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[JCZ]

Saw this on Yahoo this morning and reminded me of off topic posts in another thread.  Kind of humorous tongue in cheek.....


https://www.yahoo.com/news/riding-wrong-side-beef-harley-203038975.html

[VaEagle]

Lots of truth in the article I think.......
If riding is just a practical form of transportation then I think there would be lots of dissatisfaction with H-D. Look at our cars/truck etc. if we had to spend $50,000 on a truck and then had to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to "get it to run right" and then had to look forward to engine rebuilds so frequently we would raise complaints and buy another brand.
Where the problem lies is that motorcycle riding seems to be more about emotions then logic. Do we ride to be just in the wind or is it because we like the image we think we portray when riding a H-D? Do we ride for social interaction or to be alone in nature? If your "friends" disown you because you changed brands of bikes were they really your friends? Maybe some of the social gatherings and meetings are just a way to get our egos stroked and reassure ourselves we made a good purchase by getting a H-D?
I guess to it could be like those families that have brothers and sisters.......you can call your sister names but let anybody else do it and you would beat them up! 

[jcd520]

I find this article very interesting indeed!
Although I have done it to numerous motorcycles I don't know why we spend countless dollars on a brand new bike after purchasing it. In my case (Im 6'3") its all about comfort . It takes a lot of time and sometimes,  depending on the bike ,  a lot of money to make one fit me. Lower boards , taller seats , taller windshields , better suspension . And then of course the performance mods--------and the list goes on. I ride , and I ride long distances so it must be comfy and most harleys just don't fit me off the floor. I cut the rubber bumpers off the floorboards and silicone the pads back on the pans , that gives me an inch or so lower boards, I use mustang seats because they raise me and move me forward a little----the object is  to get my hip joint above my knee joint for long distance comfort. Then of course you have to have the proper windshield -----I use  a windvest 14" on my road glide------perfect! It just so happens the bars on my 12 SERG have the perfect bend for wrist comfort for me--------not always the case on other bikes I have owned---------the new 16 RG bars suck in my opinion(Im sure that will get a response from someone)...........The point is I understand why some folks buy a new bike , go riding a couple times and either sell it or never ride much again. They are absolutely miserable and arent willing to make it fit them or they don't know how----------or maybe they just miss their air conditioned car !
Long and short of it is -----Ive done it before and I no doubt will do it again , and again , and again. I just love riding a motorcycle , always have and I hope I always will.

[grc]

And yet most of us don't buy a $40k and up automobile and immediately replace the seats, the operating controls, the suspension, etc.  And only a very tiny minority rush out to change the exhaust system and have the vehicle tuned.  Want to know why?  Because most cars and trucks on the market these days run great right off the showroom floor and don't need modifications in order to run well, and things like operating controls tend to have some adjustability built in to accommodate people of different sizes.  Contrast that with your Harley, which comes in one size fits all and no adjustability.  Even handlebars come pinned on some late models.  This creates a huge secondary market where the manufacturer and the aftermarket can make another big profit, selling people bars and seats and windshields and footboard extenders and brake pedal extenders and exhaust systems and tuning products.  And that's not even mentioning all the performance parts.

There is a reason why Harley hasn't embraced the idea of adjustable standard equipment.  You will find the reason in that huge accessory catalog.

JMHO - Jerry