rants and raves

[Pittenger5]

riding a bikes that exceeded Harley performance in every other aspect than decibels I finally came to my senses and bought a REAL motorcycle. Performance. Period.

A harley can outperform your riding ability though. Ask this dude
(Pic stolen from Arcy)

[GixerJockey]

This thread really went to two pages overnight?

[ff36buell]

had a bike that was both a harley and sportbike as a Buell XB.... didn't do too bad keeping up when I had it. Harley Heart in a street fighter frame/suspension. Guess that just makes me confused

[VfrAndy]

You should have been at the Grand Nationals last year. Lots of 'Harleys' demonstating what 'performance' means on a 1 mile dirt oval.

Performance is very context specific. A Gold Wing is hard to beat if 'Performance' means the ability to eat up mile after mile after mile. An Ex500 is hard to beat if 'Performance' means low cost track weapon. A Scooter is hard to beat if 'Performance' means 100 mpg.

Motorcycling's a big tent. Keep the flap to your tent open and you'll be surprised all the cool people you might get to meet!

Thats nice. I´m sure everybody knows EXACTLY what I meant by "performance"(quarter mile, top speed, fuel economy, braking and stopping capabilities). Is a Harley more comfy on a long ride versus a sport bike? That is debatable, other "performance" facts are non debatable for the obvious reason that they are facts. True, Harley has a very impressive history in racing. Ice and regular speedway(or oval) and drag racing are the most common. This is just not something that is relevant when talking about street Harleys. As most car and motorcycle manufacturers have a history or ongoing racing experience as a lot of what has been learned on the track has been adopted to mass production. Harley just seems to be an exception?

[Honclfibr]

Thats nice. I´m sure everybody knows EXACTLY what I meant by "performance"(quarter mile, top speed, fuel economy, braking and stopping capabilities).

1) Everyone did not know what you meant by "performance" as it is a nebulous and subjective term as applied as-is to a motorcycle.

2) Now that everyone knows what you mean by "performance" they may still have a different definition as it relates to their own personal enjoyment of a motorcycle.

3) If that's your definition of "performance" and you strive to achieve maximum "performance", why did you buy a VFR? There are definitely other bikes which will exceed it's "performance" in all of the areas you listed. Pretty much every modern 600 actually.

[gs500fast]

so I don't know about performance but for what its worth I once had a harley rider tell me that they invented the motorcycle wave and that's why no one else should wave or be waved at. is that even possible? I didn't press the point for fear of getting stabbed.

[DucDave]

so I don't know about performance but for what its worth I once had a harley rider tell me that they invented the motorcycle wave and that's why no one else should wave or be waved at. is that even possible? I didn't press the point for fear of getting stabbed.

Dont be silly. Al Gore invented the 'Motorcycle Wave'. Everyone knows that....!

[GixerJockey]

Thats nice. I´m sure everybody knows EXACTLY what I meant by "performance"(quarter mile, top speed, fuel economy, braking and stopping capabilities). Is a Harley more comfy on a long ride versus a sport bike? That is debatable, other "performance" facts are non debatable for the obvious reason that they are facts. True, Harley has a very impressive history in racing. Ice and regular speedway(or oval) and drag racing are the most common. This is just not something that is relevant when talking about street Harleys. As most car and motorcycle manufacturers have a history or ongoing racing experience as a lot of what has been learned on the track has been adopted to mass production. Harley just seems to be an exception?

So, here we are, two pages later... And your level of ignorance is just as bad as the "Harley guys" that you bitched about in your original post.


Some one, somewhere, on a Harley forum, is bitching about a kid on a sport bike, and how uncomfortable those things look.

[ff36buell]

So wait, are you saying that your VFR will out perform my Buell as it is not only Harley Based (1203 Harley motor) but built and sold through Harley dealerships? I am almost certain that my XB12SS had a much better power/weight ratio to your VFR and handled up there w/ the other sportbikes Ive ridden.... so what are your "standards" in performance? Oh yeah, I wave to everyone (even people driving nice cages...) so sue me. I guess ignorance is bliss

[VfrAndy]

1) Everyone did not know what you meant by "performance" as it is a nebulous and subjective term as applied as-is to a motorcycle.

