Harley speed limit

[kioolt]

[ackgs]

That's a good one. While mine was no speed demon it did go quite a bit faster than 85. The speedometer was accurate and never knew of a HD to have a final drive failure. Once in a while a belt failure early on but I have never seen a picture of a belt on fire like a BMW final drive.   :2thumbup: Pick your poison.

[F14CRAZY]

I'd rather not have to buy loctite by the gallon

[Motorhobo]

I have a +million miler, ex-bmw mechanic, bike slut good buddy whose last bike was a 2009 Sportster and he was very happy with it. Sadly, Mike can no longer ride due to all the moto injuries he sustained in his +million miles, but if he could ride he'd probably still be on the Sportster.

Having said that I have never seen a Harley that was old enough to have a manual odometer. I always check mileage on parked bikes and I have never ever seen a Harley that didn't have a digital odometer whose display didn't go blank when he bike was shut off. What did they do with all the -pre 1995 Harleys? 

In my 15 years of riding I've only met one guy who claimed to have a high mileage (200k plus) Harley. Not verifiable since he wasn't riding it at to the time. :dunno2:

[ackgs]

I'd rather not have to buy loctite by the gallon

Not a problem on mine, just bought the small tubes just like I buy for my BMWs. What Harley model did you own?

I have a +million miler, ex-bmw mechanic, bike slut good buddy whose last bike was a 2009 Sportster and he was very happy with it. Sadly, Mike can no longer ride due to all the moto injuries he sustained in his +million miles, but if he could ride he'd probably still be on the Sportster.

Having said that I have never seen a Harley that was old enough to have a manual odometer. I always check mileage on parked bikes and I have never ever seen a Harley that didn't have a digital odometer whose display didn't go blank when he bike was shut off. What did they do with all the -pre 1995 Harleys? 

In my 15 years of riding I've only met one guy who claimed to have a high mileage (200k plus) Harley. Not verifiable since he wasn't riding it at to the time. :dunno2:

Yes there sure are a lot of high mileage BMWs around but if you check out the classifieds there are lots of really low mileage ones too. Latte getters if you will. IIRC my '91 had a regular old speedometer, I don't know when they changed. When I had mine there was an article I read in one of the Harley mags about a bike owned by a gentleman in NC with over 300,000 miles, a Tour Glide maybe. So there are some high mileage bikes out there. I think the mileage issue speaks more about the riders than the bikes reliability. As I mentioned mine was always reliable and easy to maintain. A friend who later switched to BMW has an 80s Electra Glide with close to 100,000 miles. He switched to BMW but never put anything close to that on the BMWs he owned and since he switched to Ducatti. Perhaps a glutton for punishment. He had several BMWs but never stuck with a particular model long. He does still have the Glide but has moved away so I don't know how many miles are on that one now.

I looked Sportsters as a "finish out my biking days" bike but the K bike found me and I am quite happy with it. Surprisingly I find owning and riding the K75 is very similar to my ownership experience with the Harley. The two are very different motorcycles but the personalities and satisfaction of riding the bikes are quite alike.   

[Motorhobo]

I like lattes. I even like pumpkin spice ones. I'll gladly ride two hours just to get one. Would it make me a better person if my destination were a whiskey, or a beer or a cheeseburger?

Whatever turdbrain decided that somehow coffee drinks were indicative of some level of testosterone required for achieving moto-hood can bite my kielbasa. I'll bet the inventor of the term 'latte getter' was sporting the Harley brand head to toe, including tats, shades and one of those little yamika thingies they sell there as 'helmets'.

Actually -- I drink Americanos. I lived in Seattle for nearly 20 years. I have the Starbucks app on my phone.  Every 12th star I get a free super sized $7 quad shot sugar bomb. I'll bet you that 50% of the Harleyists in the US go to Starbucks but always in their trucks lest they be seen there on their bikes and get chastised by their lifestyle buddies for being a Latte Getter!

[bocutter Ed]

I was at the home of pumpkin spice latte last weekend. Local Starbucks is 1/4 mile run from the shop. Takes more than 15 sec to get there, but not long enough to warm up the K so ...

The shop has an old Faema Family espresso machine, long story short cost me $2.48, so I drink in. Normally medium length double.

Whomever 'shopped' the lower sign could have slued the type.

