Let's get real about engines. (Soapbox)

badinfluence63 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:51 am **Posts:** 1966

Hmmm trying to figure out your position. The only thing other companies have done is trying to copy the MOCO's style. Harley MOCO is second to no one is dealership network, customer service and product.

No its more then chrome and paint. All the baggers come 103" stock.
Are you kidding about a mid weight selection...wow. The wide glide for one, the Fat boy or fat boy low for others and any softail would do. I think you may be a Yamaha FJR owner in sheeps clothing,lol?

The Tourist wrote:

roadking wrote:

No, to me the MoCo got it absolutely right with my bike, I feel very lucky to have it.

And I agree--for you. Other companies have bent over backwards to provide their customers with every size, shape and function. I am frankly disappointed. Our dealership received the first 2012 Glides. Chrome and paint.

I will admit this, since HRF caters to guys who actually ride then it follows that we know how to choose, modify and utilize the bikes we own. If I asked around just in my circle of friends I'll bet I can find a guy who modifies Harley frames for the S&S Wedge motor, and we probably know a guy who has already done up a custom in that format.

But when I went looking for a "mid weight" grocery gettin' lunchbox packin' short haulin' somethin' with a bar-n-shield, well, Harley had little to show me. I already own a boated out Dyna. Had not MoCo brought out the 48 I would have had to build something like a bobber Sportster. In fact, I had often mused about an "Iron 1200," or just a Sportster with a chunkier stance.

Let's face it, do a little research on post WWII custom Harleys and you see thousands of guys trimming their bikes down.

The Tourist · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:05 pm **Posts:** 1286

BI63, I enjoy my bikes, and I don't mind phutzing around to get the right combination of components to make riding fun. I will also be the first one to admit that riding my bikes is a "hobby," and not much else.

Imagine if we had to tolerate this relationship with our other posessions...

"Sorry, Chico, the price we quoted you for that F-150 was the cost without wheels and tires..."

"Sorry, Chico, if you want that clothes washer to work, the agitator is extra, and a chromed one is even more than that..."

"Sorry, Chico, but lettuce without salmonella is only available from our custom catalog..."

And on, and on, and on.

And after more than four decades of this, I simply expect to be over-charged, have the bike delivered with cheaper and blacker original parts, and then be treated like a cash-cow for any services beyond that. I have re-wired my mind to consider a new Harley as I do a new 1911--that being, a good, simple place to start.

No question, Betty and Spinner are superior bikes. But due more to my OCD than Willie G's vision. Remember, I had to simply throw away shocks that were 9K miles old. They were useless, completely consumed. And the joke of the day was that I "actually had the nerve to ride my bike." And every one of us on this forum has a similar experience. Someday I will receive a new custom catalog in the mail aptly entitled, "Harley Parts That Actually Work."

The first thousand dollar order gets you a free year in a HOG Chapter.

badinfluence63 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:51 am **Posts:** 1966

Now I know you're just being mean.

Harley products are pricey because nothing is better then HD MOCO OEM and you know that. The fit and finish is superb compared to all the after market imitators. Their jackets/coats etc.. are superior in every sense of the word. Pricey..yeah because they are worth it.

With regards to service...sounds like you got a sucky dealership.Dealership sales and service vasilates from dealership to dealership and with in the same dealership sometimes

Heres another recent dealership experience:

Quote:

I got my Check from my Insurance company for the repairs for the Roadie minus my deductible! I took the check to HD Central in Grand Island! The salesman (J.P.) asked me if my Roadie was done. I explained to him they ordered the parts and I was there to turn over the insurance check to them for the repairs! He then asked me if I was going to trade the Roadie in! I had a puzzled look on my face.............I told him my Roadie was in the back all beat to chit!! He said talk with the Sales Manager.......he missed me on Saturday when I was up there! The sales manager asked me how much the Insurance check was for.........I told him! He got out his NADA book......scratched his head a couple times.........and shot me a deal!

He told me he would give me $15,200 for my Roadie that was sitting in the shop all beat to chit and he'd take the insurance check which was $5,480 and he'd put me into a 2011 Roadie.......Black Denim.........103 cuin....and all the accessories I wanted off my wrecked Roadie including the Agitator Wheels! I asked him if he was serious! He said he was!!

DEAL DONE!! Kris and I are happy to say we have a new member of the family!! I wasn't expecting this to happen so I didn't get a pic of the new bike..........here's one from the HD!

.

So if you feel you are being treated like a cash cow you must be acting like a cash cow.

roadking · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2011 12:28 pm

The Tourist wrote:

roadking wrote:

No, to me the MoCo got it absolutely right with my bike, I feel very lucky to have it.

And I agree--for you. Other companies have bent over backwards to provide their customers with every size, shape and function. I am frankly disappointed. Our dealership received the first 2012 Glides. Chrome and paint.

I will admit this, since HRF caters to guys who actually ride then it follows that we know how to choose, modify and utilize the bikes we own. If I asked around just in my circle of friends I'll bet I can find a guy who modifies Harley frames for the S&S Wedge motor, and we probably know a guy who has already done up a custom in that format.

But when I went looking for a "mid weight" grocery gettin' lunchbox packin' short haulin' somethin' with a bar-n-shield, well, Harley had little to show me. I already own a boated out Dyna. Had not MoCo brought out the 48 I would have had to build something like a bobber Sportster. In fact, I had often mused about an "Iron 1200," or just a Sportster with a chunkier stance.

Let's face it, do a little research on post WWII custom Harleys and you see thousands of guys trimming their bikes down.

