the bike and I felt on a twisty road. 60k miles in since my first ride in October of 2007 and dare I say I am even more passionate about motorcycles than the day I picked up my first ride.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
I have to wonder.
I know we're on bikes that are NOT exactly performance-oriented overall, and especially FatBoy/Heritage frames that scrape a corner if you just sneeze...but really:
How many of you tend to ride with the joy of pullin' her over to the boards in nearly every corner, push the sweepers like you were runnin' from the cops and generally just enjoy speed?
It seems like I keep losing riders and am limited to my VERY small group of like-minded friends (all 3 of 'em) when I'm not pulling in the reins to tolerate the geezer-gliders and flower sniffers when we're on a group/club run.
As an ex-dirt racer/Limey & sportster rider, I just tend to do what a bike wants to do - which is EXACTLY why I don't own a crotch rocket. Can't survive the tickets.
But I have put a 2 over fork on her, slug over the spring to keep the head up, darkside rear tire, and stage 1 effects with my own design adjustable baffle set for torque. She's more fun to ride now she doesn't feel like sitting on a toad. Head bolts welded under boards for sliders. Lean angles now very similar to a Sporty, one degree more on one side and 3 less on the other.
I know we're on bikes that are NOT exactly performance-oriented overall, and especially FatBoy/Heritage frames that scrape a corner if you just sneeze...but really:
How many of you tend to ride with the joy of pullin' her over to the boards in nearly every corner, push the sweepers like you were runnin' from the cops and generally just enjoy speed?
It seems like I keep losing riders and am limited to my VERY small group of like-minded friends (all 3 of 'em) when I'm not pulling in the reins to tolerate the geezer-gliders and flower sniffers when we're on a group/club run.
As an ex-dirt racer/Limey & sportster rider, I just tend to do what a bike wants to do - which is EXACTLY why I don't own a crotch rocket. Can't survive the tickets.
But I have put a 2 over fork on her, slug over the spring to keep the head up, darkside rear tire, and stage 1 effects with my own design adjustable baffle set for torque. She's more fun to ride now she doesn't feel like sitting on a toad. Head bolts welded under boards for sliders. Lean angles now very similar to a Sporty, one degree more on one side and 3 less on the other.