This Mark Evans (who he?)
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=11...5
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I suppose I'm supposed to be impressed. Sorry.
I have worked with so many can-do real aviation and auto people for so many years who really know their onions that these types
don't float my boat.
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Steady on up G.
You keep righty bragging about the curves in your young models.
Last week your age advanced by one so nows the time to have a look and chill at the older models with beautiful bodies
htto://www.motorsolvang.com
HD ? Eat your heart out.
DVD
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Ohhhhhh dear its that tattoo at the Handlebar thingy.
Try
www.tinyurl.com/kbyi
DVDn
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..aaah DVDn (n?) the perfume of Castrol R pervades the olfactories. AJS 7R, Manx Nortons, the best of British. It's a nice site. The HRD Rapide with a 150 mph speedo and no brakes, the Beezer Gold Star which would throw you over the bars when you tried to start it. I rode this stuff, I used to sell bikes.
If you have a thing about young ladies with tattoos email me sepoarately and we can talk about it.....
Seriously I hate to hear HD slagged off. Invariably it's by people who know nothing of the marque or its history, have never ridden much less owned or even sat on one.
A few weeks ago I was in Darwin , NT Australia. It was the weekend and the Coffin Chasers MC were having a gathering. that meanyt about 200 HD riders from all over the country. One was on a Panhead Harley(that's about 40 years old) which sat dripping oil outside the pub and clicking in the evening air as it cooled down. I talked to the owner. Ah, yeah, mate just came from Adelaide, did 1000 clicks yesterday no worries. Just kept topping up the oil. She's gettin' a bit rough but she's right for a bit yet.
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I forgot you say that Thunder Creek Harley Davidson, on Lee (take your Confederate flag) Highway, Chattanooga TN, owned and run by good friends of mine has a mint Harley WLA from about 1944 in the original olive drab with the US Army star and correct number stencilled on the tank. Not just that, plus the Army rifle rifle in the proper leather holster. The man who rebuilt this is over 70 and is their workshop manager. Alongside this is an exact replica of the Peter Fonda Capt America chopper from Easy Rider, built by the same man.
So it's all been done before and putting it on TV as though it was something clever is no achievement.
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American junk, eh? Don't hear much of this coming from BMW or Yamazuki, but then they have a few years to catch up yet.....
tinyurl.com/kc14
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Oh dear - someone has fallen foul of "not approved by G". I assume "G" that the well managed company bit does not include the period when owned by AMF, the period where they nearly went into chapter 11, the period where class actions were filled due to appaling quality, and had US government aid by imposing tarrifs on imported motorcycles?
Having put the record straight, I do however have to agree, that the more recent history is glowing, models sold out for 6 consecutive years or more, great product quality, excelent use of heritage and perception, a really good example of concentrating on core business, saving a company and doing it well. Lessons not learnt by Triumph, Norton, or BSA. If I had the money a Harley would be parked on my drive for sure.
AS for insulting a guy on TV who will be enhancing the legend of HD to those who dont know, then that is all benefit to the marque. Any spreading of the legend is good. If it insults your "I can do it with my eyes closed" or "No one knows more than me and my aged buddies" attitide then tough. The program is not aimed at you and therefore does not justify your rant.
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Is that thunder I hear?
This isn't going to be pretty.
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...rolling thunder. Yee-haw! Let's rock 'n roll.
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Good to see you back on form after last week Growler :)
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Nice flame, good buddy, but not as good as the 12" ones I get out of my V & H open drag pipes if I wind 'er up. LOL....
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Harleys are very good at doing what they were designed to do. As long as one can remember this, all will be fine The problems do start when you try comparing them to the performance and specs of modern machines. This is where the comments of them being "rubbish" etc, stem from. People who cannot see Harleys for what they are and expect them to be something they are not.
No one can deny Harley its history and success. They are unique in that respect as no other manufacturer could dream of trying to sell decades old designs for "modern" money. MB has been around for 100 years too, and I can only imagine the grief they would get if they stocked their showrooms with 50's and 60's era cars and priced them at S500 money. The Vrod is the exception to that rule and it is quite telling that it is not so warmly welcomed by many Harley riders I have encountered.
I have ridden more Harley models than I can remember and I can honestly say that I like them, but what I do not like are "Harley" riders. People who blindly follow the marque without ever experiencing other makes and look down their nose at other bikers because they do not share their same views.
