Just went on a really nice ride yesterday with my my group riders. There were a few new - to the group - riders on Harleys. I met them, pre-ride, and we talked for a few minutes before we left. Slightly elitist's they kept to themselves. So we get to the start of the mountain roads - the twisties - as they're referred to. I notice that the guy with all the mods on his bike is falling way behind and then no sight of him - his buddy hung back and then I didn't see him either. My buddy started to hang back to keep them in sight so I slowed down too. But unless we were going to stop and let them catch up there was no point in going so slow. So my buddy picked up the pace and we rejoined the pack. At the top of the mountain was a lake and a planned stop to check it out. We were there for a while when the two of them finally showed up. Only to see the rider on the customized bike leave by himself. Later I found out he went home because he couldn't keep up - the reason he couldn't keep up??? He lowered his bike to look cool but now he can't corner with it... WTF was he thinking? I hear about bikes getting lowered but why? I was hoping some of you guys could enlighten me. I don't think it make a bike look any cooler - and the bottom line is it makes them un-ride-able.... So why do it?
My bike is stock - and I was dragging floor boards on some of those corners I cant imaging how a lowered bike would go - maybe that's why he couldn't go over 20 mph.

some of the bike manufactures of the past 10 years or so built bikes for 40 grand and they were all cookie cutter bikes and some couldn't turn off of the interstates because of being so low. That is one reason people pick them up for 10 grand or so with 2,000 miles. When I built my chopper in 1971 it was a kind of guess and try to draw it and figure what it will be in the end. I luck out my chopper come out perfect, could ride it 200 to 300 or so miles a day they sleep on the ground and do it again the next day with a chick on the back. that bike was a 69 ch, AEE weld on hardtail 16" inch rear wheel raked 3/4" with a 12 over sportster front end. Total weight was 425# and I rode it till 1994. I do have one friend that has maybe one of them dog bikes and he rides the shit out of it. His roadglide stays home and he is on the custom, and he is getting old, so there are some good ones
Deerslayer

It wasn't a chopper - it was a dresser - a "touring" bike... anyway, poor guy just went home.

RK...many lower the bike because they are short and want better footing at a stand still.

If it was a dresser I would bet it was due to his height. Dresser's are comfortable, but you could wrap a 10 lb cool rag around it and it ain't goint to be cool... and they aren't meant to be. If a dealer did the mod they did him a dis-service.

I am looking at my dresser right now and it is cool and bad, bring your wideglide around and learn what is cool. In any. Configuration I have it in I get complements on it. Dressers rule
DEERSLAYER

I wondered which one of you guys would jump on that first. Just pickin

Rider you can it was directed at you

Yea the guy looked really "Cool" turning around and going home because he couldn't take his ride on a real road. Guess the "Cool" guys hang out at the bar or starbucks telling everybody how "Cool"they are.

I wasn't talking about that dresser, don't know nothing about it. I was talking about your ahole remark about putting a 10# ice bag around a dresser and it still wouldn't be cool. The dresser has always been the coolest ride, look at Elvis on his K model, then look at him on one of his panheads, that is cool. Tell me a stock 36 el isn't cool, If I remember you posted pics of you bike as you "built" it, I get the feeling that you never built a bike. Some of the changes you made didn't work out if I remember correctly. I also remember you had a picture of a bike and you wanted to build one like that one. When I build a bike I design then build it and ride it. My dresser has only had minor changes done, but they all work and it stays like that. I haven't had many bikes but I keep them for a long time and put a lot of miles on them. My race bike was totally built my me welding done by a friend. Had to design a lot of parts and bought some parts. I think 125HP out of a shovelhead is a good accomplishment with Harley heads not aftermarket heads. As we all know an engine is just an airpump and the more air you pump the more power you get. I have also built a few custom bikes and restoration work. The custom bikes were back in the seventies when you built them not just assembled parts as you can do today. Everyone think their bikes are cool and that is what it is all about, to say anyone's isn't cool and it is a Harley is taking away the freedom that we all love about our Harley's. Myself I would never put a windshield on a wideglide your entire build I don't like but if you said it was cool would not argue it is your ride and not mine. Well dinner s almost ready so I will end this silly talk
DEERSLAYER