From: randy@ninja.megatek.uucp (Randy Davis)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.harley
Subject: Re: Sportster Crotch Rocket??!!
Date: 2 Oct 92 19:51:09 GMT
Reply-To: megatek!randy@uunet.uu.net
Organization: Megatek Corporation, San Diego, California

In article <1992Oct01.163530.11991@gecko.uucp> ed@Tekelec.gecko.uucp (Ed Campbell) writes:
|      Maybe not, go look up what the fastest motorcycle ITW is. It is
|a general misconception that all Harleys are slow.

  They *are* slow, unless major modifications are made to them.  I'll continue
to believe that until I see a fast stock Harley.  The fastest motorcycle in
the world bears no mechanical resemblance to a stock Harley, if you cared to
notice.  You might also ask yourself why Harley has to have special racing
classes for their bikes - because the bike is not competitive in the other
classes, except flattracking (where Harley seems to be king).  Too bad I never
ride flattracks...

| The fact is, they
|are ridden slowly because they are such a joy to ride, there is no
|hurry to get somewhere and get off them.

  Interesting, as that is why *I* often ride slow...  Of course, I also have
the option to ride fast, which you don't, unless you've spent lots of $$ to
basically build a bike that the factory didn't or couldn't make for you.

| Another reason is that, when
|you ride the best there is, you don't feel any need to prove you bike
|is as good as some other one.

  Too bad it isn't the "best there is" at what *I* want to do.  I have no
qualm about Harley's being great bikes.  But, trying to say a Harley without
a LOT of work put into it is something that it was never intended to be is
pretty stupid.  So, "ride the best there is" is a very subjective comment.
I'm happy that that YOU are satisfied with your ride - more power to you.
But, to me, a Harley is underpowered and heavy, and my car handles better
(and is almost faster).

  If motorcycling, to you, is just cruising and fitting into a macho image, or
even touring on a very capable rig, that's great.  I, however, have a different
focus.

|>ZX-11 #00072 Pilot
| ^^^^^
|      Will it still start in 1 kick when it is 35 years old?

  Very possibly, since *I* take care of my machinery, even if it *did* cost
half of what you paid for yours and it is perhaps still worth.  Since Kawasaki
didn't start selling bikes in the states until the early 70's, you have no
valid reason to think it won't.  I've got friends with 70's Kawasaki's that
still run just fine.  Mine hasn't ever broken down on *me*, and I probably
ride it harder than your typical cruiser rider (of any brand).

  But you are right, if something better and faster comes out, I very likely
MAY change bikes.  I obviously have a different focus to my riding that you,
or at least want to be able to *have* that focus when I want.

|      Will you even remember it when it is 35 years old?

  Sure will, since it is still the most powerful and fastest stock motorcycle
built.  I suspect a LOT of people will remember it, although you may not...

|Ed Campbell

  Sorry to offend you, Ed, since I am NOT criticising your ride.  However,
trying to tell me that a Harley is good in those things I feel are important
in a bike when it was NEVER designed to be is pretty pointless.  I've ridden
Harley's (my late grandfather rode them for thirty years) - have YOU ever
tried the competition (I suspect not)?

Randy Davis                            Email: randy@megatek.com
ZX-11 #00072 Pilot                            megatek!randy@uunet.uu.net
DoD #0013                                     ucsd!megatek!randy
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.harley