Burn! (Harley Davidson)

[John Bell]

From Autoextremist.com:

"The Michigan State Police fleet of motorcycles just got upgraded, according to the Detroit Free Press. For the first time in its history, the State Police switched loyalties in April, purchasing nine German-made BMW R1200s. Why? According to State Police testing the BMW is faster, handles dramatically better, has more advanced safety features, and even costs $500 less. No surprise to serious bike enthusiasts and other police agencies who use them, but how much faster, exactly? The BMW went from 0-100 m.p.h. in less than 11 seconds, while the Harley achieved the same speed in a lethargic 31 seconds. Top speed of the BMW? 131 mph. The Harley? 104 mph. The biggest cut of all? A State Police analysis labeled the Harley as a "capable vehicle for parade and ceremonial use."

[PeterSibley]

Um....

[johnw]

Ouch.

Seems like the cops around here switched to Kawasaki bikes a couple decades ago.

[The Bigfella]

I bought a Harley so that I wouldn't ride hard.

11 seconds to 100 mph on the BMW? They've loaded them up with a whole heap of crap, have they?

[Waddie]

If they wanted power they should have bought Yamaha VMax..... here's mine....



regards,
Waddie

[PeterSibley]

It looks like a very powerful lounge chair Waddie.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I bought a Harley so that I wouldn't ride hard.

11 seconds to 100 mph on the BMW? They've loaded them up with a whole heap of crap, have they?

Yes, they have,no doubt radio. warning triangles and such, but can you really see a policeman on a Fireblade?

[The Bigfella]

Yes, they have,no doubt radio. warning triangles and such, but can you really see a policeman on a Fireblade?

I can indeed. A lot of the traffic cops like to buy a sportsbike for themselves. One killed himself on his S1000RR BMW near my place recently - a single vehicle accident. 200 hp on a bike can be "interesting".

[PeterSibley]

I can indeed. A lot of the traffic cops like to buy a sportsbike for themselves. One killed himself on his S1000RR BMW near my place recently - a single vehicle accident. 200 hp on a bike can be "interesting".

Probably exactly why they shouldn't.

[The Bigfella]

The looping on ramp to the freeway isn't the place to use that sort of power. If ever there's a place fraught with problems... that's it.

I looked at one of them in KL... an amazing machine. It'd have won many a GP not so many years ago

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Hmm, I think I will stick with fond memories of my old R100RT. Come to think of it a good many police forces used those...

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

....and on thinking further you had to change the front shocks and not put too much in the panniers or it acquired a tendency to weave at high speed...and never every enter a corner on a trailing throttle.... hmm.... maybe best left to memory.... but it was a wonderful machine in its day.

[P-man]

no fond memories of your Chang Jiang, Andrew?

[PeterSibley]

My R80 ST is quite pleasant, certainly not the kind of bike to make Ian smile but quite quick enough for me .

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

no fond memories of your Chang Jiang, Andrew?

Ahh, the ChangJiang...

Well, very high marks for style. Nice soft flathead engine, never any danger of breaking your leg with the kick start, had about 27hp iirc. Tickle carburettor, plunger rear, separate saddles.

Electrics useless in rain, but it does not often rain in Beijing.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I hadn't finished... brakes useless at ALL TIMES (drum, single leading shoe and just too small!)

I amazed my Chinese friends by adding a sidecar brake, in the English manner.

Good for 50mph on the flat, rather less with four people aboard as we often did...

Yes, I liked it. Only tried it as a solo ONCE - scared the living daylights out of me!

[Nicholas Scheuer]

I thought SERIOUS Police rode Moto Guzzi.

[John Bell]

I'll never have a motorcycle if I want to remain married, but I am strongly on the record as hating Harleys.

Many of the guys I know who have them spend their time riding them to various H-D stores around the state to buy more H-D branded items of clothing. They all wind up looking like they belong the Hell's Actuaries MC.

