Anyone interested in motorbikes?

Harley have pulled out of almost the whole world market, concentrating on their home market whilst producing less and less saleable machines for an elderly buyers market - their latest product is an enormous chrome-covered 'bath-chair' 3-wheeler.

People are suspecting their next product will be a H,D, Casket.  

They have driven their business into being a lifestyle clothing retailer that also sells a few bikes.

It's a real shame - I hope their business recovers but their management team just don't seem up to it.

I used to find that the greatest cause of absenteeism amongst local young guys (& women) was falling off or crashing a motorcycle. And sure enough they would invariably arrive a few days later hobbling along on crutches. The local tradition is to try and do everything you would do in normal life on a moving motorcycle. (And I mean almost everything. And with no protection.) It is quite a laugh (I shouldn't but I can't help myself) to see someone actually riding a bike with a crutch under one shoulder, in case they have to come to a halt or have to do some drastic 'pole' steering. The more careful ones might ride pillion with crutches, but it would often be side-saddle to avoid having to get their broken leg over the seat. 

I'm more into actual 2WD and FWD tractors. But it reminded me that I used to live near the UK Laverda sole importer years ago. Well, I certainly knew that there was also a Italian tractor manufacturer called Laverda, but I discovered the Laverda family got into crotch rockets after having previously made combine harvesters. And sure enough, the UK importer was also in a rather rural location and, probably also some farmer's son's sideline. They fixed my lowly Suzuki 90, so I can't complain.

I have to admit that I am currently not the greatest fan of MCs due to the fact that local playboys use our street as a racing circuit, and it's too loud for late night comfort. But what i would really like to do right now is get a well-made electric motorbike or trike , and prove to the local ejitts that quiet usually gets there quicker and safer.

There are old motorcyclists and there are bold motorcyclists but there aren't many old and bold motorcyclists they will tell you.

Then there's me. I'm just stupid, lucky, and when things go wrong, it appears I never stop working the problem...

I'm sixty. I ride an FZ750Genesis 1A1. It can get up to eighty and stop within the length of an aircraft hangar, and I've only been passed twice in the last 18 years when I was getting a ripple on. And one of those times was because I remembered I had a badly worn front on, after initiating "combat". Haven't ridden for the last couple of years due to money and mechanical issues, can't wait to get back in the saddle. 

I attribute much of my longevity to having instinctively developed a basic psychic survival ability in the eighties, which I call "the cone of hatred" which makes me much more visible to other motorists who have the misfortune to be in front of me.

It's the only real positive use I have found for the emotions of anger and hatred. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a "mirror breaker" type of hater. I just hate on the danger you represent to me whilst you are in that area, and the hatred vanishes as soon as you are out of that cone. 

Explanation: My research into the matter suggests that if one is feeling unusually combative or taking a genuine instinctive sexual interest in a stranger at a distance there is a very high probability that they will abruptly take a look in your direction. It's one of the few psychic phenomena that can be easily tested, using a down hill stretch of road with a bus stop, a pretty girl sitting reading a book whilst waiting for a bus, and a well placed observer. Who can observe and record how often the girl looks up from her reading instinctively to check out a car driver who will always turn out to be fairly obviously checking her out. (My mate devised this experiment after I'd been telling him about this sort of stuff, which I'd just discovered that a guy called Rupert Sheldrake also talks about, but there is something to it. All I know is that people don't pull out in front of me any more, and it works for me. (although I still cover my brakes, and I only really give it the beans when there are no side roads...)

Motorcycling has been really good to me, I'm not really fast, I'm not really "good" but I have been able to crash much better than any one else I know.. I got one scar on my shoulder from when an ill advised overtaking manoeuver on an RD 250 caused me to clip the A pillar of the mini turning left with said shoulder as I somersaulted across it's bonnet, but I didn't actually break anything. Except that the blow to the cars A pillar which the window, giving me a pretty visual effect I remember passing through, although I was already tucking into the roll as the ground came up to meet me and also twisting to avoid the curb... 

I've had more than fifty cars and bikes, around a 50% split, I guess, most of them knackers that I have fixed up, used, then passed on at a profit or scrapped, depending on what I've found during the period of use. Eventually you find the vehicle that just does what you want, and you never want anything different. With a bike, if you are willing to put in the work, you can have that. With a car there is always inaccessible rust and the need for special equipment in a big empty room to get underneath it working against you, whereas a bike, not so much.  

Ah, OK. That would be it then. Thank you!

i think this site only likes .gif as a photo format.

I know this is an old post but it has a few more recent replies so I thought I'd put my two'penn'orth in. I've been riding since I was 16 (well over 40 years ago now. Sheesh, I feel old! Lol!), and now own two factory customs; both Yamaha XV's. A 535 which I'm restoring from the ground up (which will cost far more then it's monetary worth, but... you know...) , and an 1100 (tried to upload a pic, but it wouldn't let me), which is my summer ride (I no longer ride in the winter, chrome and road salt do not mix well, as I discovered to my cost!). I'm considering getting a winter hack for the rainy months but haven't made a decision yet. I'm not the sports bike type, I'm built for comfort, so it would have to be a cruiser, and by default they're mostly chrome.... Not a Harley fan, mainly due to the right hand air pod that always digs in my knee... 