[ackgs]

I like lattes. I even like pumpkin spice ones. I'll gladly ride two hours just to get one. Would it make me a better person if my destination were a whiskey, or a beer or a cheeseburger?

Whatever turdbrain decided that somehow coffee drinks were indicative of some level of testosterone required for achieving moto-hood can bite my kielbasa. I'll bet the inventor of the term 'latte getter' was sporting the Harley brand head to toe, including tats, shades and one of those little yamika thingies they sell there as 'helmets'.

Actually -- I drink Americanos. I lived in Seattle for nearly 20 years. I have the Starbucks app on my phone.  Every 12th star I get a free super sized $7 quad shot sugar bomb. I'll bet you that 50% of the Harleyists in the US go to Starbucks but always in their trucks lest they be seen there on their bikes and get chastised by their lifestyle buddies for being a Latte Getter!

Call it what you will: latte getter, beer getter, cheeseburger getter, whiskey getter, kielbasa getter, new final drive getter, pumpkin getter, ride anywhere within a mile from home and talk about your latest adventure with other adventurers getter, ride anywhere a mile form home and talk outlaw biker stuff getter, or whatever getter. Personally don't drink coffee never developed a taste for it, and don't really give a flying F**k that you drive two hours for coffee as long as you enjoy the ride.  My point was simply that there are plenty of bikes of all brands that are very low mileage some are even BMWs. Not all BMW riders are high mileage riders that's all and not all BMWs have 200,000 miles on them. So lighten up Francis.

[Motorhobo]

So lighten up Francis.

 :clap: :hehehe

I'll try...but it's not easy after a quad shot venti caramel mocha with six packets of sugar added just for calories. Today was my free drink day.

Most motorcycle owners are short-trippers and weekenders, be it BMW, Harley or whatever. I'm not too keen on newer BMWs either. Different type of 'lifestyle" rider. I'm an equal-opportunity basher...I'll disparage anything that's not a brick.

But seriously...I do think motobrickers have per capita the highest mileage bikes on the road.

[ackgs]

Yeah I am sure those double mochachino lattes or what ever you designer coffee drinkers drink to get your caffeine buzz can take a toll. I get my too much caffeine buzz from diet soda. Boring I know but I just can't drink coffee.

I like lots of different bikes as I suffer from what I call low threshold of interest or LTI. Almost anything seems like a good idea for a while. I have been trying to get some disability compensation but as yet LTI is not a recognized disability. I am working on that. I acquired my K pretty much by accident, I had never ridden one before I owned one. Then I had to get it running before go anywhere. I agree with you that bricks have the highest mileage per capita. They are just so much fun to ride. Great bikes. Of course I have only ridden mine but guess all of them are just as much fun. I am also sure I will develop the "disparage anything that is not a brick" thing as I am rapidly heading in that direction. Not a bad attitude. So far I am really enjoying the K.

Was not sure if anyone would get the "lighten up Francis" reference. Glad you did and not take offence as it was not meant as such. Enjoy your double mochachino lattes. 

[pdg]

Normally, tea is my drink of choice, but it's 'variable' if I don't make it myself so time was it was safe to order coffee, but now I have such trouble buying coffee at any sort of beverage vendor. I go in, ask for coffee and get asked which distinctly un-coffee-like abomination I desire.

I just want coffee, in a cup or mug, usually with some milk. Y'know, ground up beans treated with hot water - or even instant is fine if it's made right.

No sugar, no foamed giraffe, no sprinkled moon dust. Just friggin' coffee. How hard can it be?


Maybe there's a special fashionable name for it that has thus far eluded me.




On track - I've ridden a Harley. Once. A little. I came to a few conclusions........

It was slow - yes ok, it could probably top 85 but it would have needed a hell of a lot of (straight) road to do it. It was uncomfortable - I don't get on with the feet forward position, if I want to recline I have a sofa at home. It didn't go around corners very well at all - it felt almost like a 3 point turn was needed for a roundabout.

I've also ridden a few cruiser-y harley clone type bikes. Unsurprisingly, they were very much the same.

Maybe a reasonable bike could be made from one with a lot of effort and a welder, but it's sure as hell not possible with bolt-on 'custom' parts from the screamin' eagle catalogue. (Custom parts, from a catalgoue? If it's an 'approved accessory' or even sold to bolt on, it's not custom - probably burst a couple of bubbles there...)

