Sportster Speed
My brother, who is a Harley rider, tried to explain the sportster is a girl bike to me.
In his words, "most Harley riders are narrow minded and will only ride Harleys, so when they try to get their girlfriends/wives to start riding they have to have a Harley and get the smallest one for it's lighter weight, lower power.
I don't think they want their women riding bikes as big or bigger than there own.
In his words, "most Harley riders are narrow minded and will only ride Harleys, so when they try to get their girlfriends/wives to start riding they have to have a Harley and get the smallest one for it's lighter weight, lower power.
I don't think they want their women riding bikes as big or bigger than there own.
'78 CB400T2 Hawk
- oldnslo
- Site Supporter - Diamond
- Posts: 1236
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 9:21 pm
- Real Name: Lamont Cranston
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 20
- My Motorcycle: Year/Make/Model1983 Yamaha Seca 900
- Location: Vancouver
I would have loved to have seen it being built. Bill Gelbke also built some prototypes of a bike called the "Autocar" I think it was. Ugly, but built to last. He was an engineer, after all, and sometimes got a little carried away. Very interesting fellow.
Several years ago they did an article in Motorcyclist magazine on the Roadog and Bill Gelbke and his creations, and short life.
Several years ago they did an article in Motorcyclist magazine on the Roadog and Bill Gelbke and his creations, and short life.
John
"83 XJ900RK
IT'S ABOUT OIL, MONEY, AND POWER, ALL OF THE TIME.
"83 XJ900RK
IT'S ABOUT OIL, MONEY, AND POWER, ALL OF THE TIME.
- ZooTech
- Legendary 3000
- Posts: 3233
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:23 am
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 18
- My Motorcycle: Nomad / Ninja 500 / VLX Bobber / C3 / VS
- Location: Ohio
I've never ridden a 1200, but the 883 can't even get out of its own way (yes, I've ridden one). And that's where this mentality and opinion comes from, so settle down, Spiffy.Gummiente wrote:Oh, now you've done it! All the Harley "experts" will be demanding proof you went that fast because they were told by a friend's cousin's neighbour who lived down the block from an old guy that knew someone who's grandson used to work with a guy that said Harleys can't go that fast.
Just for the record, it's the Sportster's ergos that lead me to call it a "girl's bike", not the power. It's a pretty small, skinny bike with a short wheelbase, and girls who want a Harley generally get one because of the weight and the ability to flat-foot a hugger (or "low") version.Loonette wrote:can we please quit equating weak things with girls?!
I'll second that...at least, as far as you're concerned.Loonette wrote: Girls are pretty hard core, if you haven't noticed.
Guys, she handles her 700lb, 1600cc Mean Streak like it's a bicycle...and she's a petite lady!
Nope. I have three kids, and skipped the birth of all three. Hell, I passed out watching the epidural...Loonette wrote: Ever see a woman give birth without pain medication?


Okay...I was with you up until here...you saw my tattoo, and I was bleedin' like a pierced jugular during the proceedure...and never even flinched. Afterward I did a 2-hour trip on my NightHawk from downtown Chicago to northwest Indiana...at two in the morning.Loonette wrote: And girls handle tattoos better as well. Guys will tense up and wince their faces like they're being tortured.
Again, the Sportster is the "chick's bike" because of its size...not its horsepower. You can't argue that women are, on average, shorter and lighter than the average male. I just want to make sure we're clear here, because this seems to be one of your buttons...Loonette wrote: And there's nothing weak about anything I do in life, including the bike I ride. I mean, really. For the most part, muscle to muscle, guys can physically do more, but women are in no way weak or incapable of handling the tough things in life.


- Gummiente
- Site Supporter - Platinum
- Posts: 3485
- Joined: Wed May 11, 2005 11:34 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 38
- My Motorcycle: 03 Super Glide
- Location: Kingston, ON
Feeling guilty, Bucko? I was actually thinking of someone else when I wrote that response.ZooTech wrote:I've never ridden a 1200, but the 883 can't even get out of its own way (yes, I've ridden one). And that's where this mentality and opinion comes from, so settle down, Spiffy.


It isn't WHAT you ride,
It's THAT you ride
- ZooTech
- Legendary 3000
- Posts: 3233
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:23 am
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 18
- My Motorcycle: Nomad / Ninja 500 / VLX Bobber / C3 / VS
- Location: Ohio
Nope, sure wasn't...but we've gone a few rounds about this very subject so either specify who the object of your sarcasm is or expect this sort of thing to happen.Gummiente wrote:Feeling guilty, Bucko? I was actually thinking of someone else when I wrote that response.ZooTech wrote:I've never ridden a 1200, but the 883 can't even get out of its own way (yes, I've ridden one). And that's where this mentality and opinion comes from, so settle down, Spiffy.
Incidentally, I agree with oldnslo...105mph isn't very fast at all...unless it's on an 883, cuz my buddy can barely hit 80mph on his despite all the Screamin' Eagle hop-ups.
- oldnslo
- Site Supporter - Diamond
- Posts: 1236
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 9:21 pm
- Real Name: Lamont Cranston
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 20
- My Motorcycle: Year/Make/Model1983 Yamaha Seca 900
- Location: Vancouver
Proof again that hop-ups, done improperly, can actually detract from a bike's power output. I read a whining letter to a magazine tech editor from a Harley owner who had spent a few thousand on hop-ups, but his buddy on a stock 1400 Intruder could leave him for dead. Know what you're doing before you start ordering speed parts.
John
"83 XJ900RK
IT'S ABOUT OIL, MONEY, AND POWER, ALL OF THE TIME.
"83 XJ900RK
IT'S ABOUT OIL, MONEY, AND POWER, ALL OF THE TIME.