Harley or BMW?

Originally posted by RGRAY
A Harley is a feeling that if you don't understand; I can't explain it to you. :)

No other bike gives you that feeling, but they're not for everyone.
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Had a 92 Sportster DLX. Didn't understand a lot of things. Like why I had to pull over every 100 miles to fill up. Or why after every long ride I gotta spend two hours after I washed it tightening just about every nut on the bike to make sure that they don't vibrate loose, just like the left passenger foot peg I lost once (it was on when I started the ride, but wasn't there when I finished.) ;)

When I bought the BMW, I got full hard luggage; ABS brakes; heated grips and power adapter for my heated vest; and a 250 mile range that I could kill in a single ride without stopping.
 
Originally posted by tonyccw
...When I bought the BMW, I got full hard luggage; ABS brakes; heated grips and power adapter for my heated vest...
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You should have just bought a car. :D
 
PCNorton. I don't quibble about what you say about the Honda. It just doesn't light my fire. Actually the Fat Boy doesn't light my fire either. I realize the Sportster is the HD most like the classic bikes of my youth, but they don't light my fire either. The only model I really like the HD lineup is the FXD. Here's what it looks like:

fxd.jpg


The look of those classic English bikes is unmistakable. I don't even think this bike looks like and HD. But it sure is.

Tony, the things you say about your Sportster are a thing of the past. Modern HD's don't shake and rattle any more than a Japanese bike. They don't need constant tightening. They have really improved. You wouldn't believe the difference. Take care.
 
My last before selling to fund kid's college career was a '49 panhead. Damn, I miss her.
Harley "culture", rub, and those who keep telling you over and over and over what cool outlaw bikers they were in the old days are a joke.
Buy what makes YOU feel good.
 
Originally posted by Knife Outlet
Tony, the things you say about your Sportster are a thing of the past. Modern HD's don't shake and rattle any more than a Japanese bike. They don't need constant tightening. They have really improved. You wouldn't believe the difference. Take care.
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I know. Notice the '92 model year? Still, having had my BMW for the past 10 years has endeared me greatly to German engineering. Shame it took HD so long to catch up.
 
I don't know, I think the rattle and shake of that big engine was kind of comforting. At a steady speed it had a kind of a droning feel. When you revved it up (usually past common sense) it had a stinging buzz through the foot-pegs that kind of riled up the blood.

For me, the hassle was oil leaks. I mean, I worked all day fixing other people's bikes, and I drive home and find drips under my primary chain cover. Hard to pin down, because it usually started someplace else and ran down to the lowest point on the bike, the rear of cover, under the clutch. By this time of day, light was failing, so I'd be on my knees in a dark garage with a crummy flashlight. I kept my bikes super clean, so I could usually find the source.

And BTW Lifter4Him, we weren't oiutlaws in the traditional sense, but it sure was fun to go somewhere, and 'take the party with you.' After a few years, you knew dozens of guys really well. You couldn't wait to get off work and see who would show up at the Anchor Inn. I haven't had that intense relationship with a group of men in years, and I miss it. I do understand that you cannot re-create feelings like that. But for those ever so brief five years, I had a really good time.
 
Fred,
You've got yourself a dilemma there. Here's my two cents worth. I've owned two BMWs and two Harleys in the past twenty years. My current ride is a 1996 Dyna Convertible, which I have upgraded in the suspension areas to match the current handling of the Dyna Superglide. I don't use my MC for daily transportation here in Denver, preferring longer rides on weekends and one or two big road-trip adventures with pals per year, usually in the summer. However, for the riding you describe I'd go with the Harley for a couple of reasons. First, seat height is lower than the BMW. I'm a hair under 6' and for around town maneuvering, parking lots etc. the lower seat height really adds to the "easy factor" on a daily basis. Secondly, the torque available at lower RPMs from the Harley also translates into an "easy factor" advantage with less shifting and clutching necessary in an around town situation. There are many other subtlties differentiating these two great makes but for your application the Harley will be easy and therefore inviting. I will say that if absolute safety is a person's no.1 criteria, it's hard to beat BMW's ABS braking system and its anti-dive front suspension which reduces dive by about 70%. I can testify that these systems work and work very well. Still, I have found that any motorcycle I own that has some "issue" that makes it generally more of a hassle to ride, over time, gets left in the garrage more often than I would like. Good luck!
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Originally posted by Knife Outlet
PCNorton. I don't quibble about what you say about the Honda. It just doesn't light my fire. Actually the Fat Boy doesn't light my fire either. I realize the Sportster is the HD most like the classic bikes of my youth, but they don't light my fire either. The only model I really like the HD lineup is the FXD. Here's what it looks like:

fxd.jpg


The look of those classic English bikes is unmistakable. I don't even think this bike looks like and HD. But it sure is.

