Bose

[flyv65]

I apologize if I offended anyone. That was my emotional response.

SNIP

It's a Harley thing, you wouldn't understand.

No offense taken by me on this thread, Shadowferret-I like a spirited discussion (it seems as much as you ). I've snipped your post somewhat to save room, but I still wanted to comment on one or two points.

You listed several reasons (such as history, tradition, nationalism, and looks) why you liked Harleys (among other items); but I would argue that none of these reasons contribute to the lifestyle and/or mystique you defended in earlier posts. Had you said "I prefer a more stable, sedate motorcycle for a relaxing ride". I'd have (probably) not said anything.

You contend that my statement "HD is technologically stunted" is incorrect because the Motor Company "improves year to year". I'd argue that their improvements were cosmetic, not technological, the equivalent of Suzuki's "BNG" (Bold New GRaphics) improvements in the '90's. Untill the advent of the TC88 motor in '99 (I think?), the most technologically challenging engine that HD had going was the Sportster's Ironhead, which came out in around 1953. Sure, they flirted with a water-cooled v4 engine about '79 or '80 (also a Porche collaboration, IIRC), but chose not to persue it. And the Evo engine I consider more a refinement of the earlier design rather than an advancement ("Now haemorrhaging 50% less oil!"). Don't we owe Bose the same 46 year period to see if they step away from the paper cones?

Bryan...I guess if you have to ask why I don't ride a Harley, you'll never understand...

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

("Now haemorrhaging 50% less oil!").

Wasn't that all part of the AMF years though?

 

[flyv65]

Wasn't that all part of the AMF years though?

True-their reputation for marking their territory was legendary during those days, but even with the Revo plant they still piddle themselves on occaission. A friend of mine ran a service department for Harley about two years ago back east and will happily vouchsafe that they *have* gotten better about that, just not quite to good. And in defence of AMF, they're the ones that developed the Evo and moved HD out of the class of oil leaks typical of '70's Triumphs (the old joke: how do you put oil in a Triumph? Pour it over the top and let it soak in). No, HDs are much better than they were in terms of build quality, but I hesitate to set a place for them at the big table just yet: I personnaly know too many people who've had Sporties weeping oil from the air filter (possibly forgiveable), or from the heads (inexcusable); big twins that run so hot the headers glowed; and of chrome peeling and paint rusting in under a year with less than 6,000 miles on the bike. Now these are just people I know, not anecdotal stories-and I don't know alot of HD riders.

Bryannn...FWIW, I hear good things about the new Street Rod...

 

[zumbo]

I have to admit, when shopping for a bike, Harley was on the list. I am not brand loyal, but historically I prefer Kawasaki and Honda. When I set out to buy a cruiser, I rode almost everything. The thumpady-thump of a pushrod engine is nice(Harley, Kaw 2000, and Yamaha Road Star). But, the overall quality of the Honda VTX was the best. But, it's not a push-rod engine. No thumpady-thump sound. But I buy a bike for how it functions, not how it sounds or who it appeals to. I have been riding for around twenty-two years, and I have no tats or piercings. I do it for me. I buy what I believe to be the best quality for the price I am willing to pay.

So, in closing, I think the Harley/Bose analogy was a very good one. I have people come up to me on my bike and say, "hey man, is that a Harley?". I have had conversations with these same type people about audio and they ask, "so, do you have a Bose"(a Bose they say). It's the same exact marketing hype!

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Zumbo,

Have you had any problems with the paint? A few buddies of mine complained about the thin paint jobs on the VTX's. Beautiful bikes in any event. My brother got a really nice Road Star Warrior last year and loves it. People mistake it for a custom all the time. Chix love em, and he gets compliments all the time. I think he paid under 11 grand for his bike. What a gem compared to the pricey Fatboy. A lot of guys swap out the exhaust on the jap cruisers, but I think they look and sound just fine the way they are. I know this is an audio thread, but had to put in my .02.

 

[zumbo]

Paint is perfect. I had one chip that was there the day I bought it. They ordered some touch-up paint and put a dab on it.

