is it possible to compare Harleys without bias?

Message

#11 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:16 am

Dang...you're a freakin' mind reader!

Snake · #12 Unread post by **Snake** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:37 am

if your looking for a good turing bike, you'll want to look at the Dynaglide from harly, or a sport tour. I recently got to ride both a honda ST1300 and a BMW K1200RT, and the BMW had way better handling, way more power, and just all around way cooler, plus, the sound wasn't an annoying whine the honda had, the Beemer had sort of a growl. you should go and check out the Dyna and K1200RT they are both awesome. and if your wondering about buying out of our country, just listen to that "O Ring" hole doing the chrystler (Or however you spell it) ads: "If you find a better car, buy it".

Snake out.

eric© · #13 Unread post by **eric©** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:49 am

cb360 wrote:
I know of at least one bike that fits that bill.
Yep. I know just the bike Zootech is thinking of... no caddy type ride, check. Not taking corners at insanely high speeds, check. Ability to cruise at 80 mph, check. It's a 1974 Honda CB360 with the orange flake paint job! OK - just kidding. I can cruise at 80 though, but I don't think I'd want to for very long and there damn sure wouldn't be plenty of power left

Yeah, my GS is much the same way. I can cruise it at 90, but it really loses most power at about 75, and is quite squirrely and buzzy even at that speed. The Harley type vibration wouldn't bother me at all (my truck feels like it's going to vibrate itself apart at 55

), but the buzziness does get to me after about 100 miles.

I really have no desire to go any faster than about 90, but I'd like the power and handling to get up to about 110-115 without complaint if I would need to.

eric© · #14 Unread post by **eric©** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:54 am

Snake wrote:if your looking for a good turing bike, you'll want to look at the Dynaglide from harly, or a sport tour.

I'm not so much looking at strictly touring, more of a dual purpose bike. I like to be on the bike as much as possible, enough so that my truck is pretty much just fired up when I need to do things like weekly grocery shopping, picking up large toys like the big screen TV or another bike, or when I take it off roading. My bikes see far more miles than any of my cages ever have.

I can't see myself riding a fully dressed bike all the time, nor would I really want to. Even for long road trips, I'd prolly just strap on a couple soft side bags, perhaps a tank bag, and go. Any other time I'd rather be rolling around on a naked bike.

#15 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:58 am

eric© wrote:I really have no desire to go any faster than about 90, but I'd like the power and handling to get up to about 110-115 without complaint if I would need to.

Okay, I still know at least one bike that fits the bill.

(you can go now, cb360!

)

eric© wrote:I'm not so much looking at strictly touring, more of a dual purpose bike.

Oh....err....yeah! I was thinking of the V-Strom 1000, too!

eric© · #16 Unread post by **eric©** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:06 am

The V-Strom was another that I was looking at, tho I'm concerned about the buzziness that a twin would have at speed. Of course, I would figure that out fairly quickly with a test ride, I suppose, lol.

#17 Unread post by **cb360** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:17 am

ZooTech wrote:Dang...you're a freakin' mind reader!

I thought you'd get a kick out of that. My little bike actually has 100 on the speedometer. It might actually do it as few miles as it has, but I'm too scared I'd blow it up to even try. Not to mention that I might wet my pants trying to go 100 without a windscreen.

#18 Unread post by **cb360** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:19 am

eric© wrote:
cb360 wrote:
I know of at least one bike that fits that bill.
Yep. I know just the bike Zootech is thinking of... no caddy type ride, check. Not taking corners at insanely high speeds, check. Ability to cruise at 80 mph, check. It's a 1974 Honda CB360 with the orange flake paint job! OK - just kidding. I can cruise at 80 though, but I don't think I'd want to for very long and there damn sure wouldn't be plenty of power left

Yeah, my GS is much the same way. I can cruise it at 90, but it really loses most power at about 75, and is quite squirrely and buzzy even at that speed. The Harley type vibration wouldn't bother me at all (my truck feels like it's going to vibrate itself apart at 55 ), but the buzziness does get to me after about 100 miles.

I really have no desire to go any faster than about 90, but I'd like the power and handling to get up to about 110-115 without complaint if I would need to.

Yeah, you are definitely looking for a big bike. I'm sure the bikes we have now would sound like a million angry bees at the speeds you're looking for.

Wizzard · #19 Unread post by **Wizzard** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:05 pm

At some point Harley went from being "An American Motorcycle" to "An American Legend" for the simple reason that 47% of any Harley today is not made in America .
Regards, Wizzard

sapaul · #20 Unread post by **sapaul** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:14 pm

The thread asks can you compare Harleys, I do not think you can, they are unique, never mind horsepower or displacement or top end, Harleys are a lifestyle and if the riders admit it it is probably more about how that bike makes you feel when you ride it than any other consideration. Couple of guys have claimed the ideal bike and one mentioned the R1200RT, awsome machine but the R1150gs or 1200GS are far more versatile and will exceed all of the expectations that have been mentioned. Above all else I agree with the guy that said, if it does not feel right, do not buy it.