| Author | Message | ||
     Ulynut |
Is it a girlie bike? My old Ironhead used to shoot FLAMES out of the pipes. I would say no, it's not a girlie bike.  | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Back in the day....a "900 Harley" was the ultimate. Along came the fast jap bikes and the Sportster was done. Probably where the girls bike originated after getting it's ass handed to it by smaller bikes. My starter bike was a 125 for 14k miles....then moved up to a big 350 for 10k miles. Next was the 67 Sportster..and I was king for several years...but the 750 Honda guys still wouldn't go off road with me or try to spin donuts on the pavement. What a hoot to see their look when I cut a donut with the big Sporty on pavement,dirt bike style! I don't know why the 125 to 350 street bike are neart gone for starter bikes. They were certainly good enuf for anyone back then as a starter bike..........Oh well. | ||
| F_skinner |
And a 900 CH, kick only, would put you over the handle bars or pop your knee out trying to start it. | ||
| Whatever |
This is a girl's bike...  MINE!!! It was funny watching the destruction (anti-construction) guys trying to keep their jaws up when I pulled up to work on it... | ||
| Just_ziptab |
"And a 900 CH, kick only, would put you over the handle bars or pop your knee out trying to start it." Both the XLCH's never got me,but the 350 thumper did a few times when I "half hearted" it. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I think sportys are some of the better looking Harleys, but given the latest marketing drives from HD (see the "respect" one in particular, which is pushes limits for both lamest add ever, and most offensive), I really would worry about getting crap. Plenty of posers always like Harleys, but at the root of the Harley community there were true riders, both young and old school. A few more campaigns like that "respect" add though, and more "chrome it or black it out instead of actually improve it", and more and more "race for the bottom to save the bottom line", and the poser to rider ratio is going to tip, and the South Park Harley episode will become reality. Except the Kentucky Fried Chicken part. That part is impossible. | ||
| Cyclonemduece |
yes they are intended for females and small males, Seriously any bike that i can ride with my feet on the forward controls and rest my elbows on my knees, is too small for a regular sized male, | ||
| Ratbuell |
The XL chassis is definitely more topheavy than a big twin chassis. Like NYC - if you can't go out...you go up. The XL is narrow for lean angle...so it gets taller and things get stacked on top of each other, to keep things narrow. It's a shame that the price point puts it on the floor as the "beginner" Harley. Rubber mount engine in '04. EFI in '07. Technically, a pretty solid bike. But market-wise...still "only" a 5 speed, still the majority have the peanut tank, and any of the lowered ones (nightster, Iron, 883L) ride like a freakin' BRICK. The "girly bike" stigma is simply among the rest of the fashion show degenerates - big, tough guys who feel the need to point fingers at someone, and make fun of something they do, just because they can and it makes them feel better about themselves. But it is still the 'sports car' of the HD family - light weight, good handling, sacrifices in comfort, less mass to soak up road vibes.... It's just a shame that HD killed the only decent ones - the 883R and 1200R. Blacked out powertrains, dual-disc front ends...nearly decent performance. Just like the VRSCR Street Rod (short rake inverted front end, mid controls, tall seat, higher ground clearance/more lean angle, the first 5 gal fuel tank on a VRod...). And ....well, and Buell. Girly bike? Who cares? Ride what you want, be happy with it, and to the rest...screw 'em if they don't like it. It's not theirs. I always tell people - I'll ride what you want me to. Soon as you stroke a check and pay for it. Till then...I ride what *I* want! | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I always found amusement out of that comment when I sold them. They aint riding big twins around the dirty oval mile  Its a girls bike... really, the orange one out front is mine. (that one usually shuts them up) and the end all beat all to that crap is... which on is yours ?.... a damn good percentage of the time, they dont have one... or if they do... they are still under the 5k mark in mileage. I will care what someone else thinks about my bike, when they have paid for it, or purchase my next one; until then f-off | ||
| Patches |
I'd ride'm!   | ||
| Swordsman |
A Sporty isn't a girl's bike. A Honda Rebel 250 is.  ~SM | ||
| Fast1075 |
like Slicker said...i ain't never seen a big twin sideways at 100mph on clay...ya wonna call them boys girlie? | ||
| Patches |
"i ain't never seen a big twin sideways at 100mph on clay...ya wonna call them boys girlie?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqgqClD9wY Looks like there doing pretty good to me. Check out the full dress bagger. | ||
| Swampy |
