Famous Harley quote: If you have to ask, you'll never understand.
Well, I've never understood, nor did I ever feel any need to ask. Why would anyone ride a severely overweight motorcycle incapable of outrunning and outstopping traffic? For my entire life, I've been a dedicated Harley basher and proud of it.
On my way to Road America Monday, I stopped to have dinner with Don DeChant. Rhiannon decided to join us, so we were hanging out waiting for her to show up. Don owns an early 80's shovelhead bagger with all the touring stuff shaved off and a pair of leather saddle bags. This beast is a mixture of pitted chrome and black sealcoat primer, all covered with a lovely patina of oil spray and bug guts. For some reason, I found the bike strangely attractive. Don tossed me the keys, and after a few minutes of arguing, I finally agreed to take it for a spin.
There I was, rumbling through downtown Milwaukee in work clothes and sunglasses aboard a straight pipe shovel. This went against everything I stand for, but dammit! It really felt somehow... right. I returned the bike after about 10 minutes, but Don said, "You're not done yet," and sent me back out. Thirty more minutes on this lumbering brute and I was really starting to enjoy myself. All the clanking, squeaking and popping were actually kind of endearing. The bike was really sort of self-limiting. It had adequate brakes for it's feeble ability to accelerate, and the overall balance of weight, handling, brakes and horsepower just dictated a mellow cruise. Rumbling through the town of it's birth, I was beginning to understand why such an antique design could be so appealing to so many riders.
When I returned to Don's shop, Rhiannon had arrived. She said "Oh, look! K3 on a Harley!" and jumped on with me. Of course, nothing else would do but to take the bike to dinner, right?
Now I was in full HD mode. I had the ultimate accessory; a beautiful girl in her 20's clinging tightly to me! The grey left my hair, my beer gut shrank, and my... um... yeah. I guess you don't need to know about that part... As I rolled along scareing pigeons out of viaducts and setting off car alarms, I finally understood what this whole Harley thing is all about.
And God help me, I LIKED IT!
Chris, you have completely and utterly freaked me out. :o
It's just s nightmare...it's just a nightmare...it's just a nightmare... ;)
Wake up!!! Don't follow the Dark Side!!!! USE THE FORCE MAN!!!! :o
Now you should test ride a new one. ;D Hopefully things work out and I can get my Nighttrain next spring. ;D
The END is near! ;D
My brother had an old 34? stump puller, springer front, suicide clutch with hand shifter. It was fun just to take out and putt. I'd like to have a street fighter of sorts, something like the Boost King concept bike awhile back, brutale, or that new Kaw looks kind of cool with some mods.
Damned Harley Maggot!!!
;D
You do realize that there are people who cut & burn themselves for pleasure right?
Seek help my friend...
I can see the mullet growing already...
As a loyal Ducati owner and a die-hard sportbike rider, I was standing in your shoes about 6 years ago when I got my first Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a Dyna Wide Glide. Then a few years later, I purchased an Ultra Classic and a year or two after that I traded the Dyna for a V-Rod.
I have found there is a purpose for every bike. If I want to take the wife for a 2 to 3 hour bike ride, we take the Ultra. If I want to cruise to the store or run an errand in town, I chose the V-Rod and if I want to have a exhilarating weekend ride on rural county blacktops, I dust off the 996. Don't hate the brand or stereotype the riders, it's all good and riding any motorcycle is better than working or sitting in a cage stuck in traffic!
Now that it is in you blood I bet you feel the need to hear that "potato - potato - potato" every so often.
BTW, unless your after 16-18 year olds (and who's not to some degree) ;D, I have found that a Harley-Davidson attracts women like no other brand, including Ducati!
Welcome to reality Chris! Nothing like a Harley. Never will be. They may leak, break down, may not the fastest, there loud and obnoxious, they set off car alarms, attract cops, piss off the neighbors, facinate children, scare old ladies, excite young girls, but once you ride one.... you get hooked real fast! Welcome to the dark side... 8)
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
I always thought that a Harley sounded more like public flatulence than "potatoe...etc." ;D
With time, the effect is starting to fade. I think I should be all right, as long as Rhiannon doesn't start selling bikes at a Harley dealer... ;D
QuoteWith time, the effect is starting to fade. I think I should be all right, as long as Rhiannon doesn't start selling bikes at a Harley dealer... ;D
..and, finally, as the caress of someone so warm and snuggly fades into the private corners of his mind, Chris realizes it may not have been the Harley that caused his irrational lapse...
;)
Quote..and, finally, as the caress of someone so warm and snuggly fades into the private corners of his mind, Chris realizes it may not have been the Harley that caused his irrational lapse...
;)
LOL!!!!!!
Oh my! b....r....e.....a....t....h....e ;D
Quote..and, finally, as the caress of someone so warm and snuggly fades into the private corners of his mind, Chris realizes it may not have been the Harley that caused his irrational lapse...
;)
;)
Damn Chris, you have been sniffing way too many Dunlop fumes as of lately!
Go count sheep, Edgar!
...and another one bites the dust ;D
I must say, K3, your entree into the HD kingdom hall could not have been better - straight pipe shovel, hometown ridin', hot chick pillion (no sissybar, I hope? Once chicks ride a hog, they are generally changed for life. Ever notice how they're always smiling??;)) Shoot. Surpised you haven't sold whatever ya got to get yourself a nice '74 rat and start tweaking it.
Was nice seeing many of the gang yesterday - decided not to race as I was still recovering from a week of hellish flu. But my bro, niece and I were stylin' on our 'Kings, so it was cool.
Didn't see you there, K3, but I hear you were flaggin'.
Catch you in Sept.
ps - you were in Milwaukee, cruisin a hog, and you didn't even call me???? Maybe next time - always ready for a nice run, even if it's only a local one.
pps - so are you gonna write that up and put it in your local bike rag? would make a fun article.
8)
Quote...and another one bites the dust ;D
pps - so are you gonna write that up and put it in your local bike rag? would make a fun article.
8)
Naw, I've decided to come out of the closet slowly...
BTW, Know where I can get some of those sexy fringed leather chaps where my butt hangs out? :o
K3, you never cease to truely frighten me. :o ::) :P
Now I have to live with the image of your bare a$$ in my brain all day. :o :( ;)
QuoteNaw, I've decided to come out of the closet slowly...
BTW, Know where I can get some of those sexy fringed leather chaps where my butt hangs out? :o
First S-dave in a bikini, and now you in chaps? Yikes. :o
Lessee - I had mine and my wife's chaps made for us at Gypsy Leather, in Homebush (New South Wales. Near Sydney).
Every rally I go to there are tons of vendors with tables full of 'em for about $50-60 a set.
Tom... Look up sarcasm in the dictonary. Come back and tell us what you've found. ;)
:-/ Hey, one can always hope... :D
Shovelhead, Milwaukee, Rhiannon... All good. Getting me to dress up like The Village People... Not gonna happen!
I wonder if you and your partners were sitting along the fence between five and six late Sunday? I saw some Harley folks there. I was working far safety by that gate at the exit to five. I was fairly hidden behind the tire wall, but would walk out to cheer the riders at the end of each race.
Tom, wish you were there on sat. We had fun splashing around the track. (Sometimes off the track too. :-[)
QuoteTom, wish you were there on sat. We had fun splashing around the track. (Sometimes off the track too. :-[)
Oh, yeah - sounds right up my street (NOT).
K3 - yeah, that was probably my bro and me - we were there when Don decided to try his one and half layout dismount into the airfence.
Sheesh, with all this gymnastics language you would think there was an Olympics held this year or something. :o ;)