| Author | Message | ||
     Fb1 |
Timeless classic? Winner.   | ||
| Panhead_dan |
I'll never forget when brother John told me to try out his FLH at a wedding party which I rode a Gold Wing to. Now don't get me wrong, I liked that Wing. That's why I bought it. The thing is, after I rode his FLH something clicked in my head that I hadn't ever understood before. I'm on my second HD dresser now and it will likely be the last touring bike I will need.(or want) Classic indeed. | ||
| 86129squids |
Great pic, FB! I've FINALLY learned to embed Youtube vids- now, I need to learn to embed pics like that! I guess I'm dumber than I look...  | ||
| Dwardo |
Yeah, they gots something. I bought my bagger for the specific purpose of riding to Sturgis from Baltimore in 2009. I was really figuring I would sell it when the adventure was over, because the M2 and the Norton were my idea of perfect motorcycles. Well, they are, but I still have the bagger and would not part with it unless I traded up to a better one. I'm kind of surprised but they grow on you. I have some much younger friends who also ride baggers so it is not completely an age thing, although that is part of it. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
dwardo - no, its not an age thing, I've enjoyed ultras since I was 18 years old. I love them And the newer ones just keep getting better better braking, better handling, more comfortable I absolutely love having a radio on a bike, no need for ipod etc | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I finally got around to test riding a Road King last summer a.d I was truly disappointed. I no longer want one. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
True story. Picture the scene, late 90s, I had an FJ1200, Buell was just starting to get known in Europe. I went down to the then existing HD dealers in Rennes with a couple of friends, to go & ride their S1W test bike kitted out with V&H pipe & a K&N filter. They sent the 3 of us out to play with the S1 & a Road King. After a couple of rounds of paper/scissors/rock to decide who was riding where my mate Loic got the Buell, Marcel got to be bitch & I got to haul the RK. I thrashed that thing's nuts off to keep the S1 in sight & it went surprisingly well. I did however get a bit of a bollocking from the mechanic when we got back, apparently he could hear me bouncing it off the rev limiter through the gears as we went down the road. We'd also blown by a couple of the dealers prime customers through a series of fast bends, Loic going for it on the Buell, & Marcel & I hanging madly off the side of the bagger giving it the beans & laughing our fool heads off. It was a fun ride & I'm told the new ones are even better handling. If I win the lottery maybe I'd get one, but I know I'd end up tinkering with it doing stuff like grafting on a turbo or something. | ||
| Danger_dave |
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| Fb1 |
The thing is, after I rode his FLH something clicked in my head that I hadn't ever understood before. Dan, a similar thing happened to me in 1979. The circumstances of my story are different, but the "Aha!" sounds the same. I can remember the exact moment I finally "got" what Harleys are all about. Thanks for bringing back a great memory. Great pic, FB! Thanks, SquidsKeepOut. I cooked it real hard in photochop, but that's a pretty fair representation of how I see the world. If you're interested, send me a PM and I'll walk you thru how to post-up pix; it's so easy, even I can do it... I absolutely love having a radio on a bike, no need for ipod etc I've never had a radio or tunes on a bike, including this one, although on a multi-day cross-country slab I think it'd be the bomb to be able to listen to an e-book or something like that. For me, listening to a radio when I'm riding seems like it'd kinda defeat the purpose of riding... I finally got around to test riding a Road King last summer a.d I was truly disappointed. I no longer want one. They're not for everybody. This is my fifth Harley, my favorite of the bunch by a long shot, and one of the best motorcycles I've even owned. Nearing 60k, still gettin' it done. Makes me smile every time I pop it off. ...hanging madly off the side of the bagger giving it the beans & laughing our fool heads off. Grumpster, great story! Sounds like you get it, too. My RK is pretty anemic power-wise, relatively speaking, yet I find myself seldom wishing for more. Maybe it's an age thing? Here's a shot from Saturday afternoon, gliding along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The RK is a pretty sweet ride for such things:  FB | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
I love the noise of motorcycles, dont get me wrong, but yes, doing a long slab ride here (we're both in NC, right?) to Texas or California etc etc, I need some tunes to help me along) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I have to say they best all round Harley I have ever ridden is that owned by Grndskpr, he's got a Dyna Sport with Paioli Forks, Beringer brakes, big bore kit etc etc I've never ridden a HD that goes, handles, & stops like it. | ||
