Does anyone at all here like Harleys?

[Northernboy]

I can understand not using the rear; most modern bikes will lift the back wheel under hard braking so it’s not doing much in terms of outright braking, but not using the front is weird.

[Pothole]

Smoggy XJR said:

Pothole said:

Film star

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hRPpSgVJ1w

I hadn't seen that. Thanks for the link.

As far as I recall it's not a bad film altogether.

[gareth_r]

Bob_Defly said:

bimsb6 said:

Bob_Defly said:

andburg said:

Lovely, a classic bike but gets the important bit Harley always fail, some decent brakes up front to stop!

That's the weird thing in North America, I've met so many people that don't/won't use the front brake at all, especially cruiser riders. They seem to perpetuate this myth that the front brake is dangerous, because their dad's brother's friend grabbed a handful in a corner once and binned it.

Because of the weight distribution / front end rake etc the back brake is powerfull enough especially with a pillion on board , mine has an 11.5 inch rear disc as standard .

No I know, but you end up with lots of riders who never use the front brake at all, even when they're not riding harleys.

.

https://www.mcrider.com/this-dangerous-riding-tech...


I've always wondered if it was inspired, at least in part, by flat track racing. The bikes used to have no brakes (not sure when that changed - they now have a rear brake), and the only possible chance of mitigating the consequences of an error was to "lay the bike down".

[ddom]

I can’t stand them personally, noisy things that don’t handle and fit attention seekers. Some of the custom stuff is cool, but they all work better in California than Rotherham

[Bob_Defly]

hucumber said:

Bob_Defly said:

No I know, but you end up with lots of riders who never use the front brake at all, even when they're not riding harleys.

fk that!

Honestly, had a mate of mine that had an FJ-09 say that there was no way you should ever use the front brake on a corner, as you'd be off immediately. There was a motorway off ramp on my way home that was fast, curved, steep downhill, and came to a set of lights pretty quickly. I used to exit there doing ~85mph, and manage to come to a complete stop pretty fast even in the rain. he basically thought that was suicide.

I have no idea how you would navigate that not using the front brake. I have never heard this outside of North America.

Edited by Bob_Defly on Monday 7th June 20:16

[KTMsm]

mike-v2tmf said:

Can you show me a petrol explosion about the same size as that battery ?

No, they are far bigger that was my point

[Northernboy]

Bob_Defly said:

Honestly, had a mate of mine that had an FJ-09 say that there was no way you should ever use the front brake on a corner, as you'd be off immediately. There was a motorway off ramp on my way home that was fast, curved, steep downhill, and came to a set of lights pretty quickly. I used to exit there doing ~85mph, and manage to come to a complete stop pretty fast even in the rain. he basically thought that was suicide.

I have no idea how you would navigate that not using the front brake. I have never heard this outside of North America.

Edited by Bob_Defly on Monday 7th June 20:16

There’s definitely a bit of a psychological effect to be overcome with hauling on the front brake when cranked over.

I’d be interested to try Honda’s lean-sensitive ABS to see just how hard you really can brake when there’s no chance of binning it.

[m5psm]

Another vote for the XR.

After years of being more than a tad anti Hardley Able Son, when test riding Buells back in about 2007, I was offered a go on an XR1200 and loved it. Didn’t buy one as I needed an everyday commuter for 20k miles a year in all weathers.

Roll forward a few years though when I fancied something a little different as a weekend toy, I ended up with a shortlist of V-Max, Griso, Diavel and XR and the XR won and I’ve never regretted it.

Can’t get on with the feet forward riding position of most Harleys, but this is much (and I use the term loosely) sportier with a normal riding position. It’s loud, heavy, vibrates a lot and takes a while to build up trust in the grip levels, but after a while it can be really chucked about, as long as you never forget the weight.

Every time I consider a change and run through options I decide to keep it.

[Davel]

ddom said:

I can’t stand them personally, noisy things that don’t handle and fit attention seekers. Some of the custom stuff is cool, but they all work better in California than Rotherham

This is my 'attention seeking' Sport Glide with a stage one

[Legacywr]

Get them reflectors off....

[ddom]

Legacywr said:

Get them reflectors off....

[Pothole]

m5psm said:

Another vote for the XR.

After years of being more than a tad anti Hardley Able Son, when test riding Buells back in about 2007, I was offered a go on an XR1200 and loved it. Didn’t buy one as I needed an everyday commuter for 20k miles a year in all weathers.

Roll forward a few years though when I fancied something a little different as a weekend toy, I ended up with a shortlist of V-Max, Griso, Diavel and XR and the XR won and I’ve never regretted it.

Can’t get on with the feet forward riding position of most Harleys, but this is much (and I use the term loosely) sportier with a normal riding position. It’s loud, heavy, vibrates a lot and takes a while to build up trust in the grip levels, but after a while it can be really chucked about, as long as you never forget the weight.

Every time I consider a change and run through options I decide to keep it.

That exhaust is gopping, though

[m5psm]

Pothole said:

That exhaust is gopping, though

It’s no looker. Definitely on the to-do list

[fred bloggs]

Northernboy said:

There’s a whole world of bikes between race replicas and Harleys though.

That's true. I do like a bonniville, xjr 1300, vmaX .

[KTMsm]

Just followed a Harley around for 4hrs on a group ride - I thought it sounded nice

No idea on model but it was far smaller than I expected, black, 17 plate and the female owner said she'd upgraded from the 883

[BroadsRS6]

S and S do a 143 cubic inch motor for late model HDs, with 162 bhp and 151 lb-ft on offer with the right set up.

That capacity, i believe, is 2,340cc of badass V Twin grunt and i am sure it will feel bloody rapid and sound evil.

[gareth_r]

Pothole said:

m5psm said:

Another vote for the XR.

After years of being more than a tad anti Hardley Able Son, when test riding Buells back in about 2007, I was offered a go on an XR1200 and loved it. Didn’t buy one as I needed an everyday commuter for 20k miles a year in all weathers.

Roll forward a few years though when I fancied something a little different as a weekend toy, I ended up with a shortlist of V-Max, Griso, Diavel and XR and the XR won and I’ve never regretted it.

Can’t get on with the feet forward riding position of most Harleys, but this is much (and I use the term loosely) sportier with a normal riding position. It’s loud, heavy, vibrates a lot and takes a while to build up trust in the grip levels, but after a while it can be really chucked about, as long as you never forget the weight.

Every time I consider a change and run through options I decide to keep it.

That exhaust is gopping, though

It looks similar to the (Vance & Hines?) race exhaust that was used in the US one-make series.

[andburg]

It is, same as on mine.

Looks a bit lower and I hate the wrap but the sound has a worth the bulk

[m5psm]

gareth_r said:

It looks similar to the (Vance & Hines?) race exhaust that was used in the US one-make series.

It is a Vance & Hines.
A bit too loud, no looker and gets in the way of rear foot pegs, so a replacement is on the wish list

[andburg]

m5psm said:

gareth_r said:

It looks similar to the (Vance & Hines?) race exhaust that was used in the US one-make series.

It is a Vance & Hines.
A bit too loud, no looker and gets in the way of rear foot pegs, so a replacement is on the wish list

Yup it doesn’t silence much, the x pipe seems to create a flat spot in power.

Odd that it gets in the way of your rear pegs though, it’s same as mine and nowhere near them, you don’t even have rear pegs in the pic!

I have a set of the v&h quiet baffles but never fitted them as I’ve read countless times they make almost no difference. On the dyno at a rally mine hit 126db.

If your front pipes aren’t corroded to st then you’ll get some money for the exhaust when you sell it on