In the mid 80's, a friend who shared my enjoyment of Corvairs bought a '71 Triumph oil-in-frame Bonneville. I thought maybe one day I'd like a Brit Bike, and since I had ridden the occasional dirtbike when I was a teenager, and my Mom would NEVER let me buy one, I started going to motorcycle get togethers with him to see what's around.

I bought a '72 Norton Commando at a bike club get together, and then a couple of Triumph Tridents, and then a late 60's Bonnevile, and then the money pit opened. I had no MC experience, so I found a trustworthy specialist 100 miles away, and brought him my finds, and spent lots of dough getting them up to snuff. They were all decent low miles well maintained 1 or 2 owner bikes, but still needed some "fettling". I only rode w that friend a couple of times.

Well, a few years later, I met a guy who had just bought a 97 Fatboy, (this's 1999), and we rode together a couple of times, and he's make fun of my Norton, and it wasn't comfortable for me anyways. I said I'd NEVER buy an overpriced, overchromed unreliable POS HD, but he kept pressing, and I started sneaking peaks at his bike in the garage during the winter. He'd strategically place the Harley magazines under my nose, and we'd go to the local HD dealer and poke around.

So, in late winter, I decided to buy a new 2000 Fatboy cause the prices on used HD's was almost as much as new, and I wasn't a fan of the vibrating Evo. I ordered a Black FB, but cancelled the order a couple days later when I found a red-black FB a couple hundred miles away, in stock, w free delivery.

I paid full list, with a cover and disc lock thrown in, and decided against the all Black FB cause it was the "cheapo" model, and the dealer had a reputation fer not delivering ordered bikes, and Laconia was the week after the supposed del date!

I'll spare the details of my lousy experience w the dealer for another story, but the FB best thing I'd ever done!!! I collect old '60's GM cars, and never drive them, just pay fer storage, and I could RIDE this thing, and WOW, what a great feeling...

My friend and I rode to Lake George and Laconia for 7 straight years, and always had a great time. We also went to Stafford Springs CT, and East Dunham, in the Catskills.

Anyways, we parted ways a few years ago, and he died in December 2009 (He had ALS, 49 years old). I didn't ride for two summers, and my FB needed a back tire REAL bad, the original battery went dead, and I let the regi expire. I fixed everything late last fall, and am preparing for Lake George and Laconia this season.

I'm considering either buying saddlebags and a radio for my FB, or possibly trading for a Touring, maybe a Road Glide. But we also need a new lawnmower, and the one I want to trade up to is $12,500, so I guess I'll forget about the $40,000 compact tractor (I think I need!) for now!

Thank you for your concern and explanation. I too have a reason for choosing a Harley.

I like the foot-pegs and the neat-o-keen 'skull' gas cap on 'Spinner.'

https://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb23 ... /004-8.jpg

Why Do I Ride A Harley???

One word: Balance

Yeah there is always that cool factor but, I've been around 2 wheels for a very long long time, and the bottom line is how does it ride. I found the Japanese bikes to be far to front heavy for my tastes. I can ride my bike hands free for 20 miles on the slab, set the throttle screw - and hold on to the saddle bag protector next to my leg and ride that sucker like i used to ride my sled down a hill by just leaning it.
So yeah I picked a bike with 1/2 the horsepower, weighs more, but I always get there with a smile.

Ya' know, for some odd reason I feel like answering this question like we used to do as kids, and I don't know why.

If some sidewalk commando asked about my opinion on bikes--at any level--I would snap, "What, are you writing a book?"

I pick bikes, women and cheese for much the reasons, I like what I like. For example, I am sure there are many folks confused on why I choose to ride a smaller, more plain-Jane Harley and yet ride it farther and have more fun. I like what I like. Even in our own ranks there are guys who purchase bikes because that model is considered cool within the group.

Hey, I still feel (and regret) the fact that I missed out on owning a Yamaha V-Max when I was younger. When I see one now I still shake my head at my stupidity.

Ride what you want. If that's a Vespa scooter, then sobeit. I consider Spinner to be the loudest, most fun little 'scooter' I have ever known. I cannot remember when I've had this much fun.

Funny about riding, I've found that this little Sportster has somehow reacquainted me with riding. I'm not sure why. I think it has to do with simplicity.

When you're a kid, getting on anything with two wheels is a thrill. Some of my first Harleys were Sportsters. But as my skill level grew and I had more money for toys, I went "bigger and better" simply because I could. I'm not sure that was the best thing to do in my case.

When I imagine myself riding or just thinking about Harleys in general, I think about Sportsters. And Spinner is the new age of Sportsters that we couldn't even build back in the late 60s or 70s. When I push the limits, I'm surprised on how well the newer age of bikes goes through corners, leans into turns and handles during braking.

Riding like that doesn't need a GPS, chrome everything, or advertising hype like the catch-phrase "Dark Custom."

Make no mistake, I love Betty, she's the best custom I've ever driven. But if I just want to burn some premium and lift my spirits, I ride Spinner. And it always reminds me that the events of the world are truly a minor inconvenience for me. Shut up and ride.

I understand the confusion. If you're younger than 55 years of age, the ownership of a Harley is mostly for showing off. It's a stylish thing to do, fueled by old war stories and crappy Hollywood biker movies.

Modern Harleys have some attributes of either old police bikes or 1960s customs, primarily the customs popular in San Francisco. The road clothes section of the dealerships look like the floor of my closet. Most younger guys buy a brand new jean jacket and hack off the sleeves (or just purchase a sleeveless leather vest) and they don't even know why.

Many high schools have logos using Indian names or places. They claim it's to "honor the Indian braves' heritage." In like manner, I've heard young bikers dressing up in 1960s clothing and using old slang (usually incorrectly) to live the lifestyle.

I hate to shake you guys, but the Vietnam war is over, African Americans can now register to vote without reprisals, ballistic nylon jackets are now warmer and more waterproof than leather and MoCo no longer builds panheads. However in Harley shops, the 1960s continue to flourish.

Why do I ride a Harley? Because I always did. Why does a kid ride a Harley? It's because he found an old picture of guys like me. And I just answered this question exactly like I did when I was a kid. But then, in 1966 I answered all questions like that.