Fair play, I have ridden most of the range and the newer stuff can handle if you know what you're doing....which is my point, I like Harleys too and can see the point of owning and being part of HOG, but again, the 500 dry mile a year riders who buy them to pose and can't ride for toffee have a habit of making the brand look daft to many other bike owners.

Those who buy any bike and can ride it properly get my respect, it is those that use it as a posing tool and can't ride-but assume superiority over riders of cheaper stuff that irritate me!

Its an aquired taste tbh. I dont mind lookin at em but id certainly not buy one atm.

Its all down to the rider at the end of the day. Dad couldnt get on with his, didnt brake or handle, didnt suit his riding technique i dont think. Also the fact that it kept stopping working got on his nerves lol.

They arent made for speed are they, or corners really

Its an aquired taste tbh. I dont mind lookin at em but id certainly not buy one atm.

Its all down to the rider at the end of the day. Dad couldnt get on with his, didnt brake or handle, didnt suit his riding technique i dont think. Also the fact that it kept stopping working got on his nerves lol.

They arent made for speed are they, or corners really

That's certainly my impression of them. As Mender says its more of a lifestyle thing compared with other bikes. I test rode an 883 and a dynaglide sport a few years ago. The 883 was rather agricultural and shook like an out of balance washing machine on the spin cycle when you gave it some encouragement!

I rode the dyna for less the 3 miles before turning round and heading back to the dealers. 'Normally riders are out for much longer so what did you think' he asked. 'Well, it doesn't go, it doesn't stop and it doesn't handle, but it looks nice parked up' was my reply. Safe to say it wasn't for me. I would consider 1 for chilling out on if I also had another bike and could afford it, but not if I only had 1 bike to ride (I don't even have that at the mo though.....).

They arent made for speed are they, or corners really

 I suppose this is where my love of pushing something to past its design intention comes in, rather than sitting at 20% of its potential.

 

Riding a fully dressed Harley til it sparks is fun too...!

That's certainly my impression of them. As Mender says its more of a lifestyle thing compared with other bikes. I test rode an 883 and a dynaglide sport a few years ago. The 883 was rather agricultural and shook like an out of balance washing machine on the spin cycle when you gave it some encouragement!

I rode the dyna for less the 3 miles before turning round and heading back to the dealers. 'Normally riders are out for much longer so what did you think' he asked. 'Well, it doesn't go, it doesn't stop and it doesn't handle, but it looks nice parked up' was my reply. Safe to say it wasn't for me. I would consider 1 for chilling out on if I also had another bike and could afford it, but not if I only had 1 bike to ride (I don't even have that at the mo though.....).

Even worse was the Buell range for me, I lost all sensation in my limbs after a few miles from the vibration!!

 

I like the style of some of the Harleys (and the Victory and Indian ranges too) but spending more time cleaning than riding does not appeal to me at all.

I like the purity of the 883 and 1200, but hate the American upsell of stage 1, stage 2 etc, just make it decent to start with!

 

I'd be the one that would buy a Harley, sort it, then de-badge it then rag it to death  :p

I suppose this is where my love of pushing something to past its design intention comes in, rather than sitting at 20% of its potential.

Riding a fully dressed Harley til it sparks is fun too...!

I know what you mean. A CG 125 wasnt designed to scrape its pegs but it did haha.

Riding a slow bike fast is more fun than riding a fast bike slow tbf.

Even worse was the Buell range for me, I lost all sensation in my limbs after a few miles from the vibration!!

I like the style of some of the Harleys (and the Victory and Indian ranges too) but spending more time cleaning than riding does not appeal to me at all.

I like the purity of the 883 and 1200, but hate the American upsell of stage 1, stage 2 etc, just make it decent to start with!

I'd be the one that would buy a Harley, sort it, then de-badge it then rag it to death :p

Haa i know what you're saying!

The 883 is well known to be proper slow anyway. The 1200 just about bearable.

This is why i like the vfr tbh. It might not be such an icon to look at, but its comfy, it handles well, its fast, and i can ride it all day, plus i know itll start time after time.

Its only got 20k on the clock now, so it should have another 100k left, no problem.

