Rode some Harleys this weekend. Thoughts inside.

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 09/10/2018 at 10:39 • Filed to: None

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Went to a Harley Davidson demo day today. Neat bikes at first. Basically amounts to 3 engines and 4 main types of bike with a bunch of different dress up options. I couldn’t care less about the full-dress mega-cruisers so I messed around with the softail and sportster.
The softail gets the new 114 cubic inch (1.8 liters) Milwaulkee-Eight engine. 119 ft-lb, 100hp. But even the “sporty” (and immensely uncomfortable) FXD R weighs 637lb so it’s an incredibly tame 100hp bike. Oh and it STARTS at $21k. Twenty-one THOUSAND dollars. It did handle confidently though.

The sportsters get the 1200cc as their “big” engine and it is the most milquetoast powered pile of shit I’ve ever ridden. These things feel more rickety and crap than my 40 year old hacked to crap Honda. I’m legitimately angry about these bikes. It shakes like a marital aid at idle and doesn’t even give the satisfaction of a good climax as it struggles to get out of its own way leaving a light. Also the first Sportster I went to ride had a sudden electrical issue. The second one, I was warned, had problems with the handlebars the previous day. Lovely. The mid-controls were great, put mid controls on the FXD R and you might have something.

Somewhat horrifyingly the Sportster is available with an even smaller engine which seems like a recipe for getting outrun by a damn Honda Grom.

Meh. If I wanted a big thumpy V-twin cruiser I’d take a used Honda VTX1800 10/10 times. Similar engine specs to the Brand New H-D Milwaulkee-Eight but almost two decades ago in a rock-solid metric cruiser with fuel injection, water cooling, a SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION (seriously H-D give me another gear to play with this isn’t the seventies) and you can pick them up all day long in great shape for $4k.

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I mean look at this. So much want. I wish I wasn’t poor because that would be GLORIOUS for road trips.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/10/2018 at 11:00

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HARLEY: “Why aren’t people buying our great Traditional American M otorcycles? “

LITERALLY EVERYONE:

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 09/10/2018 at 11:14

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Clearly it’s the fault of those damn Millennials, I say.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 09/10/2018 at 11:42

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Nom De Plume > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 09/10/2018 at 11:53

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LOLOLOL, they really are doing an extended tribute to the AMF days.

Ssfancyfresh > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/10/2018 at 12:13

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As I am a sucker for marketing and hype, goddam that top pic rustles my jimmies.

As a cheap bastard who is more practical about spending, that VTX is fucking dope for $3600.

Decay buys too many beaters > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/10/2018 at 12:22

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I’ll make you a great deal on my VTX1800 :p

But yes, you nailed it. The main reason I got a VTX for my trip was that it was as close as I could get to doing a big american road trip on a big american cruiser without paying big american dollars. It also doesn’t vibrate at speed!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Decay buys too many beaters 09/10/2018 at 12:26

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Yeah I find myself missing the comfort of my Vulcan. Cruisers are great. I’ve been eyeing your VTX for a while but I’m trying to buy a house this coming spring so that’s probably a poor use of money on my part. I’d love to have two bikes again so the wife and I could go riding again. Aaa gh.

Decay buys too many beaters > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/10/2018 at 12:32

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Oh, and I think the VTX has 5 gears... that or mine is broken...

Sad that the 1800s never really took off, it was truly a groundbreaking engine back when it came out. The first big v-twin that made “power”. If I recall correctly, it was 20-30 more HP than all the other V cruisers .

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Decay buys too many beaters 09/10/2018 at 12:34

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Yeah the VTX all had 5 speeds. I’m not sure why. Would love to ride one some time, I’ve ridden a VTX1300 Fury and it was kind of disappointing though I’ve heard the not-Fury bikes with that engine are actually a bit better.

Decay buys too many beaters > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/10/2018 at 12:39

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From what I heard, the 1300 was kind of phoned in by honda . Didn’t really stand out among the sea of other sub 1500cc bikes. Think it was only 60hp or so, and for some reason... they kept carbs :/

I’d have looked a the 1300 for my trip, but no fuel injection was a deal breaker for me.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Decay buys too many beaters 09/10/2018 at 12:58

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Aaah, right. Then when they made it the Fury they added FI. I need to find a local demo day that has an 1800 at it.

Pickup_man > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/10/2018 at 14:01

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I had an 883 Sportster for about 5 years and while it certainly wasn’t a fast bike it was at least quick enough to get out of it’s own way, I’d almost call it spirited, but I rode a 1200 at a Harley Demo days too and was super di sapp ointed. Apparently the 1200's are geared higher than the 883's so they’re roughly equally fast. I have no idea why they geared them up though because it’s not like you’d be riding interstates all day on a Sportster.

Also the Milwaukee eight has a six speed doesn’t it? Or is it six speed only in some models? I know the Sportster is only five because that engine platform is ancient, but Harley has had six speeds in their big bikes for a while now. 

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Pickup_man 09/10/2018 at 14:03

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They have divorced transmissions so I believe the heavier >700lb bikes get six speeds. The softails I rode were 5ers.

