I ride a Honda ST1300 but read this board every day and have posted a few times. I just wanted to share something that I thought was pretty funny and though some of you might get a kick out of this. I ordered some cargo nets from Hopnel (they make things for almost every brand of bike). These nets are made for the trunk lid of a Goldwing but work great on the saddlebag lids of the ST1300 (holds loose stuff in the lid for more storage space). Anyway they came today and when I took them out of the package I noticed their tag on it saying where they were made.....RICE Lake, WI. I just thought that was pretty funny.

Gary

 

A friend of ours rides a Gold Wing and everytime he parks the bike somebody will throw a handful of rice under it and a sign saying "It's Leaking". He gets his panties in a bunch everytime. But, us HD owners are jealous because a Gold Wing will flat out leave a harley without having any modifications done to it and the Gold Wing is more comfortable than an Ultra Classic.

 

And this occurred in Wisconsin of all places.... oh woe, what has become of the world I used to know?![]

 

Hi Gary, you know of all the bikes that get talked about and their riders on these forums, there is one that I have noticed doesn't get abused much, that's the Wing. There is a guy here at work that rides with us (mostly H-D's) and he is just one of the guys. Now the Dude with the new big Suzuki that spent thousands on chrome and goodies trying to make it look and sound like something else...he gets roasted!

 

That is funny. A couple of guys in my lodge have metrics and for some reason, they don't want to ride with me. I have asked them afew times and they are always "busy". It is almost like they don't want to be seen riding along side a Harley. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around, but I guess the world has flipped.

 

Most of my riding friends ride Harleys and we jab each other some but not alot. They all know that I just lile Sport/touring bikes (but I've all kinds in the past). I've had 2 of the 1800 Goldwings and yes they are faster than a stock Harley but they should be. Hard to compare the 2 on some levels. The wing is a 6 cylinder so it should make more power. Thats not a knock on Harley (at least I don't think so). I ride my firends Ultra some and itsa great bike. It doesn't have the power of the wing but it goes pretty good. Comfort is up to the person. I've spend some time on the Ultra and a Road Glide (like that bike) and I find the comfort as good as the Wing. they are both good bikes and it comes down to what you like. You can't beat the classic look and feel of the Harley. They have the best fit and finish of anything out there. The Wing has killer brakes (yes they are better than the Harley), lots of power and handles like a big sport bike (I'm talking about the 1800 Wing not the older ones) but again it comes down to what you want a bike to be. I've owned 28 bikes and have been riding for 39 years...I've liked all of them. There are some fine metric cruisers out there but I do feel that if you are going to ride a cruiser than nobody does it better than Harley. I hope they will make a sport/touring bike one day with the V-Rod engine. If they ever do then I'll be back. Not that it matters but I'm on a sport/touring bike because I find them more comfortable for me. the sit up straight position and feet forward just doesn't work for me anymore...but I still love the look of the cruiser.

Gary

 

Back in 1981, when I was 18, I went to the Bakersfield motorcycle Jamboree on my Suzuki GS750. I was arrogant enough to wear a shirt that said: " I would rather ride my Suzuki than push a Harley". It was a turnaround of " I'd rather push my harley than ride a rice grinder".

Now I'm 43 and all I want to do is ride my Harley. Go figure.

 

I also own a 96 Goldwing, and I like it as much as my Springer. The type of riding I want to do will dictate which bike I take on that particular ride. I'm just as willing to ride with HD riders as I am with Wingers, and I don't get much grief from either group.My Wing has 115hp as it sits, and will run 100+ all day long, until I run out of road...in amazing comfort. On the other hand, it doesn't sound, look,orhandle like my Springer, so they each have their purpose and use. They're both good bikes, and I wouldn't get rid of either of them. Something I always get a laugh outof is, on the back of my Wing (just below the trailer hitch) is a graphic that says "I ride too fast, too far, and too often toride a Harley". Just a bit of sarcastic humor....I used to get grief about it, until I explained that I also owned a Springer.

 

Gary, nice bike. Perhaps the one bike I most regret ever selling was my ST 1100. One really great touring bike.

 

year before last my bike was a vtx-1800r, i was the only metric in a group of h-d's, i received and dished out my fare share of (good natured) slams, "do youneed to fill up w\ rice yet?" i always told them a few more rides at the back of the pack and i will have picked up enough parts to build my own harley. i guess i just want to ride, the harley fits me a little better, and i don't seem to be smart enough to control the 'need for speed' , on the vtx that can get a little expensive.