Topic: My dad just got a Harley

[Anti-Johnny]

My dad just got a Harley Fat Bob as his first bike. How much #$%* should I plan on giving him when I see him in a few weeks?

I told him he could get a VTX or a Vulcan for half of what he was going to pay for this bike. But all of his friends ride Harleys so I guess I probably would want to do that too.

He just turned 50 so it makes sense I guess. He also just had a Russian Doberman shipped to Texas. So I guess its a Mid Life Crisis type deal. Or hes finally got his kids away and has some money to spend on himself. 

Its funny that its me giving him the talk about how to wear proper gear and to always assume the car at an intersection is going to pull out in front of you. I've ridden for a few years now but like I said this is his first two wheel ride.

[cookindaddy]

Have fun with your Dad! You won't get to do that for that much longer. He has shown an interest and bought a machine, so you may be able to enjoy rides together, even if you have your own reasons for having what you like. Your time together is the important thing. And of course, he knows that he has a warranty. You do not.

[Anti-Johnny]

Yeah I understand all that. I dont have anything against Harley's. If cruisers were my style and I had the cash, I would definitely like to have one. I dont know if I would prefer it over a Vulcan or VTX, but if I had unlimited funds I would probably have at least one harley.

Its mostly in jest. I spent an hour on the phone last night giving him the gear and safety lecture. Its a bit of a reversal of roles so I thought it was funny. He is taking his MSR class this weekend and is only putting around the neighborhood on it.

I did recommend he get something cheaper as a first bike. I cant imagine how bad I would feel if I dropped a harley or accidentally laid one down in a turn. I've done that on other bikes but not on something thats worth more than everything else I own combined.

[cb650PK]

Why would anyone get Harley when there are so many good motorcycles available? And if you have to get Harley for some reason (you lost a bet, there is a gun held to your head etc.) why get a softail which is build for looks only and rides like crap. Yea you should give him sh!t, he deserves it.

[754]

 Good for him, hope he gets lots of enjoyment out of it..
Nothing wrong with Softails, if you are looking for a rodracer, it aint the best.

 Hope you get lots of Father/Son rides in.. maybe Sturgis...

[Retro Rocket]

I can think of a lot of better bikes to learn too ride on, that would be my main concern. Make sure he is absolutely competent before going anywhere on that big lump.

[tweakin]

Good for your dad.  The Fat Bob is a great bike and probably the best handling / riding Harley made (if you can say that, lol).  Hopefully you will get a chance to spend some time on the road with your dad.  I ride with my dad a ton and it is the best, really brought us closer together.  I started off on Harleys (still have one) and my taste switched from them to old Honda's. 

It is pretty funny how I used to think the Harleys guys were douce bags haw they ripped on other bikes, but than I come here and see the same #$%* from the majority of the SOHC crowd.  Kind of ironic....

[754]

Tweakin, I have mentioned that before.. hang around with both sides, and you see it  from both groups..

 I dont know why more folks cant just accept peoples choices nd ride together..

 I guess there is/could be better bikes to learn  on, but he is taking a riders course, starting out with NEW equipment, and has a family member to help him out... THAT is about 3 times better than when a lot of us learned...
 Untill the MC community is welcoming to all new riders..we are still hurting ourselves..

[Magpie]

Good for him, he got what HE wanted. Best thing you can say to him is "Nice bike dad, let's go for a ride." Wish I could say that to my dad. He's not here anymore. Cliff.

[Skunk Stripe]

So it is just mc riders that hurt themselves? Funny, I see the ford/dodge/gm thing everywhere. This is just the same thing, just bikes instead of trucks. How about holley/edelbrock or apple/pc or lager/ale. Seems all people do that about something in their life.
Everyone has their likes and dislikes. Part of what makes the world go around.

Oh, and good for your dad. Do what you can to get in some good road trips with him. Across the state and camping or something. Show what the freedom of a bike really is. Not these short little 70 mile round trip things.

[Anti-Johnny]

My biggest concern so far is definitely the size of the bike and how big the learning curve will be because of it, but hes a big guy so I hope he can manage it.

He's wanted one since I got my first bike. Now I just need a running bike to ride with him. I am looking forward to test driving it though.

I've only seen pictures, but it is a real pretty bike as far as I can tell.

I dont really have anything against harleys or harley riders, just the price is too high for me to even consider it. And I like to go fast so I mainly pay attention to quick bikes.

He got what he wanted and I can already tell he is happy to have it even if he is just riding it around the block at this point. Hopefully I can get a running bike in the next couple months and can talk him into bringing it down here. The riding is much nicer in the hill country than it is up around El Paso. Far west Texas does offer wider, straighter and less populated roads though.

If I had been closer I might have been able to talk him into saving some money and going with something metric, but I am not dissing on his bike. Not what I would want but its not my money either.

[Retro Rocket]

Good for your dad.  The Fat Bob is a great bike and probably the best handling / riding Harley made (if you can say that, lol).

The FXR is if you don't include the sporty......

[cb650PK]

Good for your dad.  The Fat Bob is a great bike and probably the best handling / riding Harley made (if you can say that, lol). 

