Is motorcycling allowed?

[RocknRolla]

I just had a pantsident.

[sawystertrance]

I know the HD will be more of a luxury "toy" for me.

 

Life factors:

• Been working from home since COVID, and will be here for a long time still. So would not require the HD as a commuter
• When we do eventually get back to office you can be damned sure I will be commuting on the bicycle, with the odd day spiced up with the HD
• So it will be a weekend fun bike
• The odd site meeting outing
• Long road trips ... well now that is a nice dream, but knowing work and family commitments this is far from a reality for the near future / year or two.

Smile factor:

• Eventually getting a HD after too many years of "wanting and looking"

Hmm. Things change. OK, we won't be doing a daily commute but what about dropping off to the supermarket to buy stuff or riding to Paternoster or Riebeeck Kasteel for breakfast? I think one's usages change as one gets used to the bike. 

 

I'm not trying to put you off buying a HD, merely highlighting differences.

 

Any chance you could borrow or rent one for a weekend test? Give you a feel for it.

[IceCreamMan]

There was also a Triumph Street Triple 765R with us. We represent both sides of the ocean [emoji1787]

 

There was also a Triumph Street Triple 765R with us. We represent both sides of the ocean [emoji1787]

 

Traded my 765 in on the harley. That 765 is a barrel of laughs but i realised i was either going to lose my licence or my life on it ... it was an insane little bike given the power and the weight.

 

I would wheelie it off the throttle in second from traffic lights .. made me laugh ... hooligan factor goes to 11. Plod on the island dont have a sense of humour. 

 

the new 1200 must be on another level of insanity

[Zebra]

Hairy,

 

I am going to provide an opinion here which may not be popular with some of our fellow members:

 

In my opinion a HD is like a Fat Bike – great fun and, like many HD owners here have said, it puts a smile on your face.

 

But not many have a Fat bike as their only bike and it maybe an extra toy to use but not something on which you would rely for transport and not appropriate for most cycling scenarios.

 

I suspect the same is true of many Harleys with the owners having them for giggles but another bike as the main form of regular transport. Perhaps the HD owners here can chip in but I can’t imagine using it for longer trips or a weekend ride to Hermanus or similar on a regular basis.

 

Of course this all depends on your intended use and frequency with which you plan to use the bike.

 

Thoughts, anybody?

I second this - in it's entirety - else put a topbox on your Harley - you can thank me later! - great bike as a second bike, but I THINK you might be better served by a different bike, my 5c!

Cheers

Chris

[Hairy]

Hmm. Things change. OK, we won't be doing a daily commute but what about dropping off to the supermarket to buy stuff or riding to Paternoster or Riebeeck Kasteel for breakfast? I think one's usages change as one gets used to the bike. 

 

I'm not trying to put you off buying a HD, merely highlighting differences.

 

Any chance you could borrow or rent one for a weekend test? Give you a feel for it.

Thanks, I get what you are saying ..... and appreciate what you are saying.

 

I am willing to take a chance on the HD and see how the dice roll .... I recon if I go the HD route and I really can not live with the bike further down the road, I should not be loosing much in terms of money spent on the bike when selling.

 

The idea of renting one first is a good idea thanks.

 

It does kind of make me think of a few bicycles I have owned that make no sense, but they really gave me joy.

 

Fortunately I would not have to rely on the HD as my primary form of transport.

[sawystertrance]

"Fortunately I would not have to rely on the HD as my primary form of transport." 

 

I just wanted to be clear on this. I didn't mean having a HD as a primary form of transport. I meant having it as your only bike and primary form of 2 wheeled transport. 

 

Take your point about having bicycles which made no sense but gave you joy. I suppose motorcycling doesn't make sense in many respects but is for a sure a source of joy and the secret is to find it for yourself. 

 

When's the first ride?

[Hairy]

"Fortunately I would not have to rely on the HD as my primary form of transport." 

 

I just wanted to be clear on this. I didn't mean having a HD as a primary form of transport. I meant having it as your only bike and primary form of 2 wheeled transport. 

 

Take your point about having bicycles which made no sense but gave you joy. I suppose motorcycling doesn't make sense in many respects but is for a sure a source of joy and the secret is to find it for yourself. 

 

When's the first ride?

Busy on a project now that I need to complete in order to get to the final figure I need for the bike. This will roll on for a month, maybe two pending how things go.

 

Then with cash in hand I would have to hope the right bike is available or will have to exercise the my non existent patience till the right one is available.