The bit from Autoextremist.com confirmed my suspicions that H-Ds are only for poseurs and wannabes. Now I've got to figure out a way to get some of my friends who are otherwise good people to give up their embarassing brand loyalty to bikes from Milwaukee.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

Harleys are toys, John, just like wooden boats.

[Paul Pless]

Many of the guys I know who have them spend their time riding them to various H-D stores around the state to buy more H-D branded items of clothing. They all wind up looking like they belong the Hell's Actuaries MC.

So you know I live in one of the greatest biker 'destinations' in the U.S. right? In Hell there is a well known biker bar - never mind that mountain biking and hiking and horseback riding trails all have a terminus at the bar's bike door. Or that kayakers show up too as Hell Creek flows within 50 feet of the bar's outdoor stage. And there's hitching posts for horses as well. Lots of kickass cars and hotrodders show up too. So we often go there on weekends to 'people watch'. Its great.*

Also in Hell is a Hell's Angel's Motorcycle club.

So on any weekend when the weather is decent, I see about 1,000 or more motorcycles. About half of them are Harleys. And I get what you're saying. But you want to know who the absolute worst posers are? BMW riders. I always get a chuckle out of the weekend warriors that show up decked out in $2 or $3 thousand dollars of Motorad gear on a frikking spotless GS, that has many thousands of dollars of accesories. Its funny as Hell.

[John Bell]

I'd hate H-Ds a lot less if it wasn't apparently compulsory to immediately replace the stock exhaust system with straight pipes when you take delivery of new bike. And I might feel different about that if they sounded good, but what an ugly sound! (This is from a guy who rolls down his window when a V-8 Ferrari, V-10 Gallardo, or V-12 Aston Martin comes by in the interstate. I love a good engine note.)

[The Bigfella]

Its even more so in Malaysia and Thailand btw - lotsa farkled BMW GSs that never see dirt.

[Paul Pless]

otsa farkled BMW GSs that never see dirt.

You know what, they're actually pretty good street bikes, but why all the offroad gear and clothing, if your bike never ever leaves the asphalt? I'd like to see just once, a modern GS stripped of some of its weight, rigged for the street, with decent pavement tires and such.

[Garret]

I live on one of the major bike destination roads in VT. The worst are the boy racers on their crotch rockets, as they go up & down, up & down the mountain. The Harley riders tend to cruise through - though the "loud pipes save lives" crowd can get annoying. I like the bimmers 'cause they're quiet. The Ducati guys are just plain insane (120+ in a 40 zone) - but at least their bikes sound OK.

I love the "Hell's Actuaries MC" - what a perfect description of the wannabees. Yes, the bimmer guys with all the entertaining (& perfect) accessorizing are entertaining too.

I recently saw one of the "new" Royal Enfield Bullets. Fuel injected! Very strange seeing an injector bolted on where an Amal should be. I mention it because HD's are about the same vintage technology - though vastly more expensive.

[The Bigfella]

Yeah, I know... I was thinking of getting one... and I would probably have bought a HP2 if one'd been on the market at the time I was buying... but even the guys who have them throw the same front forks on them as the KTM if they want to get serious in the dirt. Don't underestimate what you can do on knobbies, btw. I went through some twisties yesterday, fully loaded and was having a LOT of fun.

People knock KTMs for reliability... but its been GS's I've seen going home on trailers... with busted off fuel injection fittings etc. Says he, crossing his fingers.

[The Bigfella]

I'm a convert to the loud pipes save lives mob. I've got a lot of speed differential happening... and I see people hearing me as I approach... so I know they won't peel off across the road in front of me or something similar.

I got pulled over at a corruption stop yesterday.... and the cop just looked at the bike, smiled and waved me through

[doorstop]

I enjoyed my Harley, sorted the suspension, the brakes were adequate, it was very comfortable. ( No dopey highway peg, apehanger bulldust). When it got to be like my dog( enjoyed aride home on the back of the ute) I moved it on. It was bought by a wannabe wanker who totalled both it and himself inside of 3 weeks....
My girlfriends' little 695 Monster is just about one of the nicest bikes I have ridden. Plenty of grunt, stops on a 2 bob bit and handles beautifully.

