Harley Riders! I probably blew it!

[The Anvil]

I don't mean that H-D has a corner on the apparel market for chaps. By "H-D thing"I mean that the leathered up look from head to toe, the cut with patches, fingerless gloves, do-rag,  is more of a 1%er inspired look. 1%ers like HA's, Mongols etc ride H-D's . So the "badass biker" look is indirectly aped from H-D.

I want to like chaps because they are nice protection in the event of a fall. But they just look so frigging ghey. I have fleece lined jeans that are great for the cold weather. As to when they became popular, I know I've seen pics from oldentimes where guys wore modified cowboy chaps. I know a lot of racers used to wear leather bib overalls as well.

[BIG--T]

I think the people that come on here to bash Valkyries- on a Valkyrie site are wannabes and probably don't even have a bike, maybe a bicycle!!

I can not envision a Harley guy even come on this board unless he has a Valk too and there are a few of them here and it's certainly not the two that you are thinking about that's always starting arguements!

I am a firm believer in "it's not what you ride but that you ride". It's supposed to be a brotherhood and is why other bikers wave. We are all on 2 wheels and all subject to fatal crashes and I have yet to see what color Honda, Harley and all bike blood is....I think we all bleed red.

If you don't like a bike, keep it to yourself unless a friend or family member is talking of buying one and you can share your experience and why they shouldn't buy one... but off the board-pm,email, phone.  Just my $.02!

[DarkMeister]

Who opened this can of worms, anyway? 

Maybe I speed-read, but I don't see any Valk bashing going on. Just generalities which apply to all bikes.

For me it was love at first sight: I was in Orlando for a wedding do. Bumming around, we popped into a big pawn-shop. And there, filling the room, was this giant bike with lovely lines!

Yes, it was in a SLOW-black version, but still...wow.

I sold a 2008 Yamaha RSV in order to buy an IS. My wife was all like "You went 9 years OLDER?" but now loves it like I do. That doesn't mean I'd knock Yammies. Just wasn't for me and didn't grab me like LardAss does.

Had 2 BMW LT tourers before that and was on an excellent forum, bmwlt.org or something. Well, like any discussion forum, riders talk about issues and fixes and such. Each bike has its idiosynracies. I got all freaked out, for example, about the number of LT's losing the final drive. At times, one couldn't find a single FD replacement across the country and guys were stashing "spare" final drives. So a new owner, reading this, might think he got into a bad bike and run for the hills.
That's forums for ya. All bikes have certain issues and the forums naturally concentrate them - while in fact the problems are few.

Beemer had the final drive issues.
Yamaha was top-heavy.
Valkyire has  ..............hold on; I'm thinking.
I'll edit that last later, if I can think of anything... HA!

[Pale Rider]

Here we go again.

I've owned Harleys. You know what? They were less maintenance intensive than these things are and what maintenance there is is easier to perform. No hydro-lock issues, no slow jet clogging issues, no valve adjustments, no splines to lube or fail, replacing a clutch is a minor job, no final drive (though you do have a primary), they're all FI now and the older ones that aren't have ONE carburetor, air cooling means no water pump, radiator, hoses or coolant to worry about and the engine can be out in a couple hours with one person.

That's why they're giving you that look. Because if your mechanical skills are lacking then you should get an H-D as you'd actually be better off. Just tell em that you prefer the Valk's smoothness and that it's a cruiser that's NOT trying to be a Harley clone. They'll appreciate that more and you won't sound uninformed or inexperienced.

If you are worried about that POS Valkyrie you're riding leaving you stranded on the side of the road, I'll be glad to ride up and haul that piece of junk away for you.

I thoroughly enjoy my Valkyrie, but I made a buying decision on bike that was only in production for 7 years, with parts becoming more scarce with each year that passes.  Makes me question my intelligence, hell, maybe I will start wearing my hat sideways.

Same offer, If you’d like I’ll be glad to come and haul it away for you.
After all it can’t be worth much with you not being able to get parts and all.

You have got a deal..........bring the trailer up with $8500 cash, and I will gladly part with the loaded 2001 standard with 26k miles, new tires, all new internal belts, and re-built carbs.  I will even help you load it!

