ARmy Rumour SErvice

I'm voting for triumph but that's because I've got a thruxton. Not very practical for the commute but who cares it's me that has to ride it and the arrow exhausts make it purr as nicely as any harley if that's your thing. It's quite cheap to insure and only ageing rockers and dewy eyed OAP's are likely to nick it.

Originally Posted by tazmanian_clogdancer

I'm voting for triumph but that's because I've got a thruxton. Not very practical for the commute but who cares it's me that has to ride it and the arrow exhausts make it purr as nicely as any harley if that's your thing. It's quite cheap to insure and only ageing rockers and dewy eyed OAP's are likely to nick it.

I couldn't justify spending £800 on Arrows so bought 'Arrow Replicas' from a firm in Newcastle - £199. They sound just as good, especially with the baffles drilled out a little.

Originally Posted by Judge Judy

Interesting point about the noisy pipes though. Agreed, they are incredibly loud and I'd probably end up pissing off my neighbours no end however I'm not sure they're any more annoying or anti-social that some penis with race cans on his GSXR( or whatever) smashing his way around town!

Agreed on the race can front. If anything race cans are worse because of the high pitch noise. I removed my titanium full race system from my CBR because despite spending well over a grand on it, it did not improve the bike at all. I spent hours (and £'s) on a dyno machine trying to get a smooth power delivery. The pipes actually did nothing but make a noise..and that was a very well known make.

Daddys baby.

Originally Posted by RoofRat

Back in the 60's,there was a certain penchant to owning a Harley,mainly because it would have been a personal import,and an effort had to be made to get it into the country,but the guys I rode with in London didn't keep them for very long,and reverted to their Brit Bikes.

You've obviously never 'earoled' a GoldWing,one trick pony never,ridden well they go around corners,like they're on rails,wet or dry,but then again you could always get a Honda PE,great tourer,goes like shit of a shovel,comfortable,cheap to buy,and maintain,great on motorways.

I can think of a number of 'cruisers' that are better suited,than any Harley,and they're either British,or Japanese,and cheaper,both to buy,and maintain,like my AT,which I never ride on Motorways,Autobahns,or Route Nationales,if I can help,I can think of nothing more boring than riding in a straight line for hours at a time,I dunno,maybe I just like 'proper' bikes.

Bollox Warrs Harley-Davidson - official Harley-Davidson dealer history: Warrs Harley-Davidson

Originally Posted by RoofRat

Sorry sunshine,been riding bikes since the early 60's,Harleys were disappointing then,and haven't improved.

Tourer,shit loads,but if you want a bit of comfort,Goldwing.or if that's a bit expensive,use what I tour all over Europe on,Africa Twin,as for 800 miles in a day,I've done 600,in 22 hours around the UK,on a B40,piece of piss.

The only thing going for a Harley......................at least it ain't a car,or maybe it is,and some fuckers nicked two of it's wheels!

Not very impressive , all 60`s HD`s would cruise at least at 70mph , if you dont like em fair enough ,yes they are over priced but then they dont devalue like a jap bike either ,keep a new HD for 10 years and you will get your money back and some , they make good cruisers /tourers , most who own them are at the very least amateur mechanics and enjoy modifying /improving them as much as riding them as they are simple to work on compared with Jap /eyetie stuff ,some guys involved in the HD scene are world leading engineers, there is a phenomenal amount of after market kit available and some is of a very high standard S&S Cycle, Inc. High Performance Motorcycle Parts for American V-Twins , as for reliability they are as good as any Duc, finally if you are a V twin fanatic and want British its tough as Triumph dont do one.

Originally Posted by 2/51

Agreed on the race can front. If anything race cans are worse because of the high pitch noise. I removed my titanium full race system from my CBR because despite spending well over a grand on it, it did not improve the bike at all. I spent hours (and £'s) on a dyno machine trying to get a smooth power delivery. The pipes actually did nothing but make a noise..and that was a very well known make.

So do they actually work then? I've never bothered largely because I felt I had enough welly as it was without sticking a really irritating can on the back or changing the whole system - hardly worth it on a 14 year old bike. In the same way that folks scoff at Harley riders, I always snigger at people in virgin ice cream leathers and popping race cans commuting to work. Of course, I'll bet I get a sniggered at with my practical textile waterproofs, top box and standard 600. Ya can't win - ever!

Originally Posted by CptDanjou

Not very impressive , all 60`s HD`s would cruise at least at 70mph , if you dont like em fair enough ,yes they are over priced but then they dont devalue like a jap bike either ,keep a new HD for 10 years and you will get your money back and some , they make good cruisers /tourers , most who own them are at the very least amateur mechanics and enjoy modifying /improving them as much as riding them as they are simple to work on compared with Jap /eyetie stuff ,some guys involved in the HD scene are world leading engineers, there is a phenomenal amount of after market kit available and some is of a very high standard S&S Cycle, Inc. High Performance Motorcycle Parts for American V-Twins , as for reliability they are as good as any Duc, finally if you are a V twin fanatic and want British its tough as Triumph dont do one.

Obviously a moron that doesn't know what I'm talking about,a B40,is an old BSA 350 single,Army M/cycle from the 70's,the reason it took 22 hours was,average speed had to be 30 mph,having said that on a bad day,it would still outperform a Hardly.

The only engine to have in a Hardly is an S&S,not the add-ons,but if they're that good why change anything, 'amatuer mechanics',you're joking,I don't consider replacing little bits and pieces,as mechanics,but I do consider being able to replace a complete clutch on a 1963 T110,in 2 hrs,in the gutter,a mechanical feat,we couldn't afford garage prices back in the 60's.

Whilst we're on the subject,I'll enligthen you as to the real reason for the demise of the Brit M/Cycle industry back in the late 60's,and it has fuck all to do with the 'Japanese Invasion'!

Harley Davidson sales,in the States were going tits-up,because all the true bikers bought British machines (and the builds coming out of the milwaukee factories was crap) ,H-D had been trying to curtail the imports of foreign machines,'by fair means or foul',until eventually Senator Proxmire,the Senator for Wisconsin,managed to get a Bill passed,that secured a ridiculosly high import tarrif,on any foreign bikes,coming into the US,which was the death knell for British Bike Manufacturing,and also the reason that the Major Japanese manufacturers built factories in the US.

Don't know if anybody told you,but Ducati's are'nt renowned for their reliabilty,bad comparison,and most guys who aren't involved in the HD 'scene',are also regarded as world class engineers,only more so,sorry you'll have to try better than that.