Are there others in your Harley group who are as open to "ricers" as you are? Have you let others in your Harley group ride your 14? -bg

Bill, where I work everyone rides Harleys, I'm the only sportbike guy. There has been a lot of interest though when I show up on my CBR or ZX and our IT manager is looking at buying a rice rocket. These guys are all tech people and engineers and they are blown away by the incredible technology we get for 10 grand. Most of them dropped between 20 and 25K on their Harleys so they know what they're looking at. I have found, one ride on a ZX-14 and these guys are instant converts....major paradigm shift. They're used to machines that are in their "comfort zone" between 70 and 80 mph. The 14's performance envelope is mind boggling to these guys the first time they get on one. It's like getting out of a Curtiss Jenny biplane and strapping an F-22 Raptor to your butt. The difference in performance levels is almost that great.

Kruz

The 14's performance envelope is mind boggling to these guys the first time they get on one. It's like getting out of a Curtiss Jenny biplane and strapping an F-22 Raptor to your butt. The difference in performance levels is almost that great.

Ain't that the damn truth. Jeff's glyde is a 96 in that has no problem passing cars and runs down the interstate at 70 plus so he likes to have fun to. He rode the 14 around town and said that bike reminds you to keep the hand educated. That meant it would be real easy to go to jail without really trying. Very few get to ride it.
Anyway I enjoy riding different bikes just to see what they are like. Same with cars for me. I don't care if there is a whole in the floor a ft wide because it is still fun to laff about.
Later == Bobby

"I enjoy riding differnt bikes just to see what they are like".
I used to feel that way maybe ten years ago, now I enjoy my own rides and don't pay much attention to most "new" stuff, but, buying the ZX put me in a whole different place, now I really don't care about other bikes!

I just jumped over the fence (sorta) myself a few months back....though it was Green on both sides. Up until this spring I'd been riding a Kawy Vulcan 2000, as far as cruisers go it was the cats ass. 125cubes of thumping V-Twin, a real great cruiser to ride. Of course the majority of the sheep in my area thought I was riding a Victory (cause "Vulcan" somehow reads like "Victory" it seems), most other sheeple were thoroughly confused by the "2000" on the intake. "Oh, it's a 2000" they would say, "So, a Japo bike huh, and that is when it was made....maybe one day you'll get a real bike"......"No" I'd comment, "2000 as in 2000cc...as in 125 cubic inches......you know about 1 and a half times larger than your bike over there"
Point being I got used to being thought of as somehow somthing less, for having less of a bike because it was not made in Milwakee a long time ago. I couldn't have cared less back then what "they" thought, and certainly don't have the time now for anyone who judges me based on what I ride.
At least now that I'm riding the 14, they don't start to wave then pull it back when they realize I'm not riding a HOG.....they just don't wave at all. If it didn't seem so funny, I'd swear a few of them wanted to turn around, follow me on my old Kawy Cruiser and tell me they wanted their wave back becuase they made a mistake waving at Jap bike.

As far as style go, it's a whole different world. I have respect for anyone who rides any bike for themselves. I enjoyed riding the Vulcan 2000 a whole bunch, and may well buy one again sometime down the road.......but for pure exhiliration, and a true riding experiance i'm finding it hard to beat this new ZX14.

Doesn't matter wether I'm on the "cruiser" or the ZX, I've had fifty years of waving and I'm tired of it. I don't care why anyone rides, what they ride, where they ride, who they are riding with or for any other reason. I guess that makes me an old curmudgeon and I don't care about that either. Let the sheep wave at each other my arm doesn't get tired on the handgrip of the left side of my handlebar.

* Last updated by: motomi1 on 5/21/2009 @ 4:00 PM *

I'd swear a few of them wanted to turn around, follow me on my old Kawy Cruiser and tell me they wanted their wave back becuase they made a mistake waving at Jap bike.

Hahahah, that's rich....

I don't care why anyone rides, what they ride, where they ride, who they are riding with or for any other reason. I guess that makes me an old curmudgeon and I don't care about that either.

I agree!

Kruz

I just came back from lunch and someone told me if I sold all three of my bikes I could afford to buy a Harley. That was the best reason I've heard yet not to buy one!

Kruz

* Last updated by: Kruz on 5/22/2009 @ 2:46 PM *

Latest report on Harley. I was told yesterday Harley dealers are not being allowed to cut prices during the recession to move bikes like everyone else in the entire world is doing, they want to keep the prices sky high. They've piled up so bad at one local dealership they have no room to take on anymore. I gotta feeling a lot of those multi-million dollar "boutique" Harley buildings will be vacant before too long. You can't pay the rent if you're not moving machines off the floor and you can't move machines if they're way overpriced and nobody has any money ....or credit. Lotsa luck Harley-Davidson, you're gonna need it!