[The Anvil]

You know, in the past 20 years or so I'm having a hard time thinking of either a really bad bike or a chronically unreliable brand. I've even heard that those Russian Urals have improved dramatically and those people build passenger jets that have killed more Polish people than Hitler.

Fact is; modern motorcycles are pretty cursed reliable regardless of the brand. There have been design hiccups (GW frames, Speed Triple Frames, BMW FD's, Buell ECM's on the 1125r...) but typically they're addressed in a timely fashion by the manufacturers. But that's complexity. It is what it is.

[BIG--T]

You know, in the past 20 years or so I'm having a hard time thinking of either a really bad bike or a chronically unreliable brand. I've even heard that those Russian Urals have improved dramatically and those people build passenger jets that have killed more Polish people than Hitler.

Fact is; modern motorcycles are pretty cursed reliable regardless of the brand. There have been design hiccups (GW frames, Speed Triple Frames, BMW FD's, Buell ECM's on the 1125r...) but typically they're addressed in a timely fashion by the manufacturers. But that's complexity. It is what it is.

Anvil I don't believe it, but I'll have to agree about the modern motorcycle! They have all truely come a long way. I might even buy one if I can swing it!

[fudgie]

Well, I ride a 98 Tourer and I hang out at HD dealerships. They got good $$ clothing. They carry my 'In the Wind' magazine and have funny helmet stickers. I have a HD fairing, b'wing bra with HD logo on it, and a HD horn. They have free big name concerts, free hog roast, beer gardens, demo rides, etc. I have and wear several HD shirts. I have 2 Valk shirts. Kits got 2 pair of HD boots and a few HD thongs. I even have a HD credit card. A HD shop mounts my tires for me. Honda cannot match this area of the market. This does not make me a HD rider. I might 'fit the image' of HD riders instead of Honda riders but that is my choice. Not cause I want to be a HD rider.

[BIG--T]

Fudgie, HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS GOT THEM ALL BEAT....in apparel!  They have a great marketing and put out some cool stuff  and t shirts! BTW, When I was in Helen GA. a couple weeks ago, out of all the HD stuff I actually found something for my Valkyrie. It was a vest pin about 1" long X 1/4" wide that said Valkyrie for $8.00 and the HD'S were $4.95!

The boots I've looked at were HD or Milwalkee. Where in the world did you buy a Valk t shirt??Probably $25+? I also want a Valk doo rag and patch that I've seen in some avatars. Yep I love to be different and wear OUR garb! Lol

I bet your Valk riding buddies rag you about the HD on your bra!!!

[Clark]

Well, I ride a 98 Tourer and I hang out at HD dealerships. They got good $$ clothing. They carry my 'In the Wind' magazine and have funny helmet stickers. I have a HD fairing, b'wing bra with HD logo on it, and a HD horn. They have free big name concerts, free hog roast, beer gardens, demo rides, etc. I have and wear several HD shirts. I have 2 Valk shirts. Kits got 2 pair of HD boots and a few HD thongs. I even have a HD credit card. A HD shop mounts my tires for me. Honda cannot match this area of the market. This does not make me a HD rider. I might 'fit the image' of HD riders instead of Honda riders but that is my choice. Not cause I want to be a HD rider.

FUDGE... any chance you could talk Kit into modelin ona them thongs for some pics for us??

[fudgie]

Well, I ride a 98 Tourer and I hang out at HD dealerships. They got good $$ clothing. They carry my 'In the Wind' magazine and have funny helmet stickers. I have a HD fairing, b'wing bra with HD logo on it, and a HD horn. They have free big name concerts, free hog roast, beer gardens, demo rides, etc. I have and wear several HD shirts. I have 2 Valk shirts. Kits got 2 pair of HD boots and a few HD thongs. I even have a HD credit card. A HD shop mounts my tires for me. Honda cannot match this area of the market. This does not make me a HD rider. I might 'fit the image' of HD riders instead of Honda riders but that is my choice. Not cause I want to be a HD rider.

FUDGE... any chance you could talk Kit into modelin ona them thongs for some pics for us??

Well yea! Look thru my Sturgis pix, plenty in there!  Steamers got one from Cheaha thats good. I think he made a poster above his bed with it.