As is my custom, yesterday I went down to my local dealership. I went in my truck, as a matter of fact. The area was experiencing thunderstorms, and I had to pick up a new pair of shoes. That's right, Harley makes shoes now, and I needed something to walk in, but something I could also use for short hops on a bike. A shoe with motorcyle boot soles, the only true innovation I saw.

https://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb23 ... 01-115.jpg

As I sat for a bit drinking free coffee and talking to a sales guy, we pondered the new 2012 Electra-Glide-ish bikes parked on the showroom floor. Some weird colors, and derby covers imprinted with 103, and one with 110. They now have double disc brakes, which I liked. Our thoughts were pretty much vanilla.

My take is that unless there was a lot of top end, balls out, dresser drag-racing going on in Madison, I didn't see much of a point. However, many magazines ofter point out that MoCo is many times 'the smaller engine' when depicted in head-to-head competition. (In a cruiser article, this was stated regarding the Blackline.) The Victory bikes have sold 106-inch motors for several years now.

Either our riders have gotten collectively fatter, or the motors have been leaned out so much we need more inches to limp around. Frankly, the bikes are left pretty much 'as is.' The idea of "innovation" is now a pallet of new colors. It's kind of like being told your favorite football team is now "in a building year." You're being told to your face that excellence isn't in the cards.

It's hard to watch. Unless I scatter an engine, I think I have all of the bikes I will ever need. In a world with re-built knuckleheads, my bikes can be fixed and repaired long after I'm gone. In one of the showroom windows there is an old shovelhead police bike on permanent display. It has a front drum brake. It always bothered me that MoCo changed over to a disc because there was one on the Honda CB750. I feel that now MoCo makes changes only when others force them when we should be making R/D changes on our own. That Blackline was trumpeted because of it's new handlebars. Sheez.

After thinking about the core reason that "hype" bothers me, I've come to the conclusion that misrepresentation and 'spin' seems to be a key component of most things lately. That, and the knee-jerk reaction to vilify everything to which we disagree. It apprears that screaming has become a method of vetting.

However, if you do not have the credentials, then clearly 'hype' is lying.

You all know how much I dislike "wearing your grandfather's clothes." I do not find it 'traditional.' I do not find it 'carrying on that tradition.' I do not find it 'paying homage.' I find it usurping a history you did not live.

Same deal with our toys. We used to have a humorous comment on some bikes, "If it don't go, chrome it." Just another way to find something useless, like panties on a pig. It permeates into everything, from designers jeans to cell phones. The backlash is just as bad, meaning, "My new piece of worthless over-hyped junk is better than your outdated piece of worthless over-hyped junk."

In the breakroom of our delarship is a picture of Kenny Bahl, a biker who passed away a few years ago. Simple, straightward kind of guy. Owned part of a body-shop. Watched many old friends die around him. Tragically, he dealt with the substance abuse of a daughter, who ultimately committed suicide. His picture, and old coffee cups hang there because he exemplifies who we should be. That being, "a good guy on a bike." He wore out bikes, dozens of them. Changed rear tires like I change socks. Had to buy oil in bulk. He'd get bored, and take a ride--to Alaska. Yellow Knife to be specific. No hype, no brag, just fact.

What he did on simple bikes humbles me. What he would think about worthless surface glitter, our national debt, "reality TV," your grandfather's clothes and stagnant model changes would be clear, direct and painfully poignant. Then he'd probably disappear in a huff, and the next day I'd get a post card--from Denver.

I'd getting diappointed in my own kind.

RIP Kenny Bahl, sorry we never met.

You'd have loved the man.

I lived in a cracker-box apartment on Maher Avenue, and he lived one block over on Camden Street. If you know that run-down area, then you'll know the place attracts abandoned cars on blocks in the front yards. Kenny had a big Quonset in his back yard, full of 40 bikes, including a pristine Vincent Black Shadow, and parts for an Arial Square Four being restored.

In his den was an old former Sportster of mine, also pristine, taken from my garage and used as decoration. He loved motorcycles.

This is part of the reason I'm so opinionated on mentors, and so hard on posers--whether they ride Harleys or not. Being a child of the 1960s, I was privileged to see the last of 'the Golden Age.' How these guys could have fought in WWII or Korea or Vietnam, (and friend Col. Robert McBride fought in all three) and then did some of the bizarre and wonderful things I saw is beyond me. As I've said before, the day before Mickey Foster died at age 64 he could have cleaned out any saloon you could name.

Today I went down to the dealership in the early afternoon after the gym to steal some coffee. I looked at the dashboard of one of these new 103 inch Electra-Glide-ish wagons and saw a gauge marked "AIR." I asked a salesman if this monitored tire inflation as some cars do. He shook his head and responded, "No, it's the outside air temperature..."

First I asked if he was kidding, then I uttered, "Gee, I usually ride my bikes outside, so I don't really need that feature..."

Knowing I had started this thread earlier in the morning, I wondered what guys like Kenny would have thought. If he cared to gauge the air at all, he might have checked the polar bear poo he found on the ice in Yellow Knife to see how fast it was freezing. Next feature for MoCo, a "banana hammock" warmer that plugs into your heated vest. Yikes.

