Quote:
Originally Posted by Dport7674
The same ol Harley rider bashing post ^ that takes up space and takes up our time trying to read it. It's repetitive and boring.
To the original post.. Victory bikes were never going to catch on. Offering more over priced cruisers wasn't going to get it done. Honda already has that crowd covered with the goldwing.
If someone wants to compete with Harley it'll all have to start with a badass lil sportster killer hot rod.
|
Repetitive and boring or honest and hurts the feels?
I own a 13 wide glide... I've had a sportster back in Ny... Even had a suzuki marauder and DRZ enduro.
I don't pledge any allegiance to any particular bike brand or model.
They all have their ups and downs.
Can't deny Harley gets a lot of coin
For an image there are metric cruisers that offer better brakes, liquid cooling, and there's a few that allow for more sharper angles without having to relocate foot pegs and pipes for cornering.
Know what harley has that appeals to me?
A killer exhaust note when the stock system is replaced with short shots and a comfortable saddle and ride. Lots of low end torque to pull wheelies without having to wind it out and "clutch it up" however the factory cams profile doesn't allow for that baby to sing properly. Pulls like a freight train then becomes long winded. A set of cams fixes where it falls short and keeps it pulling HARD.
If someone wants to compete with Harley... Wouldn't be hard to do until Harley sues for exhaust note patent... They're that lame to sue for the exhaust note to suppress the market.
To compete with Harley
Better engine mounts that don't translate vibration throughout the frame causing mirrors to vibrate and wiggle about. Or develops oil leaks.
A pushrod engine that has the low end grunt to get up and go, and keeps on pulling into 6-7000rpm.
Liquid Cooling.
Better brakes.
Stouter forks. With fork seals that don't leak like a sieve...
A solid crank assembly (look at Ducati) not pressed counter weights (flywheels) to a pin.
Gear driven cam system. (Despite getting the tensioner issue solved that plagued the 88 twin cam, gear driven is superior even run gear drives in my stock car race engines)
Adjustable rear suspension.
No goofy fairings, wind screens, and honkin saddle bags.
Some custom styling. Indians and Kawasaki vulcans with the whole retro thing...
Not my cup of tea. LOVE the sportster 72, the wideglide, and the street bob is alright. The dyna low rider S now that I like. Hammer bronze mag wheels, all black bike. That's sharp. Not gawdy/tacky flashy candy paint and chrome all over (chrome don't get ya home)
However that sportster 48, the street glides the heritages, the big balloon tires, fat white walls at that, the ridiculous fairings, audio systems, the paint matched hard bags or even the leather saddle bags, the metallic "custom" paint schemes... Doesn't do anything for me.
I'm not 50 suffering a mid life crisis and need a recliner with 2 wheels and storage out the wazoo to have a good time.
Sadly that's the crowd that keeps HD afloat. That's who they cater to. They're missing out big with their models and pricing. I'm not suggesting they end a product that clearly sells, however, If you believe a new wideglide is some sort of good investment at 18k new, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn for sale. One could argue the XL1200R cafe styled sportster for younger crowd, but did you see the price of it? For that money, you'd get a lot more bike in a Ducati.
Make a bike that appeals to the 20-35 year old crowd (not that poor attempt with the street series either) that not only looks mean, but has great performance price it 6-10k they'd sell like hot cakes. Theres no value in Sportsters or streets. Can snag a used bike year old say a sportster 1200 custom or Low for 6k on a bike that a year and 3k miles ago was brand new in a show room for 10-12k...
A windy road, 70s chopper-esque styling (skinny tires mini ape hangers or narrow drag bars) a set of cams and pipes... Ohh yeah.
Again the Victorys all felt bulky to me. Not a fan of big wide honkin fuel tanks, fat tires and fat fenders. Having legs spread somewhat more than the sportster and even the wide glide saddle wasn't comfortable for me, more than an hour or 2 like that and my hips began to hurt. I don't like being spread eagle on a bike... I like a more narrow saddle profile. Some HD models and some metric cruisers offer that.
Victorys turned me off with the inflated tank, wrap around bars, fat tires. Was like a pro drag styled bike started then took a nose dive stage left. The 8 ball, again too bulky.
Definitely didn't care for Victorys stock handle bars either. I like to stretch out straight and up some, not look like I'm about to high speed bear hug someone with those beach cruiser styled bars. The best bike for this was an older friends American Ironhorse Texas/tejas whatever, had the long skinny tank raked out front end. That sucker you were stretched out! And if you rode it hard you had to yank that baby down to go fast into corners. Couldn't go too crazy as the pegs would drag. But the custom pipes that were on it were nowhere near the ground. Pegs shifter and rear brake were to be raised a couple inches and you'd probably be able to lay it more into a corner. But choppers aren't meant for that... Clearly.
Then again growing up on dirtbikes I love having that kind of reach. Have often contemplated putting Renthals on the sportster I owned.
The gold wing isn't a cruiser. Gold wing/aspencade is a touring bike swing your leg over and go from Maine to California only to have to stop for potty breaks and gas. Those baby's are hefty in price and hefty if you manage to drop it. My father had 3 of those things... That's The Cadillac of bikes. In the sense of ride and comfort. And price too...