That's certainly my impression of them. As Mender says its more of a lifestyle thing compared with other bikes. I test rode an 883 and a dynaglide sport a few years ago. The 883 was rather agricultural and shook like an out of balance washing machine on the spin cycle when you gave it some encouragement!

I rode the dyna for less the 3 miles before turning round and heading back to the dealers. 'Normally riders are out for much longer so what did you think' he asked. 'Well, it doesn't go, it doesn't stop and it doesn't handle, but it looks nice parked up' was my reply. Safe to say it wasn't for me. I would consider 1 for chilling out on if I also had another bike and could afford it, but not if I only had 1 bike to ride (I don't even have that at the mo though.....).

Exactly!

This is basically what dad thought of his. Only his was a 1560cc. So it did go. In the same way a diesel goes. Loads of torque.

Redlined at about 5k revs too, like a diesel lol.

I like Harleys too and can see the point of owning and being part of HOG, but again, the 500 dry mile a year riders who buy them to pose and can't ride for toffee have a habit of making the brand look daft to many other bike owners.

Being in HOG is the last thing I'd do, I'm a member of the Harley Davidson Riders Club of GB.

I ride all year but not if the roads are covered in salt or snow and ice, but there are some nice days in the winter to get out and have a blast.

Had this bike for 5 years now and it is totally reliable. Did Route 66 this year with 17 bikes in the party over 3000 miles with not so much as a punture.

Being in HOG is the last thing I'd do, I'm a member of the Harley Davidson Riders Club of GB.

I ride all year but not if the roads are covered in salt or snow and ice, but there are some nice days in the winter to get out and have a blast.

Had this bike for 5 years now and it is totally reliable. Did Route 66 this year with 17 bikes in the party over 3000 miles with not so much as a punture.

HOG is quite something isnt it.

Its almost as if the riders do it for the look it gives.

We were at a bike show n some stuck up bloke was quite disgusted when he didnt get a response to 'which chapter are you in?'

He couldnt understand it. Why would you ride a Harley and not be in HOG?

Because some people have bikes to ride and enjoy them, not for some silly group

HOG is quite something isnt it.

Its almost as if the riders do it for the look it gives.

We were at a bike show n some stuck up bloke was quite disgusted when he didnt get a response to 'which chapter are you in?'

He couldnt understand it. Why would you ride a Harley and not be in HOG?

Because some people have bikes to ride and enjoy them, not for some silly group

Yeah, never got the group thing, though some enjoy it, was not aware of the finer details of the groups as never joined!

 

I did manage to blag a decent free coffee on their stand at the bike show mind, but noticed a few "characters" around me....!

 

I'm with you on the enjoyment and not the style, reliability is my main interest too, good to see they do actually work on the miles.

I do ride to Scotland, Belgium, Germany etc and not put it on a trailer, and I do what is needed to the bike myself not in a dealers

Yeah, never got the group thing, though some enjoy it, was not aware of the finer details of the groups as never joined!

There were certainly quite a few there when I went to have a test ride and they seemed to have quite a social sceen going on, not unlike a certain forum I know LOL Though to their detriment there seemed a fair amout of wannabe yanks involved.

Not sure if they go round in packs thinking there's safety in numbers so they don't have the p1ss taken out of them by the pocket rocket lot. I met a load of them from Worcester at the petrol station at Crossgates on the way to Rhayader in Wales when I had a VFR. They rocked up en mass like something out of Any which way but loose. All that was needed was Clint and Clyde to turn up! I asked them where they were going and when they said Aberystwyth I told them it was nice and sunny there. They looked at me gone out and asked me how I knew. I told them I'd just come from there and was on my way back to Worcestershire to watch the MotoGP. All this was obviously alien to them which I found highly amusing. I remember seeing a vid on youtube about some kn0b on a bike tearing up a winding road in the States overtaking everyone including loads of Harleys. A few stopped to see if he was ok after he'd misjudged a bend and got wiped out by a car going in the other direction, while some of the others who missed the crash and its imediate aftermath just potato potatoed past...... life in the motorcycling equivelent of the slow lane which I guess has a certain attraction for some. One of the salesmen at the Wolverhamton BMW bike dealerships has a Harley from the 70s or 80s I think it is and said he gets to ride all the BMs for free so his hog makes a nice change, but he wouldn't have one without having something else to ride.

