Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Harley Davidson

And so the story goes...

The inventor of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Arthur Davidson, died and went to heaven. At the gates, St. Peter told Arthur, "Since you've been such a good man and your motorcycles have changed the world, your reward is, you can hang out with anyone you want in Heaven. "Arthur thought about it for a minute and then said,"I want to hang out with God." St. Peter took Arthur to the Throne Room and introduced him to God. God recognized Arthur and commented, "Okay, so you were the one who invented the Harley Davidson motorcycle?"

Arthur said, "Yep, that's me." God said, "Well, what's the big deal in inventing something that's pretty unstable, makes noise and pollution and can't run without a road?" Arthur was apparently embarrassed, but finally he said, "Excuse me, but aren't You the inventor of woman?" God said, "Yes." "Well," said Arthur, "professional to professional, you have some major design flaws in your invention:
1. There's too much inconsistency in the front-end protrusions
2. It chatters constantly at high speeds
3. Most of the rear ends are too soft and wobble too much
4. The intake is placed way too close to the exhaust
5. And the maintenance costs are enormous!"

"Hmmmmm, you may have some good points there," replied God, "Hold on." God went to His Celestial super computer, typed in a few words and waited for the results. The computer printed out a slip of paper and God read it "Well, it may be true that my invention is flawed," God said to Arthur, "but according to these numbers, more men are riding my invention than yours."

Yeah, but we can
1) ride our bikes exactly when, where, and how WE want to,
2) take a new or different bike for "test drive,"
3) talk about our bikes in front of them (even bad mouth 'em),
4) change out parts for new/different/bigger/smaller parts on our bikes, and
5)even swap bikes entirely
All of which can be done much more easily with a Harley than with the other "rideable invention."

And all things being equal ... I still choose the "other rideable invention". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

And they don't care if we ogle the asian's either. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Les

I guess you know what a Harley & a German Shepherd have in common.................................






























They both makes lots of noise & like to ride on the back of the truck.................. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

badger

OK, I'll repeat the very true mantra that Harleys aint the unreliable machines they once were, the old Shovels would break down quite a bit, the flip side of that being that most guys who rode/ride them could fix them by the side of the road. Shovel heads too were/are like an axe, you can replace/rebuild parts and keep 'em running forever with an abundant aftermarket to help you out. And Harleys were made in America, by Americans. And they looked and sounded the way they did (beautiful) because that how they worked.

Most Jap bike weren't that way, you rode 'em, wore 'em out and threw them away. Even if you wanted to keep them, parts were difficult to find.

I suppose Harleys might have started going downhill when Willie G. designed the Lowrider ('73??), simply a Sportster front end attached to a (Wide Glide???) frame. Harley form invades Harley function for the first time.

With the AMF years ('70's) Harley quality hits new lows, the end looks near, a protective tarrif helps 'em hang on. Just in time, the "Easy Rider" generation grows up and gets paying jobs. Just in time again, the new Evo motor, a technical masterpiece combining the best of the old with the new comes out.

Now Harley motors are good for 100,000 miles or more, only problem is they dont wrench near as easily by the side of the road any more.

Jap bikes cash in on the boom and, design fake Harleys with various fake, often plastic, components to look more like "Milwaukee". Much to the scorn of the Harley faithful.

Early 80's, Harley goes downhill again with the introduction of the Softail. Now function totally follows form, to achieve a "Hardtail" look the rear shock is hidden underneath the frame, a bit of stylistic deceit one would expect from Japan.

Harley sales go ballistic. Ignoring the drug, disease and violent crime-ridden reality of your typical genuine outlaw biker gang, the financially comfortable buy into the "Sex and outlaw" pretension in droves ("Die Yuppie Scum" T-shirts appear among the exasperated old-time Harley faithful around this time).

With popularity prices rise, many of the old Harley crowd can't afford a new one any more. Prices are driven up even more by the factory choosing to supply lucrative overseas markets before the less profitable American one at home.

Factory outsourcing reaches new highs (lows??). To whit:
From Japan: Aria wheels, Showa forks, Mikuni carbs, Nippon Denso electrics.
From Taiwan: All the bolts and fasteners.
From Korea: Official HOG leathers.
From China: Official H-D boots and other badged footwear.
From Various Third-World Sweatshops: Official Harley lingerie, t-shirts, watches, clocks, coffee-makers, [bleep] etc etc etc ("Harley, an American legend" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />).