Kruz

* Last updated by: Kruz on 5/22/2009 @ 2:32 PM *

It seems Harley management team has missed Principles of Capitalism 101. Perhaps they did not make it to the class due to breakdown on the road while riding to school

* Last updated by: Steven14 on 5/22/2009 @ 3:12 PM *

I read this morning Harley-Davidson wants to attract a younger customer base by building sport bikes in the future. That means they won't be able to hide behind the "Nostalgia Movement" anymore where stone age performance can be spun off as "classic design" and they'll actually have to start building something that can compete head to head with the Japanese. I remember the last time they tried somethng like this was with the disastrous Harley Baja dirt bike. Can you imagine what a load of crap a Harley sport bike would be? I can picture these guys crouched over the bars with their flat black half shell helmets and wallet chains flapping in the breeze. I'd laugh if it didn't make me feel like cryin!

Oh, please don't bring up Buell or I'll puke in your cornflakes next time I see you!

Kruz

* Last updated by: Kruz on 5/22/2009 @ 2:49 PM *

New Buell's might not be half bad now that HD isn't making the motors.

I don't get the Harley guys, probably never will. Some are decent and wave, most are ignorant pricks that act like you are sacrificing Americana for riding a Japanese motorcycle...and the majority have obviously little properl riding experience and I bet 99% have never taken a safety course based on how they ride.

about half of them have an IQ close to goverment check territory

Hey all take a read the next time your at the news stand "rider mag. June 09, page 98" on the front cover "Harley's New Corner Carver 2009 Sportster XR1200" lol lol

I don't bash all harley riders. Just the ones that talk shit. Remember they are called cruisers for a reason, just like the 14 and hayabusa are called hypersports. Oh and we can't forget the bavarian hypersport k1300.

I think they hate to be bested because to most of them the Harley is a status symbol and then when we thrash the hell out of their bike what can they do but be pissed at every sportbike on the road. It seems to have the same effect on the BMW (cars only) drivers I pass that can't catch me. I do love it when their women looks at the bike and want to talk about it. Lats time I was coming out of a Hooters with a friend who rides an Aprilia after a long day of twisty riding. All the hard belly scooter trash girls were looking at our two bikes and asking the usual “How fast is it? , What kind of bike is that? , ect. , you could tell it just pissed-off most of the herd . You have to love that.

"Lots of noise coming out of his pipes but no perceptible increase in speed".
Yep. That's a Harley all right.
I "met" a similar guy and his wife who were on their Harley while I was up north. I was riding with a Kaw'ZRX1200. We were up in the wide open area of the 395 above Lee Vining and came up behind them. They were going about 80 but we passed them (politely). I pulled away from the ZRX for a short distance but noticed the Harley sped up to re-pass the ZRX. My friend didn't want to prove anything so he let him pass. I watched in the mirror as the Harley got up to just under 100 and he intended to pass me too. Now I know it's not sporting to play with this old fart but he had it coming with that attitude he showed.
He got fairly close behind me and then I just rolled it to about 130, hesitated a few moments, then rolled it to 160 and cruised for several seconds. I couldn't tell you what went through his brain but it wasn't what he wanted to see. He'll have to find another way to impress his old lady.
Later on at a rest point, my friend on the ZRX said the old lady actually flipped him off as they passed him. Seems the idiot on the Harley got a little close when passing but (I guess) the old lady felt the ZRX caused the two bikes to come too close. I know it was the Harley's fault though. I know the guy on the ZRX and he wouldn't ride recklessly like that.

I meant to mention something else that happened on that trip, though I suppose you'd have had to have been there.
We stopped to get gas in Lee Vining and the place was absolutely packed with Harleys. Probably 40 of them. I went in to pay and when I came out a couple of them were checking out my bike. I was about to say something but the one guy caught my eye and something about him stopped me from even saying hello. Weird feeling and I'm not like that.
As I started up and left, there were so many bikes and there was just this tight passage to get to the street. I had to do a full turn and I had to go slow so I kept one foot near the ground as I went through. Everyone seemed to be staring at me as I went through. It was like some kind of gauntlet thing, I swear! Part of it could be just in my head but I really felt some disdain or something coming from them. But I also look back at it and know that at least a few of them had some respect for my bike. They'd heard about the 14 and some of them may not have even seen one yet.
Before that day I never paid much attention to the "Harley vs the Jap bike" thing but at that moment I felt a true division. Like the choice of what I want to ride makes me someone they decide to look down on.
Hard to understand.

"Kruz: "This entire Harley-Davidson phenomenon would make a fascinating case study for someones doctoral thesis in clinical psychology."