That's it really Ade. I agree.

I wouldnt have one atm cos, well, im 22. I have the car for pootling around in, when i get on the bike i want it to go, handle and be comfy. Im not one for hanging around lol.

My god its a pain trying to get past a big group of burbling Harley's. Feel like im gonna get shot when i pull back in the middle of the group for a mo till the next opportunity.

Oh and the blocking lanes off so Harley riders can get through. I ride past that too lol.

Feel like im gonna get shot when i pull back in the middle of the group for a mo till the next opportunity.

Leave off Oli, most of them are fat businessmen playing at being Grandparents of Anarchy. 

Most people can't afford a Harley until their mortgage is paid off.   

Proper UK bikers (as in the outlaw kind)  do not ride Harleys.

Leave off Oli, most of them are fat businessmen playing at being Grandparents of Anarchy.

Most people can't afford a Harley until their mortgage is paid off.

Proper UK bikers (as in the outlaw kind) do not ride Harleys.

Haa. I know what you're saying. They do think they own the road though.

Its awkward.

A half decent bike will overtake most cars or lorrys in no time wont it.

Tryna overtake a big bunch of Harley's is like tryna overtake 5 lorrys at once.

Oh and you arent welcome when you nip back in. Not on a bright red vfr anyway, or anything else I've had actually aha.

I know they dont really have guns. They wish they did tho. They own the road. Remember.

Ahh the UK HOG, angry accountants chapter, with a free "cat ****ed on your tongue" grimace on every ride

Feckin slow tho

I have to say though, I do have a couple of mates who have Harley's as well as other bikes and if you remove the pretentiousness, then there are probably worse ways to spend a warm summer evening bobbing down to a nice country pub.

Myself, if I can afford it, I actually fancy a Victory. Trying to make a decision about wether I should keep the Fabia scout and run it into the ground, and buy a cruiser for mooching or a Guzzi as that's an itch I need to scratch

I have to say though, I do have a couple of mates who have Harley's as well as other bikes and if you remove the pretentiousness, then there are probably worse ways to spend a warm summer evening bobbing down to a nice country pub.

Myself, if I can afford it, I actually fancy a Victory. Trying to make a decision about wether I should keep the Fabia scout and run it into the ground, and buy a cruiser for mooching or a Guzzi as that's an itch I need to scratch

I dno. Am i too young to get it?

I do like the look of the Moto guzzi v7 for pottering around on. 50bhp though i think it is.

I just cant see myself doing that. Maybe im narrow minded. I dont mind pootling in the car, but i wanna open up and get shifting on the bike

Maybe I'd never have one as an only bike but if I could slot a 3rd in the garage then I can see the point.

Maybe I'd never have one as an only bike but if I could slot a 3rd in the garage then I can see the point.

Id have a Massey ferguson before that.

Oh wait. . Hahaa

I've always thought Harleys are great to borrow, but not to own

Cruisers just arnt my thing, bikes for me are about nimbleness, bit of speed and general hoonary. Each to their own of course! 

Cruisers just arnt my thing, bikes for me are about nimbleness, bit of speed and general hoonary. Each to their own of course! 

For me it is about the adventure and seeing things in a different light to a car, in your own time

 

Anything can be fun in the right frame of mind and with the right people

 

I just don't get needing to be part of a pack to enjoy it, or having to pose to feel good

Maybe I'd never have one as an only bike but if I could slot a 3rd in the garage then I can see the point.

Exactly my point mate. Consider that you'd have to pay around the same for a Harley that you'd pay for a BMW bike then it becomes a no brainer from a purely motorcycling perspective. They're not cheap to run either though I guess those that can afford one are not overly bothered about that. After the disappointment I experienced on that test ride as I really fancied one I bought an 1150R beemer. With ABS and the telelever front suspension it handled brilliantly had loads of character and was far more capable than the Harley for loads less money and it was cheaper to run too. I nearly bought another Beemer this year, but in the end realised I just don't have the time to ride a bike at the moment so have decided to wait until I retire in a couple of years time and try again.