By the 90's mostly dentists and accountants and stuff are riding to the "biker bars" on weekends in their bad boy gear (although it is still remains true, you CAN get laid on a Harley). A new motor comes in, an improvement over the Evo even, except the classic Harley oil tank now resides on the tranny on everthing besides Softails. No problem, just put in a fake "old style" one under the seat, just like the Japs.

Meanwhile them Jap "Harleys" have been improving their own "Harleys", despite the fact that Harley, in a new low, attempts to patent the offbeat rythm caused by both pistons rising and falling together.

More to the point, many Japanese motors by now have been in production longer than any current-production Harley motor (my Kawa KLR 650 thumper dirt bike has been in production, virtually unchanged, for twenty years now).

Confusing things further, some Honda and Kawasaki models are now made in the US, your average Goldwing or Valkyrie having about as many American parts as anything out of Mikwaukee.

Harley engine mods continue, planned obsolescence creeps in, bearing that can't be replaced without new cases, the elimination of hatches on trannys so that now the tranny must be pulled for rebuilds. Now buying a NEW bike becomes more cost-effective that keeping the same bike forever, exactly as it has always ben with Jap bikes.

Buy a Harley and buy yourself an instant image, be a rebel and dress like everyone else ("righteous!" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />), especially if your idea of a good time involves being drunk, loud music and crowds (and not reading the labels on your outlaw gear).

Problem though, Harleys are still inherently slow by modern standards, even the Sporty. You can seriously hop up a V-twin but so long reliability, them big heavy cylinders going up and down together weren't designed for 10,000 rpm. No problem, bring in the V-Rod, with a motor modelled after the German Porche original. is it a Harley? Um... yeah, sure. Well it is assembled here, just like them Goldwings.

Fear not though, beyond the Dentists and such the old Harley crowd is still around. There's the outlaw bike gangs still quietly perpetrating evil as always, mostly they got smarter and a tad more subtle is all nowadays is all.

Beyond the criminals though there still are the few guys who have been riding the same Shovel for thirty years, mostly good humored, grizzled types. At lot of 'em used to wear outlaw colors, some of the most good humored who need prove NOTHING and have the scars and tatoos to prove it wear CMA colors ("Riding for the Son").

For twelve years and 200,000+ miles my only wheels was my motorcycle (a succession of Jap bikes plus one BMW). I never did own a Harley though I would have bought one in a heartbeat (a Sporty tricked out for speed and handling would be wonderful) but I couldn't. My motorcycle was my only transportation, you can't do that on a harley because of where you will have to park it.

Even now you can't park a Harley anywhere, at the mall, at your place of work, or it will get noticed and ripped off by other members of the "Harley Brotherhood" (even at a friggin HARLEY rally dammit!) especially if you work late a lot.

Or if you ride home a lot late at night from work like me, the trick is to hit you from behind with a van and then throw your bike into the back, leaving you laying there.

I dunno though, I might get one one day, but with motorcycles its like "been there done that" for me. If I DO get one, I'm gonna have to sink a bolt into the concrete of my garage floor to lock the bike to. or else pay to keep it in a secure storage area, I have known a numer of folks who did that.

Better yet, if I get a "Harley itch", I can just rent one for the day nowadays.

Birdwatcher
(made in America from Irish parts <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

Birdwatcher,

Brother, have you been over on the Cycleworld forums????

All I gotta say is AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!

Grew up on bikes.

Even had a Trident (Trap line paid for the basket case) in Highschool.

Still Lust after an XLCR, but today it is a Buell,and the original XLCR's are more costly than ever!

Hence there is a Ducati in the Barn.

Yeah..... I don't "Blend". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The "'Vet's" now use the term "RUB", as "Yuppie scum" is a bit dated.

It's a hell of a thing to be accepted amoung old timers, and treated as part of the thing, while angst is prevalent towards so many riding the same marque.....and wearing Duc leathers.

I don't reckon a subculture can be purchased honestly.
But that is what H-D is marketing these days.


On the bright side.
When the Fad fades, there will be TONS of good, low milage bikes for sale CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

They just wont turn, stop, or accellerate all that well.

Just remember to wave at the Red power rangers!
E4E

P.S.
I am hating on all cruisers in general, and especially the Jap Cruisers.

