Gummiente wrote:And at $16,184 I ended up paying a bit less than some of those "my pencil is bigger than yours" cookie-cutter bikes like the $16,299 Mean Streak.
With the Vulcan 2000, VTX1800, and Star bikes rolling around, the Mean Streak is hardly a bigger pencil. What sets it apart is the inverted front fork, dual discs with six piston calipers lifted off the ZX9R, and the Dunlop ST220 sport-touring tires. And at $10,999 MSRP (and much less at the dealership), it's a downright steal.
Gummiente wrote:
how does one keep a straight face when riding something with a name like "Mean Streak", anyway?
We take lessons from people riding bikes like the "Street Bob".
So because the name is not cool enough, you shouldn't buy a good bike? Or you should buy a bike because it has a cool name? Well, I guess when you talk about Harleys you may be talking about buying a bike for the name. Or the history. AND as far as I can tell by checking both Canadian and US prices, Harleys ARE still more expensive for less horsepower, torque, and features. I can print a bunch of numbers to back up the arguement, but what is the point? I'm not going to win anyone over who doesn't already feel that way. I think Mean Streak is a cool name myself, regardless of those other opinions. My opinion is they are goofy for what they think.
Great quality bikes that inspire a feeling and an image is Harley. Great fun there. But Kawasaki makes a great quality bike too, that happen to have many more features. Almost every guy I've talked to who owns a Harley has stated that you have to buy a new pipe and a performance kit to make the bike run worth a tar. Not one guy. Several guys. If I don't understand, you couldn't explain it to me probably. The Mean Streak is out of the box hot rod.
It's like the Ducati review I read today - they said the clutch was hard to pull in, the pegs were too close and the bars were too far - but if you care about that, you must not want a Ducati. What? Yeah, I guess that's right. I can list a dozen reasons I don't want a Ducati, a Harley, etc. When the Ducati rolls in on bike night everyone is watching (not everyone, but you get the idea) and even I go, wow, sounds cool, so exotic. But in the end, not my cup of tea.
Its your money. It is no surprise you would defend your choice (and me mine). No one likes to feel silly for what they did, or be ragged on for their choice. That is the same reason it is bothersome to have your bike name picked on. It wasn't the only reason someone bought the bike anyway. Nor did you buy the Harley without knowing it had some short-comings. Let's get off our high horses and off each other's back. If you minimize my bike and I minimize your bike we are not being brothers on bikes. Is it what your ride? OR is it that you ride?
* 2003 Kawasaki ZRX1200R *
"What good fortune for those of us in power that people do not think. " Hitler - think about that one for a minute.
I can't tell you how many articles I have read that said the exact same thing. It's called a Mean Streak, yet it's one of the most well-mannered cruisers on the road. So the hell what? That's supposed to be a bad thing? You gotta remember, the Warrior came out at the same time, so Kawasaki didn't have a bar to build to. And as powerful as the Warrior is, all the reviewers have to say about the handling is that it "requires constant correction in turns". Perhaps "M95" is a better name for my bike (Suzuki's version), but I couldn't care less about the name. Unlike you, I went shopping for a bike, not a badge.
Gummiente wrote:cookie-cutter bikes like the...Mean Streak.
Hmmmm....so far I have posted pics of three different bikes in the Harley lineup with no differences between them save for a seat or handlebar. Find another bike in Kawasaki's garage with as many interchangeable parts with the Mean Streak. And, every few years the Asian brands come out with a whole new model or give an existing model a complete makeover. A quick glance at a Harley review reveals things like "A keen eye will notice new battery covers" [Motorcycle USA]. Well, stop the presses! The '06 Harleys have new battery covers!
To each his own, Gummi. Aesthetics are subjective and nobody will ever be "wrong" for their choice in that respect. I just think it's hilarious how Harley can receive so much fanfare for releasing a "completely new model" when all they've done is swap out a seat.
scanevalexec wrote:What's up with all this "point proving"? Damn.