This isn't a go at Growler as he has obviously sampled many other bikes before arriving at his chosen mount and I will never question someone's personal taste in such emotional things as motorcycles. If the debate turns to which has higher build quality and use of modern technology.....well.
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Nice post trancer.
I've owned and ridden many things (bikes that is). I also have a Honda as well as an HD, and we have a little Yamaha 750cc that Miss Philippines decorates from time to time. I certainly don't have an ostrich approach to Harleys. One thing that can be said is that the word(s) "Harley-Davidson" inevitably wherever they are mentioned inspire a reaction of some kind. Often emotive, frequently negative, frequently loyal and as you suggest perhaps narrow-minded sometimes. But your point is double edged because you can equally apply the same rationale you describe to others who look down at Harley owners without ever having experienced the marque or listened to owners' views.
I would just say to the "If You Have To Ask You Wouldn't Understand" brigade (yeah we've all got the t-shirt with that on the front) the following. If you belong to the Harley Owners Group you have access to Hog Chapters all over the world. You have an instant social life in a strange town, the chance to tag along with any HD group you come across when you are out for a ride (lost count of how many times this has been my good fortune), guaranteed help if you or your bike have a problem on the road -- it is SOP to stop and help another rider regardless of make, genuine camaraderie and a lifestyle you can plug into anywhere any time. I've travelled the world over and my HOG membership has got me rides and friendship in places as diverse as China, Thailand, Australia, America and East Sussex.
I think this is the problem outsiders have, they see this (to them) strange bond between perfect strangers and often resent it because they don't understand it, laugh at it because of its admitted tribal elements sometimes. It isn't about technology - whizz-bang technology doesn't make anything that much better, just means more to go wrong and who wants to do 300 kph on the public highway anyway or have to buy another Yamazuki next year because this one's out of date.
YOu can rock up on your WLA, you Panhead, You Shovel from any HD era you want and that's fine. You can rip the bike apart as soon as you buy it, as lots of owners do, and you have access to thousands of possibilities of parts, paint jobs to make your scoot uniquely yours and express your personality. If you ever read Back Street Heroes mag or one of those you will see the motorcycle used as art. The basis of that art is most often (though in fairness not always), a Harley-Davidson.
My HD is individual, there's no other like it. Same with my fellow club members -- the parts, the paint, the way the bike is set up, it's an expresion of each of us on a Harley background. I see dozens of Suzuki Bandits every week, a great little bike but it's the motorcyling equivalent of Sainsbury's. I see big porky BMW's that are so bland they must have been designed by auditors.
Take a look at a group of HD's parked up. People stop and stare, even non-riders. Stop at the lights beside other traffic. Heads turn. Because it's a Harley. And it doesn't have to be all chrome and flash. My bike has very little of either, you canb even see it on the HJ msn photo site if you want.
My Hog is part of a social and recreational lifestyle as well as fun to ride. And don't say they don't handle, I've had my old Road King with streaks of sparks off the footboards at 100 mph on long bends.
Somehow that Moto-Guzzi in the Dreambikes showroom near me looks nice, but doesn't give me the same feeling in my loins down where I live. Oh, and if you enjoy rock and roll, lovely women and motorcycles, then all these connect in the world of Harley.
I've already posted a few links that show that.
The V-Rod, trancer, is mechanically interesting. I took one for a spin in Florida last November. The Motor Company clearly has to do something to grasp the fact that its traditional market is aging, and that newcomers to the fine sport of motorcycling are looking for something different. It already had one go with the Buell. As we know this did not work so well, my dealer friend had great trouble shifting his quota. I dunno, the V-Rod looked great, rode great, couldn't fault it, but..I dunno... didn't feel like a Harley. Which I think is a common conclusion.
Throw your leg over a Harley if you ever get the chance, get your squeeze on the back seat with her arms around you and fire up that big old monster and head out on the highway (with deference to Steppenwolf). Or watch a beautiful woman pitch up on a 1200 Sporty, lean ot over, kick out the stand, unzip her leather jacket, take off her helmet, toss her long hair free with a shake of her head, size up the male population coolly and elbow her way to the bar with the boys. Doesn't quite work so well with a Vespa somehow....
OK OK enough self-indulgence, I plead the court's indulgence by saying everyone needs a passion. If they haven't got one, so sad.
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>>Challenge? This Mark Evans (who he?) is challenged all right. In the IQ dept.