[Motorhobo]

You can still get coffee over here but thanks to Uncle Howard (founder and CEO of Starbucks) even that will cost you close to $2. Good news is it's no longer that awful shit that tasted like warm water with a brown crayon in it -- once could credit Howie with raising the overall standard here in the US.

Best regular coffee is IMO Wawa. You non-East Coasters don't have Wawa, you poor saps. It's worth moving back east for.

Then of course there's Dunkin Donuts -- sadly no getting away from that in the US. They tell us America Runs On Dunkin. True...I only go there if I have the runs and can't make it to Wawa.

Please tell me there's no Dunkin donuts in the UK.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Harleys used to be dangerous bikes ridden by dangerous people.  Back then I always thought it would be fun to own one.  But then, they put a button in place of that kick starter and they never looked the same to me again.

I drink my coffee strong and black, and Starbucks is some of the worst I've had.  That's probably why everyone has to have all that other stuff put in it.  Personally, I am not the most patient person and I would rather ride my bike than stand in line waiting for the poseurs in front of me to order their frappa-dappa-chino-lattes.

[Motorhobo]

Personally, I am not the most patient person and I would rather ride my bike than stand in line waiting for the poseurs in front of me to order their frappa-dappa-chino-lattes.

Lighten up, Francis.

I had to google it but it's from Stripes.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Personally, I am not the most patient person and I would rather ride my bike than stand in line waiting for the poseurs in front of me to order their frappa-dappa-chino-lattes.

Lighten up, Francis.

I had to google it but it's from Stripes.

[ackgs]

As Larry the cable guy says "I don't care who you are that's funny". Great clip.

[ackgs]

Ah brings back memories. Not about coffee but I grew up in the Philly burbs and Wawa is so familiar. All our cafeteria milk in school came from Wawa. They were the first convenience chain store I remember. Relocated New England after college, no Wawa up our way. My wife drinks ice coffee and swears by Cumberland Farms a New England version of Wawa. When off island she prefers Dunkin's coffee. No Dunkin's here.

[ackgs]

On track - I've ridden a Harley. Once. A little. I came to a few conclusions........

It was slow - yes ok, it could probably top 85 but it would have needed a hell of a lot of (straight) road to do it. It was uncomfortable - I don't get on with the feet forward position, if I want to recline I have a sofa at home. It didn't go around corners very well at all - it felt almost like a 3 point turn was needed for a roundabout.

I've also ridden a few cruiser-y harley clone type bikes. Unsurprisingly, they were very much the same.

Maybe a reasonable bike could be made from one with a lot of effort and a welder, but it's sure as hell not possible with bolt-on 'custom' parts from the screamin' eagle catalogue. (Custom parts, from a catalgoue? If it's an 'approved accessory' or even sold to bolt on, it's not custom - probably burst a couple of bubbles there...)

The ridding  position is cultural I am told. Goes back to horses and saddles. The Harley is similar to our western saddle, European bikes evolved from your English style saddle.

There are lots of variants in the Harley line many did not appeal to me. Mine was an FXRP, P for police or pursuit as it served a year with a PD. The suspension was two inches taller than the usual FXR. I did a few engine mods, made a few parts for it and changed it around quite a bit. One thing nice about Harley's in my mind is that the after market is huge and they are easy bike to tailor to the owner if they so desire. My bike ended up being being a good performer, for a Harley anyway. I sold it when they were getting very popular and I got all the money I put in it and some extra back. Somewhat rare in the motorcycle hobby.

My son and I went to a Buell demo day a few years back. I wish I had the money at that point purchase one. The combination of the 1200 sportster motor in a more sporting chassis was very nice. Tons of torque. Probably not a race bike but way fun for street riding. Unfortunately they are gone. I really enjoyed the Lightning Long.

In regard to the "customization". From what I see BMW betting heavily on that marketing strategy with the new naked model they have out, the R-NineT. Also interesting to me is that they are marketing it to an "outlaw-ish" image and selling "custom" parts from a catalog. Sounds somewhat familiar. I am not a marketing guy but unless it really takes off I don't see much of an after market developing for so few bikes. Never can tell though. My observation is that BMW owners with older bikes work on them and are involved with their bikes. The owners of new ones just ride them.  Not a bad thing just the way it seems to me. I like to fiddle with my bikes.