[The Bigfella]

Geez mate - haven't seen you for a while.. How's things?

Those Ducatis, btw... seem to be built for midgets. I stood over a couple in the bikeshop in KL... and there's no way I could ride one... sorta like a roller coaster stuck in me bum crack.

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

If they wanted power they should have bought Yamaha VMax..... here's mine....



regards,
Waddie

Time to upgrade old timer!
All the current crop of superbikes turn the quarter mile in over 140 MPH and in less than 10 seconds.
And several of them only have two cylinders.
The king of the hill is the BMW S1000RR with 185 HP, 9.78 sec. @ 153 MPH in the quarter. Top speed 185 MPH which can be yours for only $16,500. And it get 34 MPG to boot!

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

I'll never have a motorcycle if I want to remain married, but I am strongly on the record as hating Harleys.

Many of the guys I know who have them spend their time riding them to various H-D stores around the state to buy more H-D branded items of clothing. They all wind up looking like they belong the Hell's Actuaries MC.

The bit from Autoextremist.com confirmed my suspicions that H-Ds are only for poseurs and wannabes. Now I've got to figure out a way to get some of my friends who are otherwise good people to give up their embarassing brand loyalty to bikes from Milwaukee.

Harleys are fashion items not a mode of transport.

[jonboy]

Well said bigfella...I got rid of a nice Guzzi because it was too small and gave me cramp in the hips Current rides are a 25 year old K100 RS and a 1200 sportster that I stuck on a GSXR twin disc upside down front end and a Yamaha monoshock rear end... had fun getting the rear wheel off the GSXR to fit and swap the belt drive for the disc etc.... and 'now where do I put the oil tank' sort of problems.... And thats why I like HDs... Take em to bits with a monkey wrench and a club hammer... can't even change the oil filter on the BM without a special tool....and 'don't like it change' it is utterly impossible with the K.
And tell me this bikeheads, the K100 does 4500revs at 70 mph ...and as you can't change the gearing I'm stuck with 50mpg on a fast cruise...It might not be the torqueist motor but a 1000cc lump pushes 'er indoors's hyundai car along at that speed and 3k revs. Surely the K could do that and I'd use half the gas.... I am always stabbing for another gear at about 60...

But I did do London to Lisbon 2000kms 1300 ml in about 14 hours... over two days.....The reason I didn't do it on the sportster was the fairing and luggage capability of the BMW. absolutely no doubt the sporty would have done it but I'd have been in bits... I ain't 17 anymore

So the HD stays for the quick sunday thrash and the oh so boring bm stays for the tours. If I had to choose between the two,, definitely the sportster would win...and as they said years ago 'if I had to explain you wouldn't understand'
And another thing about Harleys is resale value
Ibought a two year old superglide in '76 for the price of two new Honda 750-4s, my mates thought I was mad... sold it in 1980 for 1000 more than I paid, and the Hondas would have probably been in a skip by then.
I sold a 64 duo glide I bought in '86, for £3000 twenty years later and used all the time, for a brand new Yamaha fourstoke outboard and the used sportster with money to spare. The yamaha is ok but old ( 5years, 500 hours) and worth a fifth what I paid, I'd get more than I paid for the sportster and some if I sold it today. But at the end of the day it's all amatter of opinion...

[Waddie]

Time to upgrade old timer!
All the current crop of superbikes turn the quarter mile in over 140 MPH and in less than 10 seconds.
And several of them only have two cylinders.
The king of the hill is the BMW S1000RR with 185 HP, 9.78 sec. @ 153 MPH in the quarter. Top speed 185 MPH which can be yours for only $16,500. And it get 34 MPG to boot!