Buying into some sort of John Wayne Movie fantasy subculture, as a market niche is just disturbing.
The defence of the matter by claiming economics is even more so!

It's like putting steer horns on a Mini-Van, and wearing a Cowboy hat in Minnesota.
It don't fit.

Hiya E4... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well. I can't get too much down on Jap cruisers on account of I mercilessly flogged an '84 920cc Virago (bought new in '87) for three years and 75,000 miles before it died. That bike on account of they were giving them away in '87 when I bought it as a starving grad student. It had useful torque all the way past 80 and would pull an honest 115 mph flat-out, fortuitously about 5 mph faster than a buddy's Sportster (at 100mph+, a raised middle finger means "number one" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) but about 5 mph slower than another friend's 1500 Gold Wing (AKA "The Enterprise" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />). Leaned over in hard pursuit of Ninjas, the long, skinny forks of that Yamaha would rythmitically oscillate to an alarming degree.

In repeated demonstrations of the virtues of two thumpers vs. many hamsters I got into numerous stoplight duels with yet another buddy with a 1200 Honda CBX, AKA 1200 "Road Grader" on account of the six little air-cooled 175 cc cylinders were arranged in a row from side to side. That CBX was a gorgeous bike, until his hand slipped off of the brake in the middle of a "Mad Max" style burnout late one night....

Our "club" President during those years was a leather-clad, chain-smoking German woman who loved all Ducatis, including hers. I forget which Ducati it was, as I recall you could get the exact same bike as a Cagiva (650cc??). A remarkable woman, not long before she was due to go back home she t-boned a cow that was waiting in the road just after a hairpin turn. She survived unscathed (as did my CBX buddy) but the bike didn't, the cow got up and jumped a fence.

My Virago never failed me, even surviving a slide-out off the outside of a curve, sliding me in soft tall grasses just between two trees (just like with pilots, a motorcycle rider's last words before he wrecks are invariably "Oh S&&t!"). The Virago finally died one day 20 miles from home, the timing chain broke on the front cylinder and like a mortally wounded horse, she limped me safely home on the good cylinder, too beat and too hard to find parts for to fix.

After that came a 750 Ninja bought like-new from a buddy. Phenomenal! Third gear power wheelies at 45-50mph, twist the throttle at 100mph and she would lunge forward, good for an honest 140mph (147 indicated). Like a Japanese mistress, beautiful but expensive to own (chains, tires and insurance).

Kawasaki screwed up the top end on that particular model and she ate the cams twice, once at 25,000 and again at 50,000 miles. The first time the factory covered it, the second time I had to pay (the tab started at $25 for each of those 16 little rocker arms and went downhill from there). Broke, I traded her in as the down payment on the cheapest "big" bike they had, a 650cc KLR (that Ninja, lovingly maintained for 50,000 miles, was wrapped around a tree by her next owner the following month).

Never did have a dirt thumper before (what! tops out at a measly 98mph ???) but now I'm sold on them. I met my wife on that bike, the thumper putting soothingly along as we rolled at a steady 30 on a long country backroad day. Once in a while I would scrape pegs on that Ninja, but on a dirt bike the first part to touch pavement is the handle bar, so you find out quick EXACTLY how good you are.

Speaking of which I came to enjoy flogging that thumper hard through the turns (corners being all that really matters after all). The Ninja had so much power everywhere it didn't really matter that much if I screwed up going in. Downshift anywhere and I'd be in warp drive again. With a thumper and only 30 horses on tap I had to pick my line, the gear and the braking just right to keep up my revs, the thumper beating out a steady cadence to tell you just how you're doing. Great fun. The high point coming one day on a road trip up in New England when I was able to dog a knee-dragger on a spotless GSXR 1100 for about three glorious minutes on a stretch of windy mountain road before the highway flattened out and he disappeared into hyperspace.

The clincher about dirt bikes though comes when the pavement runs out, the very first time you point one up a fire road up into the mountains. I will never, ever own a motorcycle that can't go off-road again.

All this is sorta academic anyhoo, I have a wife and family now. And how would I explain it to the dogs when I left without 'em? The KLR still sits patiently in the garage, battered and banged up after having been dropped in the dirt more times than I can remember. Maybe one of these weekends I'll sneak out before the dogs wake up and go out and torture neophyte Ninja riders again out on those familiar Hill Country backroads (can't torment Duc riders much, they usually know what they are doing).

