Triumphrat

SpeedieGTI · 12-03-2012, 10:57 PM

But Harley's are hard core

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DUG · 12-04-2012, 12:00 AM

Hi
1983 HD FXST, started out great, made me feel free and easy on the great American Freedom Machine,

Kacked itself in a big way, four time's in 4,000ks, first time I had to get a mate with a ute and drive two hours to a shop, ended up they had to send it to Sydney at my expence cause nobody had the tools or knowledge. Did it three more time's before we parted company, kicking myself for trading my Commando!

1984 K100RS, I felt like a factory test rider, kept haveing to ride 3hrs to the dealer to get things fixed, I thought I would go with BMW for what I had presumed was german reliability.

Swore off buying new bikes, bought a busted arse 860GT Duke and restored it, never had a problem, and she went like a train on rails.

Just to prove that getting older hasn't really made me too much wiser, I've just not long sold a Roadking that I couldnt feel safe on, handled like a shopping trolly.

krap I'm getting all depressed, best take the Bonnie Wee Lass for a ride.

Cheers Doug

Boldor · 12-04-2012, 12:23 AM

Whaddayamean "west of great divide" DUG? Not Bathurst?

Night Train · 12-04-2012, 12:43 AM

I've been riding for quite some years and have had different bikes. I can truthfully say that they all were good bikes in their own way. I've had dirt bikes as a kid. As an adult, a Honda Magna VF700, Yamaha FJ1100, Honda Nighthawk 700, Suzuki SV1000 and the Speed Triple.

While I love my current bike, it's been a frustrating situation dealing with parts and dealer support. That part has taken away from my experience. However, it's my favorite of all of them.

If I was going to vote the most craptastic, it would have to be Harley. I'm not a Harley hater but for the money, it's really a ripoff. I can't stand when people ask, "do you ride a Harley?" I say "no". Then they say, "oh wow, that's such a great American bike. It's always from non riders or wannabes.

If I wanted to spend a lot of money on American, I'd probably buy a Motus.

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Kirkus51 · 12-04-2012, 01:17 AM

Ouch!! One of my favorite bikes was an 85 Harley FXRP. I bought it at the police auction in SoCal. Drove thousands of trouble free miles and the FXRP actually handled pretty well, a floorboard scraper (NYUK). Very comfortable. I knew that the original batch of CHP bikes were assembled in the race shop of Harley, so things were tweaked a bit, the Electronic ignition had higher revs, the heads were milled and a couple of other things I can't recall. A very good bike. When I had to sell it my brother bought it and has it to this day. Been in the family for 26 years.

I thought I wanted a cooking single so I bought an SR500 Yamaha. It was pretty much a piece of junk. Never could keep it running well.

I have a cousin who bought a Victory, I think it was a Vegas. Now that's a bike that $hits and gets. Very fast, but I was kinda put off by hearing the clunk in the tranny every time he shifted the thing. I don't think you're supposed to be able to hear the tranny shift 50ft away and in the wind.

jp99tbirdnm · 12-04-2012, 01:22 AM

I'm a Triumph owner/rider thru and thru. I've had a Triumph since the 70's. I love the make. BUT this Harley bashing isn't about the bikes but some of the owners. I've had my Sporty since 2005 and never one minutes trouble with it. C'mon guys get over the bashing.

LEE · 12-04-2012, 01:33 AM

These threads always seem to start out bad and get worse. If someone has a bike that puts a smile on their face and that they love to ride then so be it for them it is a good bike. Who cares if someone else does not like it.
The Rocket is a good example to some it is a beast and butt ugly , but I love it . I love the power and the way it handles for such a large bike. I could give a rat's arse what someone else thinks about it.
I suggest toning down the HD bashing before the thread gets censored or locked. Just some friendly advice.

spank86 · 12-04-2012, 04:29 AM

Where's HAP when we need him to rag on two strokes?

DUG · 12-04-2012, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkus51

having had lots of models of various brands that I thought I'd really like there were a few kraptastic ones in there that gave me grief and I unloaded ASAP then bought another one that I really liked and that one would be fantastic. Sell it for some reason and the next one I thought would be a good fit would be .... again .... a pretty unspectacular POS for me.

I'd meet other guys on the road and see what they had and I used to ride and they would be in love with the thing.. I'd think to myself what's to love, I had one and it ain't lovable for sure.

Of course there were times I'd be riding and hook up with a guy who had the bike I was on and we'd confab about what was great about that particular model.

But all in all there's all sorts of people out there with different tastes and loyalties. Even if they know they're riding a POS they won't let on because it's disloyal somehow.

C'mon guys. You know it's true. Any of us who have been riding for a few have bought bikes that weren't exactly our cup of tea.

lets hear what bike was a good fit for you and one you wish you'd never laid eyes on.

Hi Fella's
I was tellin a yarn about some of the not so flash experiance's I've encountered riding bike's for the last forty years.
I thought that was the theme of the thread?

Not my fault if a Harley was in there, I must like some thing about them, I bought another one 24 years later, that was my fault, I didnt do my home work, and you can't realy get a good idea from a test ride. There was a Beemer in the story too.

To be honest, I wish I had that softail in the back of the shed, chain drive, kick starter, carbie, 4 speed box, simpler motor.

As I said in another thread, if I had of been born rich instead of good lookin, I'd have a big shed with all the bikes I've owned.

Any way what is, is what is, on with the show.
PS: Hi Boldor, Pretty much west of Glen Innes, I move around a bit, prefer small rural towns, hate to live on the coast again. too much noise and humidity. Only bin to Bathhurst for the race's.
Cheers Doug

tubbyhubby · 12-04-2012, 05:45 AM

I have to second the VT 500 Ascot. Had one at 16, now realize how bad it was. I went on an 800+ mile round trip on mine. Was so saddlesore it wasn't funny.