so reading between the lines, you need to realize that once your Jap bike friends find out your bike can't run over 75~80, they will make it a habit to walk away from you

a big twin will run up to about 105mph or so, so you can at least keep them in sight?
(buddy had a ZX14(?) and he could disappear.....)

truth is, once you find out how fun & comfy a RK is, you and the GF may spend more time pleasure riding than canyon ripping.

the rubber mount is MUCH better, go to a local used bike shop, and watch the mirrors vibrate while it idles

 

For me and my partner with a combined weight of 300lbs I think the Sportster does really well.

 

It's a good thing they're on mostly sv650s and fz07s lol. I'm well aware that they could walk away from me in a straight line, but we're rarely doing heavy highway miles. And at the times that we are, its generally to get out of the city to get to some nice roads, so the highways tend to have enough traffic to keep them from going too fast lol
Plus they're able to walk away from me on my current bike anyways so there wont be a huge change there

 

Some people just like Sportsters. That's why they make them. My Sportster will walk away from a big twin. It is way faster than I want to ride it. But its not stock. Its smooth with very little vibration at 75 to 80. The mirrors are clear as well. Its a joy to ride.

 

As far as speed, 1200 sportster or Dyna, when you get in max cruising range (I've seen 90 on my 1200 for several freeway miles) you're also in big ticket range. When you get a Harley and your friends kid you about the dinosaur, talk them into a 4 hour ride. On the way home most of them would probably like to swap bikes, sport bike styling sucks for comfort. A really good rider on a Harley with pegs, not floorboards, can be a challenge for the average sport bike rider to keep up with in hard twisties. If he or she is average, too, the sport bike riders will stop for a beer while the Harley catches up. It's all about having fun. As you can see from some ages given in this thread, lot of us old farts like our comfort. At 71 I sure appreciate Harleys when I think about the multi state rides I took on a Honda 305 Superhawk in the '60s. My sportster would have been considered a top tier touring bike back then. And good handling. It's all relative, we just go with what feels good that we can afford.

 

Yeah in the early 70s a guy I worked with rode a Honda CB350 twin from Tennessee to California and back and though nothing of it. People must be soft today. Yeah I'm fixing to be 75.

 

You'll all be able to enjoy fine riding together at a happy pace for everyone, I'm sure.
When we rode in Italy we had to stop and wait for the FLH's and FLST's after a run through a mountain pass; I chose a BMW there.

 

 

 

~60lbs heavier