Before I close I will make one more observation. There are few things in life finer than the moment you climb on a good motorcycle loaded up with gear, tools and tent when you're about to head out across the Continent to see new country. Ranks right up there with the moment a good woman says "yes". The scenery of this great nation can never be better appreciated than from the back of a motorcycle, rider and bike both dusty and bug-spattered from the long ride. At that point I ain't sure it matters WHO made yer wheels nor what they look like, long as they run.

Me? Getting old? Naaah <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks fer listening.
Birdwatcher

Birdwatcher

Great posts and excellent writing.

I hear ya.

My 13th bike sits in my garage right now.

It's a new KLR 650, red and black, 457 miles on the clock <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Regards

Elmo

Your picturesque reflections are stirring my desire to get back in the wind again but, I must admit it happens about this time every Spring anyway. I've only owned three motorcycles in my life, all were purchased used. The first was a 1959 175cc German bike called NSU, the second was an old (1955 or 56) flat-head Harley KH model, (the model that evolved into the O.H.V. Sportster) and lastly was a late '70s Yamaha 650cc vertical twin, sort of a Japanese copy of British bikes. It's been years since I've done any riding at all but if I were to get back into it, it would be nice to do it on a Harley, if for no other reason, their healthy resale. For all around pure riding pleasure though on the high $ end I would have to check out todays BMW's, those old boxer twins use to be considered the finest of the road tourers. There's another I've seen I kind of liked the looks of called a Honda Pacific Coast. It's rather tame and harmless image looks like it might be ideal for an fella of my age, life style, and rusty riding skills but trouble is it's no longer made, at least not in it's original 800cc road tourer configuration. I know it's not gonna happen though, like I said, "about this time every Spring." Motorcycle riding does sort of get in your blood and stay there, doesn't it?

Birdwatcher,

Again.......
Agreed!

I traded a......ummm..."Somewhat( We can title a wheelbarrow here in Michigan!;D) street legal" DR-400 in on my Duc.

Am getting old and don't heal as fast as I usedta, and the constant temptation of the back 90, often involved some minor bleeding and a bruise or two.

To be more specific, From the age of 9 I was on a bike, and most summer weekends were spent at district 14 MX tracks, and Hare scrambles when they popped up back then.

I went "Street" with the Trumpets thanks to John Essler in Grand Rapids, on account I couldn't afford the XLCR that was traded in on one of his Bonnies.

After a Hiatus of too many years, I went back to what I knew, and broke the wife in on a DR-200, and the DR-400 followed, with some tweaks involving a trashed RMX.

What a mess!!!!!!!!!!!

Got brow beaten today for not having new Avons on the wifes SV-650, and at the same time am fighting battery issues with the Duc.


New Orleans is this years target.
2 weeks out and back.

No highways.

Plans to actually see the 2 headed snakes, and suffer every Boudin offered from the border south.

Rain gear is for sissies..... outrun the storms, or pull in for chow and actually talk untill it passes.



Agreed.

Those cashing on the riders "Culture" without actualy having the balls to experience it, are to be looked at with pity.

Harley and the Japs can't patent what is there.

They can only market an empty promise.

A Cow ain't gonna get me.

Most likely it will be a Soccer mom in a Minvan, or a Deer.
(Though a Turkey or two has had me worried here lately!)

Mind the soft bags shifting towards the spokes!!!!!
E4E

Hey guys, I rode from the time I was 15, first a Cushman Golden Eagle scooter w/8HP Husky motor and two speed tank shift that I sold and used the money (plus a summer running a ninty pound jackhammer) on a 54 Pan head. Rode that one till I got out of the Army in '66. My uncle gave me a 1941 Indian 4 cylinder "Savannah Chief" he had pickled in '46 that I rode till '76 when I was offered an obscene amount of money for. I bought a BRAND SPANKY NEW '76 Electra-Glyde Liberty Edition (Full dresser). That bike (a shovel) I rode till my somewhat disastrous summer of heart surgery and broken back in '92. Broke my heart to sell that baby. BUT I got $12,000 for a bike with 123,000 miles on it that cost me $3842.00 out the door tax, tag and title. The motor had one rebuild on it and the tranny was still original, it NEVER put me on the side of the road once.