Not by far, not even close.

[Gordon]

  It is pretty funny how I used to think the Harleys guys were douce bags haw they ripped on other bikes, but than I come here and see the same #$%* from the majority of the SOHC crowd.  Kind of ironic....

I'd like to know what your definition of the word "majority" is, because it definitely isn't the same as what I was taught. 

[Skunk Stripe]

I think most of us dislike harley because of the value we perceive. We expect that there should be more performance for the money spent. At least that is how I see it.

[tweakin]

Good for your dad.  The Fat Bob is a great bike and probably the best handling / riding Harley made (if you can say that, lol). 

Not by far, not even close.

Have you ever been on a fat bob...  not to be confused with the Fat Boy. 

Retro, you are correct about the FX, I should have clarified I ment the newer Harley's...

Gordon...  Of the SOHC ers I have ran accross...

[sangyo soichiro]

Good for your Dad.  It's nice to see people enjoying life.

But all of his friends ride Harleys so I guess I probably would want to do that too.

I can see the reason for his choice of a Harley then.  It's nice to fit in with the crowd sometimes.  I wouldn't want to hear jokes from my friends about what I ride, and you know how people can get sometimes....

HD's are nice too.  Just tell him to wave back. 

[Gordon]

Gordon...  Of the SOHC ers I have ran accross...

When you said "I come here and see the same #$%*", I took that to mean the sohc4.net forums.  Please don't lump us all in with the very vocal minority.   

[cb650PK]

Good for your dad.  The Fat Bob is a great bike and probably the best handling / riding Harley made (if you can say that, lol). 

Not by far, not even close.

Have you ever been on a fat bob...  not to be confused with the Fat Boy. 

Retro, you are correct about the FX, I should have clarified I ment the newer Harley's...

Gordon...  Of the SOHC ers I have ran accross...

Ha, you sad Fat Bob not Fat Boy, then that should certainly be Superior to any softail but I would still take XR 1200 if I was forced to ride Haharley

[754]

I dont know if they make an FXR anymore.. if they di it is probably Dyna based..
 The one sporty model gets good reviews..
 ..heard a story the other day from a member on here that also rides a Buell.. and was riding beside a Sporty with forward controls on a pretty fast stretch of road, and the Sporty gave him a bad time.... you didnt hear it from me though..

[coke]

I am adding my sons on to my insurance policy for my bikes so they can learn to ride and we can ride together.. One wife isn't too keen on it but it helps that he is gonna ride with his ol man (soon to be 58).  I have Kawi's (ninja and nomad) honda 350f and a 883 sportster and want a road glide.  I have had sport bike guys not wave back when I am on the cruiser or harley i have had harley folks not wave if I am on the ninja and I have had lots of people wave back no matter what I am on.  I figure the problem is them not me.  I wont change them.  I won't talk down anyones choice of bike. 

I want to enjoy my ride which ever bike I get on in the morning.

[tweakin]

I understand where you are coming from, but to be honest IMO since I have been on the board "the majority" of SOHCers on this board that chime in or talk about Harley riders are just like I stated.

I love all bikes but now prefer old Hondas and "the majority" of Harley guys I am associated with like all bikes, but that may only be a front when I am around...  Since I do all the wrenching on most of the there bikes.

Gordon...  Of the SOHC ers I have ran accross...

When you said "I come here and see the same #$%*", I took that to mean the sohc4.net forums.  Please don't lump us all in with the very vocal minority.   

[Anti-Johnny]

I am adding my sons on to my insurance policy for my bikes so they can learn to ride and we can ride together.. One wife isn't too keen on it but it helps that he is gonna ride with his ol man (soon to be 58).  I have Kawi's (ninja and nomad) honda 350f and a 883 sportster and want a road glide.  I have had sport bike guys not wave back when I am on the cruiser or harley i have had harley folks not wave if I am on the ninja and I have had lots of people wave back no matter what I am on.  I figure the problem is them not me.  I wont change them.  I won't talk down anyones choice of bike. 

I want to enjoy my ride which ever bike I get on in the morning.

how do you like that ninja 650. If I cant get my bike running right I will be picking up something else to ride. I was thinking the 650r or an fz6, but I am 6'2 so I think the 650 might be out.

[coke]

i am only 5'7' and it fits me well and rides well.. it isn't a supersport but it runs pretty well and handles well too.

[Retro Rocket]

I understand where you are coming from, but to be honest IMO since I have been on the board "the majority" of SOHCers on this board that chime in or talk about Harley riders are just like I stated.

I love all bikes but now prefer old Hondas and "the majority" of Harley guys I am associated with like all bikes, but that may only be a front when I am around...  Since I do all the wrenching on most of the there bikes.

Gordon...  Of the SOHC ers I have ran accross...

When you said "I come here and see the same #$%*", I took that to mean the sohc4.net forums.  Please don't lump us all in with the very vocal minority.   

Its not the bikes mate, its the mentality of a large portion of the riders, that mentality is far more common with the Harley crowd than any other types of bikes . As far as i am concerned all bikes are cool In their own way, i just prefer Jap bikes for their obvious advantages..