But they don't have V-Boost..... which is like hitting a supercharger !!! And yeah, it's comfortable enough to cruise all day on. Just one problem -- rear tires only last about three thousand miles....I can't figure out why ????

regards,
Waddie

[Lew Barrett]

You know what, they're actually pretty good street bikes, but why all the offroad gear and clothing, if your bike never ever leaves the asphalt? I'd like to see just once, a modern GS stripped of some of its weight, rigged for the street, with decent pavement tires and such.

I rode a new GS Adventure at the local dealer's shop this Saturday as I am in the market. They didn't have a "standard" demo for me and would have had to break out a new bike, which they were willing to do. I reckoned I would get a basic sense from the Adventure and I did, but I wouldn't need or want one of those. The standard GS is more my style because, indeed, I would be buying it for street use. The only thing the Adventure has that I might find useful is extra tankage.

My impressions: The ESA is brilliant and the new twin cam motor is a world apart from what I was used to on my 1150. But at 5-11, I could not flatfoot the bike. Once rolling, the bike handled and moved like a dream. Rock steady in sweepers, the new motor is significanty more powerful and smoother than the older 4 valve, the brakes are excellent and the overall sense of security and comfort is sublime.

I would want a standard GS with ESA, ASC and ABS, and I could even do with cast wheels, although I didn't see a single machine on their floor that didn't have BMW's tubeless spoked rims. The standard is a whopping 60 pounds lighter and just enough lower that I can easily flatfoot it. It will be a better machine all around. I am also looking at the K1300S but I didn't ride it Saturday. I expect the K bike is what the cops are looking at, but really, any new BMW twin will have all the performance any sane rider could use. Amazingly, the K bike is cheaper than the GS.

Why a GS? The highest load capacity of just about any bike on the market, a great two up machine, good integrated luggage, and decent resale value, coupled with handling that belies the looks; it is a great alternate take on the a long distance tourer. At 60 pounds lighter, the standard is probably better on the kind of fire roads that would represent my most aggressive off road use, not to mention a lot handier and......faster. My brief is very common although you'd be amazed at hoe many guys take their huge and cumbersome Adventures off road around here.

The Tourances and similar tires a standard GS usually comes with make remarkably good road tires. They last pretty well, have good wet and dry grip and generally work better than you'd think. They are not off road tires, but I have had good luck with them even when riding aggressively. The dealer insists that the wire wheels (a $200 option that is really not an option....they all have them) are more in demand and are a plus when you sell. OK, small potatoes on a bike that costs the better part of $20K new.

Long posts are easy to gloss over. If you only skim mine, then just read this:

As for how BMW riders dress, I think it's smart to buy great gear that is comfortable, versatile, protective, durable and fits well. I don't own much Motorad gear except for some boots, which are excellent. And because they come in widths, they fit me well. I have had one pair of BMW boots (Sidis?) for over ten years and they are still serviceable, water tight and they even breathe well. That made their $350 purchase price a bargain as far as I am concerned. My Arai lid goes for about $500, the Held gloves were $140 and my Vanson kit was over $1000. I have a perfed Vanson jacket as well as some cheaper First gear summer duds and all told yeah, I've easily got $2500 or more into my technical clothing. But then, my Vanson gear still looks new, fits amazingly, and with the addition of new armor a couple of years ago provides fine protection. All ten or dozen years old. An Aerostitch will do about the same; virtually last for ever, and the BMW gear, even though it is crazy expensive, is also in that league.

Compare to your typical Harley rider: a thirty dollar helmet shell with a one dollar DOT sticker, chaps over jeans so if he does spill, all he has is his lard ass and pin on pony tail to cushion the blow. If he's lucky, maybe he will land on top of his girlfriend who, in shorts, Cleopatra lace up sandals and a tank top, provides all the "leather" that is needed to skid down the road in a flurry of red mist. Unlike the bike itself, which is usually bedecked with a grim set of $900 open pipes, a set of tassels on the bar ends for whipping your un-gloved (or open fingered gloved) wrists at speed, chromed $300 Kuryakyn axle spindle caps with $900 matching billet floorboard edges and contrasting Skeletor triple clamp accessories, the Harley rider is well prepared for a dazzling entrance, but not well equipped for life's little surprises. The BMW rider will at least be protected when he tips over in the parking lot at the local California Pizza Kitchen. The BMW rider will probably be sober at 2:00 PM as well.

