I was curious, how long did it take you to realize you had made a mistake?

In all seriousness, being the gear head you are, what was your reasoning for doing so in the first place?

This is just my opinion, and is said tongue in cheek. (And I'm not sure what you did to alter your Harley, if anything, but I'm just saying people who switch to Harley's in general)

But Anyone going from a bike like ours to a Harley, once they get the Harley Itd be assanine be concerned about squeezing another few HP or torque out of it with a "stage 4 kit", because you're going from a apex predator as far as power ( the hyper sport bike) goes down to a house cat!

I have a really strange curiosity with Harleys and that whole Biker culture. I find it fascinating yet very confusing. But that's another thread topic

Anyway. As I see it if someone downgrades to Harley you put on some loud pipes and accept it for what it is
Big heavy vintage bike that does what it does; rumble along loudly in a pack as you strive to get "mere mortals" to shiver in fear at the sight of your display of bad assery

I think GRN must of had a momentary lapse of reason and was still doing some soul-searching

At least he found his way back home!

But I would like to hear his thoughts on how he felt when he first traded for that harley

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 1/14/2015 @ 7:44 AM *

LOL...I didn't 'trade' actually.I was doing as you said..soul searching really.I felt I was gonna probably end up dead if I kept riding my Ninja.Since I couldn't(at that time)seem to be able to ride my 14 sanely.Simply committing to slowing down was really the answer...but doing that was not happening.
So I get this idea...if I get a Harley problem solved.So I did...a new 2014 Road King.I flew to Billings(about 500 miles away)...picked it up.Rode it back...at an average of 95-110 mph;)Hell of a break-in tell ya that;)Got home...parked it next to my Ninja.After riding it like that...the miles and all...I realized...THIS is NOT something you need or want.Made arrangements to sell it the next day..a week later...it was gone.

I never rode it again after initially getting it home.It was a really confused decision for me.Getting it and the reasoning behind it.IDK what was going on really....I honestly think though...it had something to do with my wrecking my 1st 14R in Sept of 2012.I had gotten a severe concussion...among other things.I have to say...my head took a big hit in that wreck.I think my brain was still healing...and I really wasn't thinking 'normally'.Kinda like PTSD...lots of stuff had happened leading up to that wreck.I'm STILL healing I can tell...though things have settled to almost 'normal'...it was VERY difficult dealing with the stuff that had happened in that whole time frame.It was actually PTSD....

I'm okay now...a few nightmares sometimes...but I'm sleeping again for one thing.That's a BIG plus.

So...the Harley thing was really me going through some things..and not thinking clearly.That's all it was.I could never ditch my 14...no way.it felt SO good to be back on her once the season came around...

Lol. I'd never ditch my 14 either but that being said I would love to have a Harley sitting in the stable next to it. Actually to be honest I would buy a new Indian stablemate. And I will buy one within the next few years.

I 'thought' having new Harley..as it was promoted...upgraded low end response(for passing and such)...ABS..would be ideal for me.Turned out...passing at 75 or 80 was NOT a realistic endeavor.I passed several cages on my way home...they were going like..70 mph.Okay...so I open her up...at first,she feels like she's pulling pretty good...then..about halfway through the pass...she starts coughing...not good...so I downshift...UNFORTUNATELY the rev limiter won't allow the bike to pick up anything...so here I am...trying to get around and cars coming the other way...and no more power to complete.At 75 mph....that right there confirmed to me...this thing is out!No thanks.They just don't have this bike setup for doing downshifts and hammering it.I mean...the limiter is so damn low...shifting up just doesn't have the pull in the upper gears to do something like this safely.We all know...the Ninja has NO problem downshifting and pulling around and away from these kinds of situations.Even in 6th...the Ninja pulls around easily.I didn't want the Harley after experiencing that...plus it vibrated terribly...my 2000 Heritage was MUCH smoother and stronger.

