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2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6
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From: Calgary
Howdy
Hi there, I'm 47 and been riding for 30 years. Never owned a Harley, and never ever wanted to, not even a little bit, until I started working as a tech at a Harley shop. Now there are three or so that I want. 
I always figured Harleys are overweight and underpowered and ugly. Then I saw the Sportster Forty Eight and completely fell in love with it. I think it's the best looking bike Harley has made since the forties, or maybe ever. But I am a big guy, and on the 48, I look like a bulldog humping a football. Or a circus bear riding a tricycle. This makes me sad. I wish Harley would make a bigger version. And honestly? Harleys have plenty of power for street riding. I never go to a race track, so what do I care about quarter mile times and top speed and that stuff? I care about how effectively it merges into traffic and how it looks and sounds and makes me feel, including how the seat makes my **** feel. And I've discovered that it's true, Harley really does make some things a little tougher and more durable than the Japanese companies do.
Anyway although I wish the 48 was bigger, it doesn't matter, because I already have a really great bike for those <5 hour rides. What I need is a bike for long trips. I've ridden Gold Wings before and always thought that big fracking heavy touring bikes sucked, but once I started working as a Harley mechanic and had to test ride the things, I discovered that Electra Glides actually handle pretty darned well. Better than many smaller Harleys. They feel way smaller to me than a Wing, but still have all the goodies. And despite having a windshield, they still feel like a motorcycle! And you can get aftermarket pipes so they have that proper Harley sound too! I showed my wife a photo of one, and her response was "ewww!". But that's OK, I thought the same thing 2 months ago. Riding a few convinced me otherwise.
I'm never going to sell my v-twin sportbike, it's a raging morning erection and makes me feel 18 again. But I won't take it on 500 mile days, so now I need a Harley too. A long distance rig. I'm thinking Electra Glide. Maybe people will think I'm an old fart. I don't care. Damn, they sure ride nice. And maybe my wife will never get on the back, but that's OK, and it'll be there just in case, so that if she ever does, she'll probably say damn, they sure ride nice.
I always figured Harleys are overweight and underpowered and ugly. Then I saw the Sportster Forty Eight and completely fell in love with it. I think it's the best looking bike Harley has made since the forties, or maybe ever. But I am a big guy, and on the 48, I look like a bulldog humping a football. Or a circus bear riding a tricycle. This makes me sad. I wish Harley would make a bigger version. And honestly? Harleys have plenty of power for street riding. I never go to a race track, so what do I care about quarter mile times and top speed and that stuff? I care about how effectively it merges into traffic and how it looks and sounds and makes me feel, including how the seat makes my **** feel. And I've discovered that it's true, Harley really does make some things a little tougher and more durable than the Japanese companies do.Anyway although I wish the 48 was bigger, it doesn't matter, because I already have a really great bike for those <5 hour rides. What I need is a bike for long trips. I've ridden Gold Wings before and always thought that big fracking heavy touring bikes sucked, but once I started working as a Harley mechanic and had to test ride the things, I discovered that Electra Glides actually handle pretty darned well. Better than many smaller Harleys. They feel way smaller to me than a Wing, but still have all the goodies. And despite having a windshield, they still feel like a motorcycle! And you can get aftermarket pipes so they have that proper Harley sound too! I showed my wife a photo of one, and her response was "ewww!". But that's OK, I thought the same thing 2 months ago. Riding a few convinced me otherwise.
I'm never going to sell my v-twin sportbike, it's a raging morning erection and makes me feel 18 again. But I won't take it on 500 mile days, so now I need a Harley too. A long distance rig. I'm thinking Electra Glide. Maybe people will think I'm an old fart. I don't care. Damn, they sure ride nice. And maybe my wife will never get on the back, but that's OK, and it'll be there just in case, so that if she ever does, she'll probably say damn, they sure ride nice.
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