Pickup_man > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/10/2018 at 14:15

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Interesting. W hen I did the demo days I rode the Street Bob, Deluxe, Street Glide, Fat Bob, and a Sportster 1200 (for old time sake, because I’m one of those nut cases who actually loves Sportsters). I thought they all had six speeds, (minus the Sportster obvs.), but that was a few months back so ¯\_()_/¯.

Overall I was not impressed with the M8, it was heavy, hot, the shaking felt more like a miss fire and less like the traditional Harley shake, and the power was super underwhelming. My 12 year old Warrior feels more lively in every way. The bike I was most interested in ( Street Bob) was the bike I liked the least, and the Harley I’ve always hated, the Softtail Deluxe, I ended up falling in love with. The Street Glide, while not fast, great handling, or overall exciting really, was super comfy and a bike I could easily spend all day on. I definitely see the appeal in those (but would still end up on something different because $$).

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Pickup_man 09/10/2018 at 14:19

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My want of any Harley fell apart because I just remembered you could buy a used first gen Vmax for like $3500 and have one of the best looking muscle bikes ever made.
Also V4.

Goddammit I need one.

Pickup_man > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/10/2018 at 15:04

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I also need a V-Max, but I prefer the second gen.

I was never a Harley guy until my dad convinced me to buy one (he’s not a Harley owner). I was fully aware of how lacking that Sportster was, but I loved it anyway. I’m still not one of those guys who lives and breathes Harley, I love everything on two wheels, but I absolutely will own another (or likely multiple) someday.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Pickup_man 09/10/2018 at 15:26

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The second gen is amazing but the first gen has one thing going for it:

cheeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaap

Pickup_man > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/10/2018 at 15:37

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It’s hard to argue with cheap.... 

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/10/2018 at 16:02

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My old sportster 1200 was  about as fast as decay’s old SV650 in a straight line 

But there are so many reasons I don’t have that stupid thing anymore. Only one reason it was worth keeping and that was because I liked looking at it. So it had to go.

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters 09/11/2018 at 14:11

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Man, if your VTX were a 1980 I’d be all over that stuff. I bet the power is absurd!

Mercedes Streeter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/11/2018 at 14:14

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After having adventured with motorcycling since *checks calendar* late May, I’ve come to the conclusion that Harleys are really good at two things:

1) Being comfortable, provided you go with the aforementioned mega cruisers.

2) Looking pretty.

Otherwise, the Japanese seem to beat them in every way.

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 09/11/2018 at 14:16

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Absurd is relative, It’s slower than my Triumph. But my T riumph doesn’t have the torque to  do rolling 2nd and 3rd gear burnouts :p

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters 09/11/2018 at 14:24

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Ugggggh shhhh oh man I need that CBX out near you.

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 09/11/2018 at 14:32

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hmmm... I f only there was a motorcycle with the torque to tow another large motorcycle long distances... hmmm

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters 09/11/2018 at 14:37

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I’m pretty sure U-Haul won’t rent to a VTX1800 :P

That and my primary issue is a lack of $3k lol

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 09/11/2018 at 14:44

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It’s a dealer, they have financing :p

That’s the responsible thing to do... right???

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mercedes Streeter 09/11/2018 at 14:46

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I’d argue the Japanese are perfectly capable of looking prettier and being just as or more comfortable (especially if you factor in the smoothness of their engines).

Mercedes Streeter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/11/2018 at 14:54

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Oh I fully agree! What I meant with my two points is that Harleys can look good and be comfortable (although it seems the Harleys I like the look of are most definitely not comfortable lol) , not that they’re the best at it. ;)

Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/15/2018 at 22:18

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You should try the Street Rod. It's still heavy and underpowered, but it's light and powerful enough to get into some serious trouble! 

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns 09/15/2018 at 22:25

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They didn’t have that one, annoyingly. 505lb 68 hp and 47ft lb though... that isn’t great. $8700 is reasonable pricing for a Harley. I’m actually a bit surprised.

Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/16/2018 at 16:27

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They didn’t have it? At a TEST RIDE?! They were throwing those things at my big ass, and I just wanted to ride the Low Rider S. Ended up buying an old Street Bob that I love, but would trade for the new Softail model in a heartbeat.

The Street Bob is the crown jewel of the Softails in my opinion. The tires aren’t as wide and it comes with mid pegs, but the high bars and the seat make it less cramped than the Low Rider, which is basically a Softail Sportster.

One of these with the front end from the Sport Glide and the seat, tail and rear fork from the FXDR is my dream bike. That, and a Road King with Sport Glide bags and Shred Pegs.   

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns 09/16/2018 at 19:45

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I agree with basically all of this

Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 09/17/2018 at 07:13

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Thanks! I thought I was rambling. 

Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns > Nom De Plume 09/17/2018 at 07:21

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Did you just post the best Harley stunt video ever to make fun of Harleys? ‘ The Olympics are so dumb, let’s make fun of the sprinters setting records!’