I don't know if it is because we are Human, or Men, or Americans, but we love to punish ourselves for a few minutes or hours of pleasure.
Skydivers spend endless hours practicing and caring for equipment and paying for the lift up.
Scuba Divers, Race Car Drivers. Private Pilots.
Any hobby we indulge ourselves in costs more than it is worth, usually. Some inflict real pain. Others are quite dangerous. All are expensive.
Then there are the vices: Alcohol, Tobacco, Mind Altering Substances. Some are illegal and life destroying. Yet we do them, throwing away families, wasting fortunes, killing ourselves and those that love us.
I remember the Seventies and Eighties: my GS1100, XSEleven, FJ1100, Suzuki Cavalcade. Then came my Triumph Thunderbird and the Valkyrie Interstate. My last trouble free bike was a Vulcan 2000. During all those years I espoused that I would never buy a Harley. "I've ridden behind Harleys and had to dodge parts falling off." "Too expensive and troublesome." "Know why Harley Riders are always in a bad mood? Think About it."
Then I rode one. It's like (what I hear) that first hit of Cocaine must be like. Then the money starts adding up. Harley makes it easy with EagleMark Savings Bank, and Gap Insurance, and even sells us that beautiful ESP telling us "we'll fix it for $50". We bite, over and over again no matter how bitter the taste, just to feel that high we get when everything comes together just so: A few miles on the Pig Trail or US550 from Ouray to Durango; US 12 in Idaho; US 123 the Dragon.
I love my 2012 CVO SG, my third HD. All have been Touring. All needed lifters, one needed a Compensator. All got tuners, cams, dynoed just to make them run right.
I really like this 2012, and don't care much for the 14 and 15 changes. So am happy to keep shooting up with my maintenance heavy old v-twin.
But I don't kid myself and say that the HD is a good bike, or "they don't do that anymore" or complain about the MoCo not respecting me. That's like expecting the corner drug dealer to respect you because you always pay the price for whatever high he is selling.
I'm going for a ride now.
Hope I don't drop a valve.