In defense of the Sportster
#22
#23
#24
#25
There are a gazillion more cycle riders in Asia than we have here in the USA and most of them ride bikes with 250cc or less. A lot of them are treated like pack mules by the loads they carry. In Europe the Honda NV-700 which is similarly styled to the Switchback its more than enough machine do anything but they don't sell well in America because of our bigger is better mentality when it comes to bikes, cars, trucks. We also drive the most gas guzzling cars and trucks of any nation in the world.
Harley sells hype and a lot buy into it. This whole girls bike thing is a internet forum based mentality where weekend warriors that rarely ride there bikes/baggers come to feed. I rode a Honda 500 in the early 80s with my 650 Yamaha Special and never heard anybody speak of a small bike. A lot of us rode 650s be it Yamaha, or Kawis.
I ride a 883, I put about 300 miles a week on it commuting and weekend day tripping. I can go 75mph+ down the interstate all day long with the motor purring like a kitten well a loud kitten .. People need to ride there bike and stop trying to justify riding what they do. This internet don't care.
Harley sells hype and a lot buy into it. This whole girls bike thing is a internet forum based mentality where weekend warriors that rarely ride there bikes/baggers come to feed. I rode a Honda 500 in the early 80s with my 650 Yamaha Special and never heard anybody speak of a small bike. A lot of us rode 650s be it Yamaha, or Kawis.
I ride a 883, I put about 300 miles a week on it commuting and weekend day tripping. I can go 75mph+ down the interstate all day long with the motor purring like a kitten well a loud kitten .. People need to ride there bike and stop trying to justify riding what they do. This internet don't care.
#26
#27
Yeah, it's an old subject, but there are new riders every day. I've been riding street bikes for 26 years, almost half of them without a car to fall back on and (after always thinking they looked cool) just last month I finally figured out I love Sportsers and brought a new 72 home. Some of us arrive late to the party and the idea that somebody as old as me would be laying down cash for a sporty rather then a road king I'm sure confuses some people. It surprised me. I don't see anything wrong with celebrating what we like, and there are still some ears that will benefit from the "new to them" message.
#28
#29
Yeah I hear you all too well. My biggest concern before buying a bike was weight, but that was squashed the second I sat on my iron 883 before I bought it. You could definitely feel the 200 odd pound difference between it and the Suzuki boulevard 250 I drove in the course. But it wasn't something I couldn't handle. If you can get your feet firmly down I don't see it as a problem.
#30