The BMW thang may be as much a cult as the Harley thang, but at least it's a cult biased towards reasonably sound practice and with a pretense of going distance. The Harley thing eludes me, always has.

I'll also be checking out a Multistrada (talk about cults!)

I have a lot of test riding to do and I may look at a Tiger or two as well, but the standard GS in it's latest guise seems like an amazingly good all purpose tourer. I will be shopping for used late model machine and if it's a BMW, it's gonna have the twin cam motor. A 2009 or similar K1300 is a compelling deal; depreciate faster than a GS, but I may be too conservative at this point for 150 rear wheel.

Ian; I have not heard that the GSs have been other than stone solid. I would not buy one for off-road. How all the electronics work in ten years is a good question, and servicing them is certainly beyond my interest, but man, they do work well. Y

[John Bell]

I'm a convert to the loud pipes save lives mob. I've got a lot of speed differential happening... and I see people hearing me as I approach... so I know they won't peel off across the road in front of me or something similar.

I'd buy this argument if it wasn't for the Doppler effect. Inside my car with windows up and the radio at a conversational level I can barely hear them coming toward me or up from behind. I think the effect is more pronounced at higher speeds, too. So there's really no benefit there. Once they go past, that's when they are unbelievably loud. Loud pipes might save a pedestrian from jumping in front of you, but I doubt they are worth that much around enclosed cars. YMMV.

[Lew Barrett]

There's loud pipes, and then there's loud pipes. Straight through on a Harley is just too freakin' stupid. The guys riding those things; no earplugs, no protection. They are gonna be sorry some day, while we only have to endure it "in passing." I don't mind a tuned sound a few dB higher but the "loud pipes save lives) deal is a justification in most cases. If they were interested in saving their lives, they wouldn't ride in beanies, chaps and wife beaters. Super lame.

Ian, I can see from how you are equipped that it is not your style. By the way, I have rarely owned a bike that didn't get some sort of exhaust mod, but I always retain baffles.

[MiddleAgesMan]

....Compare to your typical Harley rider: a thirty dollar helmet shell with a one dollar DOT sticker, chaps over jeans so if he does spill, all he has is his lard ass and pin on pony tail to cushion the blow. If he's lucky, maybe he will land on top of his girlfriend who, in shorts, Cleopatra lace up sandals and a tank top, provides all the "leather" that is needed to skid down the road in a flurry of red mist....

I do believe those are the funniest two sentences--and true!--I've ever read on the WBF.

Thanks for the laugh, Lew.

[Lew Barrett]

You are welcome, my friend! I have more!

[jack grebe]

Bust on the HD riders all you want, But what would be the purpose
of owning a Harley if you"re not going to dress up in costumes every
weekend, just to ride down the street to the local bar, drink too
much, and act stupid?

[Garret]

I do believe those are the funniest two sentences--and true!--I've ever read on the WBF.

Thanks for the laugh, Lew.

It was a particularly vivid (as well as accurate & funny) description. However, you're forgetting how much their ladies like the chaps. Oh wait - that's when there isn't anything under them....

[PeterSibley]

I enjoyed my Harley, sorted the suspension, the brakes were adequate, it was very comfortable. ( No dopey highway peg, apehanger bulldust). When it got to be like my dog( enjoyed aride home on the back of the ute) I moved it on. It was bought by a wannabe wanker who totalled both it and himself inside of 3 weeks....
My girlfriends' little 695 Monster is just about one of the nicest bikes I have ridden. Plenty of grunt, stops on a 2 bob bit and handles beautifully.