Challenged in the IQ department ? A vet who manages to get a television company to pay him generously to fiddle around with a bike ? Sounds pretty smart to me.
Not jealous, are you ?
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LOL we don't notice much of that out here...
Prefer to watch the local talent.
tinyurl.com/kho3
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Oh dear oh dear, it would appear that you are looking through somewhat biased glasses. It may appear that your obvious passion for Harleys has somewhat made you believe things about other V Twins that are quite frankly a load of rubbish.
Your comments about Ducati is simply not true as any real MOTORCYCLE enthusiast with real world knowledge will tell you. The achievements of the Bologna based factory are right out there in the open for all to see and to live in the past based on a historical line that was exaggerated out of all proportion, shows somewhat a blinkered and narrow minded attitude.
I would class myself as a real biker not someone who buys into a brand and then thinks that all else is inferior. If you think that Harley is the finest of the finest then it shows a rather narrow focus on the world of motorcycling. HD on a tight twisty road where acceleration, braking and handling may be the prime concerns !?! Quite frankly about as much use as a bicycle to a fish. On a racetrack ? Well less said about that the better. Cruising at a lesuirely pace on gently meandering roads to cover big miles - yes thats Harley country. Should I carry on because i could making cases for both sides.
Technically up until the introduction of the V Rod Harley have been offering equipment that lags behind that of all competition. They sell to their strength of image and simplicity and their dominance of a niche market and for that it is admirable and I am a fan.
I have ridden many Harleys and enjoyed them all but I would never own one as my only bike as they are simply far from the finest of finest for the kind of biking that I do in the country i live in, which involves a lot of riding away from highways. I would happily have one as a second or third bike if the money would stretch that far but I would also consider the offerings from Honda and Yamaha etc of a similar genre should i want a cruiser.
As I say I am a motorcyclist first and foremost and if it has two wheels and an engine then it captures my imagination.
Shug
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As I mention earlier up the thread I do also own a "Honda and a Yamaha of similar genre".
As you mention, paraphrased, it isn't what you ride, it's the fact you do.
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Yes I saw your comments and appreciate that and I also saw that you don't like it when people take a pop at Harley, especially when they are not really in the know - but did you not do the same thing to Ducati ?
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Indeed I did: my club chairman and secretary both have Monsters as second bikes. Second bikes because nice as they are they have proven very unreliable. Club nights out they come, but an overnight or weekend run and they're back to in one case a Fat Boy, in the other a Valkyrie.
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Hmmm being in a bike club kind of explains it really. I note that these guys use a Harley and a Honda cruiser so that perhaps is indicative of what kind of club it is and also your unfounded bias against Ducati and perhaps other sports/performance motorcycles?
I would suggest that perhaps your club officials should maybe ride the bikes instead of using them as part time toys. For weekend runs I would accept that the Monster is not the best tool in some peoples eyes but more for comfort reasons than anything else. I for one would find the thought of a weekend on either a Fat Boy or a Vaklkyrie about as exciting as a trip to the dentist, especially when the roads became anything less than mildly gently curved or when braking becomes important (that applies to the HD really as Honda are pretty good in that area) and I have ridden them both and like them for what they are.
Yes I currently own a Ducati, along with 12 other bikes of differing styles and makes. The Duke has toured all over the UK, France, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria and Croatia and never missed a beat or been in the shop for anything other than scheduled service. I have also toured extensively on my 1981 Triumph Bonneville and it too never missed a beat however I am sure that your friends wouldn't consider taking one of them on more than a club evening run too.
It seems a shame that as a biker you indulge in hypocrisy by slating a manufacturer with no real good reason or true personal experience when you get your underwear in a bunch should someone take a pop at your brand of choice. By the way I think they were wrong too and as I have previously said I like all bikes without prejudice. However having read other of your posts it appears that you are one of 3 things - 1) extremely opinionated 2)bored with too much time on your hands and write posts to stir things up a bit, which is entertaining or 3) a bit of a red neck.
As a final note interesting that slating Ducati for reliability that you should then mention a Honda and a Harley in the same breath. Wonder on average which of those two brands has the best reliability record !
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>>>>However having read other of your posts it appears that you are one of 3 things - 1) extremely opinionated 2)bored with too much time on your hands and write posts to stir things up a bit, which is entertaining or 3) a bit of a red neck.
Hey! 2 out of 3 ain't bad (with due deference to Meatloaf) :-0
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