Honda or Harley?

Message

Gummiente · Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:20 am

ZooTech wrote: Here the rage is liter bikes and big V-twins, but the overwhelming majority of members here at TMW seem to have a fetish with 650's and other small to midsize rides.

So it's a "size" thing with you Ohio boys 'n girls then? Ah, ok, now I understand.

#22 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:41 am

Gummiente wrote:So it's a "size" thing with you Ohio boys 'n girls then? Ah, ok, now I understand.

That's been covered, Gummi!

Did you ever consider that maybe we're not compensating...but rather, we need the extra torque to haul them around cuz they're so unbelievably huge?

#23 Unread post by **cb360** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:48 am

ZooTech wrote:You know what...maybe it's a regional thing. I live in Central Ohio, and this isn't the first time our way of looking at something has differed greatly from the rest of the forum. Here the rage is liter bikes and big V-twins, but the overwhelming majority of members here at TMW seem to have a fetish with 650's and other small to midsize rides. One of my co-workers has a Shadow Ace 750, which he bought from a friend's wife, and all he can talk about is buying something >1100cc as soon as fiscally possible. We razz him all the time saying, "Hey, Mike, when you gonna bring in the other half of your bike?!" My buddy with the Sportster 883 is dying to convert it to a 1200 or trade up for a Night-Train. 'Bout the only cruiser <1000cc that gets any respect is the Suzuki C50, but that's because the chassis is misleading due to its size. I have confused the C50 for the C90 on many occasions. Hell, even the women ride big bikes. This cute little blonde in my old neighborhood (about 5'6", 130lbs) rode a nice Honda Magna, and Loonette (one of the moderators here) rides a 1600cc Mean Streak.

The Sportster 883 will get you around just fine, but around here nobody gives them the time of day. It's the nose-bleed seat at a Harley Davidson concert.

Maybe it's an urban vs rural/suburbs thing. I ride a little old antique honda twin around Seattle on a daily basis - sometimes 2-up, and it's plenty adequate. The thing is that I can ride every day for a month and not get over 50mph ten times if I stay around where I live. I can't imagine wrestling with a 1500cc monster in the tight traffic and parking around here when I'm going on my one or two mile jaunts to the grocery store and the movies or to the gym. At the same time, I'd LOVE to have a larger bike - and I plan on getting one so I can hit the highway more often and maybe do some overnight trips two-up. But even if I had one, I think I'd still ride my 350 .lb cb360 on my short little urban adventures. It's light and quick and easy to park and move around in tight spaces. Believe it or not I get nice comments on that little bike just about every time I go out. I do still want a hog though... no trade though - I'd keep them both

#24 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:25 am

I'd have to agree with you to some degree there. If I lived, worked, and commuted in Columbus every day I think I'd have been better off keeping my NightHawk 700SC or trading for a VStrom 650 instead of this Mean Streak. Although, I was surprised right away with how well my Mean Streak handles at low speeds. I thought I would be laboring through town and planning my left turns into shopping centers with the utmost care. Quite the contrary. With the excellent balance, crotch rocket wheels/tires/brakes, and low-end torque I am able to dart around urban traffic just as easily as I did on my standards. That's the thing about the Mean Streak...you have to take all that you have learned about big cruisers (giant fenders, hella weight, slow reflexes, wooden brakes) and throw it all out the window. The Mean Streak is a power cruiser and is able to give a few sport bikes a run for their money, scraping pegs all the way!

keysman · #25 Unread post by **keysman** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:23 pm

Gummiente wrote:
keysman wrote:What about the Triumph Rocket III, 2300ccs. I rode one this past weekend and it was a pretty nice cruiser. It's worth checking out.
The guy is trying to decide between a 750cc or an 883cc cruiser and you wanna toss a 2300cc guided missile into his path??!!

He said he had a windfall of cash so, you know dream big.

keysman · #26 Unread post by **keysman** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:30 pm

ZooTech wrote:
Gummiente wrote:So it's a "size" thing with you Ohio boys 'n girls then? Ah, ok, now I understand.
That's been covered, Gummi!

Did you ever consider that maybe we're not compensating...but rather, we need the extra torque to haul them around cuz they're so unbelievably huge?

Is that the bikes that are huge or just the riders?

It gives a whole new meaning to the Harley "Fat Boy"!

Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:28 pm

For pure cost, the Hondas would suit. or a Kawasaki Vulcan - the Drifter is really retro-cool.

Harleys are expensive. I have a 2005 Sportster 1200C. I think it is the cat's "O Ring". I love it. It has power, character, and everything I want.

I never tried a Honda or a Kawasaki, so I can't compare them.

However..........

Ride 'em before you buy 'em. See if the Honda/Kawasaki dealers will let you tet drive them. Call the various H-D dealers and as when demo days are coming.

I was escourting H-D demos on my Blast when eventually no more folks wanted to ride the Sportsters. Up to that point I thought I wanted an 883 or 1200R. After test riding an 883 and then a Custom, I realized I liked the Custom MUCH better. I rode the 883 twice and the Custom 4 or 5 times. Again, if money is the concern - buy an 883 and when you need more power, add a 1200 conversion (you or the dealer can do it). I got the custom for a few things like the larger fuel tank, forward controls, etc. Each could be added to an 883 or 1200R but it gets expensive.

After all the test rides - buy the one that makes you smile the most.

#28 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:00 pm

keysman wrote:
ZooTech wrote: Did you ever consider that maybe we're not compensating...but rather, we need the extra torque to haul them around cuz they're so unbelievably huge?
Is that the bikes that are huge or just the riders? It gives a whole new meaning to the Harley "Fat Boy"!

Uhhhh...well...it's about 50/50!

keysman · #29 Unread post by **keysman** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:20 pm

Okay, I'll give you that 50/50 percentage.

#30 Unread post by **Sev** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:40 pm

ZooTech wrote:
keysman wrote:
ZooTech wrote: Did you ever consider that maybe we're not compensating...but rather, we need the extra torque to haul them around cuz they're so unbelievably huge?
Is that the bikes that are huge or just the riders? It gives a whole new meaning to the Harley "Fat Boy"!
Uhhhh...well...it's about 50/50!

You need the extra room rest your gut on the tank, I get it! Whoops, just kidding.