I learn back in the early 1960 and 1970s that H.D.. are junk, they leak oil, shake enough that you have to stop after riding one for 1 hour and work on tightening up all the fasteners for 2 hours
I've own and ridden several different Japaneze (SP?) and British bikes but never a BMW or a Harley or Indian.
I compare owning and riding a Harley like owning a Corvette, not fast or reasonable to own but a lot of people like and buy them.
I'm NOT Chevy guy, thanks be to GOD

Yep hard tail

Superbee69 that is a very nice scooter I might encourage Cab_Burge to ride a Harley before talking of their ailments. I have a buddy who 'enlightens' the crowd at parties when he does a burn out for minutes his ape hanger Harley. I love the sound. Love Buell's as well. There is a guy in my neighborhood that rides a buell. Don't know what he has done to it but it sounds like a big block v8.

P.s. my sisters husband has many BWW bikes and he is always tuning and fixing.

My Son worked for Rob Muzzy racing for 23 years, as far as riding a newer Harley that doesn't leak oil or shake as bad as the pre EVO motors I'll pass.
My first ride on a Kawasaki was a 1969 500 triple, the next Kaw was a 1970 500 and finally 1971 500. None of them had the bottom end torque below 5000 RPM that I wanted on the street so I ended up riding several different Honda XL250 to work and in the desert in SO CA, They rode good and lasted a long time also.
I ended up owning several different Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda dirt bikes but no Harleys.
I was ask by Phil Day (Daytec and JPM CO owner) in 1986 or so ask me to ride one of his custom made showroom Harley chopper bike clones with 1500 CC S&S motors in them to ride it to Sturgis one year but I passed due to not wanting to ride on the highways from SO CA to Sturgis and back
I've have lost enough skin on the roads to not want to loose anymore EVER
Dune buggy and quads for me now

I used to, had to sell it when I got sick 10 years ago ,the money from it bought my " Starter Kit 68 Charger " LOL,, 95cid individual runner efi intake just like my Charger,, on my dyno it was 118 tq 125 hp I miss riding a lot !!!

Built this hardtail from scratch a few years ago. Thank goodness for swap meets.

Here's my 2, 09 Sportster & 12 Street Glide.

I had a bike (Suzuki Intruder 1400) about 15 years ago. Kept it about a year. Always wanted one, needed to get it out of my system I guess. Enjoyed riding it and had some good times riding down to the beach...I'm a little less than an hour ride from Myrtle Beach. Quickly realized w/ all the crazy drivers on cell phones that I'd much rather have 2 more tires and a lot more metal around me on the highway.

i bought a Softail new in '05. Rode it quite a bit. Got married, and we rode a lot. Got divorced, and still rode to clear my mind. Took a trip to the Black Hills, and got completely spoiled. Got home, and riding around home wasn't fun anymore. Bike sat the last year I had it. The fall my buddy hit a deer on his bike, and got busted up pretty bad. My bike went up for sale the next day. Used the money towards my racing. Haven't missed the bike one bit.

I have a 2011 Road King Classic I bought new, did a bunch of usual Harley stuff to it (bars, seat, exhaust, cams, tuned it myself, etc) and have around 24,000 miles on it now. I also have 2 minibikes, a Grom and a Yamaha WR250X supermoto that I just put a set of mixed use tires on so it's ok on both dirt and pavement. The best times riding them have been out in TN/NC/PA. The supermoto in particular, riding the tail of the dragon on that was just incredible and surreal, it's such a rewarding experience compared to driving a car. Like Jeff mentioned, if you ride outside of the midwest you get spoiled with the awesome roads available out in the mountains.

I'm semi-looking for a bike that'll go between the supermoto and the Harley. Maybe a flat tracker inspired Sportster OR a hypermotard. Not sure I'm ready for an ADV bike yet.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Everything I've read says it's better than the long-defunct XR1200X, it looks absolutely killer, and is a much more appealing bike to me than the new Sportster S. I can't bring myself to buy an Indian though. I was working at Roush at the time when the last incarnation of Indian pulled the plug on our in house motor design and went with an S&S crate motor instead. I also grew up in Milwaukee and have multiple friends that are engineers at Harley too, so it's a bit of a hometown pride thing for me. It would be hitting too close to home if I defected on them, lol. The Bronx streetfighter concept was cool and I would've considered that but it got axed from what I understand.

I could see building one of these out of an 04 or earlier Sportster.

Other random options are a 690 Duke, a Husky 701 SM, or a light used Ducati hypermotard. Not interested in Ducati's other offerings but I love the idea of the hypermotard. Also really like the Aprilia SXV 550's but I have heard they're a reliability nightmare!

At 52 years old I bought the newest vehicle I have ever bought in my life. A one owner 500 mile 2109 Indian FTR1200. (Indian is Polaris BTW.) The liquid cooled V twin is rated at 120 hp and 85 lb feet of torque. It has instant "Holy [censored]" power low in the range but redlines at 9100RPM. This bike is AMAZING.

Post a picture! They're beautiful bikes!!

2019 base Black model. The riding position is upright and comfortable. The power is like a liquid cooled Honda CR500 2 stroke and then some! The low end power is instant and the 9000RPM redline hits quick.

Lot of Harley owners would agree that you don't have a Harley.

Never been interested in anything HD ever made.

Ducati, OTOH

Love it. I had an '01 CR500 so that description is totally relatable!

This is my V-Twin that I've owned and ridden since 2005. 990 (1000cc) KTM Super Duke. Carbon fiber wheels, fender, etc., complete titanium exhaust, 130 hp at the rear wheel..from a little tuning Love V-Twin torque and power

if you have not ridden recent motorcycles (Sounds like you loved your CR500) there is a category you would enjoy. Its called Upright Naked. Upright riding position and no fairings and coverings. Yamaha MT07 MT09 MT10, Indian FTR1200 several Ducatis, KTM, Aprilla, Honda CB1000ABS and the list goes on and on. Very comfortable with EASY TO ENJOY power that is flat out fun.

Mike - your Super Duke has to be an absolute riot to ride!!!



I'm definitely leaning that way, I see so many neat and quick options in that segment these days. I had an '02 Hayabusa for about a year too. Loved the power, but didn't like the hunched over riding position. I tried Buell drop pegs, risers, and angled bars... sold it after my first trip to Pittsburgh and then immediately bought the Harley. lol