Harley Davidson

Mika,.....either one of those Stortz Harleys are bikes I could really enjoy!

I have always felt the flat-track styles Harleys are some of the best looking muscle bikes on the planet. They just look like a motorcycle should look!!

119240 said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LdUVFT4srZg

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LOL thanks . I'll appropriately post this on a Harley forum next time some of them get into a BMW rant.

milo said:

OK, you rode what you rode and it was bad. I wouldn't tolerate a bike that weaved at 70 mph either. I'm just saying the 2011 EG Classic comes with cast wheels, spokes are optional. Either way the correct front is 17" with 130/80B17 front tire. The 2011 Road Glide uses an 18" front wheel and 130/70B18 tire. Neither come with radials, at least that I'm aware of.
According to Harley specs someone put the wrong size front wheels on the bikes you rode.

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I may be wrong on the wheel sizes but I know because I looked that the front tire on that RG was a radial, which surprised me, but these were bone stock bikes. The Electra Glide came right off the HD demo trailer and the RG was a dealer demo, both 2011's.
There is a reason why True-Track exists. I literally just jumped out of the shower after putting one on one of my two Street Rods. I bought one some months ago for the orange bike and it didn't fit. It was prototyped on a later model Night Rod Special with the 240 rear tire and 1 inch wide belt. The Street Rod comes with the early V-Rod 180 rear tire and the 1 3/8 inch belt. True Track took my other Street Rod and prototyped a new frame bracket that clears the wider belt. They gave me the prototype, and just today the first production model arrived in my mail box. Naturally everything else can wait!
What surprised me is that even on the stock R, not the one in the photos, but the one True Track put their prototype on, which is bone stock and ridden moderately because it's a collector, I could tell the difference. What I once thought was just sloppy stock shocks is actually the engine and swingarm moving in the engine mounts. With the True Track linkage installed, lateral movement is stopped, and I could walk the rear tire sideways with power easily and controllably, which is something I don't do very often. The bike turns in crisper with less handlebar input and seemed to gain a few degrees cornering clearance. This was on the stock Dunflops. Huge difference.
That was on an otherwise bone stock Street Rod. Now I just put one on the modified bike with XR-1200 wheels, Michelin Pilot Road 3's and a Race Tech Gold Valve in the fork. In an hour or so I'll be out on twisty pavement seeing what she does. Yes, I'm excited.

brewmeister said:

A recient trip to the harley museum led to some observations,everyone looked the same(black t-shirts,leather,jeans )no individualism at all,then me in my cool kaki button down shirt,kaki shorts(one of only a few I saw wearing shorts)My riding gear was changed out of and stuffed in saddle bags.I got laughs when new harleys pulled in I asked them if their harleys were so expensive that they could'nt afford mufflers.Good response.Still good people watching to be had!

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Some of us call them the "uniformed soldiers" with a laugh. The HD guys will say that BMW riders all dress the same too, in textile suits and full face flip up helmets trying to act superior to them. It's an argument that can never be won.

132 responses about harly davidson on a bmw forum

a-freeking-mazing.

I actually looked at a cruiser for sale at a HD dealership near me. I pulled up for my appointment in shorts, t-shirt, and chacos. It's funny to see reactions, because it was 99 degrees and blue jeans and a fair amount of leather appeared to be tthe uniform of choice despite the opressive heat.

brewmeister said:

A recient trip to the harley museum led to some observations,everyone looked the same(black t-shirts,leather,jeans )no individualism at all,then me in my cool kaki button down shirt,kaki shorts(one of only a few I saw wearing shorts)My riding gear was changed out of and stuffed in saddle bags.I got laughs when new harleys pulled in I asked them if their harleys were so expensive that they could'nt afford mufflers.Good response.Still good people watching to be had!

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Moving Wall Escort

Rode yesterday with the "Moving Wall" escort to a local VFW Post. Many Vietnam Veterans, Patriot Riders and generally fine group of Americans. Left the RT at home and rode the Electra-Glide. My loud Hawaiian shirt in a sea of leather vests identified me as a rugged individual. I was amazed at the turnout of the local people on the route, it was 3:00pm Wednesday and it was obvious that anyone that could was out in support of this happening. It just would not have been the same with 800 BMW's, the event had to have the noise to be effective, kind of like fireworks. Proud to be an American.

Ridefar said:

Rode yesterday with the "Moving Wall" escort to a local VFW Post. Many Vietnam Veterans, Patriot Riders and generally fine group of Americans. Left the RT at home and rode the Electra-Glide. My loud Hawaiian shirt in a sea of leather vests identified me as a rugged individual. I was amazed at the turnout of the local people on the route, it was 3:00pm Wednesday and it was obvious that anyone that could was out in support of this happening. It just would not have been the same with 800 BMW's, the event had to have the noise to be effective, kind of like fireworks. Proud to be an American.

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So, the real intent / act of respect, is less important than the personal image projected ?

175781 said:

I actually looked at a cruiser for sale at a HD dealership near me. I pulled up for my appointment in shorts, t-shirt, and chacos. It's funny to see reactions, because it was 99 degrees and blue jeans and a fair amount of leather appeared to be tthe uniform of choice despite the opressive heat.

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Unless I'm making a very short trip in the local area, I wear a textile suit, boots, gloves and full face helmet regardless of outside temperature. Sometimes I will have to pull off every hour or so to fill the helmet with ice water, but I gear up anyway.
I have to make a tire run to LA tomorrow from the desert, 145 miles one way. It is predicted to be 102 degrees and I'll be geared up, if for no other reason than to protect my legs from K bike heat!

71243 said:

So, the real intent / act of respect, is less important than the personal image projected ?

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I'm trying to imagine what 800 BMW's sounds like ......

42906 said:

I'm trying to imagine what 800 BMW's sounds like ......

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It would be a very reverant kind of near silence. Very moving!

f14rio said:

a-freeking-mazing.

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Always wonder what the BMW thread title is on the HOG or various HD forums...We sold ours before the Internet got so darn snob-cool.
But I agree...just ride what ya got, it's all good.

dancogan said:

It would be a very reverant kind of near silence. Very moving!

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Yeah I'm trying to understand why it was more respectful to have an escort of machines specifically designed to go, "Hey everybody! Look at ME!!"

henzilla said:

Always wonder what the BMW thread title is on the HOG or various HD forums...We sold ours before the Internet got so darn snob-cool.
But I agree...just ride what ya got, it's all good.

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It ain't like this, believe me.

Ridefar said:

Rode yesterday with the "Moving Wall" escort to a local VFW Post. Many Vietnam Veterans, Patriot Riders and generally fine group of Americans. Left the RT at home and rode the Electra-Glide. My loud Hawaiian shirt in a sea of leather vests identified me as a rugged individual. I was amazed at the turnout of the local people on the route, it was 3:00pm Wednesday and it was obvious that anyone that could was out in support of this happening. It just would not have been the same with 800 BMW's, the event had to have the noise to be effective, kind of like fireworks. Proud to be an American.

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I've ridden with the Patriot Guard, to a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. While I did leave the R1100RT home and I took my Harley, I was pleasantly surprised to see Harley, GoldWings, Big Japanese Cruisers, and BMWs represented.

Speaking generally, I have no idea what happens in your local area, but I think some perceptions are overruling the facts.

Should have just done a +1 of F14RIO post

f14rio said:

a-freeking-mazing.

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That was my original intent, how dare I add a moving personal experience to what has become such a pissy thread. Too many of you are trying to pick a fight where there is none! Takin' the high road outa here...