It is a candy red '03 VTX 1800 Retro. I bought it new in '04. The bike was such a hit when it came out, production couldn't keep up. So, it looks as though too many were made(my guess). They ran an unbelievable add of 2.9 APR and $1k of accessories. I was about to pull the trigger on a '04 Kawasaki Nomad 1500 for $10,999. The Nomad comes loaded with windshield, floorboards, hardbags, and tons of chrome. So I said if I could beat the price of the Nomad with the same equipment added to the VTX, I would get the VTX. I got the VTX-R loaded with windshield, studded saddle bags, Kuryakin floorboards, chrome radiator guard, and delux backrest for $11,250 @ 2.9 APR. I jumped on it.

Riding down to New Orleans this weekend for Bike Expo.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Great buy. 2.9% is like free money. Honda's are some of the easiest bikes to ride, which is nice on those long road trips. The Nomad is a nice looking bike. I didn't care for the Mean Streak - it seemed to "naked." The earlier RS Warrior has a hunched over seating position, which they changed last year, but still is not as comfortable to ride as the VTX or Road Star cruisers. The verdict is still out on the Rune. I never see them on the road. It's almost too much of a bike. So have you installed some type of stereo on your VTX-R?

 

[zumbo]

Great buy. 2.9% is like free money. Honda's are some of the easiest bikes to ride, which is nice on those long road trips. The Nomad is a nice looking bike. I didn't care for the Mean Streak - it seemed to "naked." The earlier RS Warrior has a hunched over seating position, which they changed last year, but still is not as comfortable to ride as the VTX or Road Star cruisers. The verdict is still out on the Rune. I never see them on the road. It's almost too much of a bike. So have you installed some type of stereo on your VTX-R?

No tunes. I'm gonna leave it like it is. I am going to get a Mustang seat and the custom rear rack and bag. That's gonna be about it. I prefered the ride quality of the Nomad over my VTX and all others. The Road Star just seemed like a Harley. But the VTX has much more power than the Road Star, Nomad, and Harley. The Kaw 2000 was just too heavy. It is a mutha to get off the side-stand. The Rune cost too much and it's a pink elephant. Sexy though.

 

[sjdgpt]

............and I'm quite fond of my Rolex, thank you.

I own a Movado. Real practical, the darn thing doesn't even have numbers, so how is any one suppose to know what time it is?

But it works nicely to pick up chicks.

Just don't tell the W.

 

[Nick250]

and of course, there is flat track which is dominated by HD (I suspect due to the fact that the Big 4 have never felt the need to build a 400 cc motor that would beat the HD 750cc engine). ...

Don't forget the year that Kenny Roberts decided to compete in flat track using a TZ700 based two stroke Yamaha against the the HDs in the 1970s. He won the title. As much a testimint to Kenny's riding ability as to the TZ700 which was well know to have lots of horse power but also had an "on-off" throttle response.

Another thing to remember was that in the 80s HD patitioned Congress to place tarifs on all imported motorcycles over 750cc saying HD could not compete without the tariff. Congress complied.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I own a Movado. Real practical, the darn thing doesn't even have numbers, so how is any one suppose to know what time it is?

But it works nicely to pick up chicks.

Just don't tell the W.

I think I have $400 is useless Discover cashback bonus awards. They used to double them up on a bunch of places. Not anymore. I can get a Lawnboy or jewelry purchase through Ultra Diamonds for double my money. Ultra actually has a Movado mens watch, but the womens is nicer. To think I'd by the wife a Movado. How's that gonna pick up chix?

 

[flyv65]

Another thing to remember was that in the 80s HD patitioned Congress to place tarifs on all imported motorcycles over 750cc saying HD could not compete without the tariff. Congress complied.

Which prompted Honda to open the Marysville, Ohio plant and produce American made beasties in '83 like the V65 Magna, which was briefly listed in the Guiness Book for fastest production motorcycle...and it was a cruiser. Come to think of it, that's where the Honda Homecoming is held every year.

Bryan...good point about King Kenny, by the way...