+1 An amazing little bike, not the quickest but one of the best .

[Lew Barrett]

+1 An amazing little bike, not the quickest but one of the best .

My wife's 626 is the immediate predecessor. Great fun to ride, I rode it more than she did, but it's a tight fit. It is really a superior basic experience, sort of the M/C equivalent to a Miata or Honda 2000, but with the bling of a Ducati, although her Dark was really a basic ride, not at all fancy. The bike recalls the vintage experience of a good old fashioned machine but with superior modern performance and brakes. Great motorcycle, really Ducai's best deal by far. So very easy to ride and so light feeling, but with enough scoot to feel well in control. Elemental, tasty and remarkably easy to live with for a Ducati.

[pipefitter]

So what bike crowd is the proper one these days. They're all embarrassingly scream either testosterone imbalance or mid-life crisis.

It's not just motorcycles, it's fishing/boating as well. I didn't know that to be considered a good fisherman, I would need a pair of Costa Del Mar shades and a NASCAR shirt.

I have friends with 80 mph boats. They can use it for sprints in a straight line and not feel the least bit foolish with snot allover their face and the fuel bill and bragging rights that occur at approximately $5k per extra 1mph over the last 'greatest thing' they just had to own to be a member of club cool.

They've added club membership association to everything fun, including redneckdom. Shows what a bunch of geeks the tech age really has made of just about everyone. . .except me.

[jsjpd1]

Fun thread, kinda reminds me of a bunch of fiberglass boat guys talking about how they wouldn't be caught dead with a wooden boat.

For the record, my wife's pretty certain lingerie is not riding gear, the helmets are real, and we'd much rather be riding than hanging out in a bar.



Carry on.

Jim

[Garret]

Fun thread, kinda reminds me of a bunch of fiberglass boat guys talking about how they wouldn't be caught dead with a wooden boat.

For the record, my wife's pretty certain lingerie is not riding gear, the helmets are real, and we'd much rather be riding than hanging out in a bar.

Carry on.

Jim

I've been waiting for a post like this. Gotta love this forum!

[PeterSibley]

My wife's 626 is the immediate predecessor. Great fun to ride, I rode it more than she did, but it's a tight fit. It is really a superior basic experience, sort of the M/C equivalent to a Miata or Honda 2000, but with the bling of a Ducati, although her Dark was really a basic ride, not at all fancy. The bike recalls the vintage experience of a good old fashioned machine but with superior modern performance and brakes. Great motorcycle, really Ducai's best deal by far. So very easy to ride and so light feeling, but with enough scoot to feel well in control. Elemental, tasty and remarkably easy to live with for a Ducati.

The 695 fits me perfectly at 5'7" and 156 pound, I just kind slid onto it and loved it, it handles beautifully and made all the right noises. There is something very elemental about that little V twin throbbing away at low revs but knowing it will do it Jekyll and Hyde thing at the twist of the throttle. I didn't buy it, I was seriously !!! tempted but I found myself doing 85 mph where I should have been doing 55. In fact that was the reason my friend was selling it. I'm not a good enough rider any more and strongly suspect that little machine would get me into serious trouble ....actually I guarantee it !

Sticking to my old 800cc BMW for a while....... maybe an SV 650 ...maybe ?

[DanSkorupka]

Are Urals any good? On one side I hear people say they come to pieces like a $600 scooter, on the other side it is said that they are so invincible in the event of WWIII you just wipe off a bit of radioactive hamburger that used to be the previous rider, hit the kickstarter and off you go.

[The Bigfella]

There's a ride report on ADV of a guy riding a Ural in Indonesia at the moment... I don't think he's got out of Indonesia yet... he had to wait for a new final drive, then the swingarm broke in half... and so on.

Does that answer your question?

Hey Lew... don't forget to take A KTM 990R for a ride.... also much lighter than a GSA - but still too heavy for what I want to do.

