What Are You?

"Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch" (bman76)
07/14/2016 at 14:21 • Filed to: 2 wheels good

Why are you in my driveway?

It’s a Harley Ultra Limited. The 103 is a weird motor, it’s an air-cooled block and cylinder with a water cooled head. I kinda like it.

My parents rented a motorcycle for a weekend road trip, we’ll see how that goes.

DISCUSSION (23)

Chariotoflove > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
07/14/2016 at 14:25

Looks comfy.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Chariotoflove
07/14/2016 at 14:26

That it does.

Tekamul > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
07/14/2016 at 14:30

The 103 is funny. It goes to show how far HD will go to let their riders still think things are air cooled.

They hide a tiny radiator behind some bodywork, and only run coolant in and around the 2 exhaust valves.

Kinja'd!!!

Edited to add diagram from CW

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Tekamul
07/14/2016 at 14:37

Yep those funky little fairings are clever, in a backward Harley kinda way.

Tekamul > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
07/14/2016 at 14:40

Yeah, they are very much a clever solution for both cooling and packaging. But the primary problem they’re solving is pride. On the owners’ part, not Harley’s. They’re just delivering what their market wants.

bob and john > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
07/14/2016 at 14:43

*hisses in distain*

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > bob and john
07/14/2016 at 14:46

Hahahaha

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Tekamul
07/14/2016 at 14:47

Well that *is* Harley’s problem though - a demographic that demands the entire brand stroke their ego, and only theirs. Harley Davidson could make some wild new bikes and ideas if they had either the balls or the demand to make something different. Instead their demographic is literally dying of old age and drunken bike accidents. Meanwhile, the indian scout 60 is sucking up new cruiser riders way fater than the cut-rate HD steets, the japanese bikes are still eating harley’s potential buyers up, and ducati and triumph have no qualms about cashing in n their own retro crazes and printing money and profits that could be going to HD.

Hammerdown > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
07/14/2016 at 14:54

For all the snark against Harley’s, that’s a fantastic motorcycle that will serve your parents well this weekend.

Off Topic/side convo:

My dream bike has the following things:

Cruiser style

Liquid cooled

Cruise control

Fairing

6-speed trans

Horsepower/Torque comparable to my current bike (VTX 1800)

I’ve mostly eliminated Harleys just because of the entry cost, but I can’t find something that checks all those boxes. Best thing I’ve found is a Victory Cross Country. It’s air cooled, but has all the rest.

Tekamul > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
07/14/2016 at 15:05

They are trying with things like the Live Wire and Street 500, but it may be too little, too late. Everybody (at least in the US) knows what harley is. They killed Buell (the first time), and they make 900lb air cooled dinosaurs.

Hammerdown > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
07/14/2016 at 15:06

I think it might be a stretch to think that Ducati and Triumph are printing money on the Scrambler and Street Twin. I’d be willing to bet that the Sportster outsells those bikes. Bikes like that are also not where Harley makes their money.

Most of Harley’s profit comes from their: 1. Branding. Clothing, accessories, etc. is all cheap to make and sold at a premium because of the brand. 2. High dollar motorcycles. The big touring bikes from Harley are pretty damn good at what they do. They look nice and they get you from A-B in comfort.

From a buyers standpoint, if you’re looking for a big cruiser, a Harley is still a great buy. The are now reliable, have a great dealer network, and the resale value is fantastic.

That said, I wouldn’t buy one. Just my tastes. But I do respect the big bikes and what they offer.

Manny05x > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
07/14/2016 at 15:08

Rented a motorcycle? Ouch that must be expensive.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Manny05x
07/14/2016 at 15:12

Cheaper than a convertible Mustang.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Hammerdown
07/14/2016 at 15:21

The scrambler is definitely making ducati some good profits. I think 1/4 of all their bike sales are scramblers. And triumph I meant more as in the whole “retro” line including their own scrambler, the bonneville, and whatnot.

And agreed, harley makes their bike profits from the dressers and baggers and whatnot....But that number stopped growing. And with no real “gateway bikes” to get people hooked on the brand, that number will keep decreasing. Same with the loyalists who buy all that harley gear. They are good bikes, but they are also stupidly expensive and are a rather....specific taste. That’s the problem I was referring to - harley’s lineup is basically “what color and size do you want your vintage, large engined, low revving, high torque cruiser? And how many tens of thousands of dollars do you have to spend”

I hope the softtail S does well. I love that bike. And I love the V-rod lineup too. I just wish they had a proper “sporty” V-rod like the old street rod that had upgraded suspension, better brembo brakes, and a bit more power from a tune that preferred the upper parts of the rev range. THe sportsters are doing well, though I still find the 48 stupid for having a LESS THAN 2 GALLON TANK ON A BIKE THAT BARELY GETS 45 MPG. Just.....all those variants....they all look and seem like different colors of the same flavor. So the “sportster lineup” looks more like “sportster trim levels”.

McMike > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
07/14/2016 at 15:25

Not all the 103s have those heads, it’s just the one installed in the Limited

Those Limiteds are nice. All the options without getting obnoxious with paint and extra chrome bits they put on the CVOs.

Autofixation > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
07/14/2016 at 15:42

Perpetually misfiring V-twin, that’s what it is.

Hammerdown > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
07/14/2016 at 15:53

Totally agree with you, and appreciate the grown-up discussion about it.

With there being no good entry level or cheaper bikes in their lineup (I think the Sportster is extremely overpriced for what it is) they’re relying on people coming over from other brands to their “premium” bikes. That doesn’t seem like a good business model. I like what they do and I like their bikes, but they need another budget friendly brand in the stable. Look at what Polaris is doing with Indian and Victory and how well that’s working. They don’t need a starter brand or entry level bikes (low displacement, etc.) as much as they need bikes at a lower price point to turn riders onto the company.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > McMike
07/14/2016 at 17:05

I’m not a Harley guy, but I think it’s a pretty good looking bike. I wouldn’t buy one, but that’s a matter of taste.

Manny05x > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
07/14/2016 at 17:07

And more fun :)

bob and john > Hammerdown
07/18/2016 at 14:20

F6B?

Hammerdown > bob and john
07/18/2016 at 14:33

That’s the closest thing I’ve found. I’d miss the character of a V-Twin but I think I’d enjoy the 6cyl. However, at that point do I just buy a GoldWing?

bob and john > Hammerdown
07/18/2016 at 14:34

well, if you are going to do a lot of touring i dont see why not.

personally, id get a F6B and straight pipe that shit. mini porsche!

Hammerdown > bob and john
07/18/2016 at 14:39

Hahaha. They do have a distinct sound! But if I’m being realistic I’ll probably keep my VTX for several more years. I’m finally getting it how I want it. Why start that process over?