Harley-Davidson goes woke

[84superchamp]

yes, the transmission is Baker 6-speed.

not planning any cross-country trips on it; mostly a boulevard cruiser, but downtown historic area roads have many cobblestones, and drainage channels...it's gonna be bumpy

I think I know now why cushioned seat pads are popular, why would an EG need even more cushion…it’s for hard tails.

Extended & raked forks; love the looks but I know they are dicey on turns, watched a rider fold his up just turning a corner in town, but wonder how stable they are at high speeds? I run 90-95 at some point on almost every ride, the thought of doing that on a raked and extended front end might not be possible?

 

[84superchamp]

Hey, maybe that’s why a guy needs at least 2 bikes!

 

[rsm]

I think I know now why cushioned seat pads are popular, why would an EG need even more cushion…it’s for hard tails.

Extended & raked forks; love the looks but I know they are dicey on turns, watched a rider fold his up just turning a corner in town, but wonder how stable they are at high speeds? I run 90-95 at some point on almost every ride, the thought of doing that on a raked and extended front end might not be possible?

straight line is fine, and gradual turns; you have to plan for wide turns; like anything else takes practice so you know the limits; being on this island, it's flat, and the roads are mostly in a grid pattern with only a few big curves, same with the nearby city on the coast. I'll stick to state highways and backroads, not in town or major highways for awhile.

back in the day I had a friend with an old panhead hardtail that he raked and stretched, and used drag bars which had little leverage. when the bike was stopped the front tire wanted to flip left or right, and moving it to center with those drag bars took physical effort. IDK how he rode it.

Another friend had an old stock hardtail, think it was another panhead, maybe a pan/shovel, he didn't rake or stretch it, but he had 24"+ ape hangers, with suicide clutch (left pedal is the clutch), and watching him ride was always enjoyable.

 

[84superchamp]

There’s an outlaw club in this area and a standard is those high ape hangers, smaller guys with short arms can barely reach them. That alone would discourage me from joining.

 

[harddriver]

straight line is fine, and gradual turns; you have to plan for wide turns; like anything else takes practice so you know the limits; being on this island, it's flat, and the roads are mostly in a grid pattern with only a few big curves, same with the nearby city on the coast. I'll stick to state highways and backroads, not in town or major highways for awhile.

back in the day I had a friend with an old panhead hardtail that he raked and stretched, and used drag bars which had little leverage. when the bike was stopped the front tire wanted to flip left or right, and moving it to center with those drag bars took physical effort. IDK how he rode it.

Another friend had an old stock hardtail, think it was another panhead, maybe a pan/shovel, he didn't rake or stretch it, but he had 24"+ ape hangers, with suicide clutch (left pedal is the clutch), and watching him ride was always enjoyable.

You'll get used to it... it isn't a huge deal once you get the feel of things. I used to drag my kickstand on left turns when I leaned it a little too much but that was about it...the chopper will be different with all that fork length.

My bass player loves his chopper, he takes it down to Daytona Beach bike week all the time, I think his is a softail model..

 

[harddriver]

There’s an outlaw club in this area and a standard is those high ape hangers, smaller guys with short arms can barely reach them. That alone would discourage me from joining.

Apes are actually quite comfortable for riding though, I was surprised when I tried some out on a buddies bike.

 

[84superchamp]

Apes are actually quite comfortable for riding though, I was surprised when I tried some out on a buddies bike.

Never tried them myself, they just looked uncomfortable (but cool). And now I’m too old to try anything out of my comfort zone on a bike.
Besides the regular gripes with HD, including new-found wokeness, I really hate the new style kickstands. My biggest complaint with the ‘22 ST, it folds up too easy and when putting it down you have to be absolutely sure it’s down and in place. And I think every large road bike has it.

 

[rsm]

Apes are actually quite comfortable for riding though, I was surprised when I tried some out on a buddies bike.

I had apes on my softail custom (drag pipes too), my hands were above my head; it was good to keep my back straight, and not be hunched over like I was with the stock bars, but my hands would go numb on long rides, so I'd end up riding one-handed, and tightened the throttle resistance so I could rest my right (throttle) hand.

 

[84superchamp]

I had apes on my softail custom (drag pipes too), my hands were above my head; it was good to keep my back straight, and not be hunched over like I was with the stock bars, but my hands would go numb on long rides, so I'd end up riding one-handed, and tightened the throttle resistance so I could rest my right (throttle) hand.

I never appreciated CC on a Harley until I got older…it isn’t a case of setting it and using it for miles and miles like a car. Set it long enough to get feeling back in your hand and kick it off again.

 

[rsm]

weak attempt, looks like smoke & mirrors, not much has been corrected or changed...just window dressing.

while the self proclaimed "Taliban" CEO, and woke executives and board members remain, nothing really changes, gaslighting effort as they will do more to hide their woke activities better.

 

[rsm]