First let me be totally politically correct and say the following post is by no means any disrespect to anyone who is struggling with substance abuse or flat out junkies. Haven forbid I disrespect a junkie!



I've been having some really great rides on Olive here over the last week. Each time I return home, I think I really must get Xbones out for a comparison. I know it's not a direct comparison, but still feel others might appreciate some of the differences noted.

Anyone who has ever seen any of my post over the last 10 years would know, I love my old bikes. Love my flathead, love my shovel, really Loved my 65 pan, and man did I love my Evos. Please don't shoot me Twin Cams, but I failed to really Love the motor in any of my TCs. The 88, meh, the 96, much better but still missing something and the 103 was starting to head in the right direction. I still loved my bikes, and if HD only continued on with the TC, I'd most likely still buy them from time to time, but the above remains true.

Anyway , went out on Olive yesterday and she just keeps luring me farther and farther away away from home. Even when I point her back towards home she seems to bypass the driveway and I end up another 50 miles on the clock. When I finally did come back home, I was loving the fact that I'm still loving motorcycles again as much as I did when I was 15 or 20, and decided to immediately get the bones out for a comparison, shame on me I haven't ridden it since Olive turned up.

The conclusions I came to, astonished even me. The new frame and suspension on Olive Absolutely decimates any older softail I have ridden. The xbones understandably is a full nod to nostalgia and I get that, and love it (thank god for springers) so wouldn't expect it to be a fair comparison. But even compared to my other Heritages, my RK, my SG etc. Olive would be the safest, most stable, best handling HD I have ever ridden. Its also fair to note, I used to business develop for various motorcycle franchises and I'm no stranger to riding 50 to 60 different bikes a month. I'm not saying it's the best and safest bike in the world, but in the New HD lineup, and compared to any previous HD, it's pretty high up there. Vast difference. Also understandably the new Fatbob takes this to a whole new level....But that not what the title of this thread is all about.

Jumping back on the bones with the 96 I was actually surprised. The twin cam is smooth. Really smooth, in fact, too smooth, and always has been for me. The exhaust is louder, and a bit more barky, but the feel, comming through, is just kinda there, not evoking much emotional response or connection from me, just like all my other TCs of the last 10 years.

I thought it was the exhaust note of my (as far as you know unmodified m8) that I was really enjoying. But after the comparison ride yesterday, it just confirmed what I already knew. Its the new engine. The engine I've been waiting for ever since 99 and the last Evo rolled off the line. Its as though the TC never happened and the Evo engineers picked up where they left off and improved the Evo...substantially. The power pulses comming through the bike are addictive. More so than any other new feature. The bike just feels Good. Not shake, not buzz, but a pulse, like a massage, that comfortably transmits through the frame, the bars and directly to my soul.

I've not had any issues with the M8 and I sure do feel for any and all riders that have. I hope they get looked after really well and come away feeling as good as they can about a less than great or bad experience. I sure do hope that riders and HD continue to find and eliminate any inherent issues with the m8 platform, and that between both they can continue to improve it, because I sort of accepted the fact the majic and lure of yesteryear had been completely replaced by refinement and manufacturing efficiencies. But they have not, the heroine pulse comming through the m8 on the new softail frame is as alluring and addictive as ever.

Long live all the HD engine platforms, and roll on 2018. Happy Holidays All.