[Stretched@Birth]

Very cool, whats the back story on this bike?

The bike was bought by a friend of mine as an incomplete project from a guy in Cape Town a few years ago.  It arrived in Joburg and the tins were sent to Custom Studios in Boksburg to be repainted, check out their Facebook page, they do phenomenal work - https://www.facebook.com/Custom-Studio-252088984904481/ - The pictures don't do it justice, the paint is a white pearl, the flags on the side of the tank and rear hump have a 3D effect to them.

 

It ended up with me to update some of the lights, the rear light cluster was too modern for the look of the bike, fix some of the wiring, sort some leaks, rebuild carbs, etc. and has stayed with me ever since.  My mate kind of lost interest in the bikes, and has never even ridden the BMW.  It has been standing in my garage for at least 2 years, taking up space.  We decided a few weeks ago that it needs to be serviced, and will soon be put up for sale.  

 

It's a great bike for what it is.  Short hops, Cafe to Cafe.  It is an old bike, with plenty go (it is an R100, so 980cc), but the braking and cornering are 80's.  Air cooled, you don't want to stand still and have it idling between your legs for too long.  It does however turn heads and gets a lot of attention wherever it stops.

 

I'll miss it, but am looking out for a new project, want to build a board tracker based on a modern scrambler...  

[WaynejG]

Traded my 765 in on the harley. That 765 is a barrel of laughs but i realised i was either going to lose my licence or my life on it ... it was an insane little bike given the power and the weight.

 

I would wheelie it off the throttle in second from traffic lights .. made me laugh ... hooligan factor goes to 11. Plod on the island dont have a sense of humour.

 

the new 1200 must be on another level of insanity

Yep, I have ridden that 765R. Unbelievable little bike. Agree on the 1200.

[sawystertrance]

Hairy,

 

Not a HD but......

 

http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=257954.0

[WaynejG]

My Harley is my only bike. Furthest I have ridden it in one go is just over 400 km so a round trip of almost 800km. No issues for me. I also don't plan on doing 1000km per day trips either.

 

I can hustle my Wide Glide through passes and corners quicker than some sportbike riders.

 

So what I am saying is, at this point in my life, it ticks all the right boxes. That's all that counts. I might sell it later or I might keep it. At this stage it is a keeper.

[Hairy]

Hairy,

 

Not a HD but......

 

http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=257954.0

Thanks ... that is about as exciting as buying a Spaz Epic or a Giant Anthem or a Scott or a Trek or a PYGA or a Cannondale (Enter any other brand other than YT) 

[Hairy]

My Harley is my only bike. Furthest I have ridden it in one go is just over 400 km so a round trip of almost 800km. No issues for me. I also don't plan on doing 1000km per day trips either.

 

I can hustle my Wide Glide through passes and corners quicker than some sportbike riders.

 

So what I am saying is, at this point in my life, it ticks all the right boxes. That's all that counts. I might sell it later or I might keep it. At this stage it is a keeper.

On a long trip like that can I assume you overnight somewhere, and if so how did/do you deal with luggage.

 

Do you have panniers, or just strap down bags to your bike?

[WaynejG]

On a long trip like that can I assume you overnight somewhere, and if so how did/do you deal with luggage.

 

Do you have panniers, or just strap down bags to your bike?

I just strap a bag to the pillion seat and sissy bar. My sissy bar is quick release so I normally leave it off when I ride solo but put it back when using a bag.

 

I am thinking of having another sissy bar made. Pics in my next post as inspiration. Something about the pics that just make me want to head out for 2 weeks with no plan but just to ride.

[WaynejG]

These are the pics I was referring to.

[Rigardt@Scott]

Hairy, when I had my Harley it was my only bike. Previously had some converted MX bikes (450 and a 250), a Kawa 636 superbike, a Kawa ER6N and an F800GS.

 

I had no issues with the Harley as my only bike (a Wide Glide like Wayne’s). My intentions for it was similar to yours - weekend trips from 200 to 400km in a day, the occasional commute, and a few multi day trips. I strapped a bag to the sissy bar for those trips and had a removable windscreen (I still have it, and it’s yours mahala if you buy and HD and want it).

 

The Harley was not the most versatile bike - that would have to be the F800, but I never felt like I needed another bike. If I had to buy a Harley again it would probably be something that sits a bit more upright than the Wide Glide (maybe a Fat Boy or Fat Bob). But definitely fine as an only bike if your intention is not to commute daily - they are a bit cumbersome for that.

Edited April 26, 2021 by Grease_Monkey