Further to the long-running UK vs US Harley thread last year...

Well, this is probably going to cost me any kind of "respect" I've ever
earned in ukrm...

As I found myself in Fla for Christmas and New Year (that's "Holidays"
for the terminally correct people out there), the sun was shining (not
something we're too used to in Britain) and I had some time on my
hands, I decided to stick Mr American Express where my mouth was and
visited the Emporium of Expensive Evil Shiny Things (aka Daytona Beach
Harley Davidson) with a view to renting one of Willy G. finest for a
few hours.

The first surprise was that the clutch on said contraption was actually
as light or even lighter than the one on the GS so the paperwork was
signed (including the bits that I really found hilarious - "my heirs
will not sue you if I kill myself on your bike") and rode off on a Road
King.

First impressions - there is definitely some Infernal Combustion going
one somewhere between the rider's legs but the vibration is hardly
noticeable thanks to the rubber mounted engine. *Nice* sound.

The gearbox was designed by a bloke called Luigi and very much reminded
me of the gearboxes on my Italian bikes - I ended up playing "Where the
fcuk is neutral" more often than I really wanted to - and it's, erm, a
tad agricultural. Let's just say that you're not left in any doubt that
you've managed to change gear...

The engine has *massive* amounts of torque from a little above tickover
and the whole package didn't half shift once I figured out that timid
doesn't work on this bike and twisted the throttle accordingly.

Surprisingly enough the brakes do work rather well, too, as I had to
demonstrate at one point. Fortunately enough I managed to get the whole
thing to stop within a considerably shorter distance than I expected
when Mr Hick from Texas SMIDSY'd me and I nearly made a big impression
in the side of his pickup truck. Proves that it's not only the Brit
cagers who have trouble noticing anything the size of a Range Rover or
smaller, let alone something as small as a bike.

All in all I was pleasantly surprised - I still think that a Harley
probably doesn't make that much sense over here in Europe but it did
make a lot of sense to me riding around in Florida and I wouldn't have
hesitated to ride it, say, to Arizona if that was called for.

And if I keep going there often enough to warrant my own transport (as
opposed to relying on SWMBO to get me where I want to), I'd consider
one. Not a purple one but something that's just black enough, like a
Nighttrain...

And before the amateur comedians get on the case, I've got a strict
no-tassle rule.

 

<snip>

Time for me to own up too, I suppose.....

When we did the ultimate biker thing and I failed my mock test, it was on a
Fat Boy. I *really* liked it, for a £5,000 bike.

It was just a shame I later discovered they cost nearly £15,000.....

Oh, and to get neutral, the Harley dealer blokes suggested stopping, keep
the clutch in and give it a good blip then it snicks into neutral no probs.
It worked on all the ones I rode (about 5 or 6 different models in all) and
I *had* to do it on each to get neutral at a standstill... Even the V-Rod.

In all, though, I thought they were OK if you like that kind of thing. I
don't like that kind of thing, but I can appreciate why some people do. Sort
of. The tingle through the tank probably explains why Molly is now Molly
for starters....

Dave

 

As I found myself in Fla for Christmas and New Year (that's "Holidays"

Timo,

Out of curiosity - what were the costs like for hiring a Harley out there?

Cheers,


Rusty.

 

Rusty scribbled on the back of a napkin:

Well, I got it for a half day (no mileage limit AFAIK) - the basic
price was US$85 but that's without the usual insurances on top of it.
And I had to take the whole inswearance shebang as SWMBO hasn't got any
health insurance at the moment, in fine American tradition...

The bikes cost from 135 from the place I rented them from
(http://www.hd-rental.com/) although I believe that other places are a
tad cheaper.

 

Bear scribbled on the back of a napkin:

Now that's not too unusual if my name's on the paperwork...

 

I hired a Dyna WideGlide for 48 hours from 'Eagle Rider' at San Jose
http://www.eaglerider.com/ for (a little) less than 200USD for 48 hours
a couple of years ago. Well worth it and whilst I enjoyed it / found it
amusing it wasn't something I'd consider buying.

 

scribbled on the back of a napkin:

Yes, Eagle Rider was one of the places that was a bit cheaper - in my
case, more than offset by the cost of fuel of driving to Orlando
instead...

 

The clutch is a helluva a lot heavier on the 1550 stg 2 conve. as they fit a
much heavier spring to deal with the extra torque (and there is some!)

Leaps about at tickover, but sertainly smooth out when just above.

No false neutrals mind! ;o) I've _never_ missed a gear on the ol' Hog.

Don't be shy with the Tap, give a good twist and your head gets very heavy!

The King is good on braking, due to the twin disks. The Fatboy is not so
abrupt. EBC uprated pads work well.

I did 3.5 K miles across Texas last year in 13 days. No trouble and not a
missed beat. A little sore in the saddle department on occasions mind, after
a 500+ mile leg.

--
Greybeard

Road King -01 UK ( 95 cu-in Stg 2. Big Boy!)
Trumpet Trophy 1200 -91, for rainy days

nntp@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

When I picked up mine, I insisted the dealer cut off the tassels before
I rode off.

Glad you enjoyed it; they do need a very different mind set to ride, but
when you've made that change they are equally if not more enjoyable than
a Jap sportsbike. Indeed, whilst the Zed is massively faster and more
capable, I'd suggest that in terms of pure riding pleasure, the Harley
is better.

But you have to have your right head on.

 

Gyp scribbled on the back of a napkin:

Well, I made sure that I got a tassle-free one in the first place...

Well, point is that I did enjoy riding it. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't
enjoy commuting into London on one very much but I liked it on the more
open roads. I'm not that big a fan of sportsbikes anyway (well, with an
exception or two - I love the Ducati but I can't ride it anywhere near
its limit) mainly because most feel like they're terribly bored at
anything within shouting distance of the legal limit...

I haven't been accused of that in a *long* time...

 

Timo Geusch said...

Oh my dear fucking god!

Not content with being ukrm's token boxhead, Timo appears to have caught
'gay'.

 

I rode a Road King in CA back in September.
http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=35332511

All four bike we had were the same. I definitely think it was a case
of "they all do that sir".

Quite. The torque was good for freeway riding and it took me a couple
of days to get confident through the twisties. The ride down from
Yosemite was damn good fun though!

They take a while, but get there eventually. I nearly went into the
back of our "support vehicle" at one point.

Pretty much sums up my attitude to HDs too.

 

And you have experience in that department, huh?

 

Iggy said...

I have never owned or liked any Harley, so no.

 

I'm guessing Lozzo's experience in gay-ness is right up there alongside your
experience of humour.......

Dave

 

Right there with yours wrt ellipses and ...

... sig seps.