Does anyone at all here like Harleys?

[Bobajobbob]

If I was a renegade living in the US I’d have one in a heartbeat. I’d feel a bit of bit of plonker riding one across Surrey however.

[sooty61]

Bobajobbob said:

If I was a renegade living in the US I’d have one in a heartbeat. I’d feel a bit of bit of plonker riding one across Surrey however.

Why? Would you feel more comfortable in a full power ranger outfit on a litre bike doing 40 on the A24? Or maybe on a BMW GS trying to negotiate Box Hill?

[Bobajobbob]

sooty61 said:

Why? Would you feel more comfortable in a full power ranger outfit on a litre bike doing 40 on the A24? Or maybe on a BMW GS trying to negotiate Box Hill?

I wouldn’t wear a power ranger outfit either. For me Harleys are only really at home in the US. I would and will ride one coast to coast one of these days but I couldn’t own one in the UK without feeling like a bit of a plonker. Just a personal preference as I’m perfectly happy on a Triumph and I have an S & S v twin on the front of my 3 wheeler.

[RipTrip1]

sooty61 said:

Why? Would you feel more comfortable in a full power ranger outfit on a litre bike doing 40 on the A24? Or maybe on a BMW GS trying to negotiate Box Hill?

Have you never heard of just, you know, normal riding gear? Textile or basic leather jacket and kevlar jeans. Why do Harley riders always think every other type of rider out there dresses in a 1 piece race suit

[DirtyHarley]

Bobajobbob said:

I wouldn’t wear a power ranger outfit either. For me Harleys are only really at home in the US. I would and will ride one coast to coast one of these days but I couldn’t own one in the UK without feeling like a bit of a plonker. Just a personal preference as I’m perfectly happy on a Triumph and I have an S & S v twin on the front of my 3 wheeler.

Whilst I'd agree that some of the huge armchairs with full home entertainment suites arent particularly suited to everyday riding in the UK and shoudl be left for longer 'touring' rides or to the sprawling land mass that is North America, however a fair few in the HD range are absolutely fine and at home on UK roads. My own personal preference of course but I'd say a 1200 Sportster is much more suitable over a lot of the nakeds and adventure bikes I see in London who struggle to get through gaps I can easily pass through, even with panniers and engine guard bar. But to each their own and all that.

[sooty61]

RipTrip1 said:

sooty61 said:

Why? Would you feel more comfortable in a full power ranger outfit on a litre bike doing 40 on the A24? Or maybe on a BMW GS trying to negotiate Box Hill?

Have you never heard of just, you know, normal riding gear? Textile or basic leather jacket and kevlar jeans. Why do Harley riders always think every other type of rider out there dresses in a 1 piece race suit

Just wondered why he would feel a plonker riding a Harley and pointing out there are stereotypes for all types of bikes. Very few Harley riders wear tassels and chaps and look just as ridiculous as the bow legged moron with the huge hump on his back. I don’t know why a Harley is seen as being unsuitable for UK roads but a new Gold Wing is fine.

[bimsb6]

sooty61 said:

RipTrip1 said:

sooty61 said:

Why? Would you feel more comfortable in a full power ranger outfit on a litre bike doing 40 on the A24? Or maybe on a BMW GS trying to negotiate Box Hill?

Have you never heard of just, you know, normal riding gear? Textile or basic leather jacket and kevlar jeans. Why do Harley riders always think every other type of rider out there dresses in a 1 piece race suit

Just wondered why he would feel a plonker riding a Harley and pointing out there are stereotypes for all types of bikes. Very few Harley riders wear tassels and chaps and look just as ridiculous as the bow legged moron with the huge hump on his back. I don’t know why a Harley is seen as being unsuitable for UK roads but a new Gold Wing is fine.

Or a bmw gs with full luggage !

[RizzoTheRat]

I had a go on a softail classic some years ago and was surprised how uncomfortable it was. I assumed the point of cruisers was long distance comfort but I found the feet forward riding position really uncomfortable on my back. I much prefer something with a more upright seating position.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 20th July 07:03

[bimsb6]

RizzoTheRat said:

I had a go on a softail classic some years ago and was surprised how uncomfortable it was. I assumed the point of cruisers was long distance comfort but I found the feet forward riding positing really uncomfortable on my back. I much prefer something with a more upright seating position.

I can’t do feet forward either , hence both my harleys have mid controls .

[Northernboy]

RizzoTheRat said:

I had a go on a softail classic some years ago and was surprised how uncomfortable it was. I assumed the point of cruisers was long distance comfort but I found the feet forward riding positing really uncomfortable on my back. I much prefer something with a more upright seating position.

The position puts too much weight on your coccyx; a good long-distance position distributes it more evenly between feet, thighs, bottom and hands.

There seems to be literally nothing about most Harleys that isn’t form over function.

Except tassels on the bar-ends, they actually shed vortices that reduce turbulence behind the rear wheel reducing drag to less than that of a teardrop.

[RipTrip1]

RizzoTheRat said:

I had a go on a softail classic some years ago and was surprised how uncomfortable it was. I assumed the point of cruisers was long distance comfort but I found the feet forward riding positing really uncomfortable on my back. I much prefer something with a more upright seating position.

A back rest and pull back bars/risers would fix this. Would make you sit upright with your back straight and arms lazily holding the grips. Get a set of highway pegs and you can literally put your feet up and sit back and ride. Even more comfortable with an Airhawk seat cushion. No bike is comfortable for very long miles except maybe a Goldwing, at some point you'll want to change position just to give your body a chance to ease pressure points

[Bobajobbob]

DirtyHarley said:

Whilst I'd agree that some of the huge armchairs with full home entertainment suites arent particularly suited to everyday riding in the UK and shoudl be left for longer 'touring' rides or to the sprawling land mass that is North America, however a fair few in the HD range are absolutely fine and at home on UK roads. My own personal preference of course but I'd say a 1200 Sportster is much more suitable over a lot of the nakeds and adventure bikes I see in London who struggle to get through gaps I can easily pass through, even with panniers and engine guard bar. But to each their own and all that.