I agree with some of the points you wrote about, but I don't think Harley Davidson is in decline. At least I really want to believe in the best, since I am an absolute fan of Harley Davidson since childhood. I love my bike and recently I got into the process of finding True Dual Exhaust For my Harley. On the site https://allforharley.com/true-dual-exhaust-for-harley/ I read a very high quality review of this product. I liked the Cobra True Dual Head Pipes variant (6250) very visually and technically. Guys, if someone used them, please tell me how convenient they are.

They've been my specific interest since I was 6, I'm now nearly 40. Raced BMXs for 10 years because I couldnt afford a motorbike. Since being an adult I've ridden motox tracks, owned my first bike was a zx6r ninja which I rode from London to Portugal and back, and I've done track days at Silverstone and Donington.

Bikes are great, there is so much to enjoy about looking at, being around, or riding them. So, whatever level of ability you have, it's a great culture to be part of.

Harley's are fun to ride, but you tend to find people buy one and purchase a new lifestyle with it. Was a bit cheesie for me. But I am in the UK, I imagine being a Harley owner in the states is a different experience?

But overall, bikes celebrate as individuals, but make us part of something bigger

Can't beat a Triumph, been riding one since 2002

Harleys are a very niche bike - popular in the US but they are considered a bit primitive and 'tractor-like' when compared to practically everything else.      I have a friend who bought a V-Rod brand new and just put it in the garage to rise in value.     It's never seen daylight.

I have been interested in motorcycles since early childhood. I love Harley Davidson, this is the best motorcycle for me.

Unfortunately I don't know what the rules are with epilepsy so it may be necessary to see if he can ride legally?

I used to ride a motorbike. It's important to have some power as it can help him to get out of dangerous situations if he needs to. Scooters are the easiest, they are often called a twist and go and are exactly that. Motorbikes take a little more getting used to as they require a combination of foot and hand coordination. It took me a while but I managed. I also preferred the bike to the scooter.

For motorcycles you'd be looking at about 125cc's. Gear includes Helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and trousers. It racks up but worth spending the money to start with. Focus the money on the Helmet. Never buy one second hand and purchase from a shop so he can try it on and the staff can help ensure it fits correctly.

He can do a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training). It will involve a day of theory and rider training, first in a safe place, like a carpark, than out on the road under supervision of an instructor. It assumes some knowledge of the road so it's worth him being aware of the road rules. Perhaps, talk about the road as your both in the car, driving together?

By doing the CBT, he would get an idea of if he really wanted to ride or not as some people find that once you have to deal with the gear, and the traffic, plus the rain which gets in everywhere, and generally trying to handle the bike, it loses it's appeal. If he struggles with the CBT, it shouldn't discourage him as it can be daunting. But he should listen to the advice of the instructor. They are all experts and can see where the issues are. The instructor will not allow him to go on the road if he doesn't think he's ready for it.

My very first CBT, I got so stressed that my instructor decided to stop where we were and pick it up the following week. They won't all do that, but the break for me meant that I was able to go out on the road the next time, more confident and having had the chance to take in the information. I passed.

Hi

I know this is an old post but I stumbled across this and Im wondered if anyone can help. My son is 23 and he absolutely loves loves motorcycles and all he wants to do is own a motorcycle and ride a motorcycle but he has autism and epilepsy and I know that he will no be able to handle it or will know how to in the streets. Do you have any advice on where I can get a motorcycle that he may ride around the neighbourhood and will not go faster than 20 mph.  

Hi, my name is Paul & I host 3 Autism rides a year, more if possible.

My son is Autistic age 10 now and he rides a motocross bike & custom chopper when we find a place for him to ride...We also try to meet other once a year if funds allow. Although I'm based in Leeds the rides are in the south & north.  

I have been encouraging Autistic people to join my rides when they feel comfortable and to let me know if they need any needs, if you would like to ask me questions please do.  

https://www.supergood-ride-for-autism.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Autismsupergood/

Kindest regards Paul

https://www.supergood-ride-for-autism.com/ If your still riding and interested in joining my events

www.supergood-ride-for-autism.com/

www.supergood-ride-for-autism.com/

Long shot you are still on the forum ... give me a shot on my web page 

Yes - the act-of-God stuff like oil on the road, blind BMW driver, tractor pulling out of a field, the U-turner, light jumper, lane changer etc. - it's all too risky out there.

In a 40mph head-on crash, there's a good chance that I'll just step out of my mangled car.  Not so lucky for a biker.

The problem is I really like the technology & design of bikes.  I like the lightweight engines, the suspension technology and the clever frame designs.   I'm tempted to take up bike restoration.

Yep - & when I heard of advanced bikers getting injured and killed by situations where there genuinely was "Nothing they could do", I decided that I had had heaps of fun and would quit whilst I was ahead :-).