Topic: Managed to survive Daytona....

[techy5025]

I rode over to Daytona twice last week and managed to avoid getting run over
by all the Harleys ... at least 95 percent of the bikes.  Found out they were having
a bike show on the boardwalk overlooking the Atlantic so figured....OK....and entered.

Something like 250 bikes or so, of which there were 220 choppers, a few dressed out
Harleys and Goldwings, and maybe ten "Old School" bikes. I saw one other 750...I think
a 77 or 78.  Got a lot of attention, questions, and offers to buy.  It was a fun afternoon
and the weather was great...unlike last year.

Hopefully, we will get several new members as some of the lookers had SOHC's or were
wanting one and I was steering them to this site. 

Jim

[gerhed]

Not to bash--, but what is it with the Harleys ?

[Brent C.]

Not to bash--, but what is it with the Harleys ?

Here we go...................3....2.....1

[eldar]

Image. nothing but image. That and guys wanting to look like big men to their friends.  This is not all of them of course. just some of them.

[JP]

Now that I am a proud owner of a cruiser (see my post about luckiest guy I know), Kawasaki Vulcan 750 to be specific- I feel that I have a bit more insight into this subject than previously.

Those things are nice, man.  Cruisers I mean.  I don't feel like I need to go fast, I just wanna keep on riding.  It's wierd.  I used to be so anti-cruiser, now I love'em.  I still despise Harley's due to their lack of overall quality, but I will take up for them for the "feel."  I have ridden a few and they all give the rider a great since of "macho".  I have never felt that on any other bike.  Ever time I have been on one, I have felt like the world around me had to stop what they were doing to look at me.  Attention to the max!

If I were a psyciatrist, I'd recommend a Harley to every patient that suffered from a lack of self esteem- and I'd make the HMO's pay for it.

JP

[DammitDan]

I'd ride a harley in a heartbeat.  Bu then again, I'd ride anything in a heartbeat 


Harley, Honda, BMW, Moto Guzzi, BSA, Triumph, even Vespas or Royal Enfields!  True, the last 2 are kinda goofy, but hell they've still got 2 wheels, don't they?


I simply prefer older japanese and european motorcycles because they're different from the rest.  But at the same time you can't really blame other people for buying into a fad (it gets more bikers on the road, right?).  And I'll take bikes over cars any day.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Image. nothing but image. That and guys wanting to look like big men to their friends.  This is not all of them of course. just some of them.

Eldar,

Shame on you especially after all the K8 bashing you get  

Personally, I have a really nice Fat Boy. I don't give a #$%* about what anyone thinks(not a slam on you by the way). So for me, it's only what I think about my bike and the pride I take in it. Nothing to do with image. I'm just me. Frightening! I bought my 750F in 75 (would not buy a Harley in 75!!- they had a bad rep then) and have kept it since new. No one gets it till I'm dead! I'm on this forum every day and I've never been on a Harley forum. My 750F is a really nice bike too. It's my baby. Irreplaceable. A new bike, Harley or otherwise, IS replaceable.

I bought a new bike because my Honda was old and undependable at the time and I WANTED TO RIDE. Decided to do something different. Harley. Porsche designed engine. I could afford it and I deserved a present. First good present in 10 years. It's the bike that does my 3000 - 5000 mile road trips. Dependable. Time for it's first new battery. Replaced the front rotor due to warpage. Nothing else at 16,000 miles. For me it's a nice comfortable cruiser that will run 85mph all day long. When it was stock it would get 65mpg (but not at 85mph). Now that it's 95ci/1550cc and has a cam I can smoke my buddies VTX1800. My current project is a 1080 SOHC Honda 750 K8 engine based soft tail frame street fighter chop.

Yeah, some folks go for image. Note my avatar picture. I'm a pharmacist. Think I care about image?! When I'm working I have a very professional image. When I'm riding I'm another biker.

Next bike? Perhaps a new Gold Wing. Who knows what will be available or when I'm ready. IF I JUST HAD A LARGER GARAGE.............................................    

[JP]

I'm pretty sure the only Porche designed engine is that of the V-Rod.  Could be wrong, though.  Hey, you been watchin' the hoops?
JP

[Chris Schneiter]

Now that I am a proud owner of a cruiser (see my post about luckiest guy I know), Kawasaki Vulcan 750 to be specific- I feel that I have a bit more insight into this subject than previously.