Absolutely each to their own. I’d never tell anyone what to ride. Just for me Harleys look out of place outside the US. When I see people in the UK riding them in a full face helmet and wet weather gear with reflective stripes it just looks wrong.

If I ever find myself 20 years younger and living in California I’ll have one of these.

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/classifieds/motorbikes-s...

[bimsb6]

Bobajobbob said:

DirtyHarley said:

Whilst I'd agree that some of the huge armchairs with full home entertainment suites arent particularly suited to everyday riding in the UK and shoudl be left for longer 'touring' rides or to the sprawling land mass that is North America, however a fair few in the HD range are absolutely fine and at home on UK roads. My own personal preference of course but I'd say a 1200 Sportster is much more suitable over a lot of the nakeds and adventure bikes I see in London who struggle to get through gaps I can easily pass through, even with panniers and engine guard bar. But to each their own and all that.

Absolutely each to their own. I’d never tell anyone what to ride. Just for me Harleys look out of place outside the US. When I see people in the UK riding them in a full face helmet and wet weather gear with reflective stripes it just looks wrong.

If I ever find myself 20 years younger and living in California I’ll have one of these.

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/classifieds/motorbikes-s...

It does rain in murica too you know .

[DirtyHarley]

Bobajobbob said:

Absolutely each to their own. I’d never tell anyone what to ride. Just for me Harleys look out of place outside the US. When I see people in the UK riding them in a full face helmet and wet weather gear with reflective stripes it just looks wrong.

If I ever find myself 20 years younger and living in California I’ll have one of these.

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/classifieds/motorbikes-s...

If you commute from Kent into London that coudl quite well be me that you see (although the nice sunshine lately has been armoured jeans and kevlar shirt - but still full face lid).

On flip side of your thoughts, I find the 'leathered up power ranger look on a repro vinyled up supersports; but stuck in traffic' look absolutely hilarious.


One thing that does appeal about the new sportster is that it wont be air cooled - I love the look of air cooled bikes, but in this type of weather my legs feel like they are cooking at traffic lights!

[RipTrip1]

Bobajobbob said:

Absolutely each to their own. I’d never tell anyone what to ride. Just for me Harleys look out of place outside the US. When I see people in the UK riding them in a full face helmet and wet weather gear with reflective stripes it just looks wrong.

If I ever find myself 20 years younger and living in California I’ll have one of these.

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/classifieds/motorbikes-s...

Hope it's only for very short rides. Your body isn't going to allow you to ride that long periods without some pain

[DirtyHarley]

RipTrip1 said:

Hope it's only for very short rides. Your body isn't going to allow you to ride that long periods without some pain

The most I've done on a Sportster in one sitting was 165 miles (as that was fuel stop to fuel stop) and most in a day was 572 miles to my mums in Wales and back which was 95% motorway riding. Generalyl I try to get off and walk about for 15mins after about 100 miles as thats when the aches generally start to kick in.

Although I will caveat - I have 'extended reach mid' controls with mini boards rather than full blown forwards on pegs. My old Sportster had forwards and whilst I loved it, I feel I have more control at slow speeds / weaving with the extended reach mids. The forwards did put extra strain on the lower back though so stops were generally every 75miles (plus it only had a tank range of about 120)

[Bobajobbob]

bimsb6 said:

It does rain in murica too you know .

Not in my head 😀

[Bobajobbob]

DirtyHarley said:

If you commute from Kent into London that coudl quite well be me that you see (although the nice sunshine lately has been armoured jeans and kevlar shirt - but still full face lid).

On flip side of your thoughts, I find the 'leathered up power ranger look on a repro vinyled up supersports; but stuck in traffic' look absolutely hilarious.


One thing that does appeal about the new sportster is that it wont be air cooled - I love the look of air cooled bikes, but in this type of weather my legs feel like they are cooking at traffic lights!

I do live in Kent and i used to commute to London but not on bikes anymore

[Lee_sec]

I keep seeing pictures of fat rear tyre'd V Rods and the want is growing by the day - totally not practical - totally different to the sports bikes i've ridden and probably awful to actually ride


but the want is real!

[bogie]

Lee_sec said:

I keep seeing pictures of fat rear tyre'd V Rods and the want is growing by the day - totally not practical - totally different to the sports bikes i've ridden and probably awful to actually ride


but the want is real!

There are quite a few V-Rod owners on here, they were more popular in Europe than USA. Ive had mine 9 years and no plans to get rid of it. I also have other bikes and its nice to have different styles to ride.

They are more practical than you think, I usually go touring on mine each year, and its very comfy and fun to ride. Once you get used to the slow steering (its wheelbase is similar to a Goldwing or 9" longer than a Hyabusa) you will be surprised how capable they are.

I did kid myself it would slow me down, but I found thats the flawed logic when you buy any naked bike, you just feel how fast you are going on your neck muscles As standard a V-Rod is geared for >150mph and it struggles to get there. I changed the front sprocket so it revs out at 138mph, but the in gear acceleration is improved. Other than the most twisty of B roads, you can ride it like a big naked, just with a more relaxed riding position. You can get mid controls if you want them.

They have held their value well like most HD with 18 year old bikes still going for over £7k or more (most recent they were £15k ish new) so likely if you purchase well you could own it a few years with little depreciation.

Edited by bogie on Wednesday 21st July 06:45