If a Sporty is a girls bike...
#61
12-01-2014, 09:20 PM
Sportster not a girls bike!
I've been riding over 48 yrs. All types & sizes. I've heard people call Sporters "Girls Bikes" but think that's ridiculous. I see men & women on all types & sizes of bikes. I don't think we as bikers should be discriminating against each other. We get enough of that from non riders. I say ride what you can handle & like & afford no matter what it is
#63
12-01-2014, 10:14 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
Ride what looks good on you. I think most (in my opinion) poke fun at those who are insecure enough to be concerned of the thought of others that they are on a girls bike or now I guess in your case a man's bike. That's some deep stuff. I personally would never comment unless someone brings it up and then throw in some humor. However, I personally think it's just a way of saying we like them. Guess however, some ask in all seriousness and we should treat them with kids gloves. So in all seriousness, I think you would look good on anything, even a Goldwing...
#64
12-01-2014, 11:12 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
The Harley-Davidson Sportster is an American motorcycle that was introduced in 1957 as a competitor for the high-performance bikes being produced by the British that were selling in the United States in huge numbers. The Sportster was one of the first Harley-Davidsons to be fitted with rear-suspension (it’s parent bike, the Model K series was the first) and it was also the first of the Harleys to be fitted with a higher performance, overhead-valve engine.
The look of the new, sportier Harley-Davidson was immediately reminiscent of the popular British bikes that were dominating the sports-oriented motorcycle scene in the late 1950s, it had a very similar profile to the Triumph Thunderbird and proved to be very popular in the same demographics in the US motorcycle market.
The Ironhead 900cc V-twin engine had a 45 degree offset and could produce 40hp at 5,500rpm, it had a top speed of somewhere in the 100mph range and a total weight of 495lbs. Somewhat amazingly, that Ironhead engine would stay in production for 28 years until it was replaced with the Evolution engine in 1986.
This long production run is excellent news for prospective Sportster owners as it means there’s a vast market for spare parts, an immense amount of mechanical know-how and a brilliant community of people around the country who love to meet other Sportster owners, talk shop and offer some hard-learnt advice.
Some in the Harley-Davidson community will try to tell you that the Sportster is a “beginners” bike but I disagree with that sentiment pretty strongly – The very first Harleys were essentially motorised bicycles, they were designed to be light, manoeuvrable and capable of racing against Indians, Cyclones, Hendersons, Excelsiors and Popes with relatively few modifications. The large, highway cruising, chrome plated motorcycles we all associate with the Harley-Davidson brand nowadays name didn’t come about until many decades later, meaning the Sportster is actually the truest representation of the original DNA of the company.
http://silodrome.com/buying-guide-ha...son-sportster/
The look of the new, sportier Harley-Davidson was immediately reminiscent of the popular British bikes that were dominating the sports-oriented motorcycle scene in the late 1950s, it had a very similar profile to the Triumph Thunderbird and proved to be very popular in the same demographics in the US motorcycle market.
The Ironhead 900cc V-twin engine had a 45 degree offset and could produce 40hp at 5,500rpm, it had a top speed of somewhere in the 100mph range and a total weight of 495lbs. Somewhat amazingly, that Ironhead engine would stay in production for 28 years until it was replaced with the Evolution engine in 1986.
This long production run is excellent news for prospective Sportster owners as it means there’s a vast market for spare parts, an immense amount of mechanical know-how and a brilliant community of people around the country who love to meet other Sportster owners, talk shop and offer some hard-learnt advice.
Some in the Harley-Davidson community will try to tell you that the Sportster is a “beginners” bike but I disagree with that sentiment pretty strongly – The very first Harleys were essentially motorised bicycles, they were designed to be light, manoeuvrable and capable of racing against Indians, Cyclones, Hendersons, Excelsiors and Popes with relatively few modifications. The large, highway cruising, chrome plated motorcycles we all associate with the Harley-Davidson brand nowadays name didn’t come about until many decades later, meaning the Sportster is actually the truest representation of the original DNA of the company.
http://silodrome.com/buying-guide-ha...son-sportster/
This. Anyone who things that a Sportster is a girls bike is a douche.
#65
12-04-2014, 01:14 PM
I've had my Sportster for nine years now, still the same one, just a bit differant from when I got her.
In my experience, the majority of peeps that will run down Sportsters have never owned one!!
I had a gobby brat trying to put down my bike (after his Ma had loaned him money for a bandit. Very nice to!) in front of friends.
I just told him that he'd never be cool enuf to ever ride a Harley. He soon shut up!
TD
In my experience, the majority of peeps that will run down Sportsters have never owned one!!
I had a gobby brat trying to put down my bike (after his Ma had loaned him money for a bandit. Very nice to!) in front of friends.
I just told him that he'd never be cool enuf to ever ride a Harley. He soon shut up!
TD
#66
12-04-2014, 01:22 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
I've had my Sportster for nine years now, still the same one, just a bit differant from when I got her.
In my experience, the majority of peeps that will run down Sportsters have never owned one!!
I had a gobby brat trying to put down my bike (after his Ma had loaned him money for a bandit. Very nice to!) in front of friends.
I just told him that he'd never be cool enuf to ever ride a Harley. He soon shut up!
TD
In my experience, the majority of peeps that will run down Sportsters have never owned one!!
I had a gobby brat trying to put down my bike (after his Ma had loaned him money for a bandit. Very nice to!) in front of friends.
I just told him that he'd never be cool enuf to ever ride a Harley. He soon shut up!
TD
#67
12-04-2014, 01:26 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
#70
12-07-2014, 07:24 PM
My Sporty is an 883. How come nobody in the 80s called 350's, 500s or even 650's girls bikes? In fact the only people that try to sexually classify a motorcycle are either people who don't own or can't ride or are mainly other HD riders trying to justify there 20k+ motorcycle purchases. I plan on buying a bagger in 2015 simply because i've spent a lot of money trying to make my bike into a bagger which no matter what i do it will never be a caddy of a motorcycle. My Sporty will just have to park beside it cause i aint selling or trading it in.