No doubt some upgrades in exhaust,airflow,timing and delimiting could correct the motor...I didn't want a bike however that started weaving at 110 in a curve...they STILL haven't figured this out;)

Also...one BIG disappointing thing was it's street manners.It shook.The clutch didn't feel solid.The overall manuevering feel was simply..'ancient' feeling.It didn't feel safe to me...not like our lighter Ninjas...it was for sure NOT a sportbike as it wasn't intended to be...but I thought it wouldn't be a clunker...it was.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/14/2015 @ 9:11 AM *

Ah! Good stuff! I loved the passing cagers scenario. Lol

I was thinking of a one day getting a " I am a bad ass tough man" cruiser, but it'd have to be in addition to my two current bikes. And it'd have to be a Diavel

But if I didn't buy an American made bike they wouldn't let me into the local chapter (we have one, yes) of the Outlaws. (Me, an outlaw! How cool would that be ?) Lol.

After riding bikes like what we have, a Harley would have to be bought with an entirely different set of expectations. Take it for what it is and I guess you could get used to it. As long as you've also got a modern bike waiting in the garage, right ?

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 1/14/2015 @ 9:53 AM *

"the Outlaws"...I think maybe they might need a faster quicker steed to escape the scene of the crime if they intend to live up to their name there;).Actually..there ARE some badass mods a guy can do to a Harley that really make it...badass.There is some potential in that motor for sure;)

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/14/2015 @ 9:55 AM *

Funny, I was having this conversation with a riding buddy yesterday. I told him how my cousin, in a mid-life crisis move, bought a Dyna and joined HOG. He had the t-shirts, the vest, the leather chaps yadda yadda. Finally I agreed to go on a ride with him and his group, I was on my ZX10R Streetfighter at the time. Well, we meet at a restuarant, rode 20 miles to a bar, rode another 10 miles to a bar, this along with hours of standing around bullshitting and kicking tires. Finally, even he got tired of standing around and we left. Now he had only been riding 6 months at that point but he rode better than just about everyone else in that club. For me, riding is a difficult skill that has to be mastered, mentally and physically. Doing it well gives me satisfaction. Doing it well on a bike with high performance limits gives me even more satisfaction. It's not something a person should do just to be part of the "In crowd". I have met some VERY good Harley riders and some that only aspire to droning across country on the freeway. For me, I just can't find any interest for a bike that has such a low performance envelope, apparently built for low performance riders. Actually, the forward controls make me feel that I am 1 or 2 seconds behind the bike and I have no confidence that the bike will respond to inputs when I want it to. For slow, easy country rides or freeway tours, it's fine. But for me, meh.

Mad

Unfortunately...losing weight on one isn't one of those mods

And I totally agree Mad with the ergos...My 2014 Harley felt...disconnected to me.I don't really know how to explain it...but I didn't feel in control I guess...something like that.

An UltraGlide or something...yeah...now that bike is cool....even I could enjoy that(I did have a 95 Ultra at one time).But it had the same 'problem'...not enough get up and go.Sold that one and got my first Kawasaki...zzr1200...WHAT a cool difference.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/14/2015 @ 10:02 AM *

I rode a BUILT harley in the 80's that was the first and last time, my GS1100 had way more power,
and was much more fun to ride, I got off the guys harley, and said "wheres the beef"

He said my bike was "really fast" haha ! If I ever get a "cruiser" it would have to be
something like a V-MAX or equivalent, can't let loose of the power and the torque !!

Yup.

"Taco 22 LOL !"...and I thought I was the only one to ever have that little beastie;)

You ever ride one of those Honda minibikes?Came out right around that time.Honestly..that minibke was well ahead of it's time.Can't remember the cc's on it...but it was f'n fast as hell...and strong...scarey strong for what it was.Too much really for a 'kid' my age at that time.And smooth...shit it was smooth.

It may have been 50cc's...but nothing like their Honda 50 or 90...this thing was a torque monster.I looked just now online for it...I didn't find any pics of it...but the motor was not configured as a single cylinder bike.It was kinda squareish...somewhat flat.It didn't have a cylinder sticking out anywhere.More like a generator motor.But it did run pump gas...it could have also been two stroke...but it didn't sound like a two stroke.When you powered it up...it seemed all the torque and such were right there...immediate.And very little vibration...it was a very cool bike...bout the same size as that taco, but a bit more stout.For a kid anyway...scarey fun back then.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/14/2015 @ 11:14 AM *

I'd like to own a Harley and be one of the IN crowd but if all I could have was one bike, I know a cruiser wouldn't do it for me. I rode one for a year because I had no car. I had some good fun on the bike but I wasn't into it. Sport bikes are what I always have been drawn to.

