Bobby, it is guys like you that make those guys try guys like me LOL. I have a couple of vs HD stories but looking back, I am a little ashamed of my actions LOL.. so how about a pic from the 60s just to prove I have a lil experience riding the HDS..

I am on hte HD.. that would be the gold one for you guys that dont recognize an old Harley..;)

No helmet cause they had not been invented yet...

* Last updated by: chrly on 5/2/2016 @ 7:28 PM *

cool bike but not a good choice for racing a Ninja!

must admit, racing a fast bike on the street is scary. It's not over so quick and easy.

So here's my question: Why do they even try ??? -bg

Here's my take on the subject, HD riders have so convinced themselves of the superiority of The Motor Company's products they believe the marketing hype even when reality suggests that Harleys are woefully inadequate in almost every measurable area of dynamic performance. The Harley is a nice bike for what it is, an anachronistic throwback, overweight, seriously underpowered and suffering from marginal brakes and handling. It works well enough for a pleasant, leisurely pace or parked out front of Hooters on Bike Night but that's about it. A buddy of mine had two Harleys when I lived in San Antonio years ago, he sold them both and bought a ZX-14 right after I bought mine back in '06. He said the ZX-14 lived in a different performance universe but had to experience it to understand. He had to finally sell the 14 because in his own words, he "couldn't stay out of trouble on it:, was doing 130 mph on the freeway exit ramps on a regular basis.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 5/4/2016 @ 12:39 PM *

Harley Davidson- hands down the most efficient way of converting gasoline to noise with the byproduct of horsepower.

Yes, I'd take one though. ....just to round out a nice collection. Actually, I'd take an Indian or an old Kawasaaki Vulcan drifter which looks so much like an Indian, they had to stop making it (so I had been told). There are a lot of sportikes I'd have to own first though. That's where my taste lies and I love the performance aspect as well.

Favorite topic...used to think it was just Harleys that would not pull out of the way, mainly due to the macho thought of, "I can't let my brothers ahead see someone passing me, crap"...then on the Laguna Seca trips up to Monterey on Hwy 1, I noticed that the BMW guys (generally better faster riders and bikes than Harleys anyway, but also utterly incapable of just moving over to let me by, probably b/c they are all secretly Prius driving safety nazis and feel their pace is the absolute fastest safe speed, ) and don't like to be passed either, but then in recent years, the flipping worst ones are the d-bags on sportbikes wearing leather vests and "prospect" patches for their "WhatTheF***Ever MC". I think a lot of these guys just start feeling competitive if someone faster shows up in their mirrors...if they even have mirrors. Sad to say that some of the WORST riders you'll ever see are these twats. My standard rule is I will give anyone 3 corners (after I see them notice me) to move over, and after that, the pass is coming. If someone is going faster than me, I try to be out of their way and waving them by before they even catch up to me...As motorcyclists, we of all people, should not be holding anyone up. It's bad enough we have to make aggressive passes on Winnebagos and cars, but to have to take dumb risks (tickets OR accidents) to pass a motorcycle that could just slide over in their lane and never see me again...arrrrrrrrrgh! Ok, rant over!

my new problem is coming up on a group of 14s on the twisties, i give them a couple of straights to pull away but then i just nip in mid turn and past them while the rider blinks! haha
ride safe guys, we are all in this together

+1000 for Timo,
I always pull to the side for a bike going faster than I am on that day. And I've had to just about go to Race Pace to get around some idiots that promptly blow several corners trying to stay ahead. I don't want anyone to crash trying to stay ahead of me but Jeez, just ride your own pace and let everyone else ride theirs.

Mad

A few years ago a Harley was in the next lane (on my right), and we were at a red light.
His lane was going to merge into my lane and go down to a single lane.
So when the light turned green he actually tried to get ahead of me.
He accelerated very hard, of course he had no chance, no chance at all; I easily got out in front of him
and stayed there til the 2 lanes merged down to 1 lane.
He was visibly angry, 'cause when we got to the next light,
I could see him "flipping" me off via my rear view mirror and I think I may have heard him screaming
obscenities as well!

Oh, I almost forgot, did I mention that I was in my Subaru XT Forester? . . . . . . . :)

LOL how did you find this thread? Yes I had a very similar situation happen a while back. I just rolled off when I saw his lane was merging but it was no contest.

Rook, how did I find this thread you ask?
Just looking around the site, and the title of this thread caught my eye.

For the record, my XT Forester surprises, if not outright embarrasses, a lot of other vehicles,
especially in the rain. (I love its AWD . . . . and its turbo!)
I don't "race", but I do accelerate up to the speed limit, maybe a little over, as quickly as I can.

However, when I am on my ZX-14, I ride real mellow.

"race",

did i hear "race"

Lol!

Hub???<~click

Don't know him but that's downhill too, so lots of brakes, back end breaks loose, he's working that pile because they do not steer as well as a _______ Fill in the blank (is any other bike).

Them days is obeer for me. And then again, a few weekends ago, I don't know if I'm pushing just to catch up, or the guy in back I just keep at bay in the mirror? I think I may be the oldest rider of the group. I'm last all the time and when I come around a corner, some have their helmets and jackets off already. Bunch of trackday regulars I'm dealing with. Borrowed someone's leathers and went out on the track after 32yrs. Started to learn the track and then got into that rhythm I used to know and now I know why they take off on me... That's a big helper getting that mindset back in shape.

Yeah, but what for? Those are boys with bank and can afford the equipment with warmers and all that. Nice hobby but I don't have to prove anything to myself anymore. Speaking about bank, that trackday ride I'm riding home from, it toned me up sorta speak with those few laps. I felt like 'race' all over again. I'm like Apo most of the time [me sitting on two tickets] and I see this new dealer tag for a license plate pass me. I see a slight 14R looking guy that went to the bank...

... Poor guy. I should apologize or call him chicken-I don't think I grew up yet. Stupid me is thinking, oh look a stocker.!

So I get my race face on.

Stupid me is never without 'RACE' in the head game.

I'm thinking easy pick'inns so I shoot over to his lane and line up next to him.

I give it the one half second she-doodles showing, we ready?

So I back off, look in the mirror, he's high tailing it to the other lanes and begins splitting lanes.

Poor guy. WOT was I thinking?

mighty impressive!

Wow!

You can take the man out of the race... but you can't take the race out of the man... or something like that.

My ride would have ended at the white mustang with the blonde book worm !!!!