Looks are deceiving.Never fall prey to looks alone.You have to test drive to make sure it works.It may rattle and be hard to start. It may not like bumps.Or hard to stop on a dime.Worst of all it may be a leaker or have a design flaw.For example the New Harley FTR 1200 has a very obvious design flaw.The Exhaust. It is directly in the way of one's right leg.Meaning don't dare ride in shorts or sneakers.
It's an opposed twin like a BMW airhead. Military contract made for N Africa in WWII. Only about a thousand made. Never saw action.
Those guys I mentioned are part of that big bike = big man group. Nice people, lots of fun, but fundamentally flawed in thinking manhood is something you purchase.
Even some of the more civilized riders seem to have this thing where they're always competing. If you ride up behind or beside them, they have to race out and take the lead. Oh well. For me, that's entertainment.
No.Just simple questions the kind true motorcyclist talk about amongst each other.The fact that you have such difficulty with simple stuff and automatically become defensive is not a good omen.
Well you were wrong about the VTX having a retro S model available in 2002. Good omen? I have a pic of the my dual nissin 4 piston calipers and free floating rotors. Would you like to see?
I clarified that to a few years later.I also explained how the new Honda VTX 1800 was released Before the V-rod which was marketed as a 2001 model where the VTX { out in march of 2001 } was designated as a 2002 model. I may have appeared to suggest that VTX 1800 Retro Models were out the same year as the original VTX 1800 of 2002. I am careful to make sure to be as accurate as possible. In both Motorcycles as well Politics.
By the way since yer incapable of explaining { since you stated you have a CB1100 } what makes their front brake unique is not Nissin calipers. But how the Calipers are mounted.They are NOT mounted like most all other bikes on the wheel hub.But instead on the actual wheel.Which makes for a more efficient and quick stopping.A truer grip.
Yeah, I probably don't really own it. Like the illusion blue I didn't have on the VTX. Are you this guy?
But since you commented, yes they are free floating, mounted on the wheel and not to a spider mounted on the hub.
You are in a totally different scene than I am, as I said.. old and slow (do you have to be over 50 to buy a Harley? 'Cause all the Harley riders I see down here are at least 50, LOL) Paid $2500 and another $1000 for shipping it, it had been dropped hard.. I stuck it back together form my buddy's large collection of Harley, Indian and Victory parts.. I call it the "formerly known as a Electroglide Classic", I used to call it the "stealth bike" because it was well muffled and quiet, however it keep shaking of the mufflers so now it's straight pipes, which I have to admit, I find the sound of them "cool". I put a high output charging system (which I regret because it was an extra expense over stock and not necessary) and moved the battery under the seat, an Antigravity lithium, which I love. At my age, your bike must be able to carry your "old lady" comfortably, or it's going to be unpopular with her. I do live along one of the best bike roads ever.. it's twisty, up and down, I call the whole experience the closest I'll ever get to flying a acrobatic aircraft. Besides the RD 350 of my roommates that I rode quite a bit, I once road a 750? two stroke Jap bike.. once.. it was scary.. and that when I was young and considered myself invincible. motocross.. I used to laugh at those little bikes and a buddy let me ride his around the motocross track.. I made one loop and he had to take it from me, used ever muscle I had! and I was worn out.. never mocked motocross again! I ride the big bike because I'm a big guy.. don't know much about the macho factor among Harley riders.. but my favorite saying is "the best bike in the world? The one your riding ! "
I have erred.Having bought the first run of Honda VTX 1800's and chose Metallic Silver.I relied on what I thought I knew having also bought the very first Honda Rune { Illusion Blue } in my state in late july of 2003 as a 2004 model.I could have sworn Honda said it was the first time that color was offered.Because Honda made a big deal of that color since it changed hue with the sunlight. Now Metallic Blue is not Illusion blue.So I need to verify that Honda VTX 1800 did have Illusion Blue.Not just paint left over from the last run of Rune which were only manufactured for 2 seasons .Honda pledged to make sure every Honda dealership got at least One Rune.I think around 2,ooo Rune were made. It was Hondas ONLY custom motorcycle.
They definitely had illusion blue on the 2002 VTX. I bought mine off the floor so had to take what the shop had in stock. I liked that burnt metallic orange but the shop only had that on a C model. So I ended up with illusion blue but never really liked how it looked on that bike in the sun. Eventually sold it and picked up an ST 1300. Spontaneous dumb decision. Still miss that VTX and occassionally dream I'm riding it.