Oh yea Grn, a friend of mine had a Honda 70 mini bike, we rode the hell out of that thing, took
it all over So. CA. a lot of fun for a couple of under aged riders HAHA ! this is what it looked like:

Another friend had a Powell mini bike, that thing was a beast ! here is what it looked like :

* Last updated by: carabuser on 1/14/2015 @ 11:51 AM *

The star of the harley lineup, the V Rod can put out 115peak HP. But to weigh over 700 lbs it must have a lot of low end torque to get that battleship moving

You'd think their "performance" bike with the racing engine would be quite a performer. But I guess it is by Harley standards. I was looking at them at sat on one and just raising it off the kickstand you could feel the immense weight. I can imagine trying to take a corner at a fair speed with 700 lbs worth of inertia working against you. Lol. I think the salesman said the top speed is (only) around 140(?)

If I get in the frame of mind to ever get a cruiser, and it HAD to be a Harley, I'd forget performance and go for one if them big ol honkin Road Kings or a Fat Boy/Bob

Not appealing at all at this point. But a Diavel is another story!

Cara, that Honda CT70 Mini Trail brings a tear to my eye. After I graduated from Briggs and Stratton mini bikes I had s couple CT70s

That was my first name brand bike. Loved those.

Durable and easy to work on. Lol

ZX14MAN64,

I forgot to mention, that that honda never failed on us, even through the many summers of abuse
by young kids ! LOL !

I still want to get one, just for shits and giggles, but those damn things are collector items now !

very expensive !

* Last updated by: carabuser on 1/14/2015 @ 3:55 PM *

They would withstand slot if abuse, yes

Not even remotely fast but they'd crawl outta any creek and up the side with ease

It's not just the low performance bike.
It's the low performance attitude as well.
If you are riding in certain Harley groups, you are not permitted to overtake the group leader.
Something about respect.
In my book you earn respect, you don't demand it.
So much for the freedom of riding a motorcycle.
Joke...

* Last updated by: yannih on 1/14/2015 @ 2:34 PM *

If there's a few, I overtake all of them. If it's an eighth mile long line, I usually just wait. They won't let anybody in no matter how slow they are going. Even the cages have to crawl along behind them. That has ruined many a fine summer's day of riding. When the weather is nice, the twisties are full of Harleys.

And , invariably, when their is a Harley in the twisties, does he move over when you want to overtake?
Noooooooo. Often they just weave all over the lane making overtaking just about the same as with a car. I try to get past them as soon as I can. Harleys, Volvos and Priuss, the bane of backroads.

Mad

Had a Harley once, two best days I ever had with it was the day I bought it and the day I sold it!!!

No handling and to damn slow!

You forgot the really big one Mad.
Cyclists riding 3 abreast on a single lane road on the wrong side of a blind corner...
Actually, I wonder if all cyclists own Harley's and visa versa?
It would answer a lot of questions...

I saw a VRod go low 11s with a terrible rider on board. I offered to put a 10 sec pass on it for him because... hell.. why not? He declined and continued to use his clutch to upshift and bog the launch. I was impressed that a Harley went quicker than a 13.

"If you are riding in certain Harley groups, you are not permitted to overtake the group leader.
Something about respect.
In my book you earn respect, you don't demand it.
So much for the freedom of riding a motorcycle.
Joke..."

Agree 100% yannih, you earn respect, and about the overtaking part, my fiend was overtaking
a biker gang, nothing disrespectful at all, they flipped him off, and started to go after
him !! luckily, he had a highly modified CBR1100XX Blackbird, and left them in the dust,

I have no idea what they had in mind for him, but I'm sure it wasn't good ...

Ah! "What the hell? that f--cker just passed us! Get him, boys!"

OMG! mostly it's just a bunch of aging yuppies trying to look like hardasses. ..at least i think that's what they are? If the smell of BO is stronger than the smell of exhaust, just stay behing them, they're legit.