 

[sjdgpt]

I think I have $400 is useless Discover cashback bonus awards. They used to double them up on a bunch of places. Not anymore. I can get a Lawnboy or jewelry purchase through Ultra Diamonds for double my money. Ultra actually has a Movado mens watch, but the womens is nicer. To think I'd by the wife a Movado. How's that gonna pick up chix?

Don't know how it will work for your wife.


Not bragging or anying, but for me, it has worked very well with a couple stewardesses, aka flying waitresses, who have served me very nicely.

Basically it is an icebreaker... much like a 'vette or other play toy, just something to get their attention and start the conversation.

 

[Red]

Not bragging or anying, but for me, it has worked very well with a couple stewardesses, aka flying waitresses, who have served me very nicely.

You should be bragging.

 

[mulester7]

.....great motorcycle discussion....loved it....haven't been without one myself since age 12....if you learned early to fear high speed, gravel, and women drivers, and switched to loving acceleration, you stand a good chance to see 56....don't get me to telling about the night I went out with two 600 crotch-rockets with riders in their 20's.....

 

[mulester7]

.....I said, don't get me to telling about the night I went out with two 600 crotch-rockets with riders in their 20's.....

 

[flyv65]

.....I said, don't get me to telling about the night I went out with two 600 crotch-rockets with riders in their 20's.....

Smoked 'em, right? At most speeds below 100 it's all about the rider, not the ride-provided ground clearance isn't an issue.

Bryan...I've done it, and been done, too ...

 

[mulester7]

.....Fly, the guys in their 20's were good and experienced riders, but you are correct, a V-Max simply will beat a 600 crotch-rocket to 120 mph....at 120, a crotch-rocket will come into the element of why they were made....speed....now, an experienced rider on a 750 or larger crotch-rocket, will turn me every way but loose, from the raising of the lean-to-stands on....

.....the V-Max was first brought out in 1985....the goal for it's inception was to break 10 seconds in a quarter from standing start...the best that could be done, STOCK, was 10.1 and 128 mph....crap, they decided to launch the line anyway, haha....for 5 years the V-Max stood alone at the top of upright-sitting motorcycles and a rep grew....then in about '90-something-early, here came the crotch-rockets....an inline 4 with a HIGH redline, HIGH horsepower, LIGHT moly-tubing framing, FIBERGLASS, and aluminum wheels....Fly, why wouldn't they run?....anyhow, I bought a '92 V-Max brand-new in April of '93....was told the reason they don't sell that well, is because people are afraid of them....and they damned-sure better be, I'll add....likta' lost it twice early on, Fly, on US highways....here's the first time....the fairly sharp turn 1/2 mile ahead of me was after a nice straightaway of 1/2 mile....I wrapped it going into the straightaway, and all of a sudden, the curve was close and I was doing about 125...two quick down-shifts and a hopping back tire later, I had to bank a hard right around the corner and I was now at probably 60-70 or so....if a car had been coming in the other lane, which I was now in, I would have had no choice but to straighten up and sail into a ditch about 20 feet wide by about 10 feet deep....a ditch with rocks, and NO water.....a car didn't appear in the other lane and I made it ok....let us now also note, had a leaking SAND TRUCK been around that corner 10 minutes ahead of me, I would never have had the ditch option....I would have been suddenly sliding on the pavement with the downed V-Max sliding beside me the instant I banked hard right.....sliding together into the ditch....at about 60-70....rocks, no water....boys, I got off the thing, sat down on the ground, had an ultra-light, and reviewed the situation high atop The Mountain Of Digestion, haha....true happening....oh, gave the '92 to Greg, son-in-law about a year ago, and found a 2002 with 1200 miles sparkling on a showroom locally....I took it out quick, haha....for 2/3's of what a new one lists at....I keep on crippling through life, haha....

 

[mulester7]

I wish I was in the Land of Cotton
old times there, are not, spambotten,
look away, look away,
look away, Dixie Land

 

[Votrax]

The V-MAX today isn't the same as when it was introduced in the mid 80's. It may beat a Honda F3, but it can't compete with a 600cc crotch rocket made within the last five years.