I had a problem when I got on motorcycles. I used the throttle like an on/off switch. After putting one down a couple of times, I decided I needed to stay off the pavement. And yes, motocross will take your breath away. A twenty minute moto was like sprinting full on for twenty minutes. I rode the amateur class and got enough AMA points to get an invitation to a supercross event in the old Three Rivers Stadium. The pros went the evening before and we couldn't wait to get out there for our turn. It poured rain that night and we rode in soupy wet mud. Not much of a race.
I remember as a senior { that summer before my senior year } My best friend in high school was genius when it came to electronics and mechanical stuff.Not just that a Physics course was a breeze for him. He customized his VW bug his dad bought him and went thru one engine. Those engines can be lifted by 2 strong backs.He then decided to get a wrecked Corvette and built it from a box of parts.Rewired the entire dash { no small task for the very intricate dash of a Corvette } he also taught himself how to fiberglass.He did everything but paint that ' 64 Corvette fastback.So a couple weeks before class I was at his house { I hung out there since they had a TV/Radio shop in their basement and a McIntosh Stereo in the adjoining Pool room { huge 10 foot slate pool table }. This buddy just fixed a Honda small motorcycle.I think it may have been a 125 cc.He was scooting around behind his home where there was thick grass and foliage.I was watching and waiting for my turn to take a spin on the fixed motorbike.All of a sudden my buddy who was going maybe a little over 20 mpr. Ran smack dab into a good size rock { boulder } and went flying over the handlebars.He was a big guy at 6'4" and about 220 lbs.He was the heavyweight on our Wrestling team.I wrestled the 167 lb. class. He dint hurt himself since there was a lot of tall grass and soft ground. But the look on his face.Like he was astonished.It may have been a blessing. Since he was a car nut and drove like a mad man.Took his VW into the woods all the time dodging trees and racing around.Of course with his Ranger 8 track deck and lots of new 8 track cassettes.From that moment forward he lost any and all interest in Motorcycles.Wouldn't get near one. Such is Life.
the ducati and harley are expensive and quality motor cycles. honda motor cycles are dirt cheap, such is life.
immediately before buying the Harley, I had a Yamaha V-Twin.. ah.. a Virago, Took of the Kid's hands so he'd have a good DP on a used Sportster. I worked on it some, and it then when I realized Japanese bikes aren't made to be worked on. I came to the conclusion that in Japan, they ride them until they are paid for, then go to the dealer, trade it in and get a new bike. The '88 Harley was so easy to work on and parts very available.
Yeah right.Japaneses bikes Aren't for working on.I guess that explains all the Japanese parts on a stock Harley. Throughout the last decade The Front Forks and shocks are Japanese or Showa.Most of the electrics { starter,alternator,wiring harness,gauges, handle bar switches are Nippon Denso. Carburetors { discontinued entirely by 2009 } were Keihin. Batteries were Interstate.Very American company. So BiG Deal.Last July { 2018 } Harley announced plans to move some of their Production oversees.As Jeep did.
Aren't made to be worked on? My Yamahas have been nothing but a pleasure to work on, would you share more about your point of view on metrics with me?
I love upgrading my bikes and one of the first changes I make on any new bike is to upgrade the horn to a Fiamm Freeway Blaster. $15 on Amazon and super loud. Makes communication so much more effortless. And effective. Most recently, for my 1300T, I purchased a phone mount to make viewing Waze or Google Maps easier, but now want to run a charge cord up from the battery to keep the phone's battery from draining on longer trips. In all, on that bike I've upgraded the horn, handle bars, grips, intake, exhaust, and fuel manager. Planned upgrades include progressive springs in the forks, driving light bar, LED lights all around, upgrading the stock seat to an Ultima as well as converting to a single seater with luggage rack, and adding a relay so I can add another horn to get the cagers attention. And the upgrade I'm most excited about is going Darkside with installing a car tire on the rear of the bike. Crazy traction on both accel and decel, stellar wet weather handling, and lasts waaayyy longer than an MC tire. Not to mention cheaper. I have a Michelin Commander II on there right now, plenty of life left in it though. Glad to see there are a few enthusiasts here, even though some folks seem to be the kind of rider that doesn't seem to lean into the corners as most others do, I never did understand the frame of mind behind riding like that. Yeah, I ride a cruiser but I like to lean way into the corners and tend to ride a bit faster than some others do. Whatever bike you have, upgrading and modding them is half the fun.