[Motorhobo]

I will probably never ride a bmw with a rotax engine, which these days is most of them it seems. I don't get the concept of such a high price for a bike with a third-party engine. For new bikes, Honda is very appealing. They make 4 cylinders that are quieter and sound smoother than motobricks.

[Elipten]

Agree I have two CB1100s to with my K75

[pdg]

You can still get coffee over here but thanks to Uncle Howard (founder and CEO of Starbucks) even that will cost you close to $2.

Please tell me there's no Dunkin donuts in the UK.

For direct exchange (cost of living index ignored...) your $2 is about £1.25 ish... A coffee as plain as you can get is more like £2.50 for a medium.........

And sorry to say, DD has made an appearance - not many sites yet, but give it time. Seeing as we have at least 3 starbucks, 3 mcdonalds, 2 burger kings, 2 pizza huts and 3 dominos (off the top of my head) within about 10 miles of my house (and I'm in the countryside, not in a town) I'm sure they'll be here soon.

[koapono]

who's from RI and orders their coffee either black or regular (w/cream and sugar)?
out of state friends would often question WTF is "regular" coffee?????
i'm in VA now and take my coffee w/baileys irish cream or cheap imitation!
rode a friends' HD many times, neither bad nor great i guess each marque has their merits and quirks.
I'll stick with the brick.
cheers

[Motorhobo]

You can still get coffee over here but thanks to Uncle Howard (founder and CEO of Starbucks) even that will cost you close to $2.

Please tell me there's no Dunkin donuts in the UK.

For direct exchange (cost of living index ignored...) your $2 is about £1.25 ish... A coffee as plain as you can get is more like £2.50 for a medium.........

And sorry to say, DD has made an appearance - not many sites yet, but give it time. Seeing as we have at least 3 starbucks, 3 mcdonalds, 2 burger kings, 2 pizza huts and 3 dominos (off the top of my head) within about 10 miles of my house (and I'm in the countryside, not in a town) I'm sure they'll be here soon.

I'm very sorry to hear that. DD is IMO rock bottom on the fast food chain.

who's from RI and orders their coffee either black or regular (w/cream and sugar)?
out of state friends would often question WTF is "regular" coffee?????
i'm in VA now and take my coffee w/baileys irish cream or cheap imitation!
rode a friends' HD many times, neither bad nor great i guess each marque has their merits and quirks.
I'll stick with the brick.
cheers

V is mighty close to Wawa territory. If you see one, get a cup there. Good coffee, reasonable prices and a wide assortment of fake dairy products for the purist.

[TimTyler]

Nothing about Harley's has ever been attractive to me. Not the look, the sound, the marketing or the wardrobe.

As for coffee... I drink what I brew at home from locally roasted beans, or whatever I find on the road when espresso is not available. The best espresso is typically found near universities. I usually choose an americano or just espresso, probably over ice in the summer. I generally avoid Starbucks but sometimes they are the best available.

The espresso machines at most US McDonalds restaurants actually make very good straight espresso, but just order straight shots if you can. Ask the teenager pressing the button to press it twice in the same cup for a double shot.

I never drank coffee for the 19 years that I lived in RI, but the options there are "black" or "regular", with the later meaning with milk + sugar. I tried DD coffee a couple of years ago and it was gross. The locals like it. DD has probably tried to maintain the same flavor for decades because people around there don't welcome change. The beans they brew were probably roaster 18 months ago, too.

[Motorhobo]

Nothing about Harley's has ever been attractive to me. Not the look, the sound, the marketing or the wardrobe.

As for coffee... I drink what I brew at home from locally roasted beans, or whatever I find on the road when espresso is not available. The best espresso is typically found near universities. I usually choose an americano or just espresso, probably over ice in the summer. I generally avoid Starbucks but sometimes they are the best available.

The espresso machines at most US McDonalds restaurants actually make very good straight espresso, but just order straight shots if you can. Ask the teenager pressing the button to press it twice in the same cup for a double shot.

I never drank coffee for the 19 years that I lived in RI, but the options there are "black" or "regular", with the later meaning with milk + sugar. I tried DD coffee a couple of years ago and it was gross. The locals like it. DD has probably tried to maintain the same flavor for decades because people around there don't welcome change. The beans they brew were probably roaster 18 months ago, too.

The knowledge that Mickey D has espresso is just further proof that the end of the world is nigh.