| Glitch |
Long story short. Me on my brand new XB9. Scott Zampach on the shop's Road King. I was thinking I'd be on par with the Z man. Not even close! There's something intimidating when you see the Hog in front of you back it into a turn! That was my aha moment... It ain't the arrow that makes the Indian! | ||
| Fb1 |
we're both in NC, right? Nope. I've never ridden a HD that goes, handles, & stops like it. Grumps, I have plans to upgrade the RK one of these years, starting with brakes and chassis improvements. Once I've got that sorted, then I'd like to breathe a little more top-end into the mill. I recognize the logic and efficiency of force-feeding (a al turbo or supercharger), but I love the looks of the stock TC mill too much to hang additional plumbing and hardware on it. Probably just go with some displacement and a nice balance and blueprint. Someday................ I was thinking I'd be on par with the Z man. Glitch, what a rush to ride with the Z man, eh?!? Lucky you. I've ridden with Erik a bunch of times over the years, and I suspect he could spank me - and anyone else - on just about anything with a motor it. He cheats, though - he'll slide up alongside you, give you a friendly little wave to throw you off your guard, then reach over and flip your kill switch to off!  FB | ||
| Gunut75 |
It ain't the arrow that makes the Indian! I got stuck behind an older fella riding a bagger on a narrow road. Well, I shouldn't say I was stuck because the guy could ride the hell out of it. I actually had to do a bit of work to keep up with him. | ||
| Glitch |
Scott sold me my XB. He's an interesting person to be sure, and one hell of a rider of anything with two wheels. Honestly Jerry. I had no idea he was the Z man, none what so ever. No idea what he had done, or what he had over come. Just thought he was a Harley salesman that could ride. It wasn't until after I signed up here on BadWeB I found out who he was. Scott, why didn't you tell me you raced. "I haven't told you a lot of things" | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
"Nope. " apologies, mustve thought you were someone else, was thinking you were in NC | ||
| Fb1 |
No worries. I'm next door to you, in VA. | ||
| Zane |
ZMan sold me my Blast back when he was working at Fletcher's HD Buell in Clearwater, Fl. I was clueless and he treated me great. Never talked down to me and transferred a lot of good info without me even realizing it. About a year later he baby sat me on a demo ride. The guy could have the flu and a broken leg and still ride better than me on my best day. Wonder where he is now. Last I heard he was selling cars at a Volvo dealership in Pinellas Park, Florida and doting on his little girl Savannah | ||
| Fb1 |
I got stuck behind an older fella riding a bagger on a narrow road. Well, I shouldn't say I was stuck because the guy could ride the hell out of it. I actually had to do a bit of work to keep up with him. Us older fellas enjoy keeping you younger fellas honest... | ||
| Glitch |
Us older fellas enjoy keeping you younger fellas honest... I must be getting there (slowly I hope) After a ride not too long ago... "Wow Mr. Hare, you sure are faster than I thought you'd be!" I enjoyed the "faster than I thought you'd be" part. But come on! "Mr. Hare"? | ||
| Dwardo |
The only handling changes I've made to my RK so far are, Progressive fork springs and SE fork fluid (major good), 1-inch-over Works shocks (jury still out) and Lyndell Gold brake pads (really good, it stops great). I have to say I really don't get the radio-on-a-bike thing. I put my iPod in my jacket and plug in, but only when I'm on the slab for hours. Just letting it shuffle alerts me to the fact that there is a lot of music that sucks on my iPod. | ||
| Fb1 |
I enjoyed the "faster than I thought you'd be" part. But come on! "Mr. Hare"? Ha, just wait'll yer a grandpa and THEN see what kinda abuse ya get when you ride faster than they thought you'd be... | ||
| Dwardo |
On a recent trip to Maggie Valley from Baltimore, my companion, who is 17 years younger than I am and quite hardcore, said "I can't believe how fast you ride". I love that. I told him next time I'm bringing a rope so I can at least see him in my mirrors. | ||
| Fb1 |
The only handling changes I've made to my RK so far are... Dwardo, I'm gonna start at the steering head and work my way out from there. I have this fantasy of someday having three-way adjustable forks and shocks, with lighter-than-stock but stock-looking wheels, ceramic wheel bearings and one-finger front brakes. Oh, and Ti axles. Yep, the thing will still weigh as much as a steam locomotive when I'm done...  (Message edited by fb1 on March 19, 2012) |
