My thought for 2010 on Metric vs Harley

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Originally Posted By: PT1
...I now don't care to go 100-200mph on the highways of America. When I modify my motorcycle it is never intended to compete with yours. It is never intended to compete with any motorcycle...it is intended to be mine alone. It is intended to run the way I like it to run. I don't race other people for I have found that the toughest but most rewarding race you can run is the one where you are measured against yourself. So your definition of performance is very different than mine. Faster is not always better to me. As Indian Larry once said " A motorcycle is a spiritual object...when I am riding I am in the flow". So I never condsider myself for or against other motorcyclists...which is why I started this thread.


+1..Thanks for that! I like the way you think. It's too bad that there are so many insecure little bashers out there who are so busy worrying about people's mufflers, clothes, brand choice, noise etc. that they miss out on the real joy of motorcycling.
 
Originally Posted By: PT1


This is just your opinion...and while I respect your opinion as I was once into fast metric bikes....I now don't care to go 100-200mph on the highways of America. When I modify my motorcycle it is never intended to compete with yours. It is never intended to compete with any motorcycle...it is intended to be mine alone. It is intended to run the way I like it to run. I don't race other people for I have found that the toughest but most rewarding race you can run is the one where you are measured against yourself. So your definition of performance is very different than mine. Faster is not always better to me. As Indian Larry once said " A motorcycle is a spiritual object...when I am riding I am in the flow". So I never condsider myself for or against other motorcyclists...which is why I started this thread.


PT1: I never said you shouldn't be able to "modify" your motorcycle, more power to you, I just said that in the world of all-out performance, the fastest, quickest, most powerful bike is the top dog. No excuses or handicaps. And I also didn't advocate riding at 230 on the public roadways, that is the purpose of tracks and closed-course events (Bonneville) There, people who worship at the altar of speed can freely display their "faith." I agree that people don't have to compete with others just because they modify their motorcycles, but they ought to walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk and give some respect to real speed. Just because a motorcycle makes lots of noise doesn't mean it can perform and the owner ought to "man-up" and admit it.

IMHO, nothing is more exciting than knowing that a $10,000 "box-stock" factory motorcycle that any schmoe can afford is capable of obliterating the fastest automobiles in the world regardless of price. I like knowing that I could kick sand on any uppity Ferrari (not bashing motorcycles) driver on the planet that way.

I don't expect you to share my obsession, but if you want me (and others of my ilk) to understand and respect your choice of riding style, then try to respect mine.

That's all I'm saying.
 
Originally Posted By: bigbird_1
Originally Posted By: ZGRider
Who doesn't think that a bike that can spin the rear tire in 4th gear at well over 150 isn't cool? Radical power !!


I don't. If that same bike got 100 mpg with that kind of performance, then THAT would be cool.


Then a classic Honda C50 is the bike for you! They can get 100mpg all day long and can be found anywhere in the world. This is longest-produced, most produced motorcycle in the world. I think more than 50 million have been produced. It was Honda's avenue to greatness.

Pretty pedestrian to me though. Getting old is one thing, thinking old is another.
 
Originally Posted By: ZGRider

PT1: I never said you shouldn't be able to "modify" your motorcycle, more power to you, I just said that in the world of all-out performance, the fastest, quickest, most powerful bike is the top dog. No excuses or handicaps. And I also didn't advocate riding at 230 on the public roadways, that is the purpose of tracks and closed-course events (Bonneville) There, people who worship at the altar of speed can freely display their "faith." I agree that people don't have to compete with others just because they modify their motorcycles, but they ought to walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk and give some respect to real speed. Just because a motorcycle makes lots of noise doesn't mean it can perform and the owner ought to "man-up" and admit it.

IMHO, nothing is more exciting than knowing that a $10,000 "box-stock" factory motorcycle that any schmoe can afford is capable of obliterating the fastest automobiles in the world regardless of price. I like knowing that I could kick sand on any uppity Ferrari (not bashing motorcycles) driver on the planet that way.

I don't expect you to share my obsession, but if you want me (and others of my ilk) to understand and respect your choice of riding style, then try to respect mine.

That's all I'm saying.


ZG: I do respect your opinion and passion...I just don't share it. I did once..so I understand it. But I am older and wiser now. Almost killed myself a few times back in the 70's on really fast bikes and cars and boats. So, my 'need 4 speed" is definitely worn down some. I'll leave the 3 digit rides to you young punks who still enjoy it. That said if I was 19 again...I'd have me one of them Hyabusas or whatever the heck they are called.
 
Originally Posted By: ZGRider

Then a classic Honda C50 is the bike for you! They can get 100mpg all day long and can be found anywhere in the world.


That was my first bike. I won it in a contest in 1966. I outgrew it in about 15 minutes. Since then I've owned a small 180 cc street twin, a 360 Enduro, and have ridden all styles, from hogs, to crotch rockets, even a Gold Wing. You can have your hogs, rockets, and tourers. I'm back on a 150 scooter and really enjoying it. Yes, I'm getting old but thinking practical these days.
 