The Sporty I ride is a girls bike, I wouldn't be able to handle one of those "Mans" bike. Well, maybe a de-tuned Dyna... I have those leather dingle straps on the clutch and brake levers, so I can tie parts back on when they fall off. | ||
| Glitch |
Looks like there doing pretty good to me. Pretty good to you still doesn't look like 100mph on the dirt. I'll hand it to 'em though, and the big surprise to me was the raked out chopper. | ||
| Patches |
"I'll hand it to 'em though, and the big surprise to me was the raked out chopper." A local shop owner took his Bigdog Ridgeback (similar to the one in the picture) to Deals Gap a couple of years back. Said he had fun passing a several dozen bikes and about a dozen cars. The only two bikes he couldn’t pass was a couple guys on BMW’s. When he got back to the lodge there were a lot of pissed off sport bike riders walking around because they just got passed by a Nine Foot Long Chopper in the twisties. Of course he ground down part of the frame and eat up his pipes, it was just an excuse to upgrade. He has raced motor cross since birth and still young and invincible.  | ||
| Tiltcylinder |
Spotsters are not girls bikes. Don't let the posers on their softtails (anything but) and dyna tell you any different. My '71 is a no power, chrome framed toy I built twenty years ago.. Now has a shortster/dyna mix 39mm front end with 2002 4 piston FLHP caliper (thanks Storz), 80's swingarm with 11.5" rear disc and handles like it's on rails. Was a kick only for a lot of years until I screwed my ankle trying to start it on cold December morn... now electric. The bike is tiny. My '69 has the S&S 79" kit, Branch heads, Trock door, Andrews trans bits... all in a single down tube hardtail with 12 over 35mm dual disc. Turns like a bus, goes like hell... definitely out pulls the Uly. Traded my '07 883R in for the XT. Rubber mounted, injected, triple disc. Huge by comparison to '71 (fells as big as a dyna), at least a hundred pounds heavier, rode like junk compared to my '71 (admittedly, took years to get that suspension set up well), faster than any of harley's 'big' twins (except the CVO 110 inchers) and if the Uly was gone tomorrow... I'd want to buy another. If only 'they' would put the kind of thought into the suspension that Erik did... even the new 1200XR doesn't ride anywhere near as nice as the Buell (of course). | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I sell this biatch of a house, I have my eye on a 72 right side shift with a set of XR750 heads... hellooooo flat tracking hooligan. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Good riders can ride any bike well... but for the record, I did the same thing at Deals Gap on a KLR-250 (17 RWHP, and dual sport tires). The only people faster then me were ones that wanted a ticket (4 pulled over and getting written up less then a mile after they blew by me) or people willing to take stupid risks (crossing the center line to make the road wider). I still can't explain how that little KLR managed to handle so well... | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
My KLR250 used to humiliate larger bikes on the street all the time. I used to lean that little thing over so far and never scraped a peg either. Not so impressive on the highway though  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
got to demo that new KLX25o SF Super Moto... right nice for less than two dozen hp I have a feeling that I could not keep myself off of loading docks.... skate parks... golf course maintence tracks.... pure hooligan trouble. | ||
| Preybird1 |
My girlfriend's dad is an ex hells angle. And he is always calling the sporties "GIRLS BIKES" He says that's what you ride when you are old or a chick.  | ||
| Rainman |
I like girls. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I replaced the KLR-250 with a KDX-200... 3x the HP, and 200 pounds wet. I could actually plate the thing in Ohio pretty easily, and refuse too. I'd loose my license inside a week on it. (Be a fun week though.... ) | ||
| Skinstains |
All you gotta do is sniff the seat. That's the only way I know of to tell. On a serious note F**K'EM...all of them. Buy and ride what you like. If you or your friend are worried about what a bunch of little weenied faggots say and think about your ride, then you sir might have a problem. I would so rock that bike too, if Spidey didn't mind sharin'. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
+ Skinstains+ Buy and ride you want. Well said Skinstains. Some folks should start riding more and stop being critical of others. Again well on you Skinstains. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The ladies do love it   | ||
| Boliver |
If the question is sincere then here is my reply: 1) If you need to ask such a question then I suggest a scooter. 2) If you are worried about what someone else thinks about how YOU spend YOUR money then that is kinda girlie isn't it? | ||
| Nevrenuf |
i'll bet that bike hasn't been washed since that time city. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
This thread seemed to start as a hater thread now it become quite pleasing in a perverse sort of way (what ever that means). Where is that Bike Wash? |
