From: markb@solbourne.com (Mark W. Bradley)
Subject: jsloan and markb on Harleys?
Organization: Solbourne Computer Systems
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 20:16:02 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.183717.4965@ncar.ucar.edu> jsloan@ncar.ucar.edu (John Sloan) writes:
>
>I call them the best beginner's bikes ever designed. Consider:
>
>o	Extremely broad power band makes it very easy to handle; no
>	lacking in bottom end to slow you down in start-stop traffic,
>	nor peakiness that gets you in trouble when rolling on the
>	throttle out of corners.

Broad, weak power band ensures this further.
>
>o	Clutch lever effort is fairly high, but clutch engagement
>	is easy to make smooth transitions.

This is good, 'cause you have to downshift a lot around here...
>
>o	Brakes are adequate, and very linear in feel.

Disagree.
>
>o	Very low center of gravity, coupled with low seat height,
>	is positively confidence inspiring to the new rider.

Less distance to fall over.  Yep, makes me feel better...
>
>o	Slow steering fork geometry coupled with big wide tires and
>	long wheelbase makes for great stability both in straight
>	lines and in corners.

And those flat profile rear tires?  Sure didn't inspire me in any
corners.  Slow steering is not a positive in my book.
>
>o	Good resale prices mean trying one out as a first bike is not
>	an exercise in disposable "commodity" products.

Good resale prices make one feel better when realizing that this is
not the ride they envisioned.
>
>o	Reliability of the "new" Evolution blockhead engine is
>	excellent. Maintenance is simple. Aftermarket products
>	are widely available.

OK.
>
>o	A single bike is versatile enough to be used for touring,
>	commuting, goofing around, and is even up to the occasional
>	well-maintained dirt road (try THAT on a peaky sportbike with
>	a 16" front wheel and stoppie-prone front brakes).

I have.  No problem.  That sporty I rode last weekend had enough
trouble on pavement, tho, to keep have me keep it far from dirt...
>
>o	If you attend the right rallys, you can actually test ride
>	a Harley. Heck, you can test ride _any_ Harley. At Americade
>	West a couple of summers ago, I spent a morning test riding
>	(solo I might add) a FLHS and a 883 Sportster on beautiful
>	mountain roads near Rocky Mountain National Park.

Did that, albeit w/out the crowds of Americade last weekend.
>
>o	The downside is that you have to put up with everyone and her
>	brother bothering you in parking lots, asking about your bike,
>	admiring your bike, telling you about _their_ Harley, etc. and
>	of course the occasional adult who stops dead in their tracks,
>	struck catatonic at the image of your bike, seared through their
>	optic nerves into the pleasure centers of their brains.
>
>Sure, other bikes are better at other things. That's why you gotta own
>more then one bike (and maybe even more than one Harley). But if you've
>been thinkin' about gettin' (back) into motorcycling been thinkin'
>about gettin' a Hog, but you're worried about whether "it's too much
>bike" for you, John-Boy ses Just Do It.
>
Right.  It's not too much bike (heavy and big, tho...)
>--


						markb

-- 
Mark Bradley   (DoD#1100)		  Faster, faster, until the thrill
Project Management/Systems Engr.	of speed overcomes the fear of death.
Solbourne Computer, Inc.			--Hunter S. Thompson