If I were a psyciatrist, I'd recommend a Harley to every patient that suffered from a lack of self esteem- and I'd make the HMO's pay for it.

JP

Low self esteem...Ya mean like a small wee wee?

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

JP,

Gotta start watching tonight. UK vs Villanova. As soon as UK is gone I'm done. Probably tonight. Fatalist or Realistic view?! Watched Air Force a little last night.

Porsche helped with the TC 88B engine also. Thank goodness for their design help with that counter balancing and fuel injection. The fillings in my teeth have stayed put & the FI is really nice. Might not have gotten the Fat Boy without the updated engine.

ANYWAY, back to the subject. Let's get some reports and pictures on Daytona.....................

[eldar]

I was just saying that is why many people buy them. I look in the paper and more times than not, I see virtually new harleys being sold by their owners. They get them to look cool but end up not liking them. But then this is the same type of rider and many of those that ride rockets.  Again, it is not all the riders. I would probably ride a harley though I dont like the forward controls or the signal lights mounted on the handle bars.

So RX, I think you misunderstood me!  I would ride most any bike there are just some things about some I cant stand. I also dont like big, fat, cover-half-the-wheel, fenders!

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Eldar,

I'm with you on everything! There are a lot of ________ (anyone fill in the blank with your own words so I don't get in any #$%*) riding Harleys and this all can be said of other brands too.

You just like it cause I'm using a K8 engine  . One fine engine I might add!

Jerry

[techy5025]

The nature of the gathering at Daytona is that it attracts mostly Harley's. We all want
our bikes to look good and do so in many different ways.....original, cafe style, whatever.
The only thing I dislike is the attempt to use noise to attract attention.  Even using
earplugs, my ears were ringing for an hour after I got home. There's no way to describe
what several hundred bikes...some with totally open bikes...especially choppers sound like.
The police directing traffic on the beach had on headsets to protect their ears. 

Fortunately the death toll seems to have been fairly low this year.

Jim

[burmashave]

Not to bash--, but what is it with the Harleys ?

Simple.  Most people who want to be different want to be like everyone else who wants to be different.

[gerhed]

Not to bash--, but what is it with the Harleys ?

Please note what I'm astride in the avatar ? can't explain it.

[Pwfyrcat1]

I once rode my then bike, a Yamaha TDM 850 from Maryland to Kansas to visit the folks.  And once my mother got over the shock of seeing me at her front door she asked me later why I didn't own a Harley.  I told her I wasn't a Harley person.  i.e. not my style.  Kind of like owning a pickup over a sedan.  I own a pickup.

I have only been riding for about 15 years.  I still own the TDM, a VStar for 2 up entertainment, a solo seated Warrior, and of course, the rebuild.  I have wanted a m/c since before I was able to drive.  Got hung up on things like Electra Glide in Blue, liked the look, thought it was wayyyy cool. Love that sound.  My neck snaps around at every two wheel sound of whizz or thunder.  I spent the last two days of warm air with the biggest bug eating grin on my face.  How cool is it to be us and just go.  No destination, just go.  Honey I'll be back later.  There are a lot of unhappy people out there in cars, I am not one of them, unless it's absolutely necessary

now you got me being all philosophical...

However, I always thought it was a matter of not WHAT you ride, but THAT you ride.

There are other factors, but hey, I'm just waiting for it to stay warm so I can rocket.  Peace!

[BobbyR]

Not to bash--, but what is it with the Harleys ?

Harley riders tend to be elitists and they have been very unkind to "Rice Burner" riders. What I am seeing is renewed interest in my bike among real riders. The problem with Harleys is their sameness, add in the other twins that have been tricked out to look like Harleys, your love object gets lost in the crowd. People are looking at choppers, not because they ride or handle well, they do it because they are different. I have had good dealing with a lot of sport bike riders and have hooked up with groups of them, the Harley guys leave them waaaaaaaaay alone since in these parts many of them are rather large soul brothers with an attitude. A Wall Streeter in a bandanna and his Ride to Live Jacket knows better than to run his mouth around them.