2) Now that everyone knows what you mean by "performance" they may still have a different definition as it relates to their own personal enjoyment of a motorcycle.

3) If that's your definition of "performance" and you strive to achieve maximum "performance", why did you buy a VFR? There are definitely other bikes which will exceed it's "performance" in all of the areas you listed. Pretty much every modern 600 actually.

So, here we are, two pages later... And your level of ignorance is just as bad as the "Harley guys" that you bitched about in your original post.


Some one, somewhere, on a Harley forum, is bitching about a kid on a sport bike, and how uncomfortable those things look.

So wait, are you saying that your VFR will out perform my Buell as it is not only Harley Based (1203 Harley motor) but built and sold through Harley dealerships? I am almost certain that my XB12SS had a much better power/weight ratio to your VFR and handled up there w/ the other sportbikes Ive ridden.... so what are your "standards" in performance? Oh yeah, I wave to everyone (even people driving nice cages...) so sue me. I guess ignorance is bliss

Honclfibr> Your right, I should have been more specific by what I meant.

No, my VFR is not the fastest and greatest bike ever made. No bike is. My criteria when purchasing a bike was simple. I wanted something sporty yet capable of long touring. Why not a Goldwing or an 1100XX? Too big for me.

My original point was not to bash on Harleys. I'ts everybody's own choice what they ride. What I was questioning was the IMAGE that goes with Harleys, part of which is not considering anything else but Harleys as motorcycles. <-- I guess this is a very divide opinion even in this forum.

Thank you GixerJockey for pointing out that because I ride a sport bike I am young, ignorant and naive. I am sure you other 4000+ posts have been just as useless.

ff36buell> No, my 800cc is no match to your Buell. We have about the same HP output but you buell has twice the torque. You do how ever have 400cc advantage... Is this surely an unmodified HD engine that they use in the buell or are the characteristics changed to suit a sportbike?

[DucDave]

My original point was not to bash on Harleys. I'ts everybody's own choice what they ride.

STOP RIGHT THERE...End of story.

Everything is personel preference...you think there's a shorage of poseurs on Sport Bikes???

[Ryno]

Keep the flap to your tent open and you'll be surprised all the cool people you might get to meet!

is it just me, or is that the quote of the day?
I personally don't give a shit who waves to me.
I do notice that when I'm on the SV I get a lot more waves then when I'm on the TL

[palanon]

I love all bikes. If all they made was a "hello kitty" EX250, I'd own two.

When coming across another rider, I wave both arms above my head and shake both legs like I'm getting a great BJ.

I'm all about the love, baby.

[Kenn157]

I love all bikes. If all they made was a "hello kitty" EX250, I'd own two.

When coming across another rider, I wave both arms above my head and shake both legs like I'm getting a great BJ.

I'm all about the love, baby.

LOL omg for him!

[Mustang]

Wave to whoever you want, and they'll wave to whoever they want. Don't take offense if they don't wave back; maybe they didn't see you, maybe they're too scared to take their hand off the bars, maybe they just don't care to wave, or maybe they've waved at 400 other bikes today and just want to pay attn to the road. I'm so sick of this "why won't the Harley wave back at me" bullshit. Did you buy a bike to get waves specifically from Harley riders while riding?

[JoeT]

Thats nice. I´m sure everybody knows EXACTLY what I meant by "performance"(quarter mile, top speed, fuel economy, braking and stopping capabilities).

had a bike that was both a harley and sportbike as a Buell XB.... didn't do too bad keeping up when I had it. Harley Heart in a street fighter frame/suspension. Guess that just makes me confused

I feel that way about my Confederate. it has a "Harley" based motor and a "sportbike" type frame. There are bikes faster, but it will give just about anything a run to 100. There are bikes that stop better, but back down to "0" it'll do it with the best. I'm not sure of top speed, because at 4000rpm in 5th I'm doing 130 (and I'm a wuss). ok, most bikes beat me in fuel economy, It's been a while since I've checked but I think it's about 28mpg.


