harleys!!!! so totally fracking awesome!!!! jeah!!!

[midknyte]

Originally Posted by F&D

...The writer also didn't mention the new V-rod engine, which is a fine motor (of course, HD had to go to Porsche for that motor design ). Curse HD for not (yet) giving that motor to Eric Buell, but I predict it WILL happen soon...

The VRod started out as a Buell shared motor, but the marketing & style department on the HD side of the fence added bloat to the engine (form over function) and Eric walked away from it.

[F&D]

Originally Posted by midknyte

The VRod started out as a Buell shared motor, but the marketing & style department on the HD side of the fence added bloat to the engine (form over function) and Eric walked away from it.

I hadn't heard that, but I must say it does not make much sense; the Revolution engine is by far the best lump Harley has ever had, and it's way better than the pushrod mills Buell is currently using.

What is this cosmetic "bloat" that HD added to the motor that Buell couldn't simply remove?

All I can figure is that the physical size of the motor (thanks to its wider V angle) and liquid cooling rendered it too large a package for Eric to shoehorn into his cramped little bikes - it would require an entirely new bike.

Using the VRod motor would require a change of mindset on Eric's part too, and I'm sad to hear that he's apparently even more close-minded to the possibilities than the parent company.

[DIS-TURBED]

I can't wait to have a Harley Davidson. i will ride the h.d. to work and back,
rocket on the weekends. apples and oranges.

[Spi1lz]

It isn't just "sportbikes" and "Harleys"...

A ton of cruisers are japanese made... My dad rides a Suzuki boulevard m109r. It's a huge (1800cc) comfortable bike that actually pulls some mean power... I think it has like 120hp or some shit... Can't quite keep up with a sportbike, yes, but it can certainly rip around... It can lean a lot more than a harley can too, until the pegs scrape... My dad has scraped it. I have more respect for cruisers than HD's...

The majority of harley riders wave back to me as well... Or at least nod. Whenever someone doesn't wave I just figure they didn't see me wave, or they couldn't react in time of when they saw...


PS: That guy who wrote the article kept repeating himself over and over again... I can't imagine how many times he repeated himself throughout that whole article... I gave up about 15 paragraphs in...

[F&D]

Originally Posted by lemosley01

As I recall, doesn't Harley sell more motorcycles than anyone else (in the US).

Yes they do, but sales figures don't explain the presence of so many Harleys on the IBA list if Harley riders are all image-obsessed poseurs on leaky junk bikes.

edit: Look at how high BMW is on that list. I know they don't sell as many bikes as the big 4 manufacturers.

Yep, BMW is a very small overall portion of bike sales figures, but many BMW riders are seriously hard-core distance riders.

F&D are you on there yet?

Not yet, but I will be soon. My bike has fresh tires, sprockets & chain, and just got the valves done, so she's ready to go. I'm just waiting for it to get a bit warmer, and trying to talk my bro-in-law into going with me.

[Kneed600]

I agree with the author on several points. The younger crowd of today who crave for performance have no choice but to buy an import......unless they don't mind over-paying for a sub-par machine.

[midknyte]

Originally Posted by F&D

What is this cosmetic "bloat" that HD added to the motor that Buell couldn't simply remove?

Fake/cosmetic finning to make it look like the air cooled engines. Routing of the piping, etc.

[Veefer97]

One glaring error in the article, Harleys are not made in the USA (they may have been made in the USA at the time the article was written) To wear the made in the USA 90% of the parts on a bike, or car must be actually made in the US. Harley was using Showa suspension (front end) as far back as 1974. Another error, Harley did not get away from racing, they just changed the rules in the racing that they could somewhat compete in by having the rules in their favor like dirt track "racing". The Harley engine design goes back to the Knuckle head (1936) which was redesigned as the Pan head, then the Showel head and now the Block head. In all fairness Harley cannot change since custumer demand is the the old traditional design. This is proven by the failure of the V rod and the Buell. Ultimatley Harley owners will make the company fail as they prevent any significant change in the motor or design. Regardless, I hate Harley as a company because they do not belive in any type of freedom of choice. These are the people who brought us the 700cc embargo and tried to trademark (they failed) the twin sound thus preventing anyone else from building a twin cylinder motorcycle.

[jfmiltown]

Too Long Boy, Harleys are junk big deal, if they were high performance machines then all the fat slow, inexperinced, cooperate guys who buy them would be killing themselves cause they cany handle the bike

[Mr. Lesbian]

I didn't read it all. But they should also mention that hardleys are also excellent for picking up fat ugly butchy alcholic trailer trash chicks. The kind that sheep seem to like.

[bpmull]

I stopped reading after a couple paragraphs because it is all BS. I didn't even read all the posts in this thread either.

All I want to say is that if you have not ridden a HD, then shut your mouth about them. Seriously, find a demo ride and take a bike out. IMO, they are great bikes for the purpose they were created for. Once you ride one, then you can disagree all you want and I will respect your opinion.

High priced? Yes, but that's because people are still willing to pay that kind of money for them.

[Kneed600]

I've ridden plenty of Harleys, if you're the "all show no go" type of rider, then its definitely for you. HD is USDM rice at it's finest.

Even the 1200cc sporster is only working with 70 horses to push that 553lb porker of a bike....pathetic.

[dco8415]

Originally Posted by emw

Any chance for cliffs?

+1

[Ridin on chrome]

that is longest post ive ever seen on SBN

[EMIL587]

I think theyre pretty cool. I want one.