Sat on a new Road King

[geoffsimpson]

Originally Posted by JRoc

I I've ridden that tranny as well !

OK, with the exception of this statement from JRoc....

DrBob, your rebuttal?

For those of you scoring at home, Metric has 1 more for an even 152 to HD's 151 in this, the battle of Titans...

Poe-Boy Samich won the 50/50 draw and there's a tan Acura parked in a handicap zone, licence plate number blah blah blah

[stp1971]

I'm telling you,,, the one that does it for me when I sit on it is the New GoldWing's,,,,just can't beat their comfort factor.

[chadrob30]

I'll stick with the 109, thanks.

[texrider]

As cute as a v rod is, I wouldn't be bragging on it too much, since a 20 year old (design) Yamaha v max will thrash it every time.

As for the new big twins, a six speed trans is an inventive way to try and make the most of the power it has. It would be nice if the MoCo could get better (richer) fuel mapping past the EPA...

[drgibson]

My next bike will be a tourer and the considerations are Goldwing, BMW K1200LT, Road King, Royal Star Venture, and the Victory Vision. So far I'm leaning to the BMW.

[texrider]

Next bike... That would be a tough one for me. If I had to choose between my Vulcans, the 2000 would get the nod. But, if it were abducted by aliens, then the 900 would be just fine!

To go into a totally different bike, I'd say perhaps a Yamaha FJR or the new Kawi Concours 1400. They are both bad to the bone, if you like that sort of thing...

Hey Don, if you buy a beemer, can we say we knew you "when"?

[drgibson]

Originally Posted by texrider

Hey Don, if you buy a beemer, can we say we knew you "when"?

Maybe, but I expect it will be a few years before that happens.

[DrBob]

Yes, I've ridden the 6-speed 2007 on several occations (in an Electra Glide), turning over 1000 miles on it so far. I love it, much, much smoother at highway speeds. I've also ridden the Baker 6-speed, which is a totally different animal, which is why it costs so darn much. I am thinking about putting one in my custom, which currently has a Revtech.

I laughed out loud at your insistance that production performance in the Yamaha doesn't count because it is almost impossible to find an unmodified Warrior. Now THAT is funny! Hell, I could bolt a nitros ssytem on my antique shovelhead

Give the motor company their props- they did a great job on that bike. And I say that despite the fact that I think the V-rod is ugly as sin and uncomfortable as a sportbike, and I would never own either one. The 'busa is a great bike too, but I wouldn't own one of those either.

The V-max is a rocket ship in the quarter, that is for sure. It is another great bike, and it has certainly outlived its four-cylinder competition, like the Magna and the Madura (remember that one?).

I like a good bike, and I don't care who makes it. I give props to the Motor Company for bringing the 1600cc motor, six speed, and EFI across the product line. I give props to Yamaha for the Roadliner, and to Suzuki for the M109, both great designs. But I look at the product lines, and there are nearly 20 Harley models I'd own, and maybe one or two from each of the other manuifacturers.

[Clint]

You keep mentioning the 20 "models". Are they really different models, or just different accessory packages? I'm so apathetic toward HD that I've never spent the time to try and learn their lineup.

[JRoc]

"I laughed out loud at your insistance that production performance in the Yamaha doesn't count because it is almost impossible to find an unmodified Warrior. Now THAT is funny! Hell, I could bolt a nitros ssytem on my antique shovelhead"

Glad I could make you laugh, Equally, I haven't heard anything this funny in quite some time "For the first time in over 20 years Harley is ahead of the rest of the industry again" The only thing Harley is ahead of anyone in is there chief money maker, t-shirt sales!

My point about finding a stock warrior was simply the bike is "very" commonly modified due to the simplicity of the engine and cost to do so. Adversely, the V-Rod is a newer engine that cost alot to modify, which is the reason you hardly see any that are. Making a Warrior put out 150 ft.lbs of torque is not only easy, it's relatively cheap, that is a %%%%tload of torque by the way! A Warrior set up in this way would easily smoke a stock V-Rod.

Funny part about all of this is neither one of us seem interested in this style of bike, I know I'm not. The only reason I rented the V-Rod was because 1) I had heard so much about the bike I wanted to see for myself what it was like, and 2) I returned the Road King because I thought something was wrong with it, it was shaking soooo much, I returned the Softail they gave me in exchange because I didn't like it, cheap feeling tranny and weird power curve, exchanged for the Midnight V-Rod special, nice looking bike. Power cruiser are a strange design because of the seating position it's not really designed to go fast. I had the V-Rod up to 100 and I felt like the wind was gonna rip me off the thing! I guess rear controls would help in this regard but how about before you get up to that speed? I don't wanna be laying on my stomach in traffic!