I am idling around a few websites that tolerate me. But this one Harley site was a bunch of guys with dead posts and really, not moving. I make it more like I am riding the 14 and step the throttle up. They think I am crying and call me the cry baby.

Did I start in on me? I just answered a generic and not a specific answer. The thing was, I more lived the era.
This guy is looking in a book to tell me different.

That is when I land that handicap sign in there is get on your H-D and step out of the kitty litter box you keep playing in and lets do some top end tear down.

I have no clue who I am talking to on the net. I am answering a tech question my way. OH, but he can chrome the shit out of his bike...... I cannot type for my life is need a dick shun fairy tail is whip my ass is grass I have to pull my dipstick out is whip it out like there is some kind of pull my finger is stretch that dildo any farther for whatever their hang up is...

It sure is not the streamers off the end of their handlebar is an updated Pee WEe Machine wit sprinkles.
How do you think?

* Last updated by: Hub on 5/25/2009 @ 10:20 AM *

I belong to a riding club which is 99.99% cruisers and tourers. My ZX-14 is the .01% to make 100%.

I usually ride at the back, or near it, when we do club rides (some of them are 2 and 3 day affairs). Mostly because I enjoy goofing off and watching what they do in the long string in front of me.

So as an example, I got to see a full on panic braking event a couple rides ago, and though it could have been disasterous, it turned out just fine.

Besides, if I was near the front, I'd end up passing and since I never really know where we are going, that wouldn't work. Heh.

Anyway, to the point of HDs. We have a bunch. From 883 Sporties up to one FL with an S&S 210 HP mill in it. Last ride, he rode trail, with me in front of him. He liked to gun it when we made turns onto rural highways and got a little behind the bikes ahead due to traffic, and crowd me slightly. Nothing unsafe, just letting me know he was there.

Anyway, one stop sign we were turning left onto a long straight good surface rural road, and I had to wait for 5 cages to roll past before I could pull out and turn. When I did, I lit her up, leaned her over, and damn near dragged knee making the turn. Drifted close to the outside white lane line, then she stood up and before I knew it hit 120 and had to brake to tuck in behind my leader bike without scaring them.

Mr. Big Bad S&S Motor was way behind. When push came to shove, my 190-some horsepower blew his 210 away. Through in a couple more turns and it would have been hasta la vista bye bye completely.

But it was all fun. At the next gas stop, I heard him telling another HD rider, "Harley should make bikes with inline 4 cylinders, they make power quicker and longer."

Hey, he said it, not me.

* Last updated by: privateer on 5/25/2009 @ 4:38 PM *

Lets all be honest here. We all have been on a bike, in a car or some other mode of transportation with a motor,
when someone came along in something faster or that sounded good.
All of a sudden there is a little voice (I hear voices all the time!) that says show em what you've got!
That is ego my friend. We all have one, Mine's bigger than yours,Faster than yours,better looking, whatever.
That is your inner child. And anyone willing to get on a bike for the pure pleasure of riding and enjoying the sport
with all the treatury awaiting around every corner, has a big kid in him or her SCREAMING let me play!!
So with that said, it would benefit all bikers in every sector to be nice to one anouther and remember that we all are in an exclusive brotherhood whose numbers are growing daily. So what if some of those panty waisted dudes don't have the kahunas to get on a 14 or other sport bike. Big deal, "they could have a heart condition, weak bladder, poor throttle control, or just like to cruise and hang with their bitch. Isn't it great to live in a country where so many have given so much to ensure that we have the freedom to choose. Now if we could just get the speed limit increased a notch or two. ?!!?

I love a good Harley bashing session as much as the next guy. Bottom line though, they are basically conforming to an idea and its their comfort level. You must realize that riding a 14 can be very intimidating. I think we can consider ourselves as part of an elite (or unique) group of riders. Dropping the Harley hype & BS I dig anyone on 2 wheels. And I love blowing by any of them.
Up here in No. California I wave to all other bikes, and they all wave back. I even wave to scooters but most of them haven't figured it out yet. They seem to be concentrating on not falling over.

Oh Lytnin, the latest MC magazine calls the K1300GT " a good bike for adult riders." That leaves me out!

Oh Lytnin, the latest MC magazine calls the K1300GT " a good bike for adult riders." That leaves me out!

Hi Sharkey, I must be getting old because even my KGT1300 scares me sometimes. The ninja really scares me so I took off the ninja stickers and now it is just an old mans cruiser. It is just a ZX14 and not a ninja no more.

I almost forgot to add we have a scooter rider in another building that has the bar tassles, chaps, vest and the almost half helmet with a hundred stickers on it.
He has my respect..................