Danged Ol' Harley's

Twins with big jugs, at that.
<r&d>

 

Personally, when I sit on one, I can't see the front wheel. It's like
I'm looking over the instruments and see nothing but road in front of
me. It's too weird to suit me, I guess. Plus a little stretched out with
the forward controls. I don't care for forward controls that much, or
that stretched-out-to-the-front riding style.

 

I know a guy over in the Southlake area that builds street-legal bikes
using Trackmaster frames and XL powertrains. Doesn't solve the gas
problem, I know, but man, do those things look *good*. I'd love to have
one, and might do it one day.

Agreed. Those inline fours at full song just do something to me.

You know, I guess I'm just an all around motorcycle junkie. Which is
fine by me.

 

Yes, as in most things in life, there's just something about twins.

 

You don't like not being able to see the front wheel? That's a bit
strange to me as I can't see my front wheel at all. For me, it was
not a strange transition, but a very natural one. I don't look at the
road that close in front of me that often.


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

So, that's a V-8 or would that be two V-4s?

 

As long as I rode next to you, I never noticed it *was* a V-Twin until
Micah said he wanted to hear the sound of a good V-Twin...as he walked
out toward the motorcycles. I reached for my keys and he pointed over
at yours.

I'll remind him of that next time he takes a week to install something
on my bike!!!

 

I know that Micah would jump at the chance to do it...and you know
that it would be done correctly when he works on it.

Just don't send your bike to him and tell him I told you to change the
caliper on it. The price might go up, and he might even toss a couple
wrenches at you!

 

I think that is because most people expect a V-Twin to sound like a
Harley. However, it's easy to note that the sound of my bike or a
Ducati sounds significantly different from both a Harley or an
inline-4.


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

If you think he's that serious about getting into the engine I might
take him up on that. Next time you see him, bring it up and let me
know what he says.

I typically wouldn't put my bike into a Suzuki shop for something
other than a tire change. ;-)


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

I was taught that, if you're looking at your front wheel, you're not
holding your head up and looking (at the horizon, through the turn,
etc.) enough. Looking down at the front of the bike makes cornering more
difficult.

 

OMG! I was talking about on a straight road - especially since I
didn't think that the cruisers enjoyed the twisties nearly as much.

The thought of someone watching their front wheel in the curves is
very frightening!! In a turn, the proper place to look is as far into
the turn (or through it) as possible. Your peripheral vision should
pick up bike placement in the lane and that should be about it.

If you watch the guys that race AMA, GP, WSB, etc. they are ALL
looking well through the corner as they are in it.

NOTE: this can cause some neck strain if in the severe twisties as you
may be looking over your shoulder and behind you. ;-)


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

I have Action Suzuki right across the highway from me. The only thing
they have that I'd consider buying is a pair of gloves. They're about
$10 cheaper than anyone else...and they're still sitting on the shelf.

I almost had an inspection done there and got so fed up with the
dealership that I told them to forget about it.

 

Yup! The degree of the V and a lot of other little factors. Mine is
a 90-degree V-Twin. What is a Harley? 45?


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

Maybe I should re-state what I said about not putting my bike in a
Suzuki shop for nothing other than a tire change. It's not that I
don't like Suzuki shops, they just aren't qualified to work on
Pasta....

.....then again, neither am I!


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

angle of the V, single/dual crank pin, bore and stroke relationship
affects the tone or original pitch of the sound and particularly timing
of the firing. HDs fire at approx 315 degree intervals, hence the lope
to their sound.

 

A lot of rags liked that little V-Strom. Supposed to be a pretty good
little bike.

My old Honda Magna was a V-4 and it had a "different" note to it as
well. Of course, being a Honda it was fairly quiet.

Last time I heard one of those Rhunes fired up the sales guy said
something to the effect of "how do you like the sound of that?" My
response, after the customers was "yup, sounds like a Civic." He
wasn't too impressed with my answer.


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

newp. there's lots of obnoxious sounding loud bikes out there of every
sort made, but the classic recognizable lope of the HD is all about
ignition timing and single crank pins. p is for potato, that's good
enough for me <g>

Another classic sound is the Triumph 750/850 Vertical Twin Bonnie at
speed. It has a harmonic to it that's just sweet. Doesn't need to be
loud to have their unique song heard and appreciated. Straight pipes are
annoying and not efficient on the street. Mack trucks are loud but that
doesn't mean they sound cool.

"Often imitated, never duplicated"
-classic sales line-

 

hehe.... My bike has after market pipes on it - from the race
factory. They are loud, but not obnoxiously loud like some of the
Harley's. I wouldn't rev my engine coming down the street late at
night, but it also wouldn't rattle your windows if I did.


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

Speaking of good sounds and harmonics -

My friend, Bling! also has an Aprilia. When we ride together the
engines come in and out of synch in a very interesting sounding
warble. If you have ever rode in the back of an MD80 (aka "crash
80") then you know what I am talking about. If there were a couple of
ladies on the back they would probably love it. ;-)


I've noticed this phenomenon a few times while riding with other
Harley-esque bikes, but their firing sequences prevents it most of the
time.

--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!