I just like riding bikes. I'm currently riding a 2000 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100. A nice comfy cruiser for an old man like me to cruise country roads with. The Harley's I've ridden are sweet bikes. A buddy has a Road King that I love. Really there aren't many bad bikes out there.

Jeff

Birdwatcher,

Awesome post. Thanks for listening? Thank you for talking...

Birdwatcher & E4E,

Youse guys really know how to get someone drooling again. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> As I write this, motorcycles #13, 14, &15 sit in the garage unlicensed. Bike #7 (1982 Ducati Pantah) has taken up residence in my buddy's body shop; waiting for many years to get the 'glass fixed after I flopped it. (It took me 10 years to accumulate the parts to put it back together) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />



Us Duc riders don't always know what we are doing.

Bike #13 (BMW R-100 RS) waits on the new owner to take possession. #14 (Yamaha Venture Royale) waits on me to get off my butt and clean the dust off and install new battery and put it up for sale.

I have been giving much thought to a newer Ducati (Monster) or perhaps a Harley Davidson. (Never owned one...) As retirement looms in the very near future, I anticipate having a bit more time to "split the breeze"!

E4E,

I am still cursing myself for the two opportunities I had to buy an XLCR. Because as you noted they are more expensive now than ever. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I passed just recently on a Buell. I have a 28" inseam and just cannot deal with a 34" seat heighth.



I have seen a fair share of this great country from the back of a bike. And I have scraped the pegs of a Gold Wing in Nove Scotia, and the Rockie Mountains. And I know I'm not done yet. Next plan up is AK or bust. I just don't know what I'm going to ride up there. Likely another BMW!

I am sure they must have motorcycles in heaven! I know I'll need one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Keep the rubber down, guys! Ride on!

the9.3Guy

My Virago sits in the garage, after many earlier bikes. Dreamend a lot about a Duc though, but airplanes came first..
Don

I've done the Duc routine.... '88 750 Paso.... Legs are too long to fold up on it for long.
Now have a '92 Sportster w 89" motor and about 60hp worth of NOS completely street legal... as long as you overlook the 5.5" slick.
A '79 SuperGlide with a 90" shovel in it.... it is actually very streetable.
But my favorite is my allout dragbike... 150" Sportster based motor, B&J 3 speed, 84" Nungesser chassis, 10" tire, 92% nitromethane fuel injected, Mid 7's @ about 180.
And yes I have a fair number of scars, assorted sets of crutches and misc medical bills to show for them.

Pat

Elmo... As I'm sure you're aware that KLR would benefit greatly from aftermarket fork springs, an aluminum bash plate, and aftermarket hand guards (I know 'cause mine's still bone stock <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />). I did switch out the stock brake pads for a softer, less abrasive compound. Or else that little front disk gets chewed up pretty quick. I had 'em put on the factory kickstart too though I never used it much, nor had the knees for it. Mine wore (still does but mostly sits nowadays) an Avon Griptster front tire (a fairly soft Brit tire, grips pretty good leaned over on pavement) and a bit more dirt-oriented Metzer Sahara rear.

The KLR is a phenomenal bike, with an enviable reputation for trouble-free reliability. One carb to worry about, yet they somehow tweaked that thumper so it'll pull 80 easily all day long on the Interstate (50mpg, 300 mile+ cruising range) and still provide down low grunt offroad. It is prone to knocking under load though, mine runs smoother with octane booster added to the premium gas.

The factory fairing is phenomenal, somehow just right to keep the air off yer chest yet not put turbulence around your head, that soft plastic fairing doesn't break either when you drop it. What all that plastic DOES do though is fade quickly in the sun.

The fasteners and bolts are prone to surface rust too, as is the stock exaust system (if you don't loosen that drain bolt on the muffler regularly it will soon rust in place.).

I rode that KLR everywhere (including more'n a couple of 1,000 mile days) for two years and 45,000 miles until I bought a BMW R100G/S Paris/Dakar and put the KLR in storage. The last of the old airhead boxer twins, that BMW, that P/D was gonna be my forever bike. Turns out I got one of the few lemons ever out out by BMW. The cylinder studs pulled and the cases were replaced under warranty, the electrics would get wet every time I crossed water or even in heavy rain, and the little rubber plug around the speedo cable got loose and let water into the tranny. R100 G/S's ate the paralever driveshaft regularly, mine was replaced under warranty. Another time a back spoke broke (my fault, I had bent it with a lock). Stopped at stop sign somewhere in BFE, the spoke base fell into the brake drum, locking up the wheel. The last straw came the night before a big ride when the clutch piston seized on the way home from a bar ( had I to do it over, I woulda bought a used BMW R80 G/S, now THAT is a phenomenal bike).