Adressing your initial post..........its like the Panheads for ever guy, or Shovels rule or Evo is king...with progress comes its detractors. I love Evo w/ carb's even though I've had Pans 4 ever and still have a shovel along with my evo and TC88. So its understandable why you may becoming disenchanted and hype affected. In my quest to upgrade my technology from my '63 pan and '83 shovel I didn't go new and for many rasons..too many unaswered questions. Why were the 96" motors tuned hot from the factory for one? Instead I went with 2 used ones. In 2008 I bought a used 1998 Ultra w/ sidecar and a used 2001 Ultra, Shriners addition(purple,yuk). Both low miliage and both for the price of one new one. I'm happy. On the 2001 which had 10,000 miles on it..I rode it to California and back last year and to the Ozarks this year with no issues. Its now has near 40,000 miles on it. The 1998 I ride all over the Southeast to include Key West,Outerbanks, Ashville, Pigeon Forge and other locations.

Yes, I also believe that any innovation brings detractors. I remember how older bikers ridiculed the addition of electric starters on bikes. However, this goes far deeper. A gauge to monitor the ambient air that you are physically sitting in? Please...

Granted, this is a "sheep on the commons" problem. At some point bikes become so cushy and so meaningless they become cars. At that crux, I have to ask, "So what's the point of owning one?"

For example, one of the guys at the gym brought in his Can-Am. He showed me the modulating windshield, the floorboards, the automatic transmission, the spacious luggage capacity and the ABS. Heck, it was one wheel short of becoming a Ford Fiesta. The only real advantage I could see is that now he gets to use the motorcycle parking slots nearer to the gym.

Then there's the counter intuitive aspect of these bikes. By their "superior" design the owners should be traveling more miles than ever before. Not true. Our dealership now re-figured the average seasonal mileage has dropped from 3K or 4K to about 1K. Lots of reasons. The bikes initial cost, the fluctuating fuel costs and practical traveling issues (parking or the lack of it, gridlock, and security). In truth, most guys do one big trip and a few weekend jaunts.

My belief is that we should just make motorcycles simpler. Instead of gargantuan motors, how about better suspensions? How about better fuel economy? And if this postulate is incorrect, how come so many sit unsold? Something is amiss. Many bikes are simply no fun anymore. It's not a joy to go riding now, it's one big expensive pain in the butt. My "fraternity" no longer rides on Sundays, they hold their weekly meetings.

Now we come full circle. Read the ludicrous brochures. "The thrill of the open road" is actually a can of polish in a silent garage and a cold motor. I didn't buy a bike for "hype."

Edit: Here's an example. At great expense, MoCo made Spinner look like a bike built in the late 1940s, although Sportsters derive from the 1950s. So why does my bike have a digital clock? Who's kidding who?

Thats it I give up.

As a Harley owner you know everything what your saying to be pure bullsh*t or else you wouldn't own one never mind 2 Tourist. Trying to drum up post counts and posting? For every whacky comment you've made here is a time wasting response that can easily be made but I'm done being tricked into your foolery and foolishness.

Harley rocks,rolls and rules now and forever. The company may leave a lot to be desired at times but the bike is second to none in fit,finish and performance.

You don't like 'em sell and bitch to your hearts content. But don't be confusing by owning 2 and then trying to act disallusioned,you funny guy...you may actually need and consider counseling to get your ying and yang back in sequence,lol.

BI63, I haven't changed my outlook one bit. I have always believed in calling things (or building things) with an honest outlook. It is my sincere belief that modern Harleys (and most of every other brand) is built to only sell bikes. The idea of having a human ride them out in the world seems to have gotten lost.

You build 'plastic' bikes and you attract 'plastic' bikers. And the entire idea of a custom parts catalog is becoming a cafeteria menu of stuff Harley should have offered stock.

What are the two biggest improvements I put on Spinner? It was decent shocks and a headlamp that actually lets you see. Don't you consider that safety equipment? In your heart you know Harley uses those catalogs as a new revenue stream.

Harley now considers chrome, black paint and the visual profile of a bike as benefits and selling features. In an older addition of "The Enthusiast" MoCo mentions the inclusion of Brembo brakes on a V-Rod, stating outright that a fast bike needs good (implying 'better') brakes.

If a V-Rod doing 60 MPH needs better brakes, does that mean that my Dyna of similar weight does not need good brakes at the same speed? Or is it done simply to make the sale?

Edit: BTW, I do not view BI63's response as a flame. If there's an "odometer winner" it's him. Bikers fight, and he's a biker. He's also a brother, we will disagree. That's sometimes means crap. And on a passionate issue, he knows he will take it from me, and expect nothing less.

Some of the baggers have bembro.

And yeah I have much respect for tourist in every sense of the word and mainly because I give him space to speak his mine and he me to speak my mind. Its called being mature and realizing no 2 opinions are always gonna be the same but people should be able to agree to disagree. I love the guy, his attitude and virve..always have and always have his back too. Don't confuse diverse opinions with lack of loyalty.

I go to the dealership and look at bikes a couple times a year.
I don't go for the coffee or service, they both sucked.
As for hype, I couldn't give a crap at what the MoCo does.
I don't/won't own a HD branded anything, no jacket with any eagles or t-shirts with any skulls.
I don't look at their bootys or shoes.
I don't have a Harley anything in my house, except my bike.
I never got tats or colors. Free thinking, Free of Colors, Free to go anywhere anytime.
The hype, is what you make it. I turn off and get on my old trusty scoot and ride. NO hype - just the experience.
As for Odometer junkies, real riders head out with what they carry on 2 wheels, not what the old ladies are carrying in the sag wagons. Miles for the sake of miles don't make you a biker.
I don't care if a guy rides 10 miles a year, the amount of time he is on his bike does not define him.
I have friends that no longer ride at all, they still are more biker than...
My fraternity is any brother in the wind, don't mater where or who made his bike.
I'm not flaming just agreeing with the fact we all see things in our own way.
I am a biker, we are born not made.
Hype is made not born.