Anyway, we do agree on one thing wholeheartedly "I like a good bike, and I don't care who makes it." AMEN! But if everyone felt this way I think Harley Davidson would be out of business! Unlike you I'm NOT the least bit impressed with what Harley has done, or is doing! I think they should be offering MORE bike for the money, not less and making you spend even more money to get a "better" bike. In '05 I rented a '05 Fatboy and really like it with the exception it felt a little underpowered. When I returned it I mentioned this to the rental agent and he sorta winked at me and said it's nothing that can't be fixed with money! I thought, that sucks! they want me to spend all that money on a bike, then have to throw even more money at it to get it to have enough power to move all that weight! Then people wonder why the guys ridding them today are professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc) POSING as blue collar laborers on the weekends with there day old growth!

I think Harley should've sold Screaming Eagle Fatboys and Screaming Eagle Road Kings here in the US for about 15 grand and stock Fatboys and Road kings abroad for 30 grand! That would've made them sell at least twice as many bikes and THAT would've been standing behind your US labor force! Having bikes build in the US that US laborers can't afford is RAPE and exploitation at it's best!!!

Rant over

Ride what ya like and like what ya ride!
And don't be a richard, wave at everyone
Cagers don't look at the brand of bike before running ya off the road
Either should you before waving!

[jackM50black]

[quote=texrider]As cute as a v rod is, I wouldn't be bragging on it too much, since a 20 year old (design) Yamaha v max will thrash it every time.

I was wondering when somone was going to bring up the V-Max. With the new V-Max in the wings, I think some guys may need to bone up on V-Max attributes when we have Round Two of... The Battle of the Titans.

[jackM50black]

No, I have'nt test-ridden other bikes. But I have admired, sat on, and generally considered the following: the next gen V-Max (the bike will still be about the same size - ergos, so its too small for me), the Warrior (looks pretty cool and seems comfy enough as a place to start before mods, and considering it low weight, its got an amzaing displacement of about 1700cc's), Boulevard M109 (looks and feels nice, worth looking into) and now the Road King which is the second time I've considered a touring bike. I also think the V-Strom could be a good choice as a touring bike (a poor mans Beemer). One factor, when its time to upgrade?..... my partner is Harley -centric and would reeeeally like it if I went to Planet HD.

[IntruderCruiser]

I actually find the Electra Glides to handle better than my LC 1500. The weight seems less on the Harley -- and they do ride a whole better on the road

and from avatar, I can ride just anything with an resemblance of a seat

[JmalB]

1/4 mile V-Max is king. That's a given. But in a V twin only comparison The times DrBob listed are really a wash. On youtube one can find a video of a M109 beating a V-rod in the 1320.

Originally Posted by DrBob

In every measure of straight line peformance the V-rod is tops despite being 40% smaller, and other than braking the Warrior is behind the Suzuki M109 also.

Amended. The Warrior is the superior handler.

I forgot to add:

Ride what you like. Be it Road King, R1, Griso, or Vespa.

[Mal50_blvd]

nothing against hd's or it's owners, i just don't like them very much; never ridden one never will. It just seems like payin all that money for a bike that isn't worth it ( no offense ) makes people turn into a$$holes. Rightfully so, if i had gone out on my first ride and felt in the back of my mind that i bought a piece, but eeevvvvvrebody else thought that i looked cool because it was a HARLEY , even though they had never had or ridden one... i too would be a stuck up *unt. so to each his own, just be true to yourself. p.s what would i know huh

[919Hooligan]

Originally Posted by JmalB

1/4 mile V-Max is king. That's a given. But in a V twin only comparison The times DrBob listed are really a wash. On youtube one can find a video of a M109 beating a V-rod in the 1320.

I wasn't going to say anything, but in the February issue of cycle world there is a shootout between the v-rod, M109, and Victory Hammer S. Results are as follows:

1/4 mile

109R- 11.73@115.47mph
V-Rod- 11.86@114.38mph
Vic- 12.52@105.45mph

Top Speed

109R- 130mph
V-Rod- 131mph
Vic- 118mph

These are quoted straight from cw's stat lists.

[919Hooligan]

Originally Posted by DrBob

Now if they would just do something about that POS Sportster line...

I couldn't agree more. I think if Harley decides to build the XR1200 version it could possibly move the Sportster into another, more exciting direction. Imagine a sporty Sportster! Crazy, I know, but it just might work....
Harley-Davidson Shows Prototype XR1200 Sportster Street Motorcycle - Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine

[dragbar]

I like the styling of the V-rod, and prefer the Street rod layout with the mid controls. Though I stated in another thread last year that after sitting on one, I found my knees actually ABOVE the tank.

The street rod is simply too "short" for the mid controls. I'm only 5'10 so it's not like I'm super tall trying to fit on it.

[IntruderCruiser]

I think its funny that people complain about the price of a Harley -- but don't say anything about the cost of a Goldwing or BMW -- and yes, there are
%%%%heads who ride them also.

[919Hooligan]

Originally Posted by IntruderCruiser

I think its funny that people complain about the price of a Harley -- but don't say anything about the cost of a Goldwing or BMW -- and yes, there are
%%%%heads who ride them also.

Thats because Goldwings are extremely refined and loaded to the gills with every option imaginable, including airbags now (!), and BMW's have been going 200,000 miles since the seventies, when Harleys were lucky to get 10,000 before a rebuild was necessary.