Tony, the things you say about your Sportster are a thing of the past. Modern HD's don't shake and rattle any more than a Japanese bike. They don't need constant tightening. They have really improved. You wouldn't believe the difference. Take care.
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I agree, thats sharp. Looks a little triumph like in the ride set up. But there is no denying that engine. I going to have to disagree with the vibration thing having driven a 02 dyna glide.Rearview mirrors as on my commando, useless with vibration.

Like I said before,try all the bikes you can. They are no longer cheap and you want to get it right with the first purchase. My honda and kaw were purchases od necessity--transportation. My Norton was an act of sadomasochism.:D


Paul
Rode my cb550k all senior year in high school. Snow and all, after the plows went out, so did I.
 
Originally posted by The Tourist
And BTW Lifter4Him, we weren't oiutlaws in the traditional sense, but it sure was fun to go somewhere, and 'take the party with you.' After a few years, you knew dozens of guys really well. You couldn't wait to get off work and see who would show up at the Anchor Inn. I haven't had that intense relationship with a group of men in years, and I miss it. I do understand that you cannot re-create feelings like that. But for those ever so brief five years, I had a really good time.
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To break my own rule for a minute and respond to you-I wasnt talking to you or about you and havent for months. That's the way I like it and hopefully you'll do the same. FWIW, I'm not a 1%er, never have been ,never will be, just an associate.

Sorry to interrupt the topic of the thread.
 
Good Evening All-

KnifeOutlet, based on your age, described usage, and demographic, the more appropriate machine would be the BMW motorcycle.

This opinion is coming from someone currently riding a mint-condition 1991 Honda CBR 600F2. There is no doubt a H-D could be cool in certain situations, but reality makes the German marque the more prudent choice. You mention 300-mile rides....it sure would be nice to pack a change of clothes and get a hotel room in the next state and then ride back the next day with your Significant Other, wouldn't it?

Another poster had mentioned niceties like top-notch luggage, heated grips, and a velvet-smooth motor. It's the little things that make for enjoyable rides...regardless of overall distance.

Lastly, the people on BMW motorcycles tend to be more, uh, normal and approachable for lack of a better description. My observations are hardly scientific, but many H-D riders "buy into" that outlaw image. It unfortunately taints their ability to interact with other riders at meeting spots, eateries, and watering holes. No flame intended, but this is what I've encountered during nearly twenty years on motorcycles.

YMMV.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Blue Jays,

Boy, if that's true, you've met the wrong clubs.

For over 30 years my club has gone to Stoughton, Wisconsin for what is known as Sietten de Mai (I might be spelling that wrong). There are a lot of Norwegians in that little town, and they celebrate Norways freedom with parades, food and a marathon race. Always a good time, several Harley type clubs go, never a problem. In fact, one year we went and they had reserved a parking lot where no one would disturb our bikes.

Monroe, Wisconsin has festivals surrounding the William Tell saga. Same deal, we always go, we dine in small cafes with the locals and we always get invited back.

It's the attitude. As I've ried to convey, we ride a lot of black Harleys, wear colors, but we are a club, not a gang. We even used to ride with the Police motorcycle club, The Blue Knights.
 
Originally posted by The Tourist
Boy, if that's true, you've met the wrong clubs.
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Maybe, but he's not singling anyone out. Just making a generalization. No need to feel personally slighted. My personal experience riding my Honda's, Harley's and BMW's throughout the Northeast matches what Blue Jay has said. The friendliness of the BMW Rallies, the distance travelled of the attendees, and the overall relaxed atmosphere was one reason I purchased a BMW. This was in sharp contrast to the Poker Runs, Runs for Tots, Freedom Runs, and Wiers Beach in NH that I attended with the HD. Everyone has different experiences, no one said it had to match yours.
 
Tonyccw,

Perhaps, but I've been reminded that sometimes you are your own worst enemy. For example, I didn't even know that Lifter4Him was mad at me; his last response response mentioned 1%ers. Well, some of the guys raced under AMA membership, most didn't. We never considered ourselves 1%ers, and many would be insulted.

However, I wanted to see if my club had a websire, so I googled it. Sure enough, we came up on a page I had never heard of called bikernews.com or some such. There we were, mixed in with all of the clubs that ride black Harelys.

The thing that hurt my feelings was an article from a local magazine, and it's an old one. It mentioned the good stuff we do, like blood drives and St. Vincent de Paul, but the article ended with a few paragraphes of our 'best fighter.' I know this guy, he's a big teddy bear. The only time I ever saw him get rough was when NUMEROUS other ways were exhausted. In like manner, we had one member shot--in thirty years. Even I felt it looked bad, and not the club I know.

The two brothers (real brothers, BTW) who started that club did so with the best of intentions. We were admonished continually to never let anyone refer to us as a gang, we were a club, and that was our most important discourse with the public. We were also the leader in organizing clubs to avert bad leglislation, not the AMA.