As for riding gear... its going to vary incredibly by location. I'm in Asia during the wet season and I'm not using rain gear any more, for instance. So you get wet. So what.... that gives you 15 minutes cool riding while you dry out. I watched one couple (Simon and Lisa)... sponsored by Touratech.... put on their inner dry suit and then their outer protective suit before heading off and I wondered just how suitable all that was for here.

I made a mistake the other day... climbing Erewan Falls in my Oxstar boots and cordura trousers - great on the bike, but not off it.

[Lew Barrett]

Fun thread, kinda reminds me of a bunch of fiberglass boat guys talking about how they wouldn't be caught dead with a wooden boat.

For the record, my wife's pretty certain lingerie is not riding gear, the helmets are real, and we'd much rather be riding than hanging out in a bar.


Jim

This is an awful tough one to show up for. I am not known for ever being at a loss for words, but my response does come in the form of a question.

Have you told your wife how special she is lately?

(I get it, not all Harley riders play outlaw. But would you not allow that there are just enough to allow for stereotypes to have at least some currency?)

[jsjpd1]

Have you told your wife how special she is lately?

(I get it, not all Harley riders play outlaw. But would you not allow that there are just enough to allow for stereotypes to have at least some currency?)

Every chance I get Lew.

And I did think your rant was funny, in a too many reruns of Wild on Daytona Bike Week or the Best of Sturgis Highlights, Grandma Without Clothes On Edition sort of way. 90% of the riders we meet are just nice folks who like to ride like we do. Maybe we should hangout at the bar more instead.

I've been considering switching to a full face helmet, but I don't find them very comfortable when riding down there in the summertime and it's a billion degrees out, when we're used to the 50-60 degrees at home. The first year we did a big tour down there we got off the ferry in Bellingham rode down to the Columbia and up the gorge it was triple digits. It hit 108 in the afternoon, that was brutal.

I'm coming around though, my dad and his buddy were out riding the other day and his buddy laid his bike over in a corner and took out the guard rail at 60 mph (it was a 35mph corner). My old man thought it killed him, I guess the bike just exploded into a hundred pieces. Franky was pretty beat up, but nothing broken or worn away, he was wearing full leathers and a full face helmet. That's the second time he's totaled that bike. He really ought to quit trying.

Jim

[Lew Barrett]

I squashed that last bit but you caught it, and I appreciate your response, Jim.

I know what you mean about "can be hot." I accept that, get a helmet with the best possible venting, wear earplugs and live in the bubble. When you are moving, it's a lot better if the helmet is well designed. The FF helmets have their downsides, but they do extend the riding period because they are warmer in winter at night and in cool weather, so give and take. Curiously for an upright ride, like a Glide or a Road King (or a GS) full face helmets are a lot easier to manage because they are balanced. You ride a sports bike in town and you can add a sore neck to the sore wrist litany.

But I wouldn't ride without my Arai and I have come to favor it. When the time comes, I'll buy another or whatever fits and feels best and has good scores. A lot is what you get used to, but getting used to less noise and more security has it's benefits. Like everybody else in the 60s, I rode with no helmet, Buco and Bell shorties, then Bell Stars when they came out, all the time without hearing protection. A lot of years of road noise and whistle, never mind exhaust notes, have left me with a very mild case of tinnitus in my right ear. I started getting really, really serious about protective clothing in 1982 and since then have never looked back.

I reckon I owe it to myself, and anyway, having become accustomed to quality technical gear, I have come to prefer it. Suiting up can be a pain for short rides, so I sometimes skip the pants, never the helmet, jacket or serious gloves. It's the price I pay to be a rider, and being safe from the start gives me a (potentially false) sense of security, but I can satisfy myself that I am doing what I can to enjoy a hobby....riding the road....that I know is more dangerous than knitting.

One thing's for sure, a good suit is going to make it a lot easier for them to identify the remains