It all boils down to one variety of strutting feathers vs a different variety of strutting feathers...and the rest of us that couldn't care less.

"My bike is faster than yours." Yeah, and? We should all bow down? Pffft.

Adolescent one-upmanship.
 
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
It all boils down to one variety of strutting feathers vs a different variety of strutting feathers...and the rest of us that couldn't care less.

"My bike is faster than yours." Yeah, and? We should all bow down? Pffft.

Adolescent one-upmanship.



Then why do you drive an F250 V-10? "Mine's bigger than yours?"

Or a Prius? Mine's "greener" than yours?

Or your CRX? Mine's more "asian" than yours?

Right.......
 
Originally Posted By: ZGRider
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
It all boils down to one variety of strutting feathers vs a different variety of strutting feathers...and the rest of us that couldn't care less.

"My bike is faster than yours." Yeah, and? We should all bow down? Pffft.

Adolescent one-upmanship.



Then why do you drive an F250 V-10? "Mine's bigger than yours?"

Or a Prius? Mine's "greener" than yours?

Or your CRX? Mine's more "asian" than yours?

Right.......


You'll pardon me if I suggest the obvious...I'm not rubbing any of that in anyone's face over and over and over and over, ect.

Nor am I being a grade school bully about it.

Nor an incessant boor.

Nor...we'll, you get the point. Maybe.
 
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
Originally Posted By: ZGRider
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
It all boils down to one variety of strutting feathers vs a different variety of strutting feathers...and the rest of us that couldn't care less.

"My bike is faster than yours." Yeah, and? We should all bow down? Pffft.

Adolescent one-upmanship.



Then why do you drive an F250 V-10? "Mine's bigger than yours?"

Or a Prius? Mine's "greener" than yours?

Or your CRX? Mine's more "asian" than yours?

Right.......


You'll pardon me if I suggest the obvious...I'm not rubbing any of that in anyone's face over and over and over and over, ect.

Nor am I being a grade school bully about it.

Nor an incessant boor.

Nor...we'll, you get the point. Maybe.



Point is that you don't have to spend $30,000 to get a fast bike and you don't have to "bathe" in leather and fringe to be a "biker." You also don't have to wake everyone within a mile with loud mufflers to be cool. If you are feel inadequate about your biking ability (and other things) -- deal with it.
 
Originally Posted By: ZGRider
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
Originally Posted By: ZGRider
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
It all boils down to one variety of strutting feathers vs a different variety of strutting feathers...and the rest of us that couldn't care less.

"My bike is faster than yours." Yeah, and? We should all bow down? Pffft.

Adolescent one-upmanship.



Then why do you drive an F250 V-10? "Mine's bigger than yours?"

Or a Prius? Mine's "greener" than yours?

Or your CRX? Mine's more "asian" than yours?

Right.......


You'll pardon me if I suggest the obvious...I'm not rubbing any of that in anyone's face over and over and over and over, ect.

Nor am I being a grade school bully about it.

Nor an incessant boor.

Nor...we'll, you get the point. Maybe.



Point is that you don't have to spend $30,000 to get a fast bike and you don't have to "bathe" in leather and fringe to be a "biker." You also don't have to wake everyone within a mile with loud mufflers to be cool. If you are feel inadequate about your biking ability (and other things) -- deal with it.


ZG, I think your point was made quite some time ago. It's becoming repetitive to the point of boredom. We KNOW you have contempt for Harley riders. We KNOW you think speed is King. Blah, blah, blah, etc.

Whether a person dons the Leather/Fringe uniform or the Leather/Stickers uniform, or have loud Harleys or loud Suzukis, or profile on a Harley or wheelie down the street...it's entire up to them how they spend their $$$. Having such contempt for an entire class/group of people because of a few seems a bit short on the thinking-through process.

But your brow-beating of everyone that doesn't agree with your Speed is King theory is just plain bad manners.
 
Originally Posted By: ZGRider
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
It all boils down to one variety of strutting feathers vs a different variety of strutting feathers...and the rest of us that couldn't care less.

"My bike is faster than yours." Yeah, and? We should all bow down? Pffft.

Adolescent one-upmanship.



Then why do you drive an F250 V-10? "Mine's bigger than yours?"

Or a Prius? Mine's "greener" than yours?

Or your CRX? Mine's more "asian" than yours?

Right.......
My wife drives an F250 with the Powerstroke and hers is bigger than mine!!!
 
Originally Posted By: ZGRider
Originally Posted By: bigbird_1
I don't. If that same bike got 100 mpg with that kind of performance, then THAT would be cool.


Then a classic Honda C50 is the bike for you! They can get 100mpg all day long and can be found anywhere in the world. This is longest-produced, most produced motorcycle in the world. I think more than 50 million have been produced. It was Honda's avenue to greatness.

Pretty pedestrian to me though. Getting old is one thing, thinking old is another.


Speaking of 100+ mpg, I bought a Honda Metropolitan just for that reason (well, not just that reason).
Hard to beat those little Honda's for daily start-and-go reliability plus economy.
 
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