To be sure, I have some great memories of the silly adventures. But as I've said many times, there was no fighting as in the Hunter Thompson book. More often it was pushing and shoving, or an individual biker brought his personal problems into the club. And I've stated dozens of time here that I was proud never to have thrown an offensive punch.

I feel passionately about the work and good will that we did. On one ride, we were horse-playing and knocked a door off of its hinges in a small mom/pop tavern. When our President found out about it, we had to take up a collection, the innocent and the guilty, pay for the door and then apologize to the owner. Does that sound like a 1% club to you?
 
www.wildwestcycle.com



"The Harley is the rowdy, well-upholstered blonde country wench, maybe not too bright, but a handful in the haymow. The BMW is the Black Velvet billboard woman, quiet and sophisticated, found in the dark by the whisper of silk sheets. If I was headed for Denver on U.S. 50 with time on my hands, I'd take the FXRT. If I were in a hurry, or if the destination was San Francisco via the Coast Highway, it'd be the BMW for sure. Fortunately, I have both."
 
I've owned about 15 motorcycles over the years, with the last three being Harleys. I now ride a 2002 FXDWG3 (wide glide). All of the prior motorcycles had a purpose at some time of my riding career. After selling the 12th bike I figured I was through riding until I decided I wanted another bike just to putt around on.

I've enjoyed the Harleys more so than the rest. The current crop of Harleys are so much better than what they were in the past that it's hard to compare them. I understand others passions for other brands and that's fine by me. I only ride what I like. With a current Harley it's easy to get immersed into the harley culture. However it's all marketing. You can go as far as you wish both financially and comfortably.

However, when you throw that leg over that Harley and put that engine into motion you're ready for action!
 
To be really frank, I can't imagine choosing a bike based on the image it portrays to others or what kind of "culture" other bike owners might embrace. It makes zero sense to me.

When I took my first cross country trip (on a new 1970 Yamaha 650) they threw rocks at me as I passed through Salt Lake City. I didn't stop there and I never returned. I still don't care what the Salt Lake City people thought of my bike, I just cared about the rocks which, fortunately, missed. I don't care what people might think about a new bike today either. It's for me, not for them. I'm not interested in a "culture." I just want to ride.

I really appreciated the comments from everybody about the machines. It was informative and interesting. I even visited the Honda/Yamaha dealer and was impressed with many of the bikes there. None of them, however, tweaked my fancy like the original two although I didn't have a chance to ride any of them. Maybe I'll wait until Spring and test them as well. I owned two Yamahas in the past and liked them both. I'll make my decision based on what product imparts the most pleasure to me. I still have a few months to ponder it. Take care.
 
Good Evening All-

TheTourist, yes I agree with you 100% that you can certainly find good and bad people within any group. Many H-D riders ultimately have good intentions, most notably the folks who participate in the Toys For Tots runs, Benefits for Burn Victims, and United Way fundraisers. The primarily H-D groups I've encountered seem to have trouble seeing the forest because of all the trees that are in the way...

I'm in my mid-thirties and have attended about seven benefit rides over the years. Wouldn't you know that at each and every event attended I've been "snubbed" because I've rolled-up on a bike with four cylinders and fairings? People on sportbikes represent a tiny minority at these events...so I've made it a point to walk around, smile, and compliment especially nice bikes. You wouldn't believe how many times I've met with stone silence or the cliques closed rank and simply turned their backs to me. It is especially charming when they stage-whisper about my "riceburner POS" when my $25.00 entrance fee is helping their same charity.

It isn't the basics, either...I'm well-groomed, normal, married, successful at work, and have fresh breath! :) Maybe it is the full-face Arai RX7-RR helmet that draws such animosity?

Now, contrast that with the group of BMW riders with whom my old college roommate regularly rides. I've ridden several states away to hook-up with these guys and it is like joining old friends. We shake hands at the start of the ride and they treat me like we've been pals for years. We share laughs about riding, current events, families, whatever. When we stop for lunch, it's just a bunch of men and women out for a good time and some fellowship on a nice autumn day.

Yeah, there are a few braggers showing-off their newest Aerostich Roadcrafter or helmet-to-helmet communication system...but they are almost unfailingly pleasant people. As mentioned by TonyCCW, they are one seriously dedicated bunch of motorcycle pilots, too. Some of these individuals have saddle time that just blows me away...of which I'm very envious. My odometer will never turn over like some of theirs.

Knife Outlet, I didn't mean to hijack your thread, but it seems to me that if one is going to invest serious money to choose a motorcycle to spend precious leisure time, one should reap the most benefit and enjoyment. It's not a slam against the machine (the Dyna Wide Glide mentioned by Sniper308 is sah-weet!), but it doesn't seem worth the hassle to try and be part of the somewhat exclusionary club of H-D riders.

Just my humble opinion. Your experiences may differ...

~ Blue Jays ~
 
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