I actually think of my bike as a trimmed down version of an Ultra. plus what is on there is easily removable.
I also understand that not everyone is 6 feet tall with 32inch inseam. For me I look like a monkey funking a football on smaller bikes let alone something the size of a sportster. I have a friend 5'7", couldn't stand my bike up from the stand. He fit well on a sporty, so why would he want something smaller?
As for the in between size wouldn't a dyna be that? then large Roadking, extra large Ultra.
Although the loaded Ultra I rode with the back rest kept me too far forward and I had less leg room. On my bike I sit on the back edge of the saddle.

The Tourist · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:05 pm **Posts:** 1286

Well, I took Black Betty out for a long haul today. Perfect Wisconsin weather. A bit breezy, but clear sky and only a jean jacket needed. My lovely wife had given me a gas card and her fond farewell.

Now, I must admit, to me, Betty is an application of rocket science. Oh, she looks like a 1971 Super Glide, but on the highway she feels like a Gold Wing. And she accelerates faster than my Cousin Bobbie dodging honest employment.

So, I'll give you a mulligan on the idea of modern big twins. Yeah, it was comfy.

But like we used to say in my youth, Electra-Glides are like fat girls. Both a lot of fun to ride, but you wouldn't want your friends to catch you on one... :icon_whee:

badinfluence63 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:51 am **Posts:** 1966

Now you got your analogies mixed up thats what was said and is still said about Honda's. "Riding a Honda is like having sex with a fat chick....its all good until someone one you know sees you doing it."

The Electraglide is the bike of riding conosieurs and who actually leave town while riding. I'm telling you Tourist, you ever find the bagger of your needs you'll be pissed you didn't get one sooner. Its true. When you get old like me and you its about comfort not looking cool. Damn baggers rock.

The Tourist wrote:

Well, I took Black Betty out for a long haul today. Perfect Wisconsin weather. A bit breezy, but clear sky and only a jean jacket needed. My lovely wife had given me a gas card and her fond farewell.

Now, I must admit, to me, Betty is an application of rocket science. Oh, she looks like a 1971 Super Glide, but on the highway she feels like a Gold Wing. And she accelerates faster than my Cousin Bobbie dodging honest employment.

So, I'll give you a mulligan on the idea of modern big twins. Yeah, it was comfy.

But like we used to say in my youth, Electra-Glides are like fat girls. Both a lot of fun to ride, but you wouldn't want your friends to catch you on one... :icon_whee:

The Tourist · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:05 pm **Posts:** 1286

badinfluence63 wrote:

I'm telling you Tourist, you ever find the bagger of your needs you'll be pissed you didn't get one sooner.

I was talking to the sales manager Kerry today about possibly taking a step backwards. As you know, Betty is an extremely intense machine to ride. Like wishes, building a super bike means that sometimes it comes true. You have to *want* to ride Betty. If Betty was a real live girl she'd be a chocolate deprived redhead topped off with a migraine and lust.

Since I like Spinner's front end for my short-hop jaunts, I thought the new 103-inch double-eyed Fat-Bob might provide a little more sanity. That's a 'torquer' not a 'winder' and that powerplant might not get me into so much trouble. I like the double disc brakes (when I actually use a front brake which isn't often) and the ignition knob is up on the tank. The biggest change I would make would be a better download and Nostalgic grips. Yikes, she'd be almost stock... :icon_cry2:

Have no fear, there's no hurry, we were just musing. As I wiped Betty down this afternoon I realized how much I love that two-wheeled time-bomb.

roadking · **Posted:** Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:08 am

The Tourist wrote:

So, I'll give you a mulligan on the idea of modern big twins. Yeah, it was comfy.

But like we used to say in my youth, Electra-Glides are like fat girls. Both a lot of fun to ride, but you wouldn't want your friends to catch you on one... :icon_whee:

Some of those "fat girls" ain't all bad.... nothing matches a fat girl's enthusiasm. Built for comfort, not speed, with curves you're going to scrape those floorboards following.
As for my friends making fun of me riding my Road King, they just shake there heads and wonder why their big dollar modified engines couldn't pull away from me on those twisty's and how I keep taking their beer money every time we run. I think you're betty on a twisty would be very hard pressed to keep up with my curvy black beauty.... with stock 80 cubes & carb... my floorboards are missing the backs of them for a reason. Don't forget the cops ride this bike and if you have ever seen one of those cop rodeo videos you'll see just what this configuration is capable of.
It's all rider, some people need that engine mod. Some understand mechanics and geometry, purpose and utility and how all that can still be beautiful.
Fat girls, go look at any classic work of art, those woman, painted by men that were the absolute best, my big fat tank, and saddle bags that look like a curvy womans hips... yeah my friends, envy me and my fat girlfriend. And those "Dyna" riders wonder why ALL the pretty young girls like to ride with us FL riders more...

The Tourist · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:05 pm **Posts:** 1286

roadking wrote:

And those "Dyna" riders wonder why ALL the pretty young girls like to ride with us FL riders more...

And the ones who are bad (and pretty good at it) ride with guys like me. Besides, I never wanted them to get too comfortable in any "long term" capacity. Let's face it, divorces cost a lot of guys their pretty FLHs... :icon_mrgreen:

badinfluence63 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:51 am **Posts:** 1966

Another point I would like to raise regarding baggers versus non baggers is that I think its a transitional thing. What I mean is when you are a young rider its all about looking cool, and outlaw and trimmed down machine like this:

and which was cool in my 20's and 30's and even part of my 40's. But in my 50's who wants to kick a bike over, constantly fiddle with this or that. Never mind the extreme lack of creature comforts. So it made sense to pull the trigger on this:

And holy crap I wished I would have got one sooner and you will too if'n you ever get past your stubborn set in your way mentallity. Grow, change and mostly read and react to your given personal circumstances and go bagger..you'll never go back.

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Let's get real about engines. (Soapbox)

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