OMG! I hate it when that happens!
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Montana
OMG! I hate it when that happens!
My wife laid her Dyna down back at the end of July doing about 10 mph right after the rain started and turning across the greasy middle of an intersection. We were about 500 miles into our 530 mile day. Just some bruises on the knees and some scrapes on the bike thank goodness, but it bent her shifter so far back that it was not usable to end our day's ride. I pulled the heel shifter from my SG to get her going again... We stopped in Sturgis the next day and got the parts to replace the scraped up stuff and re-purtify her scoot. Well, I quickly put the shift lever back on my SG so we could get back on the road. I don't use the heel lever and never did look at it again to make sure Id gotten it tightened enough or even apply any thread locker to the bolt.
Last Sunday my wife, two sons and I met up with a neighbor and his wife and a couple friends of theirs - two Goldwings worth - about half-way through a 260 mile ride. We decided to stop for a burger and chatted for a while. The neighbors friend repeated a couple times his Honda had reverse. Apparently, one of his favorite past times is to pull into a Harley dealer and put it in reverse and back up somewhere or something and "make those Harley owners jealous".
We headed home, four Harleys leading two Goldwings... About 30 miles from home, we were riding along, me in the lead, when my heel shifter decided it had been through enough and leaped off my bike. My son was right behind me and saw it jump and beeped his horn and told me about it. So, I sent everyone on to the next gas station and I turned around and went back to find it. By the time I had retrieved it and got to the gas station, they were ready to go again. I joked around a bit about the shift lever being ruined because of a little scratch on the bolted end and off we went. Well, my younger son told me last night that BOTH Honda drivers were commenting about the reason they would never have a Harley is because they constantly rattle themselves apart. GRRRRR! Id rather ride a cool piece of performance art that might drop an insignificant part from time to time than a plastic motorized suitcase... ANYTIME!
Last Sunday my wife, two sons and I met up with a neighbor and his wife and a couple friends of theirs - two Goldwings worth - about half-way through a 260 mile ride. We decided to stop for a burger and chatted for a while. The neighbors friend repeated a couple times his Honda had reverse. Apparently, one of his favorite past times is to pull into a Harley dealer and put it in reverse and back up somewhere or something and "make those Harley owners jealous".
We headed home, four Harleys leading two Goldwings... About 30 miles from home, we were riding along, me in the lead, when my heel shifter decided it had been through enough and leaped off my bike. My son was right behind me and saw it jump and beeped his horn and told me about it. So, I sent everyone on to the next gas station and I turned around and went back to find it. By the time I had retrieved it and got to the gas station, they were ready to go again. I joked around a bit about the shift lever being ruined because of a little scratch on the bolted end and off we went. Well, my younger son told me last night that BOTH Honda drivers were commenting about the reason they would never have a Harley is because they constantly rattle themselves apart. GRRRRR! Id rather ride a cool piece of performance art that might drop an insignificant part from time to time than a plastic motorized suitcase... ANYTIME!
Supporter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,189
Likes: 16
From: N.E. Wisconsin
I took that kinda crap for years, thats one of the reasons why I 
on Jap bikes.....another one is they Flooded the American market back around the early 70's with their junk trying to destroy our economy !
on Jap bikes.....another one is they Flooded the American market back around the early 70's with their junk trying to destroy our economy !
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,980
Likes: 5,218
From: Michigan
As the saying goes "to each their own".
After owning and riding a dozen or so bikes, including 3 Harley's, me and one of my cousins (who had also owned other bikes and one Harley) decided to buy ourselves a Gold Wing because most of our riding was on trips or occassionally riding to work.
I bought an Aspencade (early 80's) and he bought an Interstate.
THe newness and difference of the Gold Wing vs the Harley for me lasted about two months. Every time I heard or saw a Harley I had to look...and listen.
After selling the Gold Wing I bought another Harley and so did my cousin
THere's a lot of quieter, faster bikes that have some good features and may be even more reliable than a Harley, and that's fine if someone wants that kind of bike, and good for them but if you are a Harley person as I am, you will not be happy with any other brand.
After owning and riding a dozen or so bikes, including 3 Harley's, me and one of my cousins (who had also owned other bikes and one Harley) decided to buy ourselves a Gold Wing because most of our riding was on trips or occassionally riding to work.
I bought an Aspencade (early 80's) and he bought an Interstate.
THe newness and difference of the Gold Wing vs the Harley for me lasted about two months. Every time I heard or saw a Harley I had to look...and listen.
After selling the Gold Wing I bought another Harley and so did my cousin
THere's a lot of quieter, faster bikes that have some good features and may be even more reliable than a Harley, and that's fine if someone wants that kind of bike, and good for them but if you are a Harley person as I am, you will not be happy with any other brand.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 553
Likes: 49
From: illinois
I'm Harley all the way but I don't knock what anyone rides until they open their mouth and run my bike down. Then I let them know how i feel and don't have anything to do with them again. I don't need them.
That's cool, never heard it put that way but I agree!!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 1
From: Port St. Lucie FL
And with ABS and nav its a $28,100 plastic motorized suitecase. No thank you.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
If I was eve to get another touring bike other than a Harley, it would be a BMW, not an oversize Jap scooter. I would still keep my RK.
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