What bothers me more than the "wave" (or lack of one) is the semi-recent trend of not helping a "biker" on the side of the road. I know that I'm old at 41, but when I started riding in the '80s (before many of you were born), no one on a bike would ride by another bike on the side of the road.

[rider]

I love all bikes. If all they made was a "hello kitty" EX250, I'd own two.

When coming across another rider, I wave both arms above my head and shake both legs like I'm getting a great BJ.

I'm all about the love, baby.

Is that how your supposed to act?? No wonder my wife no longer obliges, I wasn't giving the right reaction! Wait till next time baby... if I can get a next time.

I wave to everyone. Not every time but about 60% when I'm in the mood. I especially like to wave to scooters... It just seems to make them so happy, like sweet, that dude on the motorcycle waved at me!

Besides I like just about anything on 2 wheels and would ride a scooter if I wanted, just don't happen to have one. Got a china bike, that's pretty close. But not as cool.

[Woodsy]

So wait, are you saying that your VFR will out perform my Buell as it is not only Harley Based (1203 Harley motor) but built and sold through Harley dealerships? I am almost certain that my XB12SS had a much better power/weight ratio to your VFR and handled up there w/ the other sportbikes Ive ridden.... so what are your "standards" in performance? Oh yeah, I wave to everyone (even people driving nice cages...) so sue me. I guess ignorance is bliss

i think the Austrian motor you currently sit on top of is better.

[Legion1440]

Dont be silly. Al Gore invented the 'Motorcycle Wave'. Everyone knows that....!

I jumped into this late, but that quote is priceless. I personally wave to everyone, as I ride with quite a few Harley's. Most of them have been great people, some have been asses. The same can be said of the street bikes that I ride with. It's all about the people, not the machine. You take away the bike, and some people will still be douches.

[GixerJockey]

No, my VFR is not the fastest and greatest bike ever made. No bike is.

Mine is...

Thank you GixerJockey for pointing out that because I ride a sport bike I am young, ignorant and naive. I am sure you other 4000+ posts have been just as useless.

You're quite welcome... Although, nowhere in the post did it say that YOU were young or naive. Just ingnorant. Which you just proved again. You come in here with the most useless post I've ever seen and you have the balls to make snide comments.

I was just trying to show you that not everyone looks through the same set of eyes. You pissed an moaned, as a new member, about other factions of motorcycle riding, which you clearly do not understand. This whole thread served no purpose. But you got your "15 minutes". And made yourself sound like a complete douchebag in the process. Welcome to the forum, Asshole!

[DucDave]

Mine is...
You pissed an moaned, as a new member, about other factions of motorcycle riding, which you clearly do not understand. This whole thread served no purpose. But you got your "15 minutes". And made yourself sound like a complete douchebag in the process. Welcome to the forum, Asshole!

Hmmm....kinda reminds me of someone else I know. First thread was quite the intro!

[akira700]

I wave to everyone and nearly everyone waves back...even old ladys walking their dogs!

plus 1
Well maybe sometimes with one finger, if they cut me off, but generally
try to be a good citizen ;-)

[ChrisNoF4i]

I wave to everyone and nearly everyone waves back...

I wave to EveryOne, 'cept the blacks. Personal preference.

[VfrAndy]

Mine is...




You're quite welcome... Although, nowhere in the post did it say that YOU were young or naive. Just ingnorant. Which you just proved again. You come in here with the most useless post I've ever seen and you have the balls to make snide comments.

I was just trying to show you that not everyone looks through the same set of eyes. You pissed an moaned, as a new member, about other factions of motorcycle riding, which you clearly do not understand. This whole thread served no purpose. But you got your "15 minutes". And made yourself sound like a complete douchebag in the process. Welcome to the forum, Asshole!

Thank you. Though I did get my initial answer in the first three posts. (your reply with smiley saying I'm with stupid was not really of any help) Useless or not it got a lot of feedback which for the most part was good, honest opinions on the matter. Your opinion is not worth more than mine.
I think we can say this subject is dealt with and needs no more input.

[obsolete]

How the hell are you supposed to wave while holding a coffee and a donut?