Aw, c'mon, we were just getting into it.
I don't care what anyone rides as long as they are happy. If you don't realise that about me by now, Scan, there's just no point in trying to convince you otherwise.
scanevalexec wrote:What's up with all this "point proving"? Damn.
Aw, c'mon, we were just getting into it.
I don't care what anyone rides as long as they are happy. If you don't realise that about me by now, Scan, there's just no point in trying to convince you otherwise.
It's all good. I don't wish Gummi any ill will. He has Harley fever and that's all that matters. Bikes are, after all, luxury items that none of us actually "need". I just thought the article I read at Motorcycle USA was downright hilarious as they were talking up these "new" models and even the pics they posted look nearly identical to one another.
ZooTech wrote:I just think it's hilarious how Harley can receive so much fanfare for releasing a "completely new model" when all they've done is swap out a seat.
And I think it hilarious how you continuously miss the point and ignore the facts. My point was the NAME of your bike was silly, not the bike itself. But you just go ahead and keep twisting my responses to suit your ego, you still crack me up. I know you don't like Harleys, but why you have to keep on posting petty little rants against them is beyond me.
ZooTech wrote:Unlike you, I went shopping for a bike, not a badge.
We'll just file that one under Ridiculous Assumptions. Your file is full of those.
Gummiente wrote:My point was the NAME of your bike was silly, not the bike itself.
Well I'm glad we cleared that up. The public deserves to know.
Gummiente wrote:
ZooTech wrote:Unlike you, I went shopping for a bike, not a badge.
We'll just file that one under Ridiculous Assumptions. Your file is full of those.
If you'd like to type up a list of reasons why the bike you own is better in any way other than name brand (subjective) or aesthetically (also subjective) I'd be more than happy to read and consider it. Even after a 1550cc "big" bore kit it can't keep up with any of the Asian offerings, and you yourself agreed the brakes were less than stellar (incidentally, so did Motorcycle USA). That leaves value on the list of objective reasons to choose a Harley, and a trip to any dealership will quickly put that argument to rest.
Again, I shop for a bike. I'd love it if Harley would get off their laurels and design something that was truly brand new and offer it at a working man's price. That would give me more to choose from when the time comes. As it is, however, Harley reminds me of General Motors slapping new plastic body cladding on a Lumina and calling it a "Monte Carlo". The argument has been made countless times that Harley owners buy based on name alone, and after seeing what Harley brings to market it's really hard to argue that it isn't true. If you don't see anything wrong with the pics I posted on page one, then that's clearly where we part ways. Using Harley's logic, I've changed enough parts on my bike that I should be able to apply for a new name...maybe even one that isn't silly.
scanevalexec wrote:What's up with all this "point proving"? Damn.
So because the name is not cool enough, you shouldn't buy a good bike?
If that was true I wouldn't own mine.
Honda 599, wow what a great name. They call it a Hornet over in Europe, why couldn't they call it that here?? At least that's cooler then a 3 - digit number. Sigh
Of course I'm generalizing from a single example here, but everyone does that. At least I do.
ZooTech wrote:Well I'm glad we cleared that up. The public deserves to know.
The public is on the ball, they already know. It's you that still needs help finding Waldo.
ZooTech wrote:If you'd like to type up a list of reasons why the bike you own is better in any way other than name brand (subjective) or aesthetically (also subjective) I'd be more than happy to read and consider it.
Unlike you, I don't feel the need to compare my bike to anyone else's. And unlike you, I don't mouth off about how superior I think my bike is. I don't need to - it suits my needs and that's all that matters. And since you have proven many times how much you don't like the brand, it's a moot point anyway.
ZooTech wrote:If you don't see anything wrong with the pics I posted on page one, then that's clearly where we part ways.
Uh, Earth to Zoomie... we "parted ways" a long time ago. You've just been too busy mouthing off to realise it.
Continue with the ranting, chest thumping and hyperbole - I'm waiting to see how you twist this response around!
Mike 