Early the next morning I unburied the KLR from storage, drained the oil I had filled the crankase with, put air in the tires, put in a battery and gas and hit the starter. After two years sitting she fired right up like I had just ridden the day before, been riding it ever since. Sold the Beemer.

Sorta on the topic of crashed Ducs, apart from that one harmless spill on the Virago I mostly had close calls. Riding to school one 25 degree morning on that Virago both ends started to shift and hunt ever so slightly... I was riding on glaze ice! Pulled in the clutch and didn't touch nothin', rolling eventually to a stop at the side of the road. Put my foot down and instantly went down hard. Picked up the bike and paddled in to town, slipping the clutch and riding in the grass.

Once along that same stretch on that same bike I was riding in before dawn I came over a rise and there was a deer, RIGHT THERE!. Things go into slow motion, I brake until just short of lock-up, front tire howling. In slow motion the deer just ambles out of the way, I let off the brakes and instantly the bike snaps straight . Braking hard, I had locked up the rear and slid into a 45 degree angle, letting off the brakes the bike snapped straight and threw me up onto the gas tank. I dunno why I didn't wreck. About like the time that big grasshopper (yellow underneath, I remember that quite clearly) flew just over the fairing and just under the visor and WHAP!!! hit me in the eye like a gunshot, left me reeling in the saddle for a couple of seconds....

Speaking of snow, once in New Mexico I got snowed in on that Ninja, rode in about a mile down a forest road the night before but couldn't get out. Spent a couple of hours walking it out, slipping the clutch, and slipping and sliding. One other time I let go of the bars on a busy interstate just to judge how bad the front tire was getting cupped. Soon as I let go... "whapwhapwwhapwhapwhapwhap!" of the bar slapping from lock to lock. I dunno how I didn't wreck.

About like the time I was coming back over the St Lawrence from Canada on that same bike in typical miserable Canuck June weather, wind and rain blowing hard from the side across a tall bridge. Me, the bike and the girl perched on the back getting blown all over.... and then TILES!!! They paved the top of the bridge with friggin' tiles!, now all wet. I dunno how we didn't wreck there either. About like the time I gave a buddy in Houston a ride to get his ride, it raining on the loop in bumper to bumper rush-hour 80mph traffic, my 250 lb friend perched way the heck up high over the back wheel... ...and then METAL PLATES! RAISED WET METAL PLATES! that you bumped up onto. I dunno why they put them in, to kill motorcyclists I expect.

The weirdest mishap on that Ninja... When a bike is your wheels saddlebags are a given, in this case old soft luggage. I was riding out to count warblers early one morning when I heard "WHAP!... WHOOSEWHOOSEWHOOSEWHOOSEWHOOSE!...."

I had the full-sized cover stuffed into one of the saddlebags, one of the tie cords got loose and started flapping in the wind.. and got wrapped around the sprocket.... the entire full cover whipped out and the whole thing got wrapped around the wheel inside and beneath the chain. The bike was alright, (stretched the chain though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />).

On the KLR only one close call. 80mph down a Hill Country backroad, thunderstorms in the area. Drop down into a hollow and RIGHT THERE!!! maybe 18" of water running across the road, twenty yards across. I hit the water doing about sixty... RRRRRRIPPPP!... musta looked spectacular, the bike did shift a bit and the water knocked my feet off of the pedals. Any other bike besides a tall and skinny dirt bike and I expect I woulda gone down.

Well this was supposed to be one of them posts where you answer a whole bunch of people, but I got carried away....

Birdwatcher

Bird

Make that 550 on the odo. I live in the foothills of the Sierras at the 1300 ft elev. My ride today was 90 miles of twisties, 30 of them on dirt. A creek crossing that almost got the best of me. The light rain was falling up high and the snow line stopped me somewhere between 6500 to 7000 ft elev. When I got back home it was about 78 and sunny. Never even came close to a freeway.

It's a dirty job.... but somebody's gotta do it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Elmo

buy a part from